EXCERPT

NASA is bringing together experts spanning a variety of scientific fields for an unprecedented initiative dedicated to the search for life on planets outside our solar system.

The Nexus for Exoplanet System Science, or "NExSS", hopes to better understand the various components of an exoplanet, as well as how the planet's stars and neighbor planets interact to support life.

"This interdisciplinary endeavor connects top research teams and provides a synthesized approach in the search for planets with the greatest potential for signs of life," says Jim Green, NASA's Director of Planetary Science. "The hunt for exoplanets is not only a priority for astronomers, it's of keen interest to planetary and climate scientists as well."

SOURCE

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4561