The booth was a collaboration of the area of Physics of the Living State of the Applied Physics Scientific Section of the ICTP with the following institutions: INAF-Trieste Astronomical Observatory, Loc. Basovizza Trieste, Sezione dell'INAF, Trieste and the Department of Physics, University of Trieste.

The following scientists were responsible for the organization, interaction with the public and, especially for providing answers to the queries of the general public:

For the Abdus Salam ICTP:

For INAF-Trieste Astronomical Observatory, Loc. Basovizza Trieste, Sezione dell'INAF, Trieste and the Department of Physics, University of Trieste:

Mauro Messerotti, Italy
Marco Molinaro, Italy

A step forward in the study of the origin of life in the universe consists of taking the subject from organic chemistry into the domain of the life, Earth and space sciences. The subject of bioastronomy (astrobiology) has come of age due to the space missions of the last four decades: Mariner (in 1964 Mariner 4 was the first spacecraft to obtain and transmit close range images of Mars), Apollo, Vikings, Voyagers, and particularly the most recent ones, Galileo (focused on the Jovian system from 1995 till 2003) and Cassini-Huygens, which is currently sending valuable information from the Saturn system. New areas of research have come into existence as a consequence of this change of emphasis. The work demonstrated and discussed in Booth N. 12 included a second novel area of research. The study of the origin of life is an interdisciplinary activity that requires a discussion of the conditions determined by the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere and, in the case of the Earth, the magnetosphere. These conditions depend on the conditions that are encountered in interplanetary space. These interplanetary environmental conditions have been called Space Weather. In Booth N. 12 we reviewed this additional factor that opens what may be called a new frontier in the sciences of life in the universe.

Interacting computers were provided in Booth N. 12 displaying two European Space Agency CDs: "L'Enigma della Vita" and "I segreti dell'universo" that have been especially prepared keeping the general public in mind, but were also suitable for young students. The CDs introduced the main questions of bioastronomy and other space sciences. All of these subjects are currently incorporated into the new science of astrobiology, namely the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and destiny of life in the universe.

Terrella introduced the new science of space weather, by emphasizing an important phenomenon of solar physics: Our sun emits charged particles that are called' ions'. These particles are known as the solar wind. While interacting with the earth's magnetic field, a number of them are trapped. The ionosphere is the section of our atmosphere extending up to a height of some 600 kilometres. When the solar-wind particles collide with the gases in the ionosphere they glow. This phenomenon produces the aurora borealis. Terrella is an experimental reproduction of the main features that lead to this intriguing natural phenomenon, which is also known as "the northern and southern lights". Their colors can be red, green, blue and violet. The constant motion of the aurora is due to the changing interaction between the solar wind and the earth's magnetic field.

Mr. Andrea Stefani provided essential support for the digitalization of the video images, and the ICTP photo archives added essential material included in this work.

This introduction to Scientific Booth N. 12 is complemented by a series of images as well as by a series of short films . The films were provided by the collaboration with Dr. Marlen Perez-Diaz. The photographic work is a collaboration with Drs. Marlen Perez-Diaz, Leonel Alberto Torres-Aroche, and Perihan Unak.