Saturday, September 03, 2011

Identifying elements necessary for life in the atmospheres of exoplanets and probes propelled by sunlight pressure

Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered the element potassium in the atmosphere of a planet about 190 light years from Earth. Identifying elements necessary for life in the atmospheres of exoplanets could one day help astrobiologists identify habitable worlds beyond our solar system. See article.
g Message - In 1960 an inquisitive astronomer named Frank Drake aimed a radio telescope at a couple of nearby stars and started listening. Nearly 50 years later we’re still listening, and SETI—the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence—has just expanded to begin the systematic survey of millions of star systems for signs of advanced civilizations. The Allen Telescope will eventually comprise 350 dish antennas, all working in unison to answer the question: Are we alone? See article.
g Cosmicus - Propelled by sunlight pressure, large lightweight sails made of ultrathin aluminum-coated plastic could one day take probes to the edge of our solar system and other stars. See article.

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