The Caves That Could Help Us Find, or Become, Aliens

Scientists are focusing on caves and lava tubes on Mars, Venus, the Moon, Europa, and Enceladus as promising places to search for alien microbes and biosignatures.

These hidden spaces could shield life from radiation, vacuum, and extreme temperatures, making them some of the best astrobiology targets.

Future missions may use robots, spectrometers, and other tools to enter skylights and probe subsurface environments for signs of life.