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 - A new study could shed light on the composition of exoplanets. By studying the abundance of elements in stars, researchers have shown that there are a wide variety of planetary systems that are unlike the Solar System. Ultimately, this could affect processes like plate tectonics on any planets they host. See article.
g Life - A new study indicates that periodic uplifting of the Earth's continents could be linked to booms and busts in marine biodiversity over the past 500 million years. See article.
g Learning - Astrobiology has the “-ology” suffix suggestive of a codified science, but things aren’t quite so black and white. For one thing, it’s tough to study life beyond Earth when we haven’t found it, and because of this inconvenient detail, astrobiology, for all its extraterrestrial grandiosity, is actually a very Earth-centric field. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
We are the aliens, and Pioneer 10 nears 40th anniversary
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 - New images show that the Moon's crust is being stretched, forming new valleys on the lunar surface. See article.
g Life - The development of photosynthesis is a key step in the evolution of Earth's biosphere as we know it. Now, a new study is shedding light on the early events that led life to photosynthesis. See article.
g Message - March 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of one of the most extraordinary spacecraft ever constructed - Pioneer 10 - the first true deep space probe. See article.
g Cosmicus - A few days after the successful launch of NASA’s behemoth Curiosity rover with its Mars Science Laboratory instruments on November 26, 2011, a somewhat muted piece of news came out admitting that the strict biological planetary protection rules had not been adhered to quite as everyone expected. What this meant in practical terms was that the rover’s drill bits were not sealed up for launch with quite the same protocols for sterility as everyone had expected. Thus there is an added possibility that alien invaders from Earth are heading for Mars. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - New images show that the Moon's crust is being stretched, forming new valleys on the lunar surface. See article.
g Life - The development of photosynthesis is a key step in the evolution of Earth's biosphere as we know it. Now, a new study is shedding light on the early events that led life to photosynthesis. See article.
g Message - March 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of one of the most extraordinary spacecraft ever constructed - Pioneer 10 - the first true deep space probe. See article.
g Cosmicus - A few days after the successful launch of NASA’s behemoth Curiosity rover with its Mars Science Laboratory instruments on November 26, 2011, a somewhat muted piece of news came out admitting that the strict biological planetary protection rules had not been adhered to quite as everyone expected. What this meant in practical terms was that the rover’s drill bits were not sealed up for launch with quite the same protocols for sterility as everyone had expected. Thus there is an added possibility that alien invaders from Earth are heading for Mars. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, February 27, 2012
Evidence of Martian earthquakes and solid buckyballs discovered in space
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Astronomers using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have, for the first time, discovered buckyballs in a solid form in space. Prior to this discovery, the microscopic carbon spheres had been found only in gas form in the cosmos. See article.
g Abodes - By identifying boulders that have fallen from Martian cliffs, scientists have found evidence of relatively recent quakes on the surface of Mars. Studying geological activity on Mars could provide clues about the planet's potential habitability. See article.
g Intelligence - A new study reports that the disintegration of the Maya Civilization may have been related to relatively modest reductions in rainfall. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Astronomers using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have, for the first time, discovered buckyballs in a solid form in space. Prior to this discovery, the microscopic carbon spheres had been found only in gas form in the cosmos. See article.
g Abodes - By identifying boulders that have fallen from Martian cliffs, scientists have found evidence of relatively recent quakes on the surface of Mars. Studying geological activity on Mars could provide clues about the planet's potential habitability. See article.
g Intelligence - A new study reports that the disintegration of the Maya Civilization may have been related to relatively modest reductions in rainfall. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Explaining the history of Mars and helping robots navigate on their own
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 - Scientists working in the Channeled Scablands in eastern Washington state are uncovering geological information about the region, and gathering data that will help to explain the history of Mars. See article.
g Life - The tiny, little-noticed jewel wasp may provide some answers as to how different species differ in size and shape. And that could lead to a better understanding of cell growth regulation, as well as the underlying causes of some diseases. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new system could help robots navigate through changing surroundings without input from humans. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Scientists working in the Channeled Scablands in eastern Washington state are uncovering geological information about the region, and gathering data that will help to explain the history of Mars. See article.
g Life - The tiny, little-noticed jewel wasp may provide some answers as to how different species differ in size and shape. And that could lead to a better understanding of cell growth regulation, as well as the underlying causes of some diseases. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new system could help robots navigate through changing surroundings without input from humans. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Clues about exoworld’s atmospheres and mass-production of robotic insect clones
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Detailed observations show that the first ultraluminous X-ray source detected in our neighbouring Andromeda galaxy is due to a stellar mass black hole swallowing material at very high rates. See article.
g Abodes - The light scattered off distant worlds could help reveal details about their atmospheres. See article.
g Life - As scientists continue developing climate change projection models, paleontologists studying an extreme short-term global warming event have discovered direct evidence about how mammals respond to rising temperatures. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new technique inspired by pop-up books and origami will soon allow mass-production of robotic insect clones. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Detailed observations show that the first ultraluminous X-ray source detected in our neighbouring Andromeda galaxy is due to a stellar mass black hole swallowing material at very high rates. See article.
g Abodes - The light scattered off distant worlds could help reveal details about their atmospheres. See article.
g Life - As scientists continue developing climate change projection models, paleontologists studying an extreme short-term global warming event have discovered direct evidence about how mammals respond to rising temperatures. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new technique inspired by pop-up books and origami will soon allow mass-production of robotic insect clones. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, February 24, 2012
New thoughts on red dwarf’s habitable zones and mantle that survived Moon-creating collision
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Scientists have long thought that planets had to orbit very close to small and dim red dwarf stars in order to be warm enough for life. New research challenges that assumption. See article.
g Abodes - A new study shows that portions of the Earth's mantle formed when the planet was smaller, and survived the planet's turbulent formation and the collision that led to the creation of the Moon. See article.
g Intelligence - The more afraid a person is of a spider, the bigger that individual perceives the spider to be, new research suggests. See article.
g Cosmicus - After a two-year delay, a human daredevil is now preparing to step out of a stratospheric balloon and attempt the highest freefall jump ever. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Scientists have long thought that planets had to orbit very close to small and dim red dwarf stars in order to be warm enough for life. New research challenges that assumption. See article.
g Abodes - A new study shows that portions of the Earth's mantle formed when the planet was smaller, and survived the planet's turbulent formation and the collision that led to the creation of the Moon. See article.
g Intelligence - The more afraid a person is of a spider, the bigger that individual perceives the spider to be, new research suggests. See article.
g Cosmicus - After a two-year delay, a human daredevil is now preparing to step out of a stratospheric balloon and attempt the highest freefall jump ever. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Exoworld’s thick, steamy atmosphere confirmed and new telescope being developed for observing other planets
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have clocked the fastest wind yet discovered blowing off a disk around a stellar-mass black hole. This result has important implications for understanding how this type of black hole behaves. See article.
g Abodes - Our solar system contains rocky worlds, gas giants and ice giants. Extrasolar planets come in a much wider variety, and new observations have identified yet another planetary type - a water world with a thick, steamy atmosphere. See article.
g Life - For the first time, scientists have observed a sugar in the gas phase. The study will aid in the study of such molecules in interstellar space. See article.
g Cosmicus - Astronomers are developing new technology for a space telescope that would sit high above the Earth's surface and observe how planets around other stars form and evolve. The mission would return valuable data for astrobiologists who are searching for distant, habitable worlds. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have clocked the fastest wind yet discovered blowing off a disk around a stellar-mass black hole. This result has important implications for understanding how this type of black hole behaves. See article.
g Abodes - Our solar system contains rocky worlds, gas giants and ice giants. Extrasolar planets come in a much wider variety, and new observations have identified yet another planetary type - a water world with a thick, steamy atmosphere. See article.
g Life - For the first time, scientists have observed a sugar in the gas phase. The study will aid in the study of such molecules in interstellar space. See article.
g Cosmicus - Astronomers are developing new technology for a space telescope that would sit high above the Earth's surface and observe how planets around other stars form and evolve. The mission would return valuable data for astrobiologists who are searching for distant, habitable worlds. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Rare tellurium discovered in ancient stars and integrating microbiology into climate models
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - a team of researchers from institutions including MIT has detected the element tellurium for the first time in three ancient stars. The researchers found traces of this brittle, semiconducting element -- which is very rare on Earth -- in stars that are nearly 12 billion years old. The finding supports the theory that tellurium, along with even heavier elements in the periodic table, likely originated from a very rare type of supernova during a rapid process of nuclear fusion. See article.
g Abodes - Researchers have developed a plan for integrating microbiology into the climate models that astrobiologists use to understand Earth's climate and habitability. See article.
g Life - Scientists have developed new models that help explain the astonishing durability of the biologically-produced material known as mother of pearl. See article.
g Cosmicus - The technology behind Google is now being adapted to analyze the way molecules are shaped and organized. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - a team of researchers from institutions including MIT has detected the element tellurium for the first time in three ancient stars. The researchers found traces of this brittle, semiconducting element -- which is very rare on Earth -- in stars that are nearly 12 billion years old. The finding supports the theory that tellurium, along with even heavier elements in the periodic table, likely originated from a very rare type of supernova during a rapid process of nuclear fusion. See article.
g Abodes - Researchers have developed a plan for integrating microbiology into the climate models that astrobiologists use to understand Earth's climate and habitability. See article.
g Life - Scientists have developed new models that help explain the astonishing durability of the biologically-produced material known as mother of pearl. See article.
g Cosmicus - The technology behind Google is now being adapted to analyze the way molecules are shaped and organized. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
How planets form and evolve and common ancestor of plants and algae
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 - Using high-powered lasers, scientists are beginning to understand the transformations that liquid magmas undergo at the pressures and temperatures that exist deep inside Earth-like planets. The study is providing new insight into the how planets form and evolve. See article.
g Life - A University of Arkansas biologist has created a sketch of what the first common ancestor of plants and algae may have looked like. He explains that primitive organisms are not always simple. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new augmented reality unit could help astronauts diagnose medical problems or even perform surgery. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Using high-powered lasers, scientists are beginning to understand the transformations that liquid magmas undergo at the pressures and temperatures that exist deep inside Earth-like planets. The study is providing new insight into the how planets form and evolve. See article.
g Life - A University of Arkansas biologist has created a sketch of what the first common ancestor of plants and algae may have looked like. He explains that primitive organisms are not always simple. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new augmented reality unit could help astronauts diagnose medical problems or even perform surgery. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, February 20, 2012
Eta Carinae‘s outburst and microorganisms below the Atacama Desert
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Astronomers are watching a delayed broadcast of a spectacular outburst from the unstable, behemoth double-star system Eta Carinae, an event initially seen on Earth nearly 170 years ago. See article.
g Abodes - Scientists are now using one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world to better understand the processes that give rise to space weather. See article.
g Life - Researchers have discovered an oasis of microorganisms two meters below the surface of the Atacama Desert in Chile. The study could help scientists better understand the potential for life in the subsurface of planets like Mars. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has returned images of the lander for the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Astronomers are watching a delayed broadcast of a spectacular outburst from the unstable, behemoth double-star system Eta Carinae, an event initially seen on Earth nearly 170 years ago. See article.
g Abodes - Scientists are now using one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world to better understand the processes that give rise to space weather. See article.
g Life - Researchers have discovered an oasis of microorganisms two meters below the surface of the Atacama Desert in Chile. The study could help scientists better understand the potential for life in the subsurface of planets like Mars. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has returned images of the lander for the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Ancient plants with high SPF and does Venus has a liquid core?
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have found a cluster of young, blue stars encircling the first intermediate-mass black hole ever discovered. The presence of the star cluster suggests that the black hole was once at the core of a now-disintegrated dwarf galaxy. The discovery of the black hole and the star cluster has important implications for understanding the evolution of supermassive black holes and galaxies. See article.
g Abodes - New data from Venus Express shows that Venus spins slower than previous measurements indicated. The detailed measurements of Venus' spin are helping scientists determine whether or not the planet has a liquid core. See article.
g Life - Scientists are unlocking the mysteries of an ancient molecule that plants developed to protect them from damaging solar radiation. See article.
g Cosmicus - Over the next three years, the NEOShield project will investigate how to prevent dangerous impacts with asteroids and comets that could hit Earth in the future. The study also could lead to a better understanding of the composition, structure and surface texture of these space objects. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have found a cluster of young, blue stars encircling the first intermediate-mass black hole ever discovered. The presence of the star cluster suggests that the black hole was once at the core of a now-disintegrated dwarf galaxy. The discovery of the black hole and the star cluster has important implications for understanding the evolution of supermassive black holes and galaxies. See article.
g Abodes - New data from Venus Express shows that Venus spins slower than previous measurements indicated. The detailed measurements of Venus' spin are helping scientists determine whether or not the planet has a liquid core. See article.
g Life - Scientists are unlocking the mysteries of an ancient molecule that plants developed to protect them from damaging solar radiation. See article.
g Cosmicus - Over the next three years, the NEOShield project will investigate how to prevent dangerous impacts with asteroids and comets that could hit Earth in the future. The study also could lead to a better understanding of the composition, structure and surface texture of these space objects. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, February 18, 2012
How worlds become dry and ExoMars missions in jeopardy
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Astronomers have discovered islands of cold gas and a mysterious haze of microwaves in our galaxy. The results include the first map of carbon monoxide to cover the entire sky. See article.
g Abodes - Alien planets might experience tidal forces powerful enough to remove all their water, leaving behind hot, dry worlds like Venus. See article.
g Life - Scientists have developed a "biological computer" made entirely from biomolecules that is capable of deciphering images encrypted on DNA chips. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA announced Monday a $17.7 billion budget request for fiscal year 2013. The budget does not enable NASA to move forward with the planned 2016 and 2018 ExoMars missions in collaboration with the European Space Agency. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Astronomers have discovered islands of cold gas and a mysterious haze of microwaves in our galaxy. The results include the first map of carbon monoxide to cover the entire sky. See article.
g Abodes - Alien planets might experience tidal forces powerful enough to remove all their water, leaving behind hot, dry worlds like Venus. See article.
g Life - Scientists have developed a "biological computer" made entirely from biomolecules that is capable of deciphering images encrypted on DNA chips. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA announced Monday a $17.7 billion budget request for fiscal year 2013. The budget does not enable NASA to move forward with the planned 2016 and 2018 ExoMars missions in collaboration with the European Space Agency. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, February 17, 2012
Sun’s baby fat life beneath the ice
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - To deal with the faint young Sun paradox, researchers are taking a fresh look at an old idea: that the Sun started out larger and more luminous than we thought. See article.
g Abodes - A NASA mission has provided the first view of Earth's “atmospheric heartbeat” from space. See article.
g Life - After more than 15 years of stop-and-go drilling, a team of Russian scientists and engineers have drilled through the ice of Lake Vostok. Scientists are eager to discover what sort of extreme life might lurk in the deep dark waters. See article.
g Intelligence - Researchers have created a computer program that can score 150 on modern IQ tests. The average score for a human is 100. Most common math computer programs score below 100 on IQ tests with number sequences. See article.
g Message - Whenever the director of SETI research presents a public lecture, she can almost guarantee that “What If everybody is listening and nobody is transmitting?” will be one of the questions the audience asks. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Curiosity rover carries a unique calibration target for its Mars Hand Lens Imager - including a Lincoln penny. See article.
g Learning - Whether you want to know about black holes, the brain, genes or imagination, there's one for you in our list of books we can't wait to read this year. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - To deal with the faint young Sun paradox, researchers are taking a fresh look at an old idea: that the Sun started out larger and more luminous than we thought. See article.
g Abodes - A NASA mission has provided the first view of Earth's “atmospheric heartbeat” from space. See article.
g Life - After more than 15 years of stop-and-go drilling, a team of Russian scientists and engineers have drilled through the ice of Lake Vostok. Scientists are eager to discover what sort of extreme life might lurk in the deep dark waters. See article.
g Intelligence - Researchers have created a computer program that can score 150 on modern IQ tests. The average score for a human is 100. Most common math computer programs score below 100 on IQ tests with number sequences. See article.
g Message - Whenever the director of SETI research presents a public lecture, she can almost guarantee that “What If everybody is listening and nobody is transmitting?” will be one of the questions the audience asks. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Curiosity rover carries a unique calibration target for its Mars Hand Lens Imager - including a Lincoln penny. See article.
g Learning - Whether you want to know about black holes, the brain, genes or imagination, there's one for you in our list of books we can't wait to read this year. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Arsenic DNA claim unlikely and SETI lesson plan
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Life - A Canadian researcher says she has debunked controversial claims that a microbe found in California's Mono Lake can replace the phosphorus in its DNA with arsenic. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat interactive Web game where you analyze a signal from space, just as would a SETI astronomer.
g Learning - Here’s a neat lesson plan: “Is Anyone Out There? Examining Astrobiology and the Value of SETI.” See lesson plan.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Life - A Canadian researcher says she has debunked controversial claims that a microbe found in California's Mono Lake can replace the phosphorus in its DNA with arsenic. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat interactive Web game where you analyze a signal from space, just as would a SETI astronomer.
g Learning - Here’s a neat lesson plan: “Is Anyone Out There? Examining Astrobiology and the Value of SETI.” See lesson plan.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
SETI back on financial track and Japan’s next asteroid mission
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Message - The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program has not gone unscathed from the recent economic turmoil. In fact, in April of last year, their flagship radar field went dark. However, renewed funding has brought the radars back online and their hunt will soon be aided by the largest telescope the earth has ever seen. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Japanese space agency (JAXA) has confirmed a new mission to collect samples from an asteroid and return them safely to earth, and has set the target as 1999 JU3 - one of the damper asteroids in range. See article.
g Aftermath - Book alert: In “Cosmic Company: The Search for Life in the Universe,” published in late 2003, authors Seth Shostak and Alex Barnett ponder the possibility of alien a life, and the consequences of receiving a signal from the cosmos. They explain why scientists think sentient life might exist on other worlds, how we could discover it, and what it might be like. Entertaining and informative, this hard cover book is lavishly illustrated. See reviews.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Message - The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program has not gone unscathed from the recent economic turmoil. In fact, in April of last year, their flagship radar field went dark. However, renewed funding has brought the radars back online and their hunt will soon be aided by the largest telescope the earth has ever seen. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Japanese space agency (JAXA) has confirmed a new mission to collect samples from an asteroid and return them safely to earth, and has set the target as 1999 JU3 - one of the damper asteroids in range. See article.
g Aftermath - Book alert: In “Cosmic Company: The Search for Life in the Universe,” published in late 2003, authors Seth Shostak and Alex Barnett ponder the possibility of alien a life, and the consequences of receiving a signal from the cosmos. They explain why scientists think sentient life might exist on other worlds, how we could discover it, and what it might be like. Entertaining and informative, this hard cover book is lavishly illustrated. See reviews.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
New picture of barred spiral galaxy and an oldie but goodie: ‘Searching for Interstellar Communications’
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken a picture of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1073, which is found in the constellation of Cetus (The Sea Monster). Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is a similar barred spiral, and the study of galaxies such as NGC 1073 helps astronomers learn more about our celestial home. See article.
g Intelligence - A team of international archeologists, led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has documented a series of more than 7,500-year-old fish seines and traps near Moscow. The equipment found, among the oldest in Europe, displays a great technical complexity. The survey will allow us to understand the role of fishing among the European settlements by early Holocene (10,000 years ago), especially in those areas where inhabitants did not practice agriculture until nearly the Iron Age. See article.
g Message - Here’s the classic paper published in Nature that initiated in 1959 the age of Electromagnetic SETI: “Searching for Interstellar Communications,” by Giuseppe Cocconi and Philip Morrison. See article.
g Learning - Life's origin and existence in the universe are among the most profound riddles ever facing science. ILASOL is an Israeli scientific society devoted to these issues. ILASOL's yearly meeting gathers physicists, biologists, chemists, mathematicians, philosophers and researchers of other disciplines present works related to life's origin and astrobiology. Presentations are peer-reviewed in order to guarantee high scientific level, while enabling a friendly forum for novel and unorthodox ideas to be aired and assessed. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken a picture of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1073, which is found in the constellation of Cetus (The Sea Monster). Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is a similar barred spiral, and the study of galaxies such as NGC 1073 helps astronomers learn more about our celestial home. See article.
g Intelligence - A team of international archeologists, led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has documented a series of more than 7,500-year-old fish seines and traps near Moscow. The equipment found, among the oldest in Europe, displays a great technical complexity. The survey will allow us to understand the role of fishing among the European settlements by early Holocene (10,000 years ago), especially in those areas where inhabitants did not practice agriculture until nearly the Iron Age. See article.
g Message - Here’s the classic paper published in Nature that initiated in 1959 the age of Electromagnetic SETI: “Searching for Interstellar Communications,” by Giuseppe Cocconi and Philip Morrison. See article.
g Learning - Life's origin and existence in the universe are among the most profound riddles ever facing science. ILASOL is an Israeli scientific society devoted to these issues. ILASOL's yearly meeting gathers physicists, biologists, chemists, mathematicians, philosophers and researchers of other disciplines present works related to life's origin and astrobiology. Presentations are peer-reviewed in order to guarantee high scientific level, while enabling a friendly forum for novel and unorthodox ideas to be aired and assessed. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, February 13, 2012
Searching for ETI technologies within our own solar system and 24 generations from mouse to elephant
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Life - Scientists have for the first time measured how fast large-scale evolution can occur in mammals, showing it takes 24 million generations for a mouse-sized animal to evolve to the size of an elephant. See article.
g Intelligence - Ancient humans may not have had the luxury of updating their Facebook status, but social networks were nevertheless an essential component of their lives, a new study suggests. See article.
g Message - Humanity might want to consider searching for extraterrestrial technologies within our solar system. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Life - Scientists have for the first time measured how fast large-scale evolution can occur in mammals, showing it takes 24 million generations for a mouse-sized animal to evolve to the size of an elephant. See article.
g Intelligence - Ancient humans may not have had the luxury of updating their Facebook status, but social networks were nevertheless an essential component of their lives, a new study suggests. See article.
g Message - Humanity might want to consider searching for extraterrestrial technologies within our solar system. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Planets, planets everywhere and mass extinctions take time
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 - Planets in habitable zones, planets orbiting twin suns, miniature solar systems, rogue planets, planets, planets, planets. If there is one single piece of information you should take away from the recent flood of incredible exoplanetary discoveries it is this: Our universe makes planets with extraordinary efficiency – if planets can form somewhere, they will. See article.
g Life - A painstakingly detailed investigation shows that mass extinctions need not be sudden events. The deadliest mass extinction of all took a long time to kill 90 percent of Earth's marine life, and it killed in stages, according to a newly published report. See article.
g Message - In August 1977, a sky survey conducted with Ohio State University's "Big Ear" radio telescope found what has become known as the 'Wow' signal. Registering an enormous signal strength, the shape of the signal had the characteristic rise and fall expected for its short 72 second lifetime. See article.
g Learning - Philanthropists will sometimes give large sums of money to support science — but researchers have to learn how to sell themselves first. See article.
g Imagining - Here’s an interesting piece published in an online science fiction fanzine that examines if aliens in our literature can be considered truly “evil.” See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Planets in habitable zones, planets orbiting twin suns, miniature solar systems, rogue planets, planets, planets, planets. If there is one single piece of information you should take away from the recent flood of incredible exoplanetary discoveries it is this: Our universe makes planets with extraordinary efficiency – if planets can form somewhere, they will. See article.
g Life - A painstakingly detailed investigation shows that mass extinctions need not be sudden events. The deadliest mass extinction of all took a long time to kill 90 percent of Earth's marine life, and it killed in stages, according to a newly published report. See article.
g Message - In August 1977, a sky survey conducted with Ohio State University's "Big Ear" radio telescope found what has become known as the 'Wow' signal. Registering an enormous signal strength, the shape of the signal had the characteristic rise and fall expected for its short 72 second lifetime. See article.
g Learning - Philanthropists will sometimes give large sums of money to support science — but researchers have to learn how to sell themselves first. See article.
g Imagining - Here’s an interesting piece published in an online science fiction fanzine that examines if aliens in our literature can be considered truly “evil.” See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Planet spotted around F-type star and answers to Fermi’s Paradox
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 - Understanding the structure, dynamics, and chemistry of planetary atmospheres is key to exoplanetary science. It’s sobering to realize that as of now it is still an enormous challenge to model even the atmospheres of planets in our own solar system. Despite great advances, a variety of trickery has to be employed to simulate a swirling maelstrom like the Jovian atmosphere, pretending for example that it has a very different soupiness and energy transport in order to overcome computational demands. Modeling the atmospheres of gas giant exoplanets is even more in its infancy. Nonetheless, an intriguing result a couple of years ago came from Crossfield et al. and their study of how we see the infrared light varying in the planetary system of Upsilon Andromedae. Their Spitzer space telescope phase photometry (light seen as time passes) on Ups And reveals the glow emitted by the innermost, roughly Jupiter sized, planet around this F dwarf star (about 1.3 times the mass of the Sun). See article.
g Life - They are tiny, ugly, disease-carrying little blood-suckers that most people have never seen or heard of, but a new discovery in a one-of-a-kind fossil shows that "bat flies" have been doing their noxious business with bats for at least 20 million years. See article.
g Intelligence - A preference for fatty foods has a genetic basis, according to researchers, who discovered that people with certain forms of the CD36 gene may like high-fat foods more than those who have other forms of this gene. See article.
g Message - Book alert: In response to Enrico Fermi's famous 1950 question concerning the existence of advanced civilizations elsewhere, physicist Stephen Webb in “If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens... Where Is Everybody? Fifty Solutions to Fermi's Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life” critically examines 50 resolutions to explain the total absence of empirical evidence for probes, starships, and communications from extraterrestrials. He focuses on our Milky Way Galaxy, which to date has yielded no objects or signals that indicate the existence of alien beings with intelligence and technology. His comprehensive analysis covers topics ranging from the Drake equation and Dyson spheres to the panspermia hypothesis and anthropic arguments. Of special interest are the discussions on the DNA molecule, the origin of life on Earth, and the threats to organic evolution on this planet (including mass extinctions). Webb himself concludes that the "great silence" in nature probably results from humankind's being the only civilization now in this galaxy, if not in the entire universe. This richly informative and very engaging book is recommended for most academic and public library science collections. See reviews.
g Imagining - Speculation about aliens has typically been left to science fiction authors, science fiction readers and Hollywood writers and directors. But what if we apply what we have learned about life on Earth to speculate about what alien life forms might be like? See primer.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Understanding the structure, dynamics, and chemistry of planetary atmospheres is key to exoplanetary science. It’s sobering to realize that as of now it is still an enormous challenge to model even the atmospheres of planets in our own solar system. Despite great advances, a variety of trickery has to be employed to simulate a swirling maelstrom like the Jovian atmosphere, pretending for example that it has a very different soupiness and energy transport in order to overcome computational demands. Modeling the atmospheres of gas giant exoplanets is even more in its infancy. Nonetheless, an intriguing result a couple of years ago came from Crossfield et al. and their study of how we see the infrared light varying in the planetary system of Upsilon Andromedae. Their Spitzer space telescope phase photometry (light seen as time passes) on Ups And reveals the glow emitted by the innermost, roughly Jupiter sized, planet around this F dwarf star (about 1.3 times the mass of the Sun). See article.
g Life - They are tiny, ugly, disease-carrying little blood-suckers that most people have never seen or heard of, but a new discovery in a one-of-a-kind fossil shows that "bat flies" have been doing their noxious business with bats for at least 20 million years. See article.
g Intelligence - A preference for fatty foods has a genetic basis, according to researchers, who discovered that people with certain forms of the CD36 gene may like high-fat foods more than those who have other forms of this gene. See article.
g Message - Book alert: In response to Enrico Fermi's famous 1950 question concerning the existence of advanced civilizations elsewhere, physicist Stephen Webb in “If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens... Where Is Everybody? Fifty Solutions to Fermi's Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life” critically examines 50 resolutions to explain the total absence of empirical evidence for probes, starships, and communications from extraterrestrials. He focuses on our Milky Way Galaxy, which to date has yielded no objects or signals that indicate the existence of alien beings with intelligence and technology. His comprehensive analysis covers topics ranging from the Drake equation and Dyson spheres to the panspermia hypothesis and anthropic arguments. Of special interest are the discussions on the DNA molecule, the origin of life on Earth, and the threats to organic evolution on this planet (including mass extinctions). Webb himself concludes that the "great silence" in nature probably results from humankind's being the only civilization now in this galaxy, if not in the entire universe. This richly informative and very engaging book is recommended for most academic and public library science collections. See reviews.
g Imagining - Speculation about aliens has typically been left to science fiction authors, science fiction readers and Hollywood writers and directors. But what if we apply what we have learned about life on Earth to speculate about what alien life forms might be like? See primer.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, February 10, 2012
Mars arid for 600 million years and can pulsars be older then the universe?
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Pulsars are among the most exotic celestial bodies known. They have diameters of about 20 kilometers, but at the same time roughly the mass of our sun. A sugar-cube sized piece of its ultra-compact matter on Earth would weigh hundreds of millions of tons. A sub-class of them, known as millisecond pulsars, spin up to several hundred times per second around their own axes. Previous studies reached the paradoxical conclusion that some millisecond pulsars are older than the universe itself. See article.
g Abodes - Mars may have been arid for more than 600 million years, making it too hostile for any life to survive on the planet's surface, according to researchers who have been carrying out the painstaking task of analyzing individual particles of Martian soil. See article.
g Message - What are our friends south of the equator doing in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence? After all, the Northern Hemisphere only covers half of the galaxy. See website.
g Cosmicus - Few scientists are betting against Einstein yet, but the phantom neutrinos of Opera are still eluding explanation. See article.
g Learning - Elementary students viewed a star-studded night sky during class. Older students sent rockets soaring across classrooms. A NASA astronaut and a Lockheed-Martin space operations engineer shared their stories. It was all part of the second annual Space Day at a Colorado school. Kindergartners through high school seniors at the school participated in a mix of activities tied to science. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Pulsars are among the most exotic celestial bodies known. They have diameters of about 20 kilometers, but at the same time roughly the mass of our sun. A sugar-cube sized piece of its ultra-compact matter on Earth would weigh hundreds of millions of tons. A sub-class of them, known as millisecond pulsars, spin up to several hundred times per second around their own axes. Previous studies reached the paradoxical conclusion that some millisecond pulsars are older than the universe itself. See article.
g Abodes - Mars may have been arid for more than 600 million years, making it too hostile for any life to survive on the planet's surface, according to researchers who have been carrying out the painstaking task of analyzing individual particles of Martian soil. See article.
g Message - What are our friends south of the equator doing in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence? After all, the Northern Hemisphere only covers half of the galaxy. See website.
g Cosmicus - Few scientists are betting against Einstein yet, but the phantom neutrinos of Opera are still eluding explanation. See article.
g Learning - Elementary students viewed a star-studded night sky during class. Older students sent rockets soaring across classrooms. A NASA astronaut and a Lockheed-Martin space operations engineer shared their stories. It was all part of the second annual Space Day at a Colorado school. Kindergartners through high school seniors at the school participated in a mix of activities tied to science. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, February 09, 2012
First plants may have triggered ice age and understanding sunspots
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Hydrogen molecules may act as a kind of energy sink that strengthens the magnetic grip that causes sunspots, according to scientists from Hawaii and New Mexico using a new infrared instrument on an old telescope. See article.
g Abodes - New research reveals how the arrival of the first plants 470 million years ago triggered a series of ice ages. Led by the Universities of Exeter and Oxford, the study is published in Nature Geoscience. See article.
g Life - A University of Missouri researcher has identified a new species of prehistoric crocodile. The extinct creature, nicknamed "Shieldcroc" due to a thick-skinned shield on its head, is an ancestor of today's crocodiles. Its discovery provides scientists with additional information about the evolution of crocodiles and how scientists can gain insight into ways to protect the species' environment and help prevent extinction. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Hydrogen molecules may act as a kind of energy sink that strengthens the magnetic grip that causes sunspots, according to scientists from Hawaii and New Mexico using a new infrared instrument on an old telescope. See article.
g Abodes - New research reveals how the arrival of the first plants 470 million years ago triggered a series of ice ages. Led by the Universities of Exeter and Oxford, the study is published in Nature Geoscience. See article.
g Life - A University of Missouri researcher has identified a new species of prehistoric crocodile. The extinct creature, nicknamed "Shieldcroc" due to a thick-skinned shield on its head, is an ancestor of today's crocodiles. Its discovery provides scientists with additional information about the evolution of crocodiles and how scientists can gain insight into ways to protect the species' environment and help prevent extinction. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Close-up of ancient galaxy forming stars and cause of Little Ice Age
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Thanks to the presence of a natural "zoom lens" in space, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope got a uniquely close-up look at the brightest "magnified" galaxy yet discovered. This observation provides a unique opportunity to study the physical properties of a galaxy vigorously forming stars when the universe was only one-third its present age. See article.
g Abodes - A new study may help scientists understand the events that brought about Earth's "Little Ice Age." See article.
g Life - A University of Rhode Island biologist who released lizards on tiny uninhabited islands in the Bahamas has shed light on the interaction between evolutionary processes that are seldom observed. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Thanks to the presence of a natural "zoom lens" in space, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope got a uniquely close-up look at the brightest "magnified" galaxy yet discovered. This observation provides a unique opportunity to study the physical properties of a galaxy vigorously forming stars when the universe was only one-third its present age. See article.
g Abodes - A new study may help scientists understand the events that brought about Earth's "Little Ice Age." See article.
g Life - A University of Rhode Island biologist who released lizards on tiny uninhabited islands in the Bahamas has shed light on the interaction between evolutionary processes that are seldom observed. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
New super-Earth discovered around nearby star and the secret of spider silk’s strength
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 a potentially habitable super-Earth orbiting a nearby star. See article.
g Life - While researchers have long known of the incredible strength of spider silk, the robust nature of the tiny filaments cannot alone explain how webs survive multiple tears and winds that exceed hurricane strength. See article.
g Cosmicus - To improve the next generation of insect-size flying machines, Johns Hopkins engineers have been aiming high-speed video cameras at some of the prettiest bugs on the planet. By figuring out how butterflies flutter among flowers with amazing grace and agility, the researchers hope to help small airborne robots mimic these maneuvers. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered a potentially habitable super-Earth orbiting a nearby star. See article.
g Life - While researchers have long known of the incredible strength of spider silk, the robust nature of the tiny filaments cannot alone explain how webs survive multiple tears and winds that exceed hurricane strength. See article.
g Cosmicus - To improve the next generation of insect-size flying machines, Johns Hopkins engineers have been aiming high-speed video cameras at some of the prettiest bugs on the planet. By figuring out how butterflies flutter among flowers with amazing grace and agility, the researchers hope to help small airborne robots mimic these maneuvers. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, February 06, 2012
How elements in stars may affect habitable zones and inside the Arecibo Observatory
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - A potent follow-up solar flare, which occurred on Jan. 17, just days after the Sun launched the biggest coronal mass ejection (CME) seen in nearly a decade, delivered a powerful radiation punch to Earth's magnetic field despite the fact that it was aimed away from our planet. See article.
g Abodes - By looking at the wavelengths of light from nearby stars, researchers have determined the abundance of certain elements for more than a hundred stars. Trace elements in such stars may influence their habitable zones, where planets with life might dwell. See article.
g Life - Blooms, or proliferation, of jellyfish have shown a substantial, visible impact on coastal populations -- clogged nets for fishermen, stinging waters for tourists, even choked intake lines for power plants -- and recent media reports have created a perception that the world's oceans are experiencing increases in jellyfish due to human activities such as global warming and overharvesting of fish. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat website about Arecibo Observatory., the large radio telescope located in Puerto Rico that was featured in the film "Contact.”
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - A potent follow-up solar flare, which occurred on Jan. 17, just days after the Sun launched the biggest coronal mass ejection (CME) seen in nearly a decade, delivered a powerful radiation punch to Earth's magnetic field despite the fact that it was aimed away from our planet. See article.
g Abodes - By looking at the wavelengths of light from nearby stars, researchers have determined the abundance of certain elements for more than a hundred stars. Trace elements in such stars may influence their habitable zones, where planets with life might dwell. See article.
g Life - Blooms, or proliferation, of jellyfish have shown a substantial, visible impact on coastal populations -- clogged nets for fishermen, stinging waters for tourists, even choked intake lines for power plants -- and recent media reports have created a perception that the world's oceans are experiencing increases in jellyfish due to human activities such as global warming and overharvesting of fish. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat website about Arecibo Observatory., the large radio telescope located in Puerto Rico that was featured in the film "Contact.”
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Black holes help stars to form and evolutionary adaptation to roads
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - The center of just about every galaxy is thought to host a black hole, some with masses of thousands of millions of suns and consequently strong gravitational pulls that disrupt material around them. They had been thought to hinder the birth of stars, but now an international team of astronomers studying the nearby galaxy Centaurus A has found quite the opposite: a black hole that seems to be helping stars to form. See article.
g Abodes - Using 10 years of data from atmospheric and oceanic data, scientists are providing new information about the energy balance of Earth. See article.
g Life - Spotted salamanders exposed to contaminated roadside ponds are adapting to their toxic environments, according to a Yale paper in Scientific Reports. This study provides the first documented evidence that a vertebrate has adapted to the negative effects of roads apparently by evolving rapidly. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - The center of just about every galaxy is thought to host a black hole, some with masses of thousands of millions of suns and consequently strong gravitational pulls that disrupt material around them. They had been thought to hinder the birth of stars, but now an international team of astronomers studying the nearby galaxy Centaurus A has found quite the opposite: a black hole that seems to be helping stars to form. See article.
g Abodes - Using 10 years of data from atmospheric and oceanic data, scientists are providing new information about the energy balance of Earth. See article.
g Life - Spotted salamanders exposed to contaminated roadside ponds are adapting to their toxic environments, according to a Yale paper in Scientific Reports. This study provides the first documented evidence that a vertebrate has adapted to the negative effects of roads apparently by evolving rapidly. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Underwater caves offer up secrets about alien life and how solar system may help space exploration
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 - Discoveries in underwater caves could help scientists understand how life arose in ancient oceans on Earth - and possibly how similar life could survive on other worlds. See article.
g Life - For decades, chemists considered a chemical pathway known as the formose reaction the only route for producing sugars essential for life to begin, but more recent research has called into question the plausibility of such thinking. Now a group from The Scripps Research Institute has proven an alternative pathway to those sugars called the glyoxylate scenario, which may push the field of pre-life chemistry past the formose reaction hurdle. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Radiation Assessment Detector on the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft measured radiation from a recent solar storm, providing valuable information for future human space exploration. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Discoveries in underwater caves could help scientists understand how life arose in ancient oceans on Earth - and possibly how similar life could survive on other worlds. See article.
g Life - For decades, chemists considered a chemical pathway known as the formose reaction the only route for producing sugars essential for life to begin, but more recent research has called into question the plausibility of such thinking. Now a group from The Scripps Research Institute has proven an alternative pathway to those sugars called the glyoxylate scenario, which may push the field of pre-life chemistry past the formose reaction hurdle. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Radiation Assessment Detector on the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft measured radiation from a recent solar storm, providing valuable information for future human space exploration. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, February 03, 2012
Potential of ETI trying to contact us and why Americans suck so much at science
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Message - Could extraterrestrials already have tried to contact us? On the basis of statistical calculations on galactic migration, here’s a paper that explores the possibility that exogenous vehicles and/or probes may have reached our solar system, including Earth. See article.
g Learning - Why do American students suck so much at science? See article.
g Aftermath - Communication with extraterrestrial intelligence depends as much upon social support for the project as upon appropriate engineering design and upon the actual existence of a nearby extrasolar civilization. The results of a sociological survey of 1,465 American college students provide the first detailed analysis of the social and ideological factors that influence support for CETI, thereby suggesting ways that support might be increased. Linked to the most idealistic goals of the space program, notably interplanetary colonization, enthusiasm for CETI is little affected by attitudes toward technology or militarism. Few sciences or scholarly fields encourage CETI, with the exceptions of anthropology and astronomy. Support is somewhat greater among men than among women, but the sex difference is far less than in attitudes toward space flight in general. Evangelical Protestantism, represented by the "Born Again" movement, strongly discourages support for CETI. Just as exobiology begins with an understanding of terrestrial biology, exosociology on the question of how interstellar contact can be achieved should begin with serious sociological study of factors operating on our own world. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Message - Could extraterrestrials already have tried to contact us? On the basis of statistical calculations on galactic migration, here’s a paper that explores the possibility that exogenous vehicles and/or probes may have reached our solar system, including Earth. See article.
g Learning - Why do American students suck so much at science? See article.
g Aftermath - Communication with extraterrestrial intelligence depends as much upon social support for the project as upon appropriate engineering design and upon the actual existence of a nearby extrasolar civilization. The results of a sociological survey of 1,465 American college students provide the first detailed analysis of the social and ideological factors that influence support for CETI, thereby suggesting ways that support might be increased. Linked to the most idealistic goals of the space program, notably interplanetary colonization, enthusiasm for CETI is little affected by attitudes toward technology or militarism. Few sciences or scholarly fields encourage CETI, with the exceptions of anthropology and astronomy. Support is somewhat greater among men than among women, but the sex difference is far less than in attitudes toward space flight in general. Evangelical Protestantism, represented by the "Born Again" movement, strongly discourages support for CETI. Just as exobiology begins with an understanding of terrestrial biology, exosociology on the question of how interstellar contact can be achieved should begin with serious sociological study of factors operating on our own world. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
What makes a planet habitable and how matter between star systems interact
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Using data from NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft, an international team of researchers has measured neutral "alien" particles entering our solar system from interstellar space. A suite of studies published in the Astrophysical Journal provides a first look at the constituents of the interstellar medium, the matter between star systems, and how they interact with our heliosphere. See article.
g Abodes - Exoplanets are now being discovered at pace, and some have been described as "Earth-Like." These claims are often based on the distance between the exoplanet and its host star. Unfortunately, this distance isn't all that makes a planet habitable. See article.
g Life - A new theory asserts that the Earth is alive - including purportedly inanimate, non-living objects like water, proteins and DNA. See article.
g Cosmicus - Atomic-level defects in graphene could be a path forward to smaller and faster electronic devices, according to a study led by researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Using data from NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft, an international team of researchers has measured neutral "alien" particles entering our solar system from interstellar space. A suite of studies published in the Astrophysical Journal provides a first look at the constituents of the interstellar medium, the matter between star systems, and how they interact with our heliosphere. See article.
g Abodes - Exoplanets are now being discovered at pace, and some have been described as "Earth-Like." These claims are often based on the distance between the exoplanet and its host star. Unfortunately, this distance isn't all that makes a planet habitable. See article.
g Life - A new theory asserts that the Earth is alive - including purportedly inanimate, non-living objects like water, proteins and DNA. See article.
g Cosmicus - Atomic-level defects in graphene could be a path forward to smaller and faster electronic devices, according to a study led by researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Life in dormant hydrothermal vents and ice on asteroid Vesta
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - A Naval Research Laboratory scientist is part of a team that has recently discovered that vast clouds of hot gas are "sloshing" in Abell 2052, a galaxy cluster located about 480 million light years from Earth. The scientists are studying the hot (30 million degree) gas using X-ray data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and optical data from the Very Large Telescope to see the galaxies. See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered evidence that life continues at hydrothermal sea vents, even after the vents themselves go dormant. The study sheds light on how microbial communities survive in one Earth's most unique environments. See article.
g Intelligence - Neuroscientists may one day be able to hear the imagined speech of a patient unable to speak due to stroke or paralysis, according to University of California, Berkeley, researchers. See article.
g Cosmicus - Half of the giant asteroid Vesta is expected to be so cold and to receive so little sunlight that water ice could survive. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - A Naval Research Laboratory scientist is part of a team that has recently discovered that vast clouds of hot gas are "sloshing" in Abell 2052, a galaxy cluster located about 480 million light years from Earth. The scientists are studying the hot (30 million degree) gas using X-ray data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and optical data from the Very Large Telescope to see the galaxies. See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered evidence that life continues at hydrothermal sea vents, even after the vents themselves go dormant. The study sheds light on how microbial communities survive in one Earth's most unique environments. See article.
g Intelligence - Neuroscientists may one day be able to hear the imagined speech of a patient unable to speak due to stroke or paralysis, according to University of California, Berkeley, researchers. See article.
g Cosmicus - Half of the giant asteroid Vesta is expected to be so cold and to receive so little sunlight that water ice could survive. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Rethinking Snowball Earth and potential for past life on the Red Planet
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 - A new study suggests that geochemical records found in rocks prior to the glaciation event known as Snowball Earth are unrelated to the glaciation itself. See article.
g Intelligence - Genetic mutations that boost an individual's adaptability have greater chances of getting through to X chromosomes - at least in chimpanzees, according to new Danish research. See article.
g Cosmicus - Eight years after landing on Mars, NASA's Opportunity rover is still returning important data about the potential for past life on the Red Planet. Five months ago, Opportunity reached Endeavour Crater, where it discovered geological deposits that are older than anything the rover examined in its first seven years. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - A new study suggests that geochemical records found in rocks prior to the glaciation event known as Snowball Earth are unrelated to the glaciation itself. See article.
g Intelligence - Genetic mutations that boost an individual's adaptability have greater chances of getting through to X chromosomes - at least in chimpanzees, according to new Danish research. See article.
g Cosmicus - Eight years after landing on Mars, NASA's Opportunity rover is still returning important data about the potential for past life on the Red Planet. Five months ago, Opportunity reached Endeavour Crater, where it discovered geological deposits that are older than anything the rover examined in its first seven years. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
