Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - An enormous cold spot in our universe could be explained by a cosmic defect in the fabric of space-time created shortly after the Big Bang, scientists say. See article.
g Abodes - With the conclusion of the recent European Mars Science and Exploration Conference: Mars Express and ExoMars, Frances Westall, co-Team Coordinator of the ExoMars Microscope team and researcher with CNRS in France, discusses some of the most important questions concerning the potential for past and present life on Mars. See article.
g Life - What is the history of life on Earth? Here’s a primer.
g Cosmicus - China will launch its third manned space mission after next year's Beijing Olympics. See article.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Teenage galaxies, detecting earth-like planets and the inner workings of early life on our world
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - The discovery of "teenage" galaxies is giving scientists a better handle on how galaxies transform from sexy, spiral star factories to shapeless retirement homes for old stars. See article.
g Abodes - Smaller Earth-like planets, some perhaps even having conditions for life, might be detected by astronomers with improved techniques, University of Hawaii-Manoa researchers say. See article.
g Life - For the first time, scientists have observed the role that water lubricants play in the functioning of proteins. The research sheds light on how proteins perform functions to support life, and may yield clues about the inner workings of early life on our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - South Korea will launch its first lunar probe in 2020, joining an intensifying Asian space race after recent missions to the moon by China and Japan, the government said Tuesday. See article.
g Stars - The discovery of "teenage" galaxies is giving scientists a better handle on how galaxies transform from sexy, spiral star factories to shapeless retirement homes for old stars. See article.
g Abodes - Smaller Earth-like planets, some perhaps even having conditions for life, might be detected by astronomers with improved techniques, University of Hawaii-Manoa researchers say. See article.
g Life - For the first time, scientists have observed the role that water lubricants play in the functioning of proteins. The research sheds light on how proteins perform functions to support life, and may yield clues about the inner workings of early life on our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - South Korea will launch its first lunar probe in 2020, joining an intensifying Asian space race after recent missions to the moon by China and Japan, the government said Tuesday. See article.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thoughts on Mars, envisioning life on Europa and basis for the experience of beauty in art
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - A comet that has delighted backyard astronomers in recent weeks after an unexpected eruption has now grown larger than the sun. See article.
g Abodes - The European Mars Science & Exploration Conference: Mars Express and ExoMars recently concluded. Here are some interviews with selected experts on some hot topics. See article.
g Life - If there is life on Jupiter’s moon Europa, what would it be like? The answer partly depends on the type of ocean water that is under the moon's icy outer shell. See article.
g Intelligence - Is there an objective biological basis for the experience of beauty in art? Or is aesthetic experience entirely subjective? See article.
g Cosmicus - Weather that originates at the Sun, not here on Earth, is responsible for radio waves that cause an unusual shape of two belts of radiation that encircle Earth and contain "killer electrons" that can damage satellites and pose a risk to space travelers, scientists report. See article. Note: This article is from 2006.
g Stars - A comet that has delighted backyard astronomers in recent weeks after an unexpected eruption has now grown larger than the sun. See article.
g Abodes - The European Mars Science & Exploration Conference: Mars Express and ExoMars recently concluded. Here are some interviews with selected experts on some hot topics. See article.
g Life - If there is life on Jupiter’s moon Europa, what would it be like? The answer partly depends on the type of ocean water that is under the moon's icy outer shell. See article.
g Intelligence - Is there an objective biological basis for the experience of beauty in art? Or is aesthetic experience entirely subjective? See article.
g Cosmicus - Weather that originates at the Sun, not here on Earth, is responsible for radio waves that cause an unusual shape of two belts of radiation that encircle Earth and contain "killer electrons" that can damage satellites and pose a risk to space travelers, scientists report. See article. Note: This article is from 2006.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Cosmic vacuum cleaner, extremophiles using steam to migrate and more powerful telescopes
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - The planet Jupiter is thought to act as a “cosmic vacuum cleaner,” sucking up comets and asteroids that could potentially hit the Earth and endanger all life on our planet. But new research has more closely examined Jupiter's ability to protect the inner solar system, and there are some surprising findings. See article.
g Life - A new study in the hot pools of Yellowstone shows that microbial viruses may be traveling from pool to pool along with steam. The research on these extreme habitats for unique life may shed light on how microbes, and the viruses that infect them, impact their environment. See article.
g Cosmicus - Giant-sized telescopes such as Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra offer unprecedented views of the cosmos, but astronomers are eager to put more powerful tools into orbit around the Earth. See article.
g Abodes - The planet Jupiter is thought to act as a “cosmic vacuum cleaner,” sucking up comets and asteroids that could potentially hit the Earth and endanger all life on our planet. But new research has more closely examined Jupiter's ability to protect the inner solar system, and there are some surprising findings. See article.
g Life - A new study in the hot pools of Yellowstone shows that microbial viruses may be traveling from pool to pool along with steam. The research on these extreme habitats for unique life may shed light on how microbes, and the viruses that infect them, impact their environment. See article.
g Cosmicus - Giant-sized telescopes such as Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra offer unprecedented views of the cosmos, but astronomers are eager to put more powerful tools into orbit around the Earth. See article.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Mars analog in California, changing environments affecting structure of genetic information and countermeasures for muscle loss on long-duration space
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - Astronomers have found evidence for what might be the beginning of shrunken versions of our Solar System. They have shown that the birthplaces of planets exist not only around stars, but also around objects similar in size to Jupiter. See article.
g Abodes - Residents of California’s Tehama County would likely be surprised to find out no place on Earth has a landscape more similar to Mars than Lassen Volcanic National Park. At least that is what NASA researchers think, and that is why astrobiologists - with the help of four high school students - have installed high-tech instruments in the park in an effort to learn more about the planet in their Mission to Mars project. See article.
g Life - New research shows that a changing environment may organize the structure of genetic information. The unique research may shed light on how life's precursor molecules eventually led to the formation of the first organisms on our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - A bed rest study exclusively on women is yielding information about how to develop more effective countermeasures for muscle loss in female astronauts on long-duration missions in space. The research will be useful for long missions on the space station, and possibly future missions to the Moon and Mars. See article.
g Stars - Astronomers have found evidence for what might be the beginning of shrunken versions of our Solar System. They have shown that the birthplaces of planets exist not only around stars, but also around objects similar in size to Jupiter. See article.
g Abodes - Residents of California’s Tehama County would likely be surprised to find out no place on Earth has a landscape more similar to Mars than Lassen Volcanic National Park. At least that is what NASA researchers think, and that is why astrobiologists - with the help of four high school students - have installed high-tech instruments in the park in an effort to learn more about the planet in their Mission to Mars project. See article.
g Life - New research shows that a changing environment may organize the structure of genetic information. The unique research may shed light on how life's precursor molecules eventually led to the formation of the first organisms on our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - A bed rest study exclusively on women is yielding information about how to develop more effective countermeasures for muscle loss in female astronauts on long-duration missions in space. The research will be useful for long missions on the space station, and possibly future missions to the Moon and Mars. See article.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Calculating average number of habitable planets in our galaxy, how some dinosuars breathed and more powerful telescopes
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - Heres a paper that presents a general modelling scheme for assessing the suitability for life on any Earth-like extrasolar planet. The paper’s approach is based on an integrated Earth system analysis in order to calculate the habitable zone in main-sequence-star planetary systems. A new attempt to estimate the formation rate of Earth-like planets over cosmological time scales is applied to calculate the average number of habitable planets in the Milky Way as a function of time. See article.
g Life - Velociraptors, tyrannosaurs and other related carnivorous dinosaurs breathed like some of today’s diving birds and consequently were probably speedy predators, a new study finds. See article.
g Cosmicus - Giant-sized telescopes such as Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra offer unprecedented views of the cosmos, but astronomers are eager to put more powerful tools into orbit around the Earth. See article.
g Learning - We learn better when the material meshes with what we already know, according to a new study of rats that researchers say could help explain human learning. See article.
g Abodes - Heres a paper that presents a general modelling scheme for assessing the suitability for life on any Earth-like extrasolar planet. The paper’s approach is based on an integrated Earth system analysis in order to calculate the habitable zone in main-sequence-star planetary systems. A new attempt to estimate the formation rate of Earth-like planets over cosmological time scales is applied to calculate the average number of habitable planets in the Milky Way as a function of time. See article.
g Life - Velociraptors, tyrannosaurs and other related carnivorous dinosaurs breathed like some of today’s diving birds and consequently were probably speedy predators, a new study finds. See article.
g Cosmicus - Giant-sized telescopes such as Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra offer unprecedented views of the cosmos, but astronomers are eager to put more powerful tools into orbit around the Earth. See article.
g Learning - We learn better when the material meshes with what we already know, according to a new study of rats that researchers say could help explain human learning. See article.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Cannibalistic star, unveiling atmospheres through setting suns and earliest sign of hoofed mammals and
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - Last September, a supernova burst into a cosmic flame 100 times more intense than any event on record-and left scientists scratching their heads. Now, two new studies attempt to explain the remarkable explosion. One sets up the explosion with a cannibalistic star, while the other describes how colliding layers of jettisoned gas could outshine all other supernovae. See article.
g Abodes - Watching stars set behind a planet from space can reveal unique details about the planet's atmosphere. Researchers at ESA are using orbiting spacecraft to learn about the atmospheres of Earth, Mars and Venus. See article.
g Life - As if hidden from the paleo tooth fairy, a lone molar belonging to a hoofed mammal stayed tucked beneath a pillow of volcanic rock in central India for more than 65 million years. Recently uncovered, the tooth predates similar fossils found across the globe. See article.
g Cosmicus - Everyone's seen pictures of rockets taking off - both real ones and imaginary ones. And everyone's seen pictures of spaceplanes taking off - but they're all imaginary - because they're impossible! (or at least, be prepared for a long wait). The basic problem for designers of reusable space vehicles is achieving the velocity needed to reach orbit without carrying so much fuel that the vehicle is either too heavy to get there or unable to carry anything other than fuel. So the answer is either to make the vehicle very light, or to find a way around having to carry all that fuel. See article.
g Learning - A new search engine will soon turn your night sky images into powerful research data and identify the twinkling objects in them with just the click of a button. See article.
g Stars - Last September, a supernova burst into a cosmic flame 100 times more intense than any event on record-and left scientists scratching their heads. Now, two new studies attempt to explain the remarkable explosion. One sets up the explosion with a cannibalistic star, while the other describes how colliding layers of jettisoned gas could outshine all other supernovae. See article.
g Abodes - Watching stars set behind a planet from space can reveal unique details about the planet's atmosphere. Researchers at ESA are using orbiting spacecraft to learn about the atmospheres of Earth, Mars and Venus. See article.
g Life - As if hidden from the paleo tooth fairy, a lone molar belonging to a hoofed mammal stayed tucked beneath a pillow of volcanic rock in central India for more than 65 million years. Recently uncovered, the tooth predates similar fossils found across the globe. See article.
g Cosmicus - Everyone's seen pictures of rockets taking off - both real ones and imaginary ones. And everyone's seen pictures of spaceplanes taking off - but they're all imaginary - because they're impossible! (or at least, be prepared for a long wait). The basic problem for designers of reusable space vehicles is achieving the velocity needed to reach orbit without carrying so much fuel that the vehicle is either too heavy to get there or unable to carry anything other than fuel. So the answer is either to make the vehicle very light, or to find a way around having to carry all that fuel. See article.
g Learning - A new search engine will soon turn your night sky images into powerful research data and identify the twinkling objects in them with just the click of a button. See article.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Black smokers, seeing ancient fossils in 3D and future of space travel
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - Researchers are preparing for a deep-drilling project in Iceland where they will study the processes in deep, hot rocks below the terrestrial surface. Through the study, they also hope to learn more about “black smoker” hydrothermal vents in the ocean, which are known to support some of Earth's most unique lifeforms. See article.
g Life - Digital wizardry has allowed scientists to see the insides of a 53-million-year-old fossilized spider in 3-D. See article.
g Cosmicus - Book alert: What future possibilities for space travel are the most likely to succeed? What are the greatest challenges and advantages of space travel for humankind? What are the potential moral and ethical implications of our space explorations? “Space, the Final Frontier?” imaginatively illustrates the possibilities that the exploration and subsequent exploitation of space opens up for humankind. Authors Giancarlo Genta and Michael Rycroft delve into the factors that encourage space travel and speculate on the future of human expansion into space. See article.
g Abodes - Researchers are preparing for a deep-drilling project in Iceland where they will study the processes in deep, hot rocks below the terrestrial surface. Through the study, they also hope to learn more about “black smoker” hydrothermal vents in the ocean, which are known to support some of Earth's most unique lifeforms. See article.
g Life - Digital wizardry has allowed scientists to see the insides of a 53-million-year-old fossilized spider in 3-D. See article.
g Cosmicus - Book alert: What future possibilities for space travel are the most likely to succeed? What are the greatest challenges and advantages of space travel for humankind? What are the potential moral and ethical implications of our space explorations? “Space, the Final Frontier?” imaginatively illustrates the possibilities that the exploration and subsequent exploitation of space opens up for humankind. Authors Giancarlo Genta and Michael Rycroft delve into the factors that encourage space travel and speculate on the future of human expansion into space. See article.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Clues about planet-forming processes, new dino killer fingered and best time to pick up a broadcast from intelligent aliens
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - Observations and models for extrasolar planet formation can be compared with clues about planet-forming processes in the Solar System to answer the question: how typical are the processes that formed our Solar System? See article.
g Life - Instead of being driven to extinction by death from above, dinosaurs might have ultimately been doomed by death from below in the form of monumental volcanic eruptions. See article.
g Message - Our best chance of picking up a broadcast from intelligent aliens is when the Earth is closest to being directly between our Sun and the transmitting alien star. See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
g Abodes - Observations and models for extrasolar planet formation can be compared with clues about planet-forming processes in the Solar System to answer the question: how typical are the processes that formed our Solar System? See article.
g Life - Instead of being driven to extinction by death from above, dinosaurs might have ultimately been doomed by death from below in the form of monumental volcanic eruptions. See article.
g Message - Our best chance of picking up a broadcast from intelligent aliens is when the Earth is closest to being directly between our Sun and the transmitting alien star. See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
UV’s effect on habitability, long-living super-Earths and Terran microbes on Mars
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - Previous work on habitable zones around solar-type stars has been concerned primarily with the constraint that liquid water must exist on the surface of a planet suitable for life, a condition currently satisfied only by Earth in our own solar system. An important additional constraint, generally overlooked in previous work, is the effect of solar ultraviolet radiation. See article.
g Abodes - Yellowstone National Park, once the site of a giant volcano, has begun swelling up, possibly because molten rock is accumulating beneath the surface, scientists report. Super-Earths could be a pretty super place to live compared with our puny planet. These big rocky planets in other solar systems could stay warm enough for life up to 35 percent longer than Earth. See article.
g Life - How would a hardy Earth microbe survive today on Mars? See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Cosmicus - NASA has extended the SORCE satellite mission until 2012. The satellite will now be able help scientists resolve predictions about the upcoming solar cycle peak and it's influence on Earth's climate. See article.
g Imagining - While science fiction has come a long way from the days of bug-eyed monsters, the genre still hasn't gone far enough in presenting well-conceived alien beings. As a derivative genre, role-playing games have an even poorer record. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
g Stars - Previous work on habitable zones around solar-type stars has been concerned primarily with the constraint that liquid water must exist on the surface of a planet suitable for life, a condition currently satisfied only by Earth in our own solar system. An important additional constraint, generally overlooked in previous work, is the effect of solar ultraviolet radiation. See article.
g Abodes - Yellowstone National Park, once the site of a giant volcano, has begun swelling up, possibly because molten rock is accumulating beneath the surface, scientists report. Super-Earths could be a pretty super place to live compared with our puny planet. These big rocky planets in other solar systems could stay warm enough for life up to 35 percent longer than Earth. See article.
g Life - How would a hardy Earth microbe survive today on Mars? See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Cosmicus - NASA has extended the SORCE satellite mission until 2012. The satellite will now be able help scientists resolve predictions about the upcoming solar cycle peak and it's influence on Earth's climate. See article.
g Imagining - While science fiction has come a long way from the days of bug-eyed monsters, the genre still hasn't gone far enough in presenting well-conceived alien beings. As a derivative genre, role-playing games have an even poorer record. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Fifth planet discovered around 55 Cancri, evolutionary convergence between worlds and lunar inflatable habitats
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - Astronomers have found evidence that rocky terrestrial planets may be forming around the star HD 23514. This star is similar to our Sun, and is located in the Pleiades star cluster some 400 light years away. See article.
g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered a fifth planet circling the star 55 Cancri – a record number of confirmed planets for a star beyond our Solar System. The new planet is probably similar to Saturn, except that it rests within the 'habitable zone' of its parent star. See article. For related story, see “Astronomers find planet bigger than Earth".
g Life - The question whether nature in an extraterrestrial context steers a predictable course is clearly an open question, but some hints from the basic laws of terrestrial biology (natural selection and a common ancestor for all the Earth biota) can be interpreted as evidence that to a large extent evolution is predictable and not contingent. Indeed, support from independent teams suggests that natural selection overrides the randomness of genetic drift; in other words, natural selection seems to be powerful enough to shape terrestrial organisms to similar ends, independent of historical contingency. See article.
g Intelligence - Humans revel in touch. Touch-spoiled babies grow up healthier; lovers can't keep their hands off each other; and people who master the subtle touch are perceived as friendlier. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA will be testing a new inflatable habitat in the cold, harsh climate of Antarctica. The habitat is a design that could one day be used on the Moon by human explorers on long-duration missions. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat classroom activity: “Remote Sensing.” In this lesson, students discover how remote sensing is used to identify the signatures of life even when the particular life form is not directly observable. See article.
g Stars - Astronomers have found evidence that rocky terrestrial planets may be forming around the star HD 23514. This star is similar to our Sun, and is located in the Pleiades star cluster some 400 light years away. See article.
g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered a fifth planet circling the star 55 Cancri – a record number of confirmed planets for a star beyond our Solar System. The new planet is probably similar to Saturn, except that it rests within the 'habitable zone' of its parent star. See article. For related story, see “Astronomers find planet bigger than Earth".
g Life - The question whether nature in an extraterrestrial context steers a predictable course is clearly an open question, but some hints from the basic laws of terrestrial biology (natural selection and a common ancestor for all the Earth biota) can be interpreted as evidence that to a large extent evolution is predictable and not contingent. Indeed, support from independent teams suggests that natural selection overrides the randomness of genetic drift; in other words, natural selection seems to be powerful enough to shape terrestrial organisms to similar ends, independent of historical contingency. See article.
g Intelligence - Humans revel in touch. Touch-spoiled babies grow up healthier; lovers can't keep their hands off each other; and people who master the subtle touch are perceived as friendlier. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA will be testing a new inflatable habitat in the cold, harsh climate of Antarctica. The habitat is a design that could one day be used on the Moon by human explorers on long-duration missions. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat classroom activity: “Remote Sensing.” In this lesson, students discover how remote sensing is used to identify the signatures of life even when the particular life form is not directly observable. See article.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Planets around binaries, extraterrestrial origin of life on Earth and Venusian rover
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - Could planets like Star Wars' Tatooine really exist around binary stars? See article.
g Life - There is a distinct possibility that human life on Earth could have alien origins, including links to Mars, astrobiologists say. See article.
g Intelligence - Nothing makes a person sound more idiotic than the presence of a new baby. See article.
g Cosmicus - A high-tech refrigeration system is being designed to keep a rover functioning for weeks on the searing hot surface of Venus, claim NASA researchers. See article.
g Aftermath - The next big discovery in science will be the proof that alien life exists — and it could come any day now. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Abodes - Could planets like Star Wars' Tatooine really exist around binary stars? See article.
g Life - There is a distinct possibility that human life on Earth could have alien origins, including links to Mars, astrobiologists say. See article.
g Intelligence - Nothing makes a person sound more idiotic than the presence of a new baby. See article.
g Cosmicus - A high-tech refrigeration system is being designed to keep a rover functioning for weeks on the searing hot surface of Venus, claim NASA researchers. See article.
g Aftermath - The next big discovery in science will be the proof that alien life exists — and it could come any day now. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Origin of Mars' Medusae Fossae Formation, Yellowstone's extremophiles and space radiation
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - Mars Express has uncovered new details about the origin of Mars' Medusae Fossae Formation. The materials in this region may be some of the youngest on Mars, and could yield information about the history of water on the planet. See article.
g Life - When bacteriologist Thomas Brock started probing the hot springs in Yellowstone National Park in the 1960s, he was not looking to overthrow a ground rule of biology. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
g Cosmicus - Space radiation can cause many problems inside the cells of astronauts, damaging DNA and potentially leading to illnesses like cancer. Scientists are studying how the human body naturally repairs this damage in order to develop better ways of protecting humans in space. See article.
g Learning - Colorado State University's Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere has earned a top award from NASA for its ongoing data processing work on the CloudSat satellite orbiting Earth. See article.
g Abodes - Mars Express has uncovered new details about the origin of Mars' Medusae Fossae Formation. The materials in this region may be some of the youngest on Mars, and could yield information about the history of water on the planet. See article.
g Life - When bacteriologist Thomas Brock started probing the hot springs in Yellowstone National Park in the 1960s, he was not looking to overthrow a ground rule of biology. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
g Cosmicus - Space radiation can cause many problems inside the cells of astronauts, damaging DNA and potentially leading to illnesses like cancer. Scientists are studying how the human body naturally repairs this damage in order to develop better ways of protecting humans in space. See article.
g Learning - Colorado State University's Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere has earned a top award from NASA for its ongoing data processing work on the CloudSat satellite orbiting Earth. See article.
Sleeping Mars, simple life forms and satellite-borne remote sensing system
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - Is Mars dead, or is it only sleeping? There is evidence, like vast, dried up riverbeds, that Mars once was a warm and wet world that could have supported life. Are the best times over, at least for life, on Mars? See article. For related story, see "APL Mineral-Mapper Has Key Role in Selecting Next Mars Rover Landing Site."
g Life - Simple life forms are turning up in a surprising variety of below-ground environments, potentially making up 50 percent of the Earth's biomass. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Cosmicus - Scientists at The University of Arizona will build a prototype instrument to demonstrate their revolutionary idea for a satellite-borne remote sensing system. It will measure water vapor, temperature and ozone anywhere over the globe with unprecedented vertical resolution and accuracy. See article.
g Imagining - Here’s a neat Web site: The Exorarium. At the Exorarium, visitors get a chance to mix and match the same ingredients that brought about human life, shaping their own unique intelligent life forms. For example, you might start with a hot or cool star, a heavy or light planet, one with lots of water or a desert world, and so on – until a unique ecosystem takes shape before your eyes … a family tree leading to the ultimate outcome, a species of intelligent life. See article.
g Abodes - Is Mars dead, or is it only sleeping? There is evidence, like vast, dried up riverbeds, that Mars once was a warm and wet world that could have supported life. Are the best times over, at least for life, on Mars? See article. For related story, see "APL Mineral-Mapper Has Key Role in Selecting Next Mars Rover Landing Site."
g Life - Simple life forms are turning up in a surprising variety of below-ground environments, potentially making up 50 percent of the Earth's biomass. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Cosmicus - Scientists at The University of Arizona will build a prototype instrument to demonstrate their revolutionary idea for a satellite-borne remote sensing system. It will measure water vapor, temperature and ozone anywhere over the globe with unprecedented vertical resolution and accuracy. See article.
g Imagining - Here’s a neat Web site: The Exorarium. At the Exorarium, visitors get a chance to mix and match the same ingredients that brought about human life, shaping their own unique intelligent life forms. For example, you might start with a hot or cool star, a heavy or light planet, one with lots of water or a desert world, and so on – until a unique ecosystem takes shape before your eyes … a family tree leading to the ultimate outcome, a species of intelligent life. See article.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The search for habitable planets, what happens if astronauts break laws in space and new astobiology center at Montana State
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - The search for habitable planets like Earth around other stars fulfils an ancient imperative to understand our origins and place in the cosmos. The past decade has seen the discovery of hundreds of planets, but nearly all are gas giants. See article.
g Life - For more than 100 years, visitors to Yellowstone have been fascinated by the large populations of big animals, such as elk, moose, buffalo, and bear. However, these beautiful animals represent only a tiny fraction of the significant biological resources of Yellowstone. The visitor might be surprised to learn that the living organisms in Yellowstone that have had the greatest economic impact on society are quite invisible. These are the microorganisms that live in the boiling waters and run-off channels of the geysers and hot springs. Although their color is visible to the naked eye, an individual microbial cell is so small as to be completely invisible. It is only because of their vast numbers that we know they are there. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Columbus space laboratory is ready for the ISS. The facility shows how international cooperation can provide a venue for important scientific research in space. However, what would happen in a place as international as the ISS if astronauts onboard weren't so cooperative? See article.
g Learning - A new astrobiology center at Montana State University could play a role in unlocking some of the most intriguing secrets of the universe, including where life came from and if life exists beyond Earth. See article.
g Abodes - The search for habitable planets like Earth around other stars fulfils an ancient imperative to understand our origins and place in the cosmos. The past decade has seen the discovery of hundreds of planets, but nearly all are gas giants. See article.
g Life - For more than 100 years, visitors to Yellowstone have been fascinated by the large populations of big animals, such as elk, moose, buffalo, and bear. However, these beautiful animals represent only a tiny fraction of the significant biological resources of Yellowstone. The visitor might be surprised to learn that the living organisms in Yellowstone that have had the greatest economic impact on society are quite invisible. These are the microorganisms that live in the boiling waters and run-off channels of the geysers and hot springs. Although their color is visible to the naked eye, an individual microbial cell is so small as to be completely invisible. It is only because of their vast numbers that we know they are there. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Columbus space laboratory is ready for the ISS. The facility shows how international cooperation can provide a venue for important scientific research in space. However, what would happen in a place as international as the ISS if astronauts onboard weren't so cooperative? See article.
g Learning - A new astrobiology center at Montana State University could play a role in unlocking some of the most intriguing secrets of the universe, including where life came from and if life exists beyond Earth. See article.
Astronomers discover star more similar than any other to our own, Titan’s lakes and how different gravities affect humans
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - Astronomers have discovered a star more like our Sun than any other previously observed. The finding suggests that the Sun's chemical composition is not unique, as some previously thought, and could have implications in the search for habitable environments beyond our Solar System. See article.
g Abodes - Newly assembled radar images from the Cassini spacecraft provide the best view of the hydrocarbon lakes and seas on the north pole of Saturn's moon Titan, while a new radar image reveals that Titan's south polar region also has lakes. See article. For related story, see Take an umbrella if you plan to visit Titan!.
g Life - Quote of the Day: "There is grandeur in this view of life ... from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." — Charles Darwin, closing sentence in “On the Origin of Species”
g Cosmicus - Despite years of spaceflight, we still don't know exactly how different levels of gravity influence human health. In this interview with Catharine Conley, she says that by spinning worms around really fast, we can learn more about our ability to live in space and on other worlds. See article.
g Learning - To be sure, researchers have long studied the origins of life on Earth and searched for signs of it on other planets. But until recently those enterprising scientists lurked at the fringes of their fields. No longer. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Stars - Astronomers have discovered a star more like our Sun than any other previously observed. The finding suggests that the Sun's chemical composition is not unique, as some previously thought, and could have implications in the search for habitable environments beyond our Solar System. See article.
g Abodes - Newly assembled radar images from the Cassini spacecraft provide the best view of the hydrocarbon lakes and seas on the north pole of Saturn's moon Titan, while a new radar image reveals that Titan's south polar region also has lakes. See article. For related story, see Take an umbrella if you plan to visit Titan!.
g Life - Quote of the Day: "There is grandeur in this view of life ... from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." — Charles Darwin, closing sentence in “On the Origin of Species”
g Cosmicus - Despite years of spaceflight, we still don't know exactly how different levels of gravity influence human health. In this interview with Catharine Conley, she says that by spinning worms around really fast, we can learn more about our ability to live in space and on other worlds. See article.
g Learning - To be sure, researchers have long studied the origins of life on Earth and searched for signs of it on other planets. But until recently those enterprising scientists lurked at the fringes of their fields. No longer. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Detecting life’s signature on exoplanets, books about SETI
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - One of the promising methods to search for life on exoplanets is to detect life's signatures in their atmospheres. Spectra of exoplanet atmospheres at the modest resolution needed to search for oxygen, carbon dioxide, water and methane will demand large collecting areas and large diameters to capture and isolate the light from planets in the habitable zones around the stars. See article.
g Life - Could dormant forms of bacteria called endospores potentially travel from Earth to Mars aboard spacecraft? If so, new experiments suggest that even a dry and cold Mars might not prove so inhospitable, despite the possibility of self-sterilizing and oxidizing Martian soil. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Intelligence - Book alert: “Intelligent Life in the Universe”, by Peter Ulmschneider, addresses all scientists and others interested in the origins, development and fate of intelligent species in the observable part of our universe. In particular, the author scrutinizes what kind of information about extraterrestrial intelligent life can be inferred from our own biological, cultural and scientific evolution and the likely future of mankind. The first part of the book provides the necessary background information from space and life sciences, thus making the book also accessible to students and the scientifically educated public.
g Cosmicus - Are bigger bones stronger bones? Not necessarily, according to a recent NASA study that seeks to ensure healthy bones in astronauts. See article.
g Learning - Here’s an excellent collection of books about SETI, including some for elementary and middle school children. These would make some great holiday gifts.
g Abodes - One of the promising methods to search for life on exoplanets is to detect life's signatures in their atmospheres. Spectra of exoplanet atmospheres at the modest resolution needed to search for oxygen, carbon dioxide, water and methane will demand large collecting areas and large diameters to capture and isolate the light from planets in the habitable zones around the stars. See article.
g Life - Could dormant forms of bacteria called endospores potentially travel from Earth to Mars aboard spacecraft? If so, new experiments suggest that even a dry and cold Mars might not prove so inhospitable, despite the possibility of self-sterilizing and oxidizing Martian soil. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Intelligence - Book alert: “Intelligent Life in the Universe”, by Peter Ulmschneider, addresses all scientists and others interested in the origins, development and fate of intelligent species in the observable part of our universe. In particular, the author scrutinizes what kind of information about extraterrestrial intelligent life can be inferred from our own biological, cultural and scientific evolution and the likely future of mankind. The first part of the book provides the necessary background information from space and life sciences, thus making the book also accessible to students and the scientifically educated public.
g Cosmicus - Are bigger bones stronger bones? Not necessarily, according to a recent NASA study that seeks to ensure healthy bones in astronauts. See article.
g Learning - Here’s an excellent collection of books about SETI, including some for elementary and middle school children. These would make some great holiday gifts.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Possibility of Earth-like planets around 47 UMa, visiting Titan and cooperation in space exploration
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - The system of 47 UMa consists of two Jupiter-size planets beyond the outer edge of the stellar habitable zone, and thus resembles our own Solar System rather closely. Here’s a paper that explores the habitability of this system for Earth-like planets, following a concept that assumes the long-term possibility of photosynthetic biomass production under geodynamic conditions. See article.
g Abodes - If space travelers ever visit Saturn's largest moon, they will find a tropical world where temperatures plunge to minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit, methane rains from the sky and dunes of ice or tar cover the planet's most arid regions. See article.
g Cosmicus - Policy researchers are predicting a new age of cooperation in space exploration. A recent conference in Vienna brought together researchers from numerous fields in the humanities to discuss how exploration of the Moon, Mars and other locations in the Solar System will affect science and society. See article.
g Learning - A new academic field attracting chemists, biologists and geologists alike is gaining popularity at Stanford. The Earth Systems program is planning a new concentration in astrobiology, and one undergraduate is pursuing am Individually Designed Major in that field. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Aftermath - Book alert: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: A Philosophical Inquiry by David Lamb (Routledge) critically evaluates claims concerning the status of SETI as a genuine scientific research program and examines the attempts to establish contact with other intelligent life forms in the past thirty years. Are we alone in the universe? Is the search for extraterrestrial intelligence a waste of resources or a genuine contribution to scientific research? And how should we communicate with other life‑forms if we make contact?
g Stars - The system of 47 UMa consists of two Jupiter-size planets beyond the outer edge of the stellar habitable zone, and thus resembles our own Solar System rather closely. Here’s a paper that explores the habitability of this system for Earth-like planets, following a concept that assumes the long-term possibility of photosynthetic biomass production under geodynamic conditions. See article.
g Abodes - If space travelers ever visit Saturn's largest moon, they will find a tropical world where temperatures plunge to minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit, methane rains from the sky and dunes of ice or tar cover the planet's most arid regions. See article.
g Cosmicus - Policy researchers are predicting a new age of cooperation in space exploration. A recent conference in Vienna brought together researchers from numerous fields in the humanities to discuss how exploration of the Moon, Mars and other locations in the Solar System will affect science and society. See article.
g Learning - A new academic field attracting chemists, biologists and geologists alike is gaining popularity at Stanford. The Earth Systems program is planning a new concentration in astrobiology, and one undergraduate is pursuing am Individually Designed Major in that field. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Aftermath - Book alert: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: A Philosophical Inquiry by David Lamb (Routledge) critically evaluates claims concerning the status of SETI as a genuine scientific research program and examines the attempts to establish contact with other intelligent life forms in the past thirty years. Are we alone in the universe? Is the search for extraterrestrial intelligence a waste of resources or a genuine contribution to scientific research? And how should we communicate with other life‑forms if we make contact?
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Earth-like planet forming, Atlantis rolls to launch pad and majority of Americans believe in ET
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - An Earth-like planet is likely forming 424 light-years away in a star system called HD 113766, say astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. See article.
g Life - Progress in the evolution of life on Earth is measured by an increase in biological diversity (biodiversity), by an increase in morphological disparity, and by progress towards increasing complexity. This are presumably general principals which apply to any living system and so studies of the processes that result in these advances should have universal application. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA moved space shuttle Atlantis to its seaside launch pad on Saturday ahead of a planned early December mission to get Europe's first permanent space laboratory into orbit. See article.
g Aftermath - While most depictions of extraterrestrials are confined to science fiction, nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that some form of alien life exists somewhere in the universe, according to a new survey. See article. Note: This article is from 2005.
g Abodes - An Earth-like planet is likely forming 424 light-years away in a star system called HD 113766, say astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. See article.
g Life - Progress in the evolution of life on Earth is measured by an increase in biological diversity (biodiversity), by an increase in morphological disparity, and by progress towards increasing complexity. This are presumably general principals which apply to any living system and so studies of the processes that result in these advances should have universal application. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA moved space shuttle Atlantis to its seaside launch pad on Saturday ahead of a planned early December mission to get Europe's first permanent space laboratory into orbit. See article.
g Aftermath - While most depictions of extraterrestrials are confined to science fiction, nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that some form of alien life exists somewhere in the universe, according to a new survey. See article. Note: This article is from 2005.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Comet’s ion tail, flying to the moon and a brief introduction to astrobiology
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - A chance encounter between spacecraft Ulysses and Comet McNaught's ion tail has scientists in the University of Michigan's College of Engineering marveling at a stroke of luck and some surprising data. See article. For related stories, see “Dazzling comet outburst continues to mystify” and “Did a collision cause comet's mysterious outburst?”.
g Cosmicus - Here’s a good editorial from the Guardian, “In praise of ... flying to the moon”.
g Learning - Book alert: Is there anybody out there? Is ET trying to phone home? In the past decade or so, astrobiology has come of age. Once regarded as a laughing stock - physicists turned Roswell freaks - astrobiologists are increasingly greatly in number. Their subject is one of the few that has actually seen an increase in funding in recent years. Astrobiology blends astronomy, chemistry, and biology to search for amino acids and other building blocks of life. Practitioners seek new planets beyond our solar system, to seek out new life forms, to boldly go... Questions are posed, such as whether all life must be carbon based, whether only Earthlike planets can support life, and whether there "can be life, Jim, but not as we know it." “Astrobiology: A Brief Introduction”, by Kevin W. Plaxco and Michael Gross, is probably the first serious yet accessible book written on the subject. Plaxco is a chemist, Gross a molecular biologist and popular science writer.
g Abodes - A chance encounter between spacecraft Ulysses and Comet McNaught's ion tail has scientists in the University of Michigan's College of Engineering marveling at a stroke of luck and some surprising data. See article. For related stories, see “Dazzling comet outburst continues to mystify” and “Did a collision cause comet's mysterious outburst?”.
g Cosmicus - Here’s a good editorial from the Guardian, “In praise of ... flying to the moon”.
g Learning - Book alert: Is there anybody out there? Is ET trying to phone home? In the past decade or so, astrobiology has come of age. Once regarded as a laughing stock - physicists turned Roswell freaks - astrobiologists are increasingly greatly in number. Their subject is one of the few that has actually seen an increase in funding in recent years. Astrobiology blends astronomy, chemistry, and biology to search for amino acids and other building blocks of life. Practitioners seek new planets beyond our solar system, to seek out new life forms, to boldly go... Questions are posed, such as whether all life must be carbon based, whether only Earthlike planets can support life, and whether there "can be life, Jim, but not as we know it." “Astrobiology: A Brief Introduction”, by Kevin W. Plaxco and Michael Gross, is probably the first serious yet accessible book written on the subject. Plaxco is a chemist, Gross a molecular biologist and popular science writer.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Embryonic planets, advancing key space technologies and afterschool astrobiology
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - Astronomers at the University of Rochester are pointing to three nearby stars they say may hold "embryonic planets" — a missing link in planet-formation theories. See article.
g Life - Unlike normal jellyfish, which drift in the ocean current, box jellyfish are active swimmers that can rapidly make 180-degree turns and deftly dart between objects. Scientists suspect that box jellyfish are such agile because one set of their 24 eyes detects objects that get in their way. See article.
g Intelligence - While many scientists have considered masculine tendencies to be barriers to health and recovery, a small study of about 50 men suggests the opposite. The man-of-steel mentality, often associated with military men and those in other high-risk occupations, can boost and speed up a guy’s recovery from a serious and/or traumatic injury possibly. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat piece: an interview with Frank Drake, the astronomer and pioneer who flipped the "on" switch for Project Ozma, the first modern “SETI” project. See article. Note: The interview is from 2000.
g Cosmicus - Four projects that will advance key technologies to meet critical needs for NASA's mission will be led by Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. The projects are part of NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program Seed Fund that addresses technology barriers with cost-shared, joint-development programs. See article.
g Learning - Here’s something neat, courtesy of NASA: astrobiology science learning activities for afterschool.
g Abodes - Astronomers at the University of Rochester are pointing to three nearby stars they say may hold "embryonic planets" — a missing link in planet-formation theories. See article.
g Life - Unlike normal jellyfish, which drift in the ocean current, box jellyfish are active swimmers that can rapidly make 180-degree turns and deftly dart between objects. Scientists suspect that box jellyfish are such agile because one set of their 24 eyes detects objects that get in their way. See article.
g Intelligence - While many scientists have considered masculine tendencies to be barriers to health and recovery, a small study of about 50 men suggests the opposite. The man-of-steel mentality, often associated with military men and those in other high-risk occupations, can boost and speed up a guy’s recovery from a serious and/or traumatic injury possibly. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat piece: an interview with Frank Drake, the astronomer and pioneer who flipped the "on" switch for Project Ozma, the first modern “SETI” project. See article. Note: The interview is from 2000.
g Cosmicus - Four projects that will advance key technologies to meet critical needs for NASA's mission will be led by Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. The projects are part of NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program Seed Fund that addresses technology barriers with cost-shared, joint-development programs. See article.
g Learning - Here’s something neat, courtesy of NASA: astrobiology science learning activities for afterschool.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
How life evolved as climate changed, exovegetation and experimental airplane for Mars
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - In examining spectra, we have moved from the very small, from little waves and atoms, to the very large, to stars, and then down in scale to planets. But our Sun and planetary system came from "out there," among the stars. To know ourselves, therefore, we must understand the stars and their natures. See article.
g Abodes - Geologists have determined when Earth may have first supported an oxygen-rich atmosphere similar to that of today. The study provides clues about how life on Earth has evolved alongside our planet's changing climate. See article.
g Life - NAI's Virtual Planetary Laboratory Team have explored the possibility of detecting exovegetation on terrestrial planets orbiting M stars. They estimated the red shift of this surface feature using leaf optical property spectra with a three photon photosynthetic scheme. The authors have produced a model wherein a pigment-derived surface signature such as exovegetation could be detected, but would be dependent upon the extent of the vegetation on the surface, cloud cover, and viewing angle. See article.
g Message - The Search for Extraterrestrial Artifacts, or SETA, is about delineating between the artificial and the real. In the case of radio detection from other stellar systems, the artificial is what is labeled the real signal that intelligent communications are on-air. See article. Note: This article is a couple of years old.
g Cosmicus - U.S. engineers have long wanted to fold up an airplane inside a rocket and send it on a mission to cruise through the atmosphere of Mars. They now have a new potential customer for the concept: the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. See article.
g Aftermath - If we find other civilizations, what will we say to them? Crafting a message that represents Earth and humanity and can be understood by another life form is no minor endeavor. SETI Institute psychologist Douglas Vakoch has been charged with this formidable task, and has enlisted the help of mathematicians, artists, astronomers and anthropologists. Hear the messages he helped compose and learn about the thinking behind.
g Stars - In examining spectra, we have moved from the very small, from little waves and atoms, to the very large, to stars, and then down in scale to planets. But our Sun and planetary system came from "out there," among the stars. To know ourselves, therefore, we must understand the stars and their natures. See article.
g Abodes - Geologists have determined when Earth may have first supported an oxygen-rich atmosphere similar to that of today. The study provides clues about how life on Earth has evolved alongside our planet's changing climate. See article.
g Life - NAI's Virtual Planetary Laboratory Team have explored the possibility of detecting exovegetation on terrestrial planets orbiting M stars. They estimated the red shift of this surface feature using leaf optical property spectra with a three photon photosynthetic scheme. The authors have produced a model wherein a pigment-derived surface signature such as exovegetation could be detected, but would be dependent upon the extent of the vegetation on the surface, cloud cover, and viewing angle. See article.
g Message - The Search for Extraterrestrial Artifacts, or SETA, is about delineating between the artificial and the real. In the case of radio detection from other stellar systems, the artificial is what is labeled the real signal that intelligent communications are on-air. See article. Note: This article is a couple of years old.
g Cosmicus - U.S. engineers have long wanted to fold up an airplane inside a rocket and send it on a mission to cruise through the atmosphere of Mars. They now have a new potential customer for the concept: the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. See article.
g Aftermath - If we find other civilizations, what will we say to them? Crafting a message that represents Earth and humanity and can be understood by another life form is no minor endeavor. SETI Institute psychologist Douglas Vakoch has been charged with this formidable task, and has enlisted the help of mathematicians, artists, astronomers and anthropologists. Hear the messages he helped compose and learn about the thinking behind.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Life-bearing planets within the immediate stellar neighborhood, Earth’s fate and space technologies fight TB
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - What are the astronomical possibilities of life-bearing planets within the immediate stellar neighborhood, that is, within roughly 50 light years of Sol? See article.
g Abodes - An international team of astronomers recently discovered a planet that is orbiting an old star in the late stage of its evolution; this planetary system offers insight into the fate of the Earth. Jonathan Fortney, an Ames Planetary Scientist, recently published an article commenting on this topic in the September issue of Nature magazine.
g Life - We humans think we're pretty tough, pretty smart, and pretty much the Overlords of the Earth. Well, we are sort of smart, and we've used those smarts to make us much more tough than we are naturally. In some sense, we have, indeed, become the Overlords of the Earth. Technological wonders notwithstanding, the range of conditions that we can endure is still very limited. Of course, we view the rest of the cosmos from our own perspective. As such, we define places that we find personally uncomfortable as "extreme environments," but does this term have any real meaning for biology on Earth and for exobiology on other planets? See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
g Cosmicus - In the year that saw 50 years since the beginning of the space race, UK researchers have underlined the relevance that space technologies can have for other areas with the announcement of new research on detecting tuberculosis using technologies developed for space missions. See article.
g Aftermath - In order to retrieve samples from another place in the solar system that might harbor life, careful planning is required to ensure that mission designs incorporate measures to safeguard both the Earth and other solar system bodies from cross contamination. These measures, collectively known as planetary protection measures, are actually tied to international law. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
g Stars - What are the astronomical possibilities of life-bearing planets within the immediate stellar neighborhood, that is, within roughly 50 light years of Sol? See article.
g Abodes - An international team of astronomers recently discovered a planet that is orbiting an old star in the late stage of its evolution; this planetary system offers insight into the fate of the Earth. Jonathan Fortney, an Ames Planetary Scientist, recently published an article commenting on this topic in the September issue of Nature magazine.
g Life - We humans think we're pretty tough, pretty smart, and pretty much the Overlords of the Earth. Well, we are sort of smart, and we've used those smarts to make us much more tough than we are naturally. In some sense, we have, indeed, become the Overlords of the Earth. Technological wonders notwithstanding, the range of conditions that we can endure is still very limited. Of course, we view the rest of the cosmos from our own perspective. As such, we define places that we find personally uncomfortable as "extreme environments," but does this term have any real meaning for biology on Earth and for exobiology on other planets? See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
g Cosmicus - In the year that saw 50 years since the beginning of the space race, UK researchers have underlined the relevance that space technologies can have for other areas with the announcement of new research on detecting tuberculosis using technologies developed for space missions. See article.
g Aftermath - In order to retrieve samples from another place in the solar system that might harbor life, careful planning is required to ensure that mission designs incorporate measures to safeguard both the Earth and other solar system bodies from cross contamination. These measures, collectively known as planetary protection measures, are actually tied to international law. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Building DNA through chemistry rather than biology, Chinese lunar probe and mind-boggling aftermath of discovering we’re either alone or part of life-
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - How are stars classified into different categories? In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based initially on photospheric temperature and its associated spectral characteristics, and subsequently refined in terms of other characteristics. See article. For related item, see this explanation of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
g Abodes - A new study casts doubt on the theory that an asteroid or meteor impact caused the greatest mass extinction in Earth's history. The research shows that environmental stress due to global warming and volcanic eruptions may have been the culprit. See article.
g Life - Scientists have suggested a new theory for how the chemical constituents essential to life arose on the early Earth. They've shown that simple molecules can combine to form the building blocks of DNA through chemistry rather than biology. See article.
g Cosmicus - Last month, the Chinese National Space Administration launched Chang'e-1, the first step in China's efforts to land robot explorers on the Moon. From orbit, the Chang'e-1 spacecraft will collect geological data and the first detailed images of some regions near the lunar poles. See article.
g Aftermath - Finding out that we are alone in the universe or a suburb of a huge village of other star folk - either alternative is mind boggling. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Stars - How are stars classified into different categories? In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based initially on photospheric temperature and its associated spectral characteristics, and subsequently refined in terms of other characteristics. See article. For related item, see this explanation of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
g Abodes - A new study casts doubt on the theory that an asteroid or meteor impact caused the greatest mass extinction in Earth's history. The research shows that environmental stress due to global warming and volcanic eruptions may have been the culprit. See article.
g Life - Scientists have suggested a new theory for how the chemical constituents essential to life arose on the early Earth. They've shown that simple molecules can combine to form the building blocks of DNA through chemistry rather than biology. See article.
g Cosmicus - Last month, the Chinese National Space Administration launched Chang'e-1, the first step in China's efforts to land robot explorers on the Moon. From orbit, the Chang'e-1 spacecraft will collect geological data and the first detailed images of some regions near the lunar poles. See article.
g Aftermath - Finding out that we are alone in the universe or a suburb of a huge village of other star folk - either alternative is mind boggling. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
New lunar science institute, protein architectures reveal past and careers in astrobiology
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - Scientists examining samples of the Solar Wind returned to Earth by NASA's Genesis mission are solving questions about how our Solar System evolved. This investigation is important in ultimately determining how the Solar System became habitable for life as we know it. See article.
g Abodes - NASA said Tuesday that it plans to establish a new lunar science institute, in the hopes of laying the groundwork for future missions to the moon. See article.
g Life - The present can tell you a lot about the past, but you need to know where to look. A new study appearing this month in Genome Research reveals that protein architectures - the three-dimensional structures of specific regions within proteins - provide an extraordinary window on the history of life. See article.
g Cosmicus - While recognizing that many of the driving forces behind human space flight are social and political, rather than narrowly scientific, it seems clear that science has been, and will continue to be, a major beneficiary of having people in space. What, after all, is the alternative? We can either stay at home, sending a few robot spacecraft to our neighboring planets, and continuing to gaze at the more distant universe across light years of empty space, or we can get ourselves out among the planets and, eventually, the stars. In which alternative future would we learn the most about this universe and our place within it? See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat educational Web site that allows grade school students to role-play NASA careers, as they search for and design a planet that would be habitable to humans. The site highlights NASA careers and astrobiology research in: astronomy, geology, biology and atmospheric sciences.
g Stars - Scientists examining samples of the Solar Wind returned to Earth by NASA's Genesis mission are solving questions about how our Solar System evolved. This investigation is important in ultimately determining how the Solar System became habitable for life as we know it. See article.
g Abodes - NASA said Tuesday that it plans to establish a new lunar science institute, in the hopes of laying the groundwork for future missions to the moon. See article.
g Life - The present can tell you a lot about the past, but you need to know where to look. A new study appearing this month in Genome Research reveals that protein architectures - the three-dimensional structures of specific regions within proteins - provide an extraordinary window on the history of life. See article.
g Cosmicus - While recognizing that many of the driving forces behind human space flight are social and political, rather than narrowly scientific, it seems clear that science has been, and will continue to be, a major beneficiary of having people in space. What, after all, is the alternative? We can either stay at home, sending a few robot spacecraft to our neighboring planets, and continuing to gaze at the more distant universe across light years of empty space, or we can get ourselves out among the planets and, eventually, the stars. In which alternative future would we learn the most about this universe and our place within it? See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat educational Web site that allows grade school students to role-play NASA careers, as they search for and design a planet that would be habitable to humans. The site highlights NASA careers and astrobiology research in: astronomy, geology, biology and atmospheric sciences.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Comet in solar hurricane, if the Earth had no moon and Cosmic Visions
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - STEREO has captured the first images of a collision between a comet and a solar hurricane. It is the first time scientists have witnessed such an event on another cosmic body. STEREO recorded the event April 20. See article.
g Abodes - Bernard Foing looks at the effect the Moon has had on the Earth, and explores how different our world would be if we had no planetary companion. See article.
g Life - New research on enantiomers—mirror image chemical structures that have nearly identical physical and chemical properties and are difficult to separate—demonstrates how, in the presence of a strong magnetic field, enantiomers of the sugars ribose and glucose will interact selectively and differentially with water molecules that contain the 17O isotope. See article.
g Cosmicus - The European Space Agency has announced the results of its Cosmic Visions 2015-2025 call for proposals. Fifty space science missions for the next decade were proposed, with just seven selected. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat set of expert talks about various concepts of astrobiology, intended for high school and older audiences, all courtesy of NASA. Note: Most of these lectures are from 1999.
g Aftermath - Movie aliens often are like distant relatives: They resemble us in an unpleasant sort of way. This is hardly a surprise. Hollywood creates characters that audiences can identify with, and that’s why its aliens are so anthropomorphic (and why Donald Duck looks more like a human than a duck.) But appearances aside, cinema aliens have another implausible attribute: they’re nearly always at our level of technical sophistication. We frequently trade gunfire with them or chase them around in dogfights. This is silly, of course. Any beings capable of bridging the vast distances between the stars would be able to clean our clock when it comes to science and engineering. Visitors from other worlds — should any appear — would be enormously ahead of us from a technological viewpoint. See article. Note: This article is from 2000.
g Stars - STEREO has captured the first images of a collision between a comet and a solar hurricane. It is the first time scientists have witnessed such an event on another cosmic body. STEREO recorded the event April 20. See article.
g Abodes - Bernard Foing looks at the effect the Moon has had on the Earth, and explores how different our world would be if we had no planetary companion. See article.
g Life - New research on enantiomers—mirror image chemical structures that have nearly identical physical and chemical properties and are difficult to separate—demonstrates how, in the presence of a strong magnetic field, enantiomers of the sugars ribose and glucose will interact selectively and differentially with water molecules that contain the 17O isotope. See article.
g Cosmicus - The European Space Agency has announced the results of its Cosmic Visions 2015-2025 call for proposals. Fifty space science missions for the next decade were proposed, with just seven selected. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat set of expert talks about various concepts of astrobiology, intended for high school and older audiences, all courtesy of NASA. Note: Most of these lectures are from 1999.
g Aftermath - Movie aliens often are like distant relatives: They resemble us in an unpleasant sort of way. This is hardly a surprise. Hollywood creates characters that audiences can identify with, and that’s why its aliens are so anthropomorphic (and why Donald Duck looks more like a human than a duck.) But appearances aside, cinema aliens have another implausible attribute: they’re nearly always at our level of technical sophistication. We frequently trade gunfire with them or chase them around in dogfights. This is silly, of course. Any beings capable of bridging the vast distances between the stars would be able to clean our clock when it comes to science and engineering. Visitors from other worlds — should any appear — would be enormously ahead of us from a technological viewpoint. See article. Note: This article is from 2000.
Helping stars spiral into life, mites rediscover sex and hyper-advanced civilization
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - Invisible magnetic field lines twisted like long ropes of DNA help stars spiral into life, according to a new model.
g Abodes - Within a solar system, it is believed a planet must lie within the habitable zone in order to sustain life. See article.
g Life - Tiny spider relatives have rediscovered the joy of sex, regaining the ability to mate after their arachnid ancestors lost it, marking a reproductive first in the annals of animal evolution. See article.
g Cosmicus - Go outside and try to find a rock. It’s pretty easy, right? Not if you’re a robot. David Wettergreen explains why. See article.
g Learning - Do you have what it takes to keep a trio of astronauts healthy? Play Space Doctor and see if you can make it to Mars alive.
g Aftermath - A hyper-advanced civilization may command such unimaginable power that it can fashion worlds and consume whole suns. But it would still be bound by the laws of physics. See article.
g Stars - Invisible magnetic field lines twisted like long ropes of DNA help stars spiral into life, according to a new model.
g Abodes - Within a solar system, it is believed a planet must lie within the habitable zone in order to sustain life. See article.
g Life - Tiny spider relatives have rediscovered the joy of sex, regaining the ability to mate after their arachnid ancestors lost it, marking a reproductive first in the annals of animal evolution. See article.
g Cosmicus - Go outside and try to find a rock. It’s pretty easy, right? Not if you’re a robot. David Wettergreen explains why. See article.
g Learning - Do you have what it takes to keep a trio of astronauts healthy? Play Space Doctor and see if you can make it to Mars alive.
g Aftermath - A hyper-advanced civilization may command such unimaginable power that it can fashion worlds and consume whole suns. But it would still be bound by the laws of physics. See article.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Dead stars collide, life interacting with planets and volcanoes warming Mars
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - A massive explosion in the deep reaches of space stemmed not from one dying star, as is typical, but from two dead ones that collided as the climax of a long orbital dance, new research shows. See article.
g Abodes - Currently, Mars appears to be completely hostile to life as we know it. New research, however, raises the possibility that volcanoes on Mars might not be extinct and if they were to erupt they could dramatically alter the Martian climate. They might even make the planet warmer and more hospitable. See article.
g Life - "Astrobiology has to do with how life interacts with planets, moons, and other bodies in our cosmos," says Dr. Barry Blumberg, director of NASA's Astrobiology Institute. Blumberg says there may be life on these planets that is similar to what we find on earth. "The notion is that if we understand it on earth, it will help us to identify life on other planets." See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
g Message - A “portrait of humanity” recently was taken by Simon Bell, a photographer from Toronto. It is half of a stereo pair, two images that when properly focused together, reveal the scene’s third dimension. The photograph was envisioned as part of a message for the Cassini mission to Saturn and its moon Titan, launched in late 1997. It would have been an artifact in the tradition of the Voyager Record and the “Visions of Mars” CD ROM. Unlike the Voyager Record it was not intended to leave the solar system to be found by the crew of an advanced starship. Unlike Visions it was not for humans in the next few centuries. Its fate would have been to remain on the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan, waiting for eons of time against the slim chance that life might someday appear on that strange world, or that some other space traveler might visit Titan and find it. The image, inscribed on a diamond wafer about the size of a coin, was intended to show an intelligent alien on Titan viewer a little about our bodies, about our relationships with each other, and about our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - Scientists are using data from a powerful mineral-mapping camera in order to select a landing site for NASA's next Mars rover mission. The rover, dubbed the Mars Science Laboratory, will assess whether or not Mars ever had an environment capable of supporting life. See article.
g Learning - Wish I could have been a student in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Monday: Livingston Holder Jr., who trained extensively to fly in the space shuttle but never got the chance to go to space when his mission was canceled in the wake of the Challenger disaster in January 1986, spoke in several schools. See article.
g Stars - A massive explosion in the deep reaches of space stemmed not from one dying star, as is typical, but from two dead ones that collided as the climax of a long orbital dance, new research shows. See article.
g Abodes - Currently, Mars appears to be completely hostile to life as we know it. New research, however, raises the possibility that volcanoes on Mars might not be extinct and if they were to erupt they could dramatically alter the Martian climate. They might even make the planet warmer and more hospitable. See article.
g Life - "Astrobiology has to do with how life interacts with planets, moons, and other bodies in our cosmos," says Dr. Barry Blumberg, director of NASA's Astrobiology Institute. Blumberg says there may be life on these planets that is similar to what we find on earth. "The notion is that if we understand it on earth, it will help us to identify life on other planets." See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
g Message - A “portrait of humanity” recently was taken by Simon Bell, a photographer from Toronto. It is half of a stereo pair, two images that when properly focused together, reveal the scene’s third dimension. The photograph was envisioned as part of a message for the Cassini mission to Saturn and its moon Titan, launched in late 1997. It would have been an artifact in the tradition of the Voyager Record and the “Visions of Mars” CD ROM. Unlike the Voyager Record it was not intended to leave the solar system to be found by the crew of an advanced starship. Unlike Visions it was not for humans in the next few centuries. Its fate would have been to remain on the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan, waiting for eons of time against the slim chance that life might someday appear on that strange world, or that some other space traveler might visit Titan and find it. The image, inscribed on a diamond wafer about the size of a coin, was intended to show an intelligent alien on Titan viewer a little about our bodies, about our relationships with each other, and about our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - Scientists are using data from a powerful mineral-mapping camera in order to select a landing site for NASA's next Mars rover mission. The rover, dubbed the Mars Science Laboratory, will assess whether or not Mars ever had an environment capable of supporting life. See article.
g Learning - Wish I could have been a student in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Monday: Livingston Holder Jr., who trained extensively to fly in the space shuttle but never got the chance to go to space when his mission was canceled in the wake of the Challenger disaster in January 1986, spoke in several schools. See article.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Planetary habitability, candidates for future space missions and ‘After Contact’
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - What do astrobiologists mean when they refer to "planetary habitability"? See article.
g Cosmicus - During a recent meeting, the European Space Agency announced new candidates for future space missions. Many of the missions are focused on astrobiology topics, including the habitability of Europa, the potential for liquid water on Enceladus and the search for habitable planets. See article.
g Aftermath - Here’s an interesting book for some astrobiological reading: “After Contact: The Human Response to Extraterrestrial Life” by Albert A. Harrison.
g Abodes - What do astrobiologists mean when they refer to "planetary habitability"? See article.
g Cosmicus - During a recent meeting, the European Space Agency announced new candidates for future space missions. Many of the missions are focused on astrobiology topics, including the habitability of Europa, the potential for liquid water on Enceladus and the search for habitable planets. See article.
g Aftermath - Here’s an interesting book for some astrobiological reading: “After Contact: The Human Response to Extraterrestrial Life” by Albert A. Harrison.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Path through the universe, teaching a robot about energy efficiency and secret plans for first contact
Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Abodes - The culprit behind Earth's ice ages may be its inevitable path through the universe. See article.
g Cosmicus - It’s not easy to teach a robot about energy efficiency – but it can be done. Roboticist David Wettergreen explains how. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a useful Web site for educators about microbial life and its role in astrobiology, created by Sarah Bordenstein of the Marine Biological Laboratory: “Microbial Life and Astrobiology”.
g Aftermath - Within the scientific community, the question is no longer whether extraterrestrial life exists, but if ET is smart enough to do long division — and the United States and other world governments already have detailed secret plans for first contact. My apologies in advanced for Popular Mechanic’s lurid title, but the reporting is sound. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Abodes - The culprit behind Earth's ice ages may be its inevitable path through the universe. See article.
g Cosmicus - It’s not easy to teach a robot about energy efficiency – but it can be done. Roboticist David Wettergreen explains how. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a useful Web site for educators about microbial life and its role in astrobiology, created by Sarah Bordenstein of the Marine Biological Laboratory: “Microbial Life and Astrobiology”.
g Aftermath - Within the scientific community, the question is no longer whether extraterrestrial life exists, but if ET is smart enough to do long division — and the United States and other world governments already have detailed secret plans for first contact. My apologies in advanced for Popular Mechanic’s lurid title, but the reporting is sound. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
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