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 Life - In the ultra-bright galaxy Arp 220, radio astronomers have for the first time detected all the ingredients of an amino acid beyond the Milky Way. The study confirms that familiar carbon chemistry exists in the distant universe, and could help constrain the search for life. See article.
g Message - Extraterrestrial civilizations may find it more efficient to communicate by sending material objects across interstellar distances rather than beams of electromagnetic radiation. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Cosmicus - Researchers gathered last week in wintery Wisconsin to test a robotic probe under ice. Astrobiology Magazine’s Henry Bortman submits his final report on the probe’s progress in the field. See article.
g Imagining - Like stories about alien biologies/environments? Be sure to scour your favorite used bookstores for Clifford Simak’s ”Way Station” (1963), which examines many different kinds of potential aliens.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Efficient interstellar communication and discovery of microbial life beyond Earth
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 Message - Extraterrestrial civilizations may find it more efficient to communicate by sending material objects across interstellar distances rather than beams of electromagnetic radiation. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Imagining - Like stories about alien biologies/environments? Be sure to scour your favorite used bookstores for Clifford Simak’s ”Way Station” (1963), which examines many different kinds of potential aliens.
g Aftermath - Even if the public seems less than awestruck by the prospect that alien life is a bunch of microscopic bugs, astrobiologists say unequivocal discovery of microbial life beyond Earth will change human society in profound ways, some unfathomable today. See article. Note: This article is from 2001.
g Message - Extraterrestrial civilizations may find it more efficient to communicate by sending material objects across interstellar distances rather than beams of electromagnetic radiation. See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
g Imagining - Like stories about alien biologies/environments? Be sure to scour your favorite used bookstores for Clifford Simak’s ”Way Station” (1963), which examines many different kinds of potential aliens.
g Aftermath - Even if the public seems less than awestruck by the prospect that alien life is a bunch of microscopic bugs, astrobiologists say unequivocal discovery of microbial life beyond Earth will change human society in profound ways, some unfathomable today. See article. Note: This article is from 2001.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Theory and methodology of composing and transmitting interstellar radio messages
Welcome!“Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the variouselements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this andfuture entries are shorter than usual; career, family and book dealcommitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’stoday’s news:
g Message - Throughoutthe entire history of terrestrial civilization, only four projectsinvolving transmitting of interstellar radio messages have yet beenfully developed and realized. Nevertheless, we should understand asimple thing - if all civilizations in the universe are onlyrecipients, and not message-sending civilizations, than no SETIsearches make any sense. We present the theory and methodology ofcomposing and transmitting of future IRMs. See article.
g Cosmicus - Thedesire for space exploration goes far deeper than political ambition oreconomic drive. It satisfies, in a sense, the basic necessity of acivilization to explore, play and expand outward. Here, Robert Zubrin,author of “Entering Space and The Case for Mars,” talks with Nexuspublisher Ravi Dykema about Mars, the human need for exploration andthe possibility of a celestial civilization. See article. Note: This article is from 2000.
g Learning - Ata conference center in California's Silicon Valley in 2004, an academicfield took shape. About 800 scientists, ranging from astronomers tozoologists, gathered to talk about life - how it arose on Earth andwhere we might find it on other worlds. Mixed in with the scientistsare academic publishers, engineers, government bureaucrats, historians,philosophers, television broadcasters, a scholar of Christian ethics,and a sprinkling of others attracted by the intoxicating sweep of thisnascent branch of research. Astrobiology, as the field is known, hasemerged as a hot topic in the past seven years, ever since NASA began aprogram using the name, with a budget of $71-million a year. See article.
g Message - Throughoutthe entire history of terrestrial civilization, only four projectsinvolving transmitting of interstellar radio messages have yet beenfully developed and realized. Nevertheless, we should understand asimple thing - if all civilizations in the universe are onlyrecipients, and not message-sending civilizations, than no SETIsearches make any sense. We present the theory and methodology ofcomposing and transmitting of future IRMs. See article.
g Cosmicus - Thedesire for space exploration goes far deeper than political ambition oreconomic drive. It satisfies, in a sense, the basic necessity of acivilization to explore, play and expand outward. Here, Robert Zubrin,author of “Entering Space and The Case for Mars,” talks with Nexuspublisher Ravi Dykema about Mars, the human need for exploration andthe possibility of a celestial civilization. See article. Note: This article is from 2000.
g Learning - Ata conference center in California's Silicon Valley in 2004, an academicfield took shape. About 800 scientists, ranging from astronomers tozoologists, gathered to talk about life - how it arose on Earth andwhere we might find it on other worlds. Mixed in with the scientistsare academic publishers, engineers, government bureaucrats, historians,philosophers, television broadcasters, a scholar of Christian ethics,and a sprinkling of others attracted by the intoxicating sweep of thisnascent branch of research. Astrobiology, as the field is known, hasemerged as a hot topic in the past seven years, ever since NASA began aprogram using the name, with a budget of $71-million a year. See article.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Looking for more than radio signals and robots that operate like amoeba
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 Message - The search for extraterrestrial intelligence could be taking the wrong approach. Instead of listening for alien radio broadcasts, a better strategy may be to look for giant structures placed in orbit around nearby stars by alien civilizations. See article.
g Cosmicus - Most robots have legs, wheels, or tank-like treads. But Virgina Tech roboticist Dennis Hong is building one that uses “whole-skin locomotion” to move like an amoeba, enabling it to squeeze more easily into the some of the tight other-worldly spaces where extraterrestrial life might be hiding. See article.
g Learning - 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 Message - The search for extraterrestrial intelligence could be taking the wrong approach. Instead of listening for alien radio broadcasts, a better strategy may be to look for giant structures placed in orbit around nearby stars by alien civilizations. See article.
g Cosmicus - Most robots have legs, wheels, or tank-like treads. But Virgina Tech roboticist Dennis Hong is building one that uses “whole-skin locomotion” to move like an amoeba, enabling it to squeeze more easily into the some of the tight other-worldly spaces where extraterrestrial life might be hiding. See article.
g Learning - 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.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Life on a neutron star and potential problems once we receive a signal from ETI
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 Message - To contact an alien civilization, humanity might want to consider a Bracewell probe — a hypothetical concept for an autonomous interstellar space probe dispatched for the express purpose of communication with (an) alien civilization(s). It was proposed by Ronald N. Bracewell in a 1960 paper, as an alternative to interstellar radio communication between widely separated civilizations. See article.
g Imagining - Like stories about alien biologies/environments? Be sure to scour your favorite used bookstores for Robert L. Dragon's "Egg" (1980), which describes life on a neutron star.
g Aftermath - The scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence is accelerating its pace and adopting fresh strategies. This increases the likelihood of successful detection in the near future. Humanity's first contact with alien intelligence will trigger extraordinary attention from the media, from government authorities, and from the general public. By improving our readiness for contact, especially for security during the first 30 days, we can avoid the most negative scenarios — and also enhance humanity's benefits from this first contact with an alien intelligence. Six potential problem areas include communicating with the media and the public, communicating with scientific colleagues, government control, an assassin or saboteur, well-meaning officials and lawsuits. See article.
g Message - To contact an alien civilization, humanity might want to consider a Bracewell probe — a hypothetical concept for an autonomous interstellar space probe dispatched for the express purpose of communication with (an) alien civilization(s). It was proposed by Ronald N. Bracewell in a 1960 paper, as an alternative to interstellar radio communication between widely separated civilizations. See article.
g Imagining - Like stories about alien biologies/environments? Be sure to scour your favorite used bookstores for Robert L. Dragon's "Egg" (1980), which describes life on a neutron star.
g Aftermath - The scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence is accelerating its pace and adopting fresh strategies. This increases the likelihood of successful detection in the near future. Humanity's first contact with alien intelligence will trigger extraordinary attention from the media, from government authorities, and from the general public. By improving our readiness for contact, especially for security during the first 30 days, we can avoid the most negative scenarios — and also enhance humanity's benefits from this first contact with an alien intelligence. Six potential problem areas include communicating with the media and the public, communicating with scientific colleagues, government control, an assassin or saboteur, well-meaning officials and lawsuits. See article.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Astrobiology in science fiction and philosophical implications of discovering ETI
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 Message - Why wait for SETI to discover alien life? How about building your own radio telescope, hooking it your computer and searching the skies from your own backyard? See article.
g Imagining - Many problems faced the development of astrobiology as a credible science when it was first named in 1958. The most basic of these problems was skepticism on the part of many scientists of the time. The ideas of astrobiology touched too closely with science fiction to be considered seriously. The idea of life on Mars was definitely science fiction: H. G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" and Ray Bradbury's "The Martian Chronicles" attested to that. And Gregory Benford and David Brin in “Heart of the Comet” have since addressed the idea of life being seeded on Earth by comets. Why would anyone take these ideas seriously as science? See article.
g Aftermath - Book alert: The authentic discovery of extraterrestrial life would usher in a scientific revolution on par with Copernicus or Darwin, writes Paul Davies in “Are We Alone?: Philosophical Implications of the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life.” Just as these ideas sparked religious and philosophical controversy when they were first offered, so would proof of life arising away from Earth. With this brief book (160 pages, including two appendices and an index), Davies tries to get ahead of the curve and begin to sort out the metaphysical mess before it happens. Many science fiction writers have preceded him, of course, but here the matter is plainly put. This is a very good introduction to a compelling subject. See article.
g Message - Why wait for SETI to discover alien life? How about building your own radio telescope, hooking it your computer and searching the skies from your own backyard? See article.
g Imagining - Many problems faced the development of astrobiology as a credible science when it was first named in 1958. The most basic of these problems was skepticism on the part of many scientists of the time. The ideas of astrobiology touched too closely with science fiction to be considered seriously. The idea of life on Mars was definitely science fiction: H. G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" and Ray Bradbury's "The Martian Chronicles" attested to that. And Gregory Benford and David Brin in “Heart of the Comet” have since addressed the idea of life being seeded on Earth by comets. Why would anyone take these ideas seriously as science? See article.
g Aftermath - Book alert: The authentic discovery of extraterrestrial life would usher in a scientific revolution on par with Copernicus or Darwin, writes Paul Davies in “Are We Alone?: Philosophical Implications of the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life.” Just as these ideas sparked religious and philosophical controversy when they were first offered, so would proof of life arising away from Earth. With this brief book (160 pages, including two appendices and an index), Davies tries to get ahead of the curve and begin to sort out the metaphysical mess before it happens. Many science fiction writers have preceded him, of course, but here the matter is plainly put. This is a very good introduction to a compelling subject. See article.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Amino acids among the stars and astrobiologists respond to Fermi Paradox
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 Life - Researchers have sequenced the genome of a unique bacterium that uses a rare form of chlorophyll to harvest far-red light. It is the first chlorophyll-d containing organism to be sequenced, and will provide new information about the genetic evolution of life on Earth. See article.
g Message - Here’s a nice summary of various astrobiological authors on the Fermi Paradox, or the question of why, if there supposedly are so many aliens, we haven’t met any of them yet.
g Imagining - Like first contact stories? Then be sure to read Orson Scott Card’s novel “Ender's Game,” published by Tor in 1985.
g Life - Researchers have sequenced the genome of a unique bacterium that uses a rare form of chlorophyll to harvest far-red light. It is the first chlorophyll-d containing organism to be sequenced, and will provide new information about the genetic evolution of life on Earth. See article.
g Message - Here’s a nice summary of various astrobiological authors on the Fermi Paradox, or the question of why, if there supposedly are so many aliens, we haven’t met any of them yet.
g Imagining - Like first contact stories? Then be sure to read Orson Scott Card’s novel “Ender's Game,” published by Tor in 1985.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Help SETI discover alien life and if humanity can ever relate to an alien species
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 - Scientists have determined that Saturn's moon Titan has hundreds of times more liquid hydrocarbons than all the known oil and natural gas reserves of Earth. Studying the hydrocarbons of Titan could provide a better understanding of the origins of life in the Universe. See article.
g Life - Using the genetic equivalent of an ancient thermometer, a team of scientists has determined that the Earth endured a massive cooling period between 500 million and 3.5 billion years ago. See article.
g Imagining - Book alert: What would life on other planets look like? Forget the little green men, alien life is likely to be completely unrecognizable - we haven’t even discovered all the life on our own planet. The visionary “Evolving the Alien: The Science of Extraterrestrial Life,” by Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart, offers some of the most radical but scientifically accurate thinking on the possibility of life on other planets ever conceived. Using broad principles of Earthly biology and expanding on them laterally, Cohen and Stewart examine what could be out there. Redefining our whole concept of what ‘life’ is, they ask whether aliens could live on the surface of a star, in the vacuum of space or beneath the ice of a frozen moon. And whether life could exist without carbon or DNA – or even without matter at all. They also look at ‘celebrity aliens’ from books and films – most of which are biologically impossible. Jack Cohen is an “alien consultant” to many writers, advising what an alien could and couldn’t look like. (E.T. go home – you do not pass the test). But this book is as much about the latest discoveries in Earthly biology as well as life on other planets. It’s a serious yet entertaining science book. See article.
g Aftermath - Could humanity ever relate to an alien species? Consider the questioning context of these online speculations about why "Star Trek is human centered?" The latter is an interesting question, possibly creating a situation dealing with a prejudice on the behalf of the writers and producers. However, would a series completely dedicated to another species, such as the Romulans, be successful in a television market? Is it possible that the reasons it wouldn’t be might indicate humanity may care little about an alien species other than as a potential threat? See article.
g Abodes - Scientists have determined that Saturn's moon Titan has hundreds of times more liquid hydrocarbons than all the known oil and natural gas reserves of Earth. Studying the hydrocarbons of Titan could provide a better understanding of the origins of life in the Universe. See article.
g Life - Using the genetic equivalent of an ancient thermometer, a team of scientists has determined that the Earth endured a massive cooling period between 500 million and 3.5 billion years ago. See article.
g Imagining - Book alert: What would life on other planets look like? Forget the little green men, alien life is likely to be completely unrecognizable - we haven’t even discovered all the life on our own planet. The visionary “Evolving the Alien: The Science of Extraterrestrial Life,” by Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart, offers some of the most radical but scientifically accurate thinking on the possibility of life on other planets ever conceived. Using broad principles of Earthly biology and expanding on them laterally, Cohen and Stewart examine what could be out there. Redefining our whole concept of what ‘life’ is, they ask whether aliens could live on the surface of a star, in the vacuum of space or beneath the ice of a frozen moon. And whether life could exist without carbon or DNA – or even without matter at all. They also look at ‘celebrity aliens’ from books and films – most of which are biologically impossible. Jack Cohen is an “alien consultant” to many writers, advising what an alien could and couldn’t look like. (E.T. go home – you do not pass the test). But this book is as much about the latest discoveries in Earthly biology as well as life on other planets. It’s a serious yet entertaining science book. See article.
g Aftermath - Could humanity ever relate to an alien species? Consider the questioning context of these online speculations about why "Star Trek is human centered?" The latter is an interesting question, possibly creating a situation dealing with a prejudice on the behalf of the writers and producers. However, would a series completely dedicated to another species, such as the Romulans, be successful in a television market? Is it possible that the reasons it wouldn’t be might indicate humanity may care little about an alien species other than as a potential threat? See article.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Terrestrial exoplanet by observing the young star FN Tau and social impact on humanity upon receiving an alien message
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 are hoping that a small, dusty disk around a nearby star is hiding Earth-like planets. Using the Subaru telescope, the team is hoping to obtain the first image of a terrestrial exoplanet by observing the young star FN Tau. See article.
Life - Scientists are trying to determine which plants dinosaurs dined on more than 100 million years ago. Their findings could help us understand the environmental and physiological conditions that allowed dinosaurs to grow so large. See article.
g Aftermath - With humanity now on the verge of being capable to leave its home world, Earth, scientists have begun to wrestle with the consequences of this next great journey; of the social impact humanity will have upon discovering life elsewhere, be it fossil, bacterial or an intelligent civilization. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
g Abodes - Astronomers are hoping that a small, dusty disk around a nearby star is hiding Earth-like planets. Using the Subaru telescope, the team is hoping to obtain the first image of a terrestrial exoplanet by observing the young star FN Tau. See article.
Life - Scientists are trying to determine which plants dinosaurs dined on more than 100 million years ago. Their findings could help us understand the environmental and physiological conditions that allowed dinosaurs to grow so large. See article.
g Aftermath - With humanity now on the verge of being capable to leave its home world, Earth, scientists have begun to wrestle with the consequences of this next great journey; of the social impact humanity will have upon discovering life elsewhere, be it fossil, bacterial or an intelligent civilization. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Extinct group of slug-like animals and ‘Phantom Quest’
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 Life - A new fossil specimen has helped solve an evolutionary puzzle about the origins of an extinct group of slug-like animals. The finding is providing insights into annelid evolution on Earth, and highlights how the study of paleobiology can help scientists understand the evolution of our planet’s biosphere. See article.
g Cosmicus - Researchers have gathered this week in wintery Wisconsin to test a robotic probe under ice. Astrobiology Magazine’s Henry Bortman submits his second report on the probe’s progress in the field. See article.
g Aftermath - If, as “The X-Files'” Fox Mulder might say, "The truth is out there," then the researchers running the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence program are likely to be the first ones to find it. On the other hand, there are numerous people who believe they've already been in contact with aliens. National Geographic's video ”Phantom Quest: The Search for Extraterrestrials” studies the claims of both groups, ultimately seeking to reveal precisely what an encounter with beings from another planet could mean for humanity. See article.
g Life - A new fossil specimen has helped solve an evolutionary puzzle about the origins of an extinct group of slug-like animals. The finding is providing insights into annelid evolution on Earth, and highlights how the study of paleobiology can help scientists understand the evolution of our planet’s biosphere. See article.
g Cosmicus - Researchers have gathered this week in wintery Wisconsin to test a robotic probe under ice. Astrobiology Magazine’s Henry Bortman submits his second report on the probe’s progress in the field. See article.
g Aftermath - If, as “The X-Files'” Fox Mulder might say, "The truth is out there," then the researchers running the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence program are likely to be the first ones to find it. On the other hand, there are numerous people who believe they've already been in contact with aliens. National Geographic's video ”Phantom Quest: The Search for Extraterrestrials” studies the claims of both groups, ultimately seeking to reveal precisely what an encounter with beings from another planet could mean for humanity. See article.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Radioactive-loving fungi and whether or not contact with ET would unite humanity
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 have found two planets that resemble small versions of Jupiter and Saturn in a distant solar system. The discovery suggests that solar systems like our own may not be rare in the Universe. See article.
Life - Researchers have found evidence that certain fungi possess another talent beyond their ability to decompose matter: the capacity to use radioactivity as an energy source for making food and spurring their growth. See article.
g Aftermath - What would an intelligent signal from another planet change about human destiny? This large question is the topic of the book "The SETI Factor," by Frank White, who also analyzes how to announce such an historic finding and whether it would unite or divide nations. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Abodes - Astronomers have found two planets that resemble small versions of Jupiter and Saturn in a distant solar system. The discovery suggests that solar systems like our own may not be rare in the Universe. See article.
Life - Researchers have found evidence that certain fungi possess another talent beyond their ability to decompose matter: the capacity to use radioactivity as an energy source for making food and spurring their growth. See article.
g Aftermath - What would an intelligent signal from another planet change about human destiny? This large question is the topic of the book "The SETI Factor," by Frank White, who also analyzes how to announce such an historic finding and whether it would unite or divide nations. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Verifiable science and Gauss’ historic proposal for contacting 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 - Last June, a group of scientists visited Iceland, one of the most active volcanic places in the world. In some ways, Iceland resembles what the young Earth was like, so studying modern bacteria that colonize Iceland’s rocks may provide clues about early life. Aude Herrera recalls the scientist’s recent rock-collecting adventure here in the second part of her journal. See article.
g Life - Although this is currently a speculative field, the presence of life in the rest of the universe is a verifiable hypothesis (though it has yet to be verified), making xenobiology a valid field for scientific enquiry. Likewise, computer simulations of basic life processes have made it possible to do exploratory engineering of alternate life forms (like left-handed DNA) to determine their characteristics. See article.
g Message - The modern pop phenomenon of crop circles, which carve messages into mowing patterns, is not new: The great mathematician, Carl Friedrich Gauss, first proposed such a bold move for plowing a few Siberian forests. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Environmentally Non-Disturbing Under-ice Robotic Antarctic Explorer (ENDURANCE) is a $2.3 million project funded by NASA's Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets Program. The probe is an autonomous underwater vehicle designed to swim untethered under ice, creating three-dimensional maps of underwater environments. The probe will collect data on conditions in those environments and take samples of microbial life. Researchers plan to ship the probe to a permanently frozen lake in Antarctica for operations later this year. See article.
g Aftermath - Looking for some interesting reading on “first contact”? Try the science fiction anthology “First Contact,” edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Larry Segriff. The book came out in 1997. Here’s a review (though it’s less than flattering).
g Abodes - Last June, a group of scientists visited Iceland, one of the most active volcanic places in the world. In some ways, Iceland resembles what the young Earth was like, so studying modern bacteria that colonize Iceland’s rocks may provide clues about early life. Aude Herrera recalls the scientist’s recent rock-collecting adventure here in the second part of her journal. See article.
g Life - Although this is currently a speculative field, the presence of life in the rest of the universe is a verifiable hypothesis (though it has yet to be verified), making xenobiology a valid field for scientific enquiry. Likewise, computer simulations of basic life processes have made it possible to do exploratory engineering of alternate life forms (like left-handed DNA) to determine their characteristics. See article.
g Message - The modern pop phenomenon of crop circles, which carve messages into mowing patterns, is not new: The great mathematician, Carl Friedrich Gauss, first proposed such a bold move for plowing a few Siberian forests. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Environmentally Non-Disturbing Under-ice Robotic Antarctic Explorer (ENDURANCE) is a $2.3 million project funded by NASA's Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets Program. The probe is an autonomous underwater vehicle designed to swim untethered under ice, creating three-dimensional maps of underwater environments. The probe will collect data on conditions in those environments and take samples of microbial life. Researchers plan to ship the probe to a permanently frozen lake in Antarctica for operations later this year. See article.
g Aftermath - Looking for some interesting reading on “first contact”? Try the science fiction anthology “First Contact,” edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Larry Segriff. The book came out in 1997. Here’s a review (though it’s less than flattering).
Sunday, February 17, 2008
When plate tectonics ground to a halt and life on icebergs
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 - Scientists have found that plate tectonics on Earth may have ground to a halt in our planet's past - and may do so again. Plate tectonics are responsible for creating geologic features like mountains and ocean basins, and play an important role in maintaining Earth's climate. See article.
Life - Scientists studying Antarctic icebergs in the Southern Ocean have discovered that these floating chunks of ice provide a unique habitat for ocean life, and have a profound effect on the ecology of the ocean around them. Enormous icebergs - some as large as states or small countries - carry trapped terrestrial material out to sea, and then release the material as they melt. This process provides nutrients for large communities of organisms, from seabirds to fish and plankton below the water. See article.
g Cosmicus - Quote of the Day: “The biggest step in the history of mankind will be to leave the atmosphere of the Earth to join the other planets.” — Konstantin Tsiolkovsky
g Abodes - Scientists have found that plate tectonics on Earth may have ground to a halt in our planet's past - and may do so again. Plate tectonics are responsible for creating geologic features like mountains and ocean basins, and play an important role in maintaining Earth's climate. See article.
Life - Scientists studying Antarctic icebergs in the Southern Ocean have discovered that these floating chunks of ice provide a unique habitat for ocean life, and have a profound effect on the ecology of the ocean around them. Enormous icebergs - some as large as states or small countries - carry trapped terrestrial material out to sea, and then release the material as they melt. This process provides nutrients for large communities of organisms, from seabirds to fish and plankton below the water. See article.
g Cosmicus - Quote of the Day: “The biggest step in the history of mankind will be to leave the atmosphere of the Earth to join the other planets.” — Konstantin Tsiolkovsky
Saturday, February 16, 2008
What Viking really revealed and Astrobiology Primer
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 - Scientists are beginning to understand the source of the giant geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. A new theory points to the potential existence of a liquid reservoir or lake just beneath the moon's surface. See article.
Life - The 1976 Viking mission sampled the strongly rusting soil on Mars. Retrospectively, its three biology experiments give insight into the challenges of working remotely, where one can never have too much data for further analysis. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Learning - The Astrobiology Primer has been created as a reference tool for those who are interested in the interdisciplinary field of astrobiology. The field incorporates many diverse research endeavors, but it is our hope that this slim volume will present the reader with all he or she needs to know to become involved and to understand, at least at a fundamental level, the state of the art. See article.
g Abodes - Scientists are beginning to understand the source of the giant geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. A new theory points to the potential existence of a liquid reservoir or lake just beneath the moon's surface. See article.
Life - The 1976 Viking mission sampled the strongly rusting soil on Mars. Retrospectively, its three biology experiments give insight into the challenges of working remotely, where one can never have too much data for further analysis. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Learning - The Astrobiology Primer has been created as a reference tool for those who are interested in the interdisciplinary field of astrobiology. The field incorporates many diverse research endeavors, but it is our hope that this slim volume will present the reader with all he or she needs to know to become involved and to understand, at least at a fundamental level, the state of the art. See article.
Friday, February 15, 2008
What really bugged the dinosaurs and communication between two species
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 - In 2005, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft directed an impactor into comet Tempel 1 and collected valuable information about the composition of comets. Now the spacecraft is turning its largest telescope toward the stars in order to search for exosolar planets. See article.
g Life - Asteroid impacts and massive volcanic flows occurred around the time dinosaurs became extinct, but a new book argues that the world’s mightiest creatures may have been brought down by tiny, disease-carrying insects. See article.
g Message - In the absence of knowledge of physical and cultural clues, communication between two species can be almost impossible — almost. See article.
g Aftermath - Add one more worry to the computerized world of the 21st century. Could a signal from the stars broadcast by an alien intelligence also carry harmful information, in the spirit of a computer virus? Could star folk launch a "disinformation" campaign - one that covers up aspects of their culture? Perhaps they might even mask the "real" intent of dispatching a message to other civilizations scattered throughout the Cosmos. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Abodes - In 2005, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft directed an impactor into comet Tempel 1 and collected valuable information about the composition of comets. Now the spacecraft is turning its largest telescope toward the stars in order to search for exosolar planets. See article.
g Life - Asteroid impacts and massive volcanic flows occurred around the time dinosaurs became extinct, but a new book argues that the world’s mightiest creatures may have been brought down by tiny, disease-carrying insects. See article.
g Message - In the absence of knowledge of physical and cultural clues, communication between two species can be almost impossible — almost. See article.
g Aftermath - Add one more worry to the computerized world of the 21st century. Could a signal from the stars broadcast by an alien intelligence also carry harmful information, in the spirit of a computer virus? Could star folk launch a "disinformation" campaign - one that covers up aspects of their culture? Perhaps they might even mask the "real" intent of dispatching a message to other civilizations scattered throughout the Cosmos. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Avalon Explosion and predicting reactions to evidence for an otherworldly intelligence
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 - Last June, a group of scientists visited Iceland, one of the most active volcanic places in the world. In some ways, Iceland resembles what the young Earth was like, so studying modern bacteria that colonize Iceland’s rocks may provide clues about early life. Aude Herrera recalls the scientist’s recent rock-collecting adventure here in her journal. See article.
g Life - Scientists have identified a new period in Earth’s history where life experienced an evolutionary explosion. Dubbed the ‘Avalon Explosion’, this period occurred about 33 million years prior to the previously identified ‘Cambrian Explosion’, and sheds further light on the early evolution of animals. See article.
g Message - Separating static from signal is a classic problem for SETI researchers. Whether such a viable signal might be more promising if it were broad-spectrum or sharp like a tuning fork, has an influence of how much message it can carry and how far it may travel. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Aftermath - How to predict reactions to receipt of evidence for an otherworldly intelligence? Some scientists argue that any unpredictable outcomes can only be judged against our own history. See article.
g Abodes - Last June, a group of scientists visited Iceland, one of the most active volcanic places in the world. In some ways, Iceland resembles what the young Earth was like, so studying modern bacteria that colonize Iceland’s rocks may provide clues about early life. Aude Herrera recalls the scientist’s recent rock-collecting adventure here in her journal. See article.
g Life - Scientists have identified a new period in Earth’s history where life experienced an evolutionary explosion. Dubbed the ‘Avalon Explosion’, this period occurred about 33 million years prior to the previously identified ‘Cambrian Explosion’, and sheds further light on the early evolution of animals. See article.
g Message - Separating static from signal is a classic problem for SETI researchers. Whether such a viable signal might be more promising if it were broad-spectrum or sharp like a tuning fork, has an influence of how much message it can carry and how far it may travel. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
g Aftermath - How to predict reactions to receipt of evidence for an otherworldly intelligence? Some scientists argue that any unpredictable outcomes can only be judged against our own history. See article.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
New class of star and insights into how life evolved from the simple to the complex
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 spotted a new class of star - those that support the formation of a second generation of planets long after the stars themselves have formed. The finding is providing scientists with new information about the behavior of planet-forming stars. See article.
g Life - A protein from a primitive fungus has provided scientists with important insights into how life evolved from the simple to the complex. The finding is allowing scientists to understand how the inter-relations between important functional molecules in organisms developed over time. 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 Stars - Astronomers have spotted a new class of star - those that support the formation of a second generation of planets long after the stars themselves have formed. The finding is providing scientists with new information about the behavior of planet-forming stars. See article.
g Life - A protein from a primitive fungus has provided scientists with important insights into how life evolved from the simple to the complex. The finding is allowing scientists to understand how the inter-relations between important functional molecules in organisms developed over time. 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.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
SETI@home looks for volunteers and how humanity may react to ET’s first interstellar phone-call
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 Life - Quote of the Day: ”How unreasonable it would to suppose that, besides the earth and the sky that we see, there are no other skies and no other earths.” — Teng Mu
g Message - The SETI@home project is looking for volunteers. The project is getting a burst of new data from the upgraded Arecibo telescope, and more computers are needed to help pick out potential alien signals. See article.
g Aftermath - Astronomers are searching hard for that first interstellar phone-call from ET. But when it happens, how will we react? Will it be a major trauma for humankind, or a new beginning? See article.
g Life - Quote of the Day: ”How unreasonable it would to suppose that, besides the earth and the sky that we see, there are no other skies and no other earths.” — Teng Mu
g Message - The SETI@home project is looking for volunteers. The project is getting a burst of new data from the upgraded Arecibo telescope, and more computers are needed to help pick out potential alien signals. See article.
g Aftermath - Astronomers are searching hard for that first interstellar phone-call from ET. But when it happens, how will we react? Will it be a major trauma for humankind, or a new beginning? See article.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Martian microorganisms and classroom lessons on interstellar communication
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 new 3D model of the martian surface, created with data from Mars Express, has been released on the internet. The model allows scientists to see the topography of Mars, and will help them interpret Mars' surface features and geology. See article.
g Life - Two researchers suggest that the radioresistance (tolerance to ionizing radiation) observed in several terrestrial bacteria has a Martian origin. See article. Note: This article is from 2006.
g Message - Quote of the Day: “All we know for sure is that the sky is not littered with powerful microwave transmitters.” — Frank Drake
g Learning - Here’s a neat set of lessons, designed for at-risk students: “The Plausibility of Interstellar Communication and Related Phenomena Depicted in Science Fiction Literature and the Movies”. The curriculum has four major objectives: first, to educate students to develop concepts about the proximity of our solar system in relation to other probable solar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy; second, to give students the opportunity to use these concepts to evaluate the plausibility of interstellar communication depicted in science fiction literature and movies; third, to create an opportunity for students not only to look out on the universe but to turn it inward to look at the world, their own society, and themselves as individuals; and fourth, an objective that will be integrated with all of the others is to give students to opportunity to learn and/or sharpen skills in: using the scientific method, research, reading, writing, collaboration, discussion and in critical thinking.
g Abodes - A new 3D model of the martian surface, created with data from Mars Express, has been released on the internet. The model allows scientists to see the topography of Mars, and will help them interpret Mars' surface features and geology. See article.
g Life - Two researchers suggest that the radioresistance (tolerance to ionizing radiation) observed in several terrestrial bacteria has a Martian origin. See article. Note: This article is from 2006.
g Message - Quote of the Day: “All we know for sure is that the sky is not littered with powerful microwave transmitters.” — Frank Drake
g Learning - Here’s a neat set of lessons, designed for at-risk students: “The Plausibility of Interstellar Communication and Related Phenomena Depicted in Science Fiction Literature and the Movies”. The curriculum has four major objectives: first, to educate students to develop concepts about the proximity of our solar system in relation to other probable solar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy; second, to give students the opportunity to use these concepts to evaluate the plausibility of interstellar communication depicted in science fiction literature and movies; third, to create an opportunity for students not only to look out on the universe but to turn it inward to look at the world, their own society, and themselves as individuals; and fourth, an objective that will be integrated with all of the others is to give students to opportunity to learn and/or sharpen skills in: using the scientific method, research, reading, writing, collaboration, discussion and in critical thinking.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Communicating with Martians and an undergraduate searches for ETI
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 - NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft has made its first flyby of Mercury. The craft collected data that shows a diversity of geological processes on the planet, and provides a new look at the planet's magnetosphere. See article.
g Life - Molecular evidence indicates that modern birds may have originated 100 million years ago - before the demise of the dinosaurs. The finding touches on current questions about which scientific methods are most useful in studying the evolution of life on Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - Quote of the Day: "… our world's sunne / Becomes a starre elsewhere.” — Democritus, "Democritus Platonissans, or an Essay Upon the Infinity of Worlds"
g Message - In the summer of 1924, Mars was in opposition, which is to say that it was opposite the Sun in our skies. This situation, which only occurs every few years, brings the Red Planet within three dozen million miles of Earth - virtually spitting distance. Scientists of the time thought this was a perfect opportunity to get in touch with the Martians using the new technology of radio. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a piece in which undergraduate Yvette Cendes tells about her research job at CWRU working on OSETI, the Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. See article.
g Abodes - NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft has made its first flyby of Mercury. The craft collected data that shows a diversity of geological processes on the planet, and provides a new look at the planet's magnetosphere. See article.
g Life - Molecular evidence indicates that modern birds may have originated 100 million years ago - before the demise of the dinosaurs. The finding touches on current questions about which scientific methods are most useful in studying the evolution of life on Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - Quote of the Day: "… our world's sunne / Becomes a starre elsewhere.” — Democritus, "Democritus Platonissans, or an Essay Upon the Infinity of Worlds"
g Message - In the summer of 1924, Mars was in opposition, which is to say that it was opposite the Sun in our skies. This situation, which only occurs every few years, brings the Red Planet within three dozen million miles of Earth - virtually spitting distance. Scientists of the time thought this was a perfect opportunity to get in touch with the Martians using the new technology of radio. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a piece in which undergraduate Yvette Cendes tells about her research job at CWRU working on OSETI, the Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. See article.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Complex organic molecules surrounding distant star and best places to look for extraterrestrial 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 Abodes - Astronomers have found complex organic molecules in a disk of red dust surrounding a distant star. The star is in the late stages of planet formation, suggesting that the basic building blocks of life may be common in planetary systems. See article.
g Life - Quote of the Day: “We may pronounce each orb sustains a race/Of living things adapted to the place.” – Richard Blackmore, “In Creation: A Philosophical Poem in Seven Books”
g Message - With the discovery of the potentially habitable planet Gliese 581 c, astrobiologists are setting their sights on the search for extraterrestrial life. Where are the best places to look? What are the best instruments to perform those searches? How will they do it? See article. Note: This article is from 2007.
g Aftermath - Will we ever find a primer for decoding messages from extraterrestrials? Last month, anthropologists who gathered for a major conference in Atlanta heard some news that will be sobering for SETI enthusiasts: it may be much more difficult to understand extraterrestrials than many scientists have thought before. See article.
g Abodes - Astronomers have found complex organic molecules in a disk of red dust surrounding a distant star. The star is in the late stages of planet formation, suggesting that the basic building blocks of life may be common in planetary systems. See article.
g Life - Quote of the Day: “We may pronounce each orb sustains a race/Of living things adapted to the place.” – Richard Blackmore, “In Creation: A Philosophical Poem in Seven Books”
g Message - With the discovery of the potentially habitable planet Gliese 581 c, astrobiologists are setting their sights on the search for extraterrestrial life. Where are the best places to look? What are the best instruments to perform those searches? How will they do it? See article. Note: This article is from 2007.
g Aftermath - Will we ever find a primer for decoding messages from extraterrestrials? Last month, anthropologists who gathered for a major conference in Atlanta heard some news that will be sobering for SETI enthusiasts: it may be much more difficult to understand extraterrestrials than many scientists have thought before. See article.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Mapping gases and codebreaking the human genome
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 - Venus Express has peered below the thick clouds of Venus to provide accurate maps of water vapor and other gases in the planet's lower atmosphere. The data will teach scientists about Venus, and may yield important clues about climate change on Earth. See article.
g Life - Some 30 years ago, Nick Patterson worked in the secret halls of the Government Communications Headquarters, the code-breaking British agency that unscrambles intercepted messages and encrypts clandestine communications. He applied his brain to “the hardest problems the British had,” said Dr. Patterson, a mathematician. Today, at 61, he is tackling perhaps the toughest code of all — the human genome. Seven years ago, Dr. Patterson joined the Broad Institute, a joint research center of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His dexterity with numbers has already helped uncover startling information about ancient human origins. See article. Note: This article is from 2005.
g Message - The SETI@home project is looking for volunteers. The project is getting a burst of new data from the upgraded Arecibo telescope, and more computers are needed to help pick out potential alien signals. 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.
g Abodes - Venus Express has peered below the thick clouds of Venus to provide accurate maps of water vapor and other gases in the planet's lower atmosphere. The data will teach scientists about Venus, and may yield important clues about climate change on Earth. See article.
g Life - Some 30 years ago, Nick Patterson worked in the secret halls of the Government Communications Headquarters, the code-breaking British agency that unscrambles intercepted messages and encrypts clandestine communications. He applied his brain to “the hardest problems the British had,” said Dr. Patterson, a mathematician. Today, at 61, he is tackling perhaps the toughest code of all — the human genome. Seven years ago, Dr. Patterson joined the Broad Institute, a joint research center of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His dexterity with numbers has already helped uncover startling information about ancient human origins. See article. Note: This article is from 2005.
g Message - The SETI@home project is looking for volunteers. The project is getting a burst of new data from the upgraded Arecibo telescope, and more computers are needed to help pick out potential alien signals. 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.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Pluto's crystalline water and ammonia ice and robots mapping 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 Abodes - Researchers say they’ve discovered crystalline water and ammonia ice on the surface of Pluto's moon Charon. This would be in agreement with data collected by Voyager surveys that have shown these ices to be components of a large number of similarly sized satellites in the outer solar system. The authors note that Charon is very similar in size to two moons circling Uranus - Ariel and Umbriel - both of which demonstrate clear evidence of geological activity at some point in their life histories. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
g Cosmicus - Scientists will need detailed geologic maps of Mars to guide their search for life there. Typically such maps are produced through painstaking human field work. A group of scientists from Carnegie Mellon University wants to know whether a robot could do the job instead. See article.
g Imagining - Like first contact stories? Then be sure to read Harry Turtledove’s novel “Worldwar: In the Balance,” published by Del Rey in 1992.
g Aftermath - Would ET vote? What effect will ET’s political philosophy have on ours once contact is made? It’s an older piece but well worth the read. See article.
g Abodes - Researchers say they’ve discovered crystalline water and ammonia ice on the surface of Pluto's moon Charon. This would be in agreement with data collected by Voyager surveys that have shown these ices to be components of a large number of similarly sized satellites in the outer solar system. The authors note that Charon is very similar in size to two moons circling Uranus - Ariel and Umbriel - both of which demonstrate clear evidence of geological activity at some point in their life histories. See article. Note: This article is from 1999.
g Cosmicus - Scientists will need detailed geologic maps of Mars to guide their search for life there. Typically such maps are produced through painstaking human field work. A group of scientists from Carnegie Mellon University wants to know whether a robot could do the job instead. See article.
g Imagining - Like first contact stories? Then be sure to read Harry Turtledove’s novel “Worldwar: In the Balance,” published by Del Rey in 1992.
g Aftermath - Would ET vote? What effect will ET’s political philosophy have on ours once contact is made? It’s an older piece but well worth the read. See article.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Locating alien civilizations and a comet continuum
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 - Contrary to expectations, comet dust returned to Earth by the Stardust mission formed close to the Sun and resembles a meteorite from the asteroid belt rather than an ancient, unaltered comet. The results are now providing new clues about the formation of our Solar System. See article.
g Life - New research shows that molecules important for the origin of life are generated by simple interactions between seawater and hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. The findings support the theory that such vents may have played a role in life's beginnings on Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - Researchers have uncovered new evidence that sleep improves the brain's ability to remember information. Their findings demonstrate that memories of recently learned word pairs are improved if sleep intervenes between learning and testing and that this benefit is most pronounced when memory is challenged by competing information. See article. Note: This article is from 2006.
g Message - There can be little doubt that civilizations more advanced than the earth's exist elsewhere in the universe. The probabilities involved in locating one of them call for a substantial effort. See article.
g Aftermath - After decades of searching, scientists have found no trace of extraterrestrial intelligence. Now, some of them hope to make contact by broadcasting messages to the stars. Are we prepared for an answer? See article.
g Abodes - Contrary to expectations, comet dust returned to Earth by the Stardust mission formed close to the Sun and resembles a meteorite from the asteroid belt rather than an ancient, unaltered comet. The results are now providing new clues about the formation of our Solar System. See article.
g Life - New research shows that molecules important for the origin of life are generated by simple interactions between seawater and hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. The findings support the theory that such vents may have played a role in life's beginnings on Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - Researchers have uncovered new evidence that sleep improves the brain's ability to remember information. Their findings demonstrate that memories of recently learned word pairs are improved if sleep intervenes between learning and testing and that this benefit is most pronounced when memory is challenged by competing information. See article. Note: This article is from 2006.
g Message - There can be little doubt that civilizations more advanced than the earth's exist elsewhere in the universe. The probabilities involved in locating one of them call for a substantial effort. See article.
g Aftermath - After decades of searching, scientists have found no trace of extraterrestrial intelligence. Now, some of them hope to make contact by broadcasting messages to the stars. Are we prepared for an answer? See article.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Europa’s biogenic elements and what’s it like to be an alien?
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 - Europa is a prime target for astrobiology. The presence of a global subsurface liquid water ocean and a composition likely to contain a suite of biogenic elements make it a compelling world in the search for a second origin of life. Critical to these factors, however, may be the availability of energy for biological processes on Europa. See article.
g Message - Before talking to aliens, it would be helpful if we had some insight into what it is like to be one. Since we don't, and won't, we will have to do the next best thing — identify all our anthropocentric assumptions about intelligent life in the universe and then ruthlessly eradicate these from the messages we send them. See article.
g Learning - Lerner Publishing Group has just released a new "Cool Science" title for 4-8th grade readers called "Astrobiology." From early imaginings about life on the Moon to modern observations of Mars, Europa, and Titan, this book gives an easy to follow, historical context for the search for life elsewhere. The book's author, "Dr. Fred" Bortz, engages students directly through school visits and other events. Learn more at his Web site.
g Abodes - Europa is a prime target for astrobiology. The presence of a global subsurface liquid water ocean and a composition likely to contain a suite of biogenic elements make it a compelling world in the search for a second origin of life. Critical to these factors, however, may be the availability of energy for biological processes on Europa. See article.
g Message - Before talking to aliens, it would be helpful if we had some insight into what it is like to be one. Since we don't, and won't, we will have to do the next best thing — identify all our anthropocentric assumptions about intelligent life in the universe and then ruthlessly eradicate these from the messages we send them. See article.
g Learning - Lerner Publishing Group has just released a new "Cool Science" title for 4-8th grade readers called "Astrobiology." From early imaginings about life on the Moon to modern observations of Mars, Europa, and Titan, this book gives an easy to follow, historical context for the search for life elsewhere. The book's author, "Dr. Fred" Bortz, engages students directly through school visits and other events. Learn more at his Web site.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Earliest step of planet formation in our solar system and potential methods of communicating with far-off civilizations
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 have dated the earliest step of planet formation in our solar system. Understanding the processes of solar system formation can give us insight into Earth's history, and indicate how Earth-like planets may form elsewhere in the universe. See article.
g Message - Some of extraterrestrial expert Frank Drake’s beliefs may leave people bewildered. Speaking to an audience of 300 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004, Drake, director of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute in Mountain View, Calif., explained the reasons why he believes intelligent life exists in the universe and highlighted potential methods of communicating with far-off civilizations. See article.
g Cosmicus - A vertically mounted treadmill is helping scientists develop exercises for astronauts on long-duration missions. The techniques will help counteract the deleterious effects of space travel, such as bone loss and muscle atrophy, and will help keep astronauts healthy on lengthy missions to the Moon and Mars. See article.
g Learning - Questions such as "are we alone?" and "what does the future hold for life on Earth?" have been pondered for millennia. But only in recent decades have advances in science and technology allowed us to confront the universe with some hope of answers. This explains the emergence of scientific journals devoted to life in the solar system and beyond. One of the first is Astrobiology, a US-based journal launched in 2001. See article. Note: This article is from 2005.
g Abodes - Researchers have dated the earliest step of planet formation in our solar system. Understanding the processes of solar system formation can give us insight into Earth's history, and indicate how Earth-like planets may form elsewhere in the universe. See article.
g Message - Some of extraterrestrial expert Frank Drake’s beliefs may leave people bewildered. Speaking to an audience of 300 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004, Drake, director of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute in Mountain View, Calif., explained the reasons why he believes intelligent life exists in the universe and highlighted potential methods of communicating with far-off civilizations. See article.
g Cosmicus - A vertically mounted treadmill is helping scientists develop exercises for astronauts on long-duration missions. The techniques will help counteract the deleterious effects of space travel, such as bone loss and muscle atrophy, and will help keep astronauts healthy on lengthy missions to the Moon and Mars. See article.
g Learning - Questions such as "are we alone?" and "what does the future hold for life on Earth?" have been pondered for millennia. But only in recent decades have advances in science and technology allowed us to confront the universe with some hope of answers. This explains the emergence of scientific journals devoted to life in the solar system and beyond. One of the first is Astrobiology, a US-based journal launched in 2001. See article. Note: This article is from 2005.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Smaller asteroid than thought likely hit Tunguska and listening for alien radio and television broadcasts
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 have found that a smaller asteroid than previously thought caused the destructive 1908 Tunguska impact in Siberia. The finding is helping scientists determine the amount of damage small asteroids can potentially cause to ecosystems and human populations. See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered that genes have the ability to recognize similarities in each other from a distance and without other biological molecules aiding in the process. The unique discovery may help explain how similar genes group together and perform key processes involved in evolution. See article.
g Message - Avi Loeb of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has proposed a radically new type search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Instead of looking for a beacon, he suggested, we should rather look for normal electromagnetic signals that are produced by a civilization such as our own. In our case these would include radio and television broadcasts, as well as military radar signals that are the strongest of all. According to Loeb it is reasonable to expect that alien civilizations also produce these types of electromagnetic signals that spill out naturally into space. Most importantly, he argued, we will soon be in a position where we can eavesdrop on them. See article.
g Aftermath - These are intriguing times in the exploration of other solar-system bodies. Continuing discoveries about life on Earth and the return of data suggesting the presence of liquid water environments on or under the surfaces of other planets and moons have combined to suggest the significant possibility that extraterrestrial life may exist in this solar system. Similarly, not since the Viking missions of the mid-1970s has there been as great an appreciation for the potential for Earth life to contaminate other worlds. Current plans for the exploration of the solar system include constraints intended to prevent biological contamination from being spread by solar-system exploration missions. See article.
g Abodes - Researchers have found that a smaller asteroid than previously thought caused the destructive 1908 Tunguska impact in Siberia. The finding is helping scientists determine the amount of damage small asteroids can potentially cause to ecosystems and human populations. See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered that genes have the ability to recognize similarities in each other from a distance and without other biological molecules aiding in the process. The unique discovery may help explain how similar genes group together and perform key processes involved in evolution. See article.
g Message - Avi Loeb of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has proposed a radically new type search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Instead of looking for a beacon, he suggested, we should rather look for normal electromagnetic signals that are produced by a civilization such as our own. In our case these would include radio and television broadcasts, as well as military radar signals that are the strongest of all. According to Loeb it is reasonable to expect that alien civilizations also produce these types of electromagnetic signals that spill out naturally into space. Most importantly, he argued, we will soon be in a position where we can eavesdrop on them. See article.
g Aftermath - These are intriguing times in the exploration of other solar-system bodies. Continuing discoveries about life on Earth and the return of data suggesting the presence of liquid water environments on or under the surfaces of other planets and moons have combined to suggest the significant possibility that extraterrestrial life may exist in this solar system. Similarly, not since the Viking missions of the mid-1970s has there been as great an appreciation for the potential for Earth life to contaminate other worlds. Current plans for the exploration of the solar system include constraints intended to prevent biological contamination from being spread by solar-system exploration missions. See article.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Ammonia as a solvent for life and wind-driven geology
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 - New high-resolution images of wind-driven geology on Mars show unique formations that could yield clues about the history of Mars' atmosphere. Because Mars' current atmosphere is very thin, the unique features may have formed in the past when wind speeds and atmospheric pressure were higher. See article.
g Life - All currently known terrestrial life requires water as a solvent. It is sometimes assumed that water is the only suitable chemical to fill this role. Some of the properties of water that are important for life processes include a large temperature range over which it is liquid, a high heat capacity useful for temperature regulation, a large heat of vaporization, and the ability to dissolve a wide variety of compounds. There are other chemicals with similar properties that have sometimes been proposed as alternatives, ammonia being the most commonly proposed alternative. See article.
g Message - Book alert: In “Beyond Contact: A Guide to SETI and Communicating with Alien Civilizations,” author Brian McConnell examines the science and technology behind the search for intelligent life in space, from the physics of inter-stellar laser and radio communication to information theory and linguistics. If you've ever wondered whether it really would be possible to communicate with other civilizations, you'll want to read this book. See article.
g Cosmicus - Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and NASA are using robotic technologies to investigate the Atacama Desert of Chile. They are trying to understand how life survives in the driest desert on Earth. In doing so, they are shaping the future of robotic astrobiology. See article.
g Abodes - New high-resolution images of wind-driven geology on Mars show unique formations that could yield clues about the history of Mars' atmosphere. Because Mars' current atmosphere is very thin, the unique features may have formed in the past when wind speeds and atmospheric pressure were higher. See article.
g Life - All currently known terrestrial life requires water as a solvent. It is sometimes assumed that water is the only suitable chemical to fill this role. Some of the properties of water that are important for life processes include a large temperature range over which it is liquid, a high heat capacity useful for temperature regulation, a large heat of vaporization, and the ability to dissolve a wide variety of compounds. There are other chemicals with similar properties that have sometimes been proposed as alternatives, ammonia being the most commonly proposed alternative. See article.
g Message - Book alert: In “Beyond Contact: A Guide to SETI and Communicating with Alien Civilizations,” author Brian McConnell examines the science and technology behind the search for intelligent life in space, from the physics of inter-stellar laser and radio communication to information theory and linguistics. If you've ever wondered whether it really would be possible to communicate with other civilizations, you'll want to read this book. See article.
g Cosmicus - Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and NASA are using robotic technologies to investigate the Atacama Desert of Chile. They are trying to understand how life survives in the driest desert on Earth. In doing so, they are shaping the future of robotic astrobiology. See article.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Liquid water’s key role in life and looking for alien's giant structures
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 Life - Since the same laws of physics, chemical thermodynamics and carbon chemistry apply everywhere, there should be a high probability that other stars and satellites may harbor life, provided liquid water is available. See article.
g Message - The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) could be taking the wrong approach. Instead of listening for alien radio broadcasts, a better strategy may be to look for giant structures placed in orbit around nearby stars by alien civilizations. See article. Note: This article is from 2005.
g Aftermath - Bridging between the disciplines, from the physical sciences to the life sciences, is the task accepted by astrobiology. The confluence of studying a meteorite from Mars, discovery of extrasolar planets and development of a concept to seek Earths around other stars led NASA to put together its astrobiology program. The three events came from different groups substantially out of contact with one another, but connected by three giant goals, to question how we came about, interested in finding whether life existed elsewhere, and like all of us, concerned about the future for humanity. See article.
g Life - Since the same laws of physics, chemical thermodynamics and carbon chemistry apply everywhere, there should be a high probability that other stars and satellites may harbor life, provided liquid water is available. See article.
g Message - The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) could be taking the wrong approach. Instead of listening for alien radio broadcasts, a better strategy may be to look for giant structures placed in orbit around nearby stars by alien civilizations. See article. Note: This article is from 2005.
g Aftermath - Bridging between the disciplines, from the physical sciences to the life sciences, is the task accepted by astrobiology. The confluence of studying a meteorite from Mars, discovery of extrasolar planets and development of a concept to seek Earths around other stars led NASA to put together its astrobiology program. The three events came from different groups substantially out of contact with one another, but connected by three giant goals, to question how we came about, interested in finding whether life existed elsewhere, and like all of us, concerned about the future for humanity. See article.
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