Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Martian analog in Iceland and Nordic contributions 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 Stars - What is the habitable zone for the nearby star LHS 1723?
g Abodes -If you want to learn about the role of water on Mars and Europa, Iceland is a good place to start. See article.
g Life - We all try to avoid viruses due to the havoc they can wage on our health. Some viruses do more than create temporary discomfort. See article.
g Message -Here are some moving excerpts from the written testimony submitted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Department of Astrophysics and Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History, to the "Life in the Universe" hearings held by the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics in 2001. See article.
g Cosmicus -A new free-swimming robot has completed a 3.1-mile-deep trek beneath the ocean. The robot opens new possibilities for exploring the deep sea and discovering unique habitats for life. See article.
g Learning -The contribution to astronomy from scientists of the Nordic countries is out of proportion to their populations. Some of the most basic tools of science would be lacking if it were not for the contributions from Scandinavian astronomers in fields of research that now underpin the sciences of geophysics, astrophysics and astrobiology. See article.
g Aftermath - The search for extraterrestrial life grips the human imagination because it tells us about ourselves. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.

Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future