Jet-induced star formation, quantum computing and the Alien

Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars – Astronomers have discovered how ominous black holes can create life in the form of new stars, proving that jet-induced star formation may have played an important role in the formation of galaxies in the early universe. See article.
g Abodes – A century after Einstein’s landmark work on Brownian motion, physicists have discovered a new concept of temperature that could be the key to explaining how ice and snow particles flow during an avalanche — and to a better way of handling tablets in the pharmaceutical industry. See article.
g Life – One in five mammals living on Earth is a bat, yet the creature’s evolutionary history is largely unknown because of a limited fossil record and conflicting or incomplete theories about their origins and divergence. Now, a research team has published a paper in the Jan. 28 issue of the journal Science that uses molecular biology and the fossil data to fill in many of the gaps. See article.
g Intelligence – The Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language is as an alternative language for a community of about 3,500 people, several of whose members are deaf. It has been in use for three generations, arising naturally with no outside influence. Researchers say the language in use has evolved quickly and with unexpected structure. See article.
g Message – Phoning home intergalactically may have one natural prerequisite if a civilization is hoping to connect: timing their precursor signal or 'ring' so that we might know that they're broadcasting. Dr. Robin Corbet, of the Universities' Space Research Association, discusses his research findings on Synchronized SETI. Note: This article is from 2002.
g Cosmicus – Here’s a discover that will aid space exploration: Scientists at Hewlett-Packard have demonstrated that a layer of molecules just three-billionths of a meter thick can help store data during a computing operation without using traditional semiconductors, adding another piece to a portfolio of technology HP is assembling to perhaps one day construct computers that harness the strange effects of quantum mechanics. See article.
g Learning – Why didn’t they have classes like this when I was in college? “Astronomy 109: Extraterrestrial Life” is taught in the University of New Mexico. Here’s a course outline, which makes for a good primer on astrobiology.
g Imagining – In Ridley Scott's 1979 slimy monster masterpiece "Alien," the extraterrestrial life form discovered by Sigourney Weaver and crew goes through two startlingly different phases after it hatches. Is such a change during the life of an animal mere sci fi license? Not really. In fact, many earthlings go through similar drastic changes in form. See article. Note: This article is from 2001.
g Aftermath – Here’s a brief but interesting piece: “The Day After Contact: Forecasting Reactions to Extraterrestrial Contact”. Note: This article is from June 1999.

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