Title screen from Life Underground, where students take the role of investigators of extreme subsurface environments looking for microbial life.Screen shot from Life Underground, where students take the role of investigators of extreme subsurface environments looking for microbial life.
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Title screen from Life Underground, where students take the role of investigators of extreme subsurface environments looking for microbial life.University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts
Screen shot from Life Underground, where students take the role of investigators of extreme subsurface environments looking for microbial life.University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts
May 10, 2018
Feature Story

Life Underground: The Game

A downloadable game for Windows and macOS

A new video game designed to bring the excitement of astrobiology science into middle school classrooms has been released by the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Development of the game, Life Underground, was supported by the NASA Astrobiology Program through the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI).

Life Underground is an interactive outreach experience for 7th and 8th grade classrooms. The goal is for students to visualize microscopic life at a range of terrestrial and extraterrestrial subsurface conditions. Set in the near future, players take the role of a young scientist investigating extreme subsurface environments for microbial life. Piloting an advanced scientific vehicle, which doubles as a mobile laboratory, players must navigate a mine and connected caves to gather samples, isolate organisms, and conduct experiments. During their adventures, players are aided by a team of virtual scientists who help them gather more valuable data about the extremophiles they uncover.

Screenshot from the Life Underground Game where students take the role of investigators of extreme subsurface environments looking for microbial life.
Screenshot from the Life Underground Game where students take the role of investigators of extreme subsurface environments looking for microbial life.Image credit: USC.

Tested by teachers, Life Underground was carefully crafted to inspire players to explore STEM-based careers. The game introduces students to the engaging process of scientific discovery that today’s astrobiologists experience in their professional fields. By allowing players to create experiments with virtual microbial life, it also reinforces their understanding of the scientific method.

For more information, and to download Life Underground, visit: https://gameinnovationlab.itch.io/life-underground

Additional educational materials related to astrobiology can be found on the Astrobiology Program’s Education page at: https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/education/

Screen shot from Life Underground, where students take the role of investigators of extreme subsurface environments looking for microbial life.
Screen shot from Life Underground, where students take the role of investigators of extreme subsurface environments looking for microbial life.Image credit: University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.

Related Links:
Life Undergound: The Game
Exploring the Stars Through Video and Board Games
NASA Astrobiology: Classroom Materials
NASA Astrobiology: Education
Middle School Teacher Reviewers Needed – Online Astrobiology “Game”