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Caleb Scharf

Caleb Scharf is an astrobiologist, author, and recipient of the 2022 Carl Sagan Medal. His latest book is The Giant Leap: Why Space is the Next Frontier in the Evolution of Life.

Space Exploration Speaks to the Core of Who We Are

Astrobiologist Caleb Scharf’s 3 greatest revelations while writing his latest book, <i>The Giant Leap</i>

January 12, 2026

We’re Evolving Beyond This Rock Right Now

Life is already busy making its transition to being interplanetary

January 12, 2026

Should We Really Be Messing with Asteroid Orbits?

With one small error or manipulation, cosmic interference would spell disaster.

October 26, 2022

We Might Already Speak the Same Language As ET

Alien communication could utilize quantum physics, so SETI needs a new way to listen.

August 10, 2022

A Mirror of Our Best Selves

An astrobiologist annotates what we are seeing in this James Webb Space Telescope image.

July 26, 2022

We Better Think Twice About What We Say to ET

Extraterrestrials could take our intergalactic message in entirely the wrong way.

May 4, 2022

The Worrisome Rise of NFTs

An astrobiologist says non-fungible tokens do not bode well for our species’s future.

January 12, 2022

Looking for Life on Mars

An astrobiologist and a director on the joys and challenges of filming space science.

September 28, 2021

What Is Life?

An astrobiologist finds the heart of his work in a new novel by Richard Powers.

September 15, 2021

Is the Universe Open-Ended?

An intriguing proposal about what makes reality tick under the surface.

June 16, 2021

My 3 Greatest Revelations

The author on writing his new book, “The Ascent of Information.”

June 16, 2021