You have to learn to crack eggs if you're going to cook an
omelet. You have to jump in the water if you're going to learn
to swim. And you have to get your hands on telescopes that can
search for signs of life beyond Earth if you're going to study
extraterrestrial biology. That's why 14 University of Washington
graduate biology students will be at Kitt Peak National
Observatory this week (March 17 - 21) to learn observing
techniques from University of Arizona and National Optical
Astronomy Observatory astronomers. The UW students are
specializing in a new science called "astrobiology" that
involves studying biological processes on the Earth and beyond.
It's a multidisciplinary science that combines research in
physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and planetary science.
The astronomy faculty and biology students will use Kitt Peak's
world-class telescopes to study interstellar molecules, the sun,
and sun-like stars that may be capable of supporting life.
Interstellar molecules are molecules of chemical compo