Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences in Mexico

Abstract

A small community of scientists in Mexico has been contributing to the study of planetary bodies in our Solar System and around other stars, including their potential for habitability. Here, we present particular aspects of this research told as a journey: from the first attempts to reproduce cells and the laboratories where the first Mexican astrobiologists were educated to the sites in Mexico where scientists are studying the extremes of life and likely environments of other planets. We jump to space rocks that narrate the history of the Solar System. Then, we move to Mars and the debate of organics and the Viking experiment to continue with the hidden water oceans of the icy satellites and Titan, an exotic orange satellite with methane lakes, hydrocarbon dunes, and water ice rocks. Our journey continues toward other stars where we search for planets beyond our Solar System, known as exoplanets, that have shown a surprising diversity more familiar to science fiction with hot Jupiters, lava worlds, mini-Neptunes, super-Earths, and potentially habitable worlds.