In a recent TED talk, Dimitar Sasselov describes their effort to find other planets in the Universe that can support “life.”

One of the qualities needed is the development of compartmentalization – keeping molecules needed for life separate from the external environment (in a membrane).

Many of the elements found on our planet (and in the Universe) naturally form bubbles, which can become a membrane if those bubbles trap the right ingredients…

My question, though, is – how would you describe “life,” in the universe? Dimitar describes it as biochemistry. If “life” is the organization of chemicals into self-perpetuating or self-regenerating forms, how many types of “life” could there be out there?

Watch Dimitar’s talk, it’s definitely worth it.