Scientists have never set foot on an alien world, but that hasn’t kept them from looking for life beyond our solar system. In this short video, astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger explains how we determine whether a far-off planet could harbor life.

Video podcast produced and edited by Melissa Salpietra. Original footage produced by Julia Cort.

Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0407101. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

© WGBH Educational Foundation

Finding Earth-Like Planets | NOVA Short

NOVA brings you short video stories from the world of science, including excerpts from our television programs, video dispatches from producers and correspondents in the field, animations, and much more. For more science programming online and on air, visit NOVA's Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova and watch NOVA broadcasts Wednesday nights on PBS.  Please note that this feed requires QuickTime 7.  Free upgrade available at apple.com/itunes.

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James Levine is a medical doctor and obesity researcher at the Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University. He is also the inventor of the treadmill desk. While he's standing up (whether at his treadmill desk or not), James is also a slam poetry champion and the author of two novels, "The Blue Notebook" and "Bingo's Run."

Exclusive funding for "The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers" provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

© 2014 WGBH Educational Foundation

SLoS | James Levine: "I Came Alive as a Person"

Crystal Dilworth recently completed her Ph.D. in Molecular Neuroscience at Cal Tech. Her research has focused on the molecular basis for nicotine dependence. An accomplished life-long dancer, Crystal now choreographs Cal Tech's musical productions. That's right, she teaches other scientists to dance... and they're good!

Exclusive funding for "The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers" provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

© 2014 WGBH Educational Foundation

SLoS|Crystal Dilworth: Ballet, Neuroscience & A Man Eating Plant

Geoff Tabin is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Director of International Ophthalmology at the John A. Moran Eye Center and University of Utah. He is also the Co-Founder of the Himalayan Cataract Project. While not curing blindness, Geoff climbs mountains around the world. And with his buddies at the Oxford Dangerous Sport Club, he invented bungee jumping.

Exclusive funding for "The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers" provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

© 2014 WGBH Educational Foundation

SLoS|Geoff Tabin: Getting Sight Back

Bill Nye is a Cornell-trained engineer who worked at Boeing before winning a gazillion Emmys and turning millions of kid onto science as "Bill Nye, the Science Guy." The man also totally knows how to rock a bow tie.

Exclusive funding for "The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers" provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

© 2014 WGBH Educational Foundation

SLoS|Bill Nye: I Took Astronomy From Carl Sagan

Kate Sweeny is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of California Riverside. She studies threat management in everyday life – how we wait for potentially bad news. By night and on the weekends, Kate pursues her passion for belly dancing. She's been "shaking it" now for more than a decade.

Exclusive funding for "The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers" provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

© 2014 WGBH Educational Foundation

Finding Earth-Like Planets | NOVA Short

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