Renowned space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock is 'absolutely convinced' life exists beyond Earth, predicting confirmation by 2075. She highlights the universe's vastness and recent technological advances, like the James Webb Telescope, enabling detailed planet atmosphere analysis. While microscopic life is the most likely discovery, the search itself fosters global cooperation and a broader perspective on humanity's place.

The South American lungfish genome, the largest animal genome sequenced at 91 billion base pairs, has been fully decoded. This breakthrough offers insights into evolutionary biology, revealing that genome size doesn't equate to organismal complexity. The lungfish's genetic makeup provides a glimpse into the transition of vertebrates from water to land.