Panspermia is a scientific hypothesis suggesting that life on Earth may have originated from microorganisms or chemical precursors of life present in space. These life forms could have traveled through space on comets, asteroids, or meteoroids, eventually landing on Earth and leading to the development of life. This idea raises questions about the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe, as it implies that life could spread between planets and even different star systems. Researchers study microbial life, extremophiles, and space missions to explore the potential for life to survive the harsh conditions of space travel.