Aomawa Shields: The Actor Mapping Exoplanet Habitability in 2026

A classically trained actor is now leading the search for life in the deep reaches of space. Aomawa Shields, an associate professor at the University of California, Irvine, utilizes her unique background in the arts to explore the potential for life on worlds light-years away. By blending climate modeling with creative storytelling, she's redefining how we perceive our place in the cosmos.

Aomawa Shields Exoplanet Habitability Research and the Search for Life

Shields and her team use advanced computer models to simulate atmospheric conditions on exoplanets—planets orbiting stars other than our sun. According to reports, there are roughly 100 billion stars in our galaxy alone, most of which host at least one planet. Across the universe, the number of stars reaches an estimated 10^22.

Since the early 1990s, astronomers have identified over 6,000 exoplanets. Among these, roughly 100 reside in the 'habitable zone,' where liquid water can exist. Shields looks to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to detect 'biosignatures'—chemical markers like specific gases that might indicate a biological presence.

Empowering the Next Generation via Rising Stargirls

Her artistic training isn't just a past life; it's a vital part of her outreach. She founded Rising Stargirls, a program that integrates theater, writing, and visual arts into astronomy education for middle-school girls. Her popular TED Talk on finding life has garnered nearly 2 million views, proving that science resonates most when it's shared through a human lens.