Final answer:
The researchers are trying to determine if the environment can support yeast growth and, by extension, the potential to sustain life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The research question being investigated is whether the environment can support the growth of yeast, which is used as a model organism to represent life. By measuring the rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) production by the yeast, the researchers can assess whether the environment is conducive to yeast growth and, by extension, the potential to support life. If the maximum rate of CO2 production is high, it indicates a suitable environment for yeast and the potential to sustain life.