Mapping the Historical Roots of Astrobiology: A Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS) Analysis

Astrobiology, the interdisciplinary scientific study of life in the universe, encompasses its origin, evolution, distribution, and potential future. The study employs Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS) to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of astrobiology publications from 1500 to 2024, aiming to uncover the seminal works, influential authors, and critical developments that have shaped the field. Using data from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed via CRExplorer software, RPYS method identifies citation peaks corresponding to historically significant publications that have contributed to astrobiology’s intellectual foundations. The analysis reveals early citation peaks linked to transformative works by Descartes, Boyle, Steno, and Newton that shaped foundational scientific thought. Minimal activity between 1701–1800 precedes the 1828 peak associated with Wöhler’s synthesis of urea, marking the birth of modern organic chemistry. Subsequent 19th-century peaks correspond to Reichenbach’s influential botanical taxonomy and Butlerov’s chemical structure theory and formose reaction discovery. The 20th century shows exponential citation growth, with seminal works by Sagan, Kasting, and Schopf driving astrobiology’s formal emergence. Post-2000 peaks, including 2010, highlight studies on microbial survivability and extraterrestrial organic chemistry, affirming the field’s ongoing interdisciplinary evolution. Traditionally, the identification of influential works within a discipline has relied on subjective expert assessment. In contrast, RPYS provides an objective means to uncover seminal publications recurrently cited within a body of literature. This study not only traces the rich multidisciplinary heritage and empirical milestones of astrobiology but also demonstrates RPYS as an effective quantitative tool for historical and bibliometric research. Anticipated future growth in astrobiology, driven by expanding space exploration and technological advances, will likely be reflected in evolving citation patterns. This work provides a systematic framework for understanding the historical evolution and dynamic development of astrobiology as a distinct scientific discipline.