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 shows that current estimates of ice-giant planetary interiors overstate water's compressibility by as much as 30 percent. The findings could dramatically change our understanding of the physical properties of such worlds. See article.
g Intelligence - In the last century something unexpected happened: humans became sedentary. We traded in our active lifestyles for a more immobile existence. But these were not the conditions under which we evolved. David Raichlen from the University of Arizona, explains that our hunter-gatherer predecessors were long-distance endurance athletes. “Aerobic activity has played a role in the evolution of lots of different systems in the human body, which may explain why aerobic exercise seems to be so good for us,” says Raichlen. However, he points out that testing the hypothesis that we evolved for high-endurance performance is problematic, because most other mammalian endurance athletes are quadrupedal. See article.
g Cosmicus - Quote of the Day: “All civilizations become either spacefaring or extinct.” – Carl Sagan
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Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Earth life couldn’t move to Gliese 581 planets and collection of ‘First Contact’ stories
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 - The "super-Earth" planet in the Gliese 581 system may be suitable for life as we know it. However, a new study shows that it is unlikely that life on this planet could be transferred to other planets in the Gliese 581 system. See article.
g Message - Scripps Research Institute scientists and their colleagues have successfully harnessed neurons in mouse brains, allowing them to at least partially control a specific memory. Though just an initial step, the researchers hope such work will eventually lead to better understanding of how memories form in the brain, and possibly even to ways to weaken harmful thoughts for those with conditions such as schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder. 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. See article.
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g Abodes - The "super-Earth" planet in the Gliese 581 system may be suitable for life as we know it. However, a new study shows that it is unlikely that life on this planet could be transferred to other planets in the Gliese 581 system. See article.
g Message - Scripps Research Institute scientists and their colleagues have successfully harnessed neurons in mouse brains, allowing them to at least partially control a specific memory. Though just an initial step, the researchers hope such work will eventually lead to better understanding of how memories form in the brain, and possibly even to ways to weaken harmful thoughts for those with conditions such as schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder. 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. See article.
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
First global geologic map of Io and why we walk upright
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 put forward a new theory about why black holes become so hugely massive - claiming some of them have no table manners, and tip their food directly into their mouths, eating more than one course simultaneously. See article.
g Abodes - A team of scientists has developed the first complete global geologic map of Jupiter's moon Io. See article.
g Intelligence - Most of us walk and carry items in our hands every day. These are seemingly simple activities that the majority of us don't question. But an international team of researchers, including Brian Richmond at the George Washington University, have discovered that human bipedalism, or walking upright, may have originated millions of years ago as an adaptation to carrying scarce, high-quality resources. See article.
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g Stars - Astronomers have put forward a new theory about why black holes become so hugely massive - claiming some of them have no table manners, and tip their food directly into their mouths, eating more than one course simultaneously. See article.
g Abodes - A team of scientists has developed the first complete global geologic map of Jupiter's moon Io. See article.
g Intelligence - Most of us walk and carry items in our hands every day. These are seemingly simple activities that the majority of us don't question. But an international team of researchers, including Brian Richmond at the George Washington University, have discovered that human bipedalism, or walking upright, may have originated millions of years ago as an adaptation to carrying scarce, high-quality resources. See article.
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Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Why gas giants prefer certain orbits and what’s it like to listen for alien radio signals?
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 research has provided an explanation for a question that has long puzzled astronomers: Why do gas giant planets appear to prefer to occupy certain regions in mature solar systems? See article.
g Message - What’s it like to be a SETI astronomer, listening for alien radio signals? See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA’s astrobiologists study microbial life to understand how it transformed a rocky Earth into the thriving, diverse, life-sustaining planet we inhabit today. These studies of photosynthetic “green” algae are creating sparks for new ‘green technologies’ on Earth and future human space exploration missions. See article.
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g Abodes - New research has provided an explanation for a question that has long puzzled astronomers: Why do gas giant planets appear to prefer to occupy certain regions in mature solar systems? See article.
g Message - What’s it like to be a SETI astronomer, listening for alien radio signals? See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA’s astrobiologists study microbial life to understand how it transformed a rocky Earth into the thriving, diverse, life-sustaining planet we inhabit today. These studies of photosynthetic “green” algae are creating sparks for new ‘green technologies’ on Earth and future human space exploration missions. See article.
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Working definition of ‘extraterrestrial life’ and how stresses of space affect life's ability to survive there
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 research shows that Earth's atmosphere flipped between “organic haze” and a 'haze-free' environment prior to the oxygenation of our planet. The study could help astrobiologists understand how our planet's climate and biosphere evolved over time. See article.
g Message - It's not easy to look for life somewhere other than Earth. First, scientists searching for life in space have to come up with a working definition of “extraterrestrial life.” Next, they need to develop a strategy identifying places and methods for their search. To make matters more complicated, all of this has to be done without contaminating the search site with life from Earth or contaminating Earth with potential extraterrestrial life. See article.
g Cosmicus - In November 2011, NASA's O/OREOS nanosatellite carried microorganisms into low-Earth orbit. The mission is now providing astrobiologists with valuable information about how the stresses of space affect life's ability to survive beyond our planet. See article.
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g Abodes - New research shows that Earth's atmosphere flipped between “organic haze” and a 'haze-free' environment prior to the oxygenation of our planet. The study could help astrobiologists understand how our planet's climate and biosphere evolved over time. See article.
g Message - It's not easy to look for life somewhere other than Earth. First, scientists searching for life in space have to come up with a working definition of “extraterrestrial life.” Next, they need to develop a strategy identifying places and methods for their search. To make matters more complicated, all of this has to be done without contaminating the search site with life from Earth or contaminating Earth with potential extraterrestrial life. See article.
g Cosmicus - In November 2011, NASA's O/OREOS nanosatellite carried microorganisms into low-Earth orbit. The mission is now providing astrobiologists with valuable information about how the stresses of space affect life's ability to survive beyond our planet. See article.
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Monday, March 26, 2012
Microorganism activity level in mud deep below seas and consequences of alien contact in science fiction
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 have discovered that galactic cosmic ray bombardment of the lunar surface causes chemical changes in water ice on the Moon. This process can create complex carbon chains similar to those that form the foundations of biological structures. See article.
g Life - Bacteria are the only organisms known to produce D-amino acids that deposit a chemical signature in the environment. Now, scientists are using this knowledge to develop a method for calculating the activity level of microorganisms in mud deep below the seas of Earth. See article.
g Aftermath - Some of the best discussion of the consequences of alien contact occurs in science fiction. Here’s a novel that ranks among the most important in that dialogue: Arthur C. Clarke’s “Songs of a Distant Earth.” Look for it at your library or local used book store. See article.
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g Abodes - Scientists have discovered that galactic cosmic ray bombardment of the lunar surface causes chemical changes in water ice on the Moon. This process can create complex carbon chains similar to those that form the foundations of biological structures. See article.
g Life - Bacteria are the only organisms known to produce D-amino acids that deposit a chemical signature in the environment. Now, scientists are using this knowledge to develop a method for calculating the activity level of microorganisms in mud deep below the seas of Earth. See article.
g Aftermath - Some of the best discussion of the consequences of alien contact occurs in science fiction. Here’s a novel that ranks among the most important in that dialogue: Arthur C. Clarke’s “Songs of a Distant Earth.” Look for it at your library or local used book store. See article.
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Sunday, March 25, 2012
Mars a better host than Earth for life to begin and ‘Life Beyond Earth’
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 - Given the same raw materials, Mars would have been a better host for life to arise than Earth, which some scientists believe was too flooded for the chemistry of life to gain a toehold. See article.
g Life - The world's first birds, along with dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, likely sported colorful, patterned exteriors. See article.
g Message - Book alert: Scour your used bookstore shelves for “Life Beyond Earth,” by Timothy Ferris. Rock-solid science writer Ferris has covered this ground before. In the two-hour PBS documentary that he wrote and narrated - which shares the title, text, and many of the images of this generously illustrated book - Ferris tackles two age-old questions about the potentially universal nature of life: Are we alone, and, if not, is anybody listening? See article.
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g Abodes - Given the same raw materials, Mars would have been a better host for life to arise than Earth, which some scientists believe was too flooded for the chemistry of life to gain a toehold. See article.
g Life - The world's first birds, along with dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, likely sported colorful, patterned exteriors. See article.
g Message - Book alert: Scour your used bookstore shelves for “Life Beyond Earth,” by Timothy Ferris. Rock-solid science writer Ferris has covered this ground before. In the two-hour PBS documentary that he wrote and narrated - which shares the title, text, and many of the images of this generously illustrated book - Ferris tackles two age-old questions about the potentially universal nature of life: Are we alone, and, if not, is anybody listening? See article.
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Saturday, March 24, 2012
Earth’s early atmosphere swings and 570 million-year-old fossil
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 of ancient South African rocks indicates Earth may have experienced huge swings in the composition of its early atmosphere. See article.
g Life - Microscopic 570-million-year-old fossils from China may represent the earliest evidence for animal life on Earth, suggests a new study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. See article.
g Imagining - Americans love science in their movies and TV shows, yet recent reports indicate we are losing our scientific dominance to the rest of the world. Can science-themed entertainment get Americans off the couch and into the lab? See article.
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g Abodes - A new study of ancient South African rocks indicates Earth may have experienced huge swings in the composition of its early atmosphere. See article.
g Life - Microscopic 570-million-year-old fossils from China may represent the earliest evidence for animal life on Earth, suggests a new study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. See article.
g Imagining - Americans love science in their movies and TV shows, yet recent reports indicate we are losing our scientific dominance to the rest of the world. Can science-themed entertainment get Americans off the couch and into the lab? See article.
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Friday, March 23, 2012
Radio vs. optical waves in SETI and examining forming stromatolites in a subglacial lake
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 - NASA has unveiled a new atlas and catalog of the entire infrared sky showing more than a half billion stars, galaxies and other objects. See article.
g Life - In 2008, scientists discovered large conical stromatolites forming beneath the thick perennial ice of Lake Untersee. In his blog from Antarctica, astrobiologist Dale Andersen discusses recent work on this mysterious subglacial lake. See article.
g Message - While advanced civilizations might be tempted to use optical means such as lasers to send information between the stars, there are some good reasons that nearly all the major Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence experiments are looking for radio waves instead. See article.
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g Stars - NASA has unveiled a new atlas and catalog of the entire infrared sky showing more than a half billion stars, galaxies and other objects. See article.
g Life - In 2008, scientists discovered large conical stromatolites forming beneath the thick perennial ice of Lake Untersee. In his blog from Antarctica, astrobiologist Dale Andersen discusses recent work on this mysterious subglacial lake. See article.
g Message - While advanced civilizations might be tempted to use optical means such as lasers to send information between the stars, there are some good reasons that nearly all the major Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence experiments are looking for radio waves instead. See article.
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Thursday, March 22, 2012
How ancient seas rose during extremely warm period on Earth and the Artifact Hypothesis
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 that examines how ancient seas rose during an extremely warm period on Earth is helping scientists understand how climate change could affect the future of our oceans. See article.
g Message - To subject the Fermi Paradox to needed experimental testing, a researcher has offered the Artifact Hypothesis: A technologically advanced extraterrestrial civilization has undertaken a long-term program of' interstellar exploration via transmission of material artifacts. See article.
g Cosmicus - Scientists have implanted tiny biofuel cells that extract electrical power from garden snails. See article.
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g Abodes - A new study that examines how ancient seas rose during an extremely warm period on Earth is helping scientists understand how climate change could affect the future of our oceans. See article.
g Message - To subject the Fermi Paradox to needed experimental testing, a researcher has offered the Artifact Hypothesis: A technologically advanced extraterrestrial civilization has undertaken a long-term program of' interstellar exploration via transmission of material artifacts. See article.
g Cosmicus - Scientists have implanted tiny biofuel cells that extract electrical power from garden snails. See article.
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The hard line to ET enthusiasts and single-celled organisms in the food chain
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 movies of an invisible wave shaking up the jet stream of Jupiter are helping astrobiologists better-understand similar processes on planet Earth. See article.
g Life - Scientists have proven that animals can and do consume Archaea. The discovery documents the important role these single-celled organisms play in providing a base for food chains around deep sea vents. See article.
g Message - Book alert: Despite an evidently open-minded attitude, Barry R. Parker in his new book “Alien Life: The Search for Extraterrestrials and Beyond” delivers the hard line to ET enthusiasts: "Strangely, we haven't found a single sign of life beyond our solar system." In “Alien Life,” the emeritus Idaho State University professor of astronomy and physics summarizes recent scientific conjecture on extraterrestrial life without venturing much personal speculation. He considers the "architecture of life" and the mystery of DNA as related to its possible exploitation elsewhere; the possibility of non-carbon-based life forms; the history of Mars exploration (including the recent "meteorite from Mars" discovery); the results of NASA space probes; the discovery of distant planets through advanced telescopy; and SETI's search for alien radio signals. Parker acknowledges the contentions of UFO believers, but devotes few pages to claims of alien encounters such as the well-known Roswell incident. Steering clear of that controversy as "an argument not likely to be resolved in the near future," Parker's hopeful and energetic book ends up reinforcing the science establishment's lonely outlook for humanity, but still leaves room for the possibility that if they are out there, we will find them - or they, us. See article.
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g Abodes - New movies of an invisible wave shaking up the jet stream of Jupiter are helping astrobiologists better-understand similar processes on planet Earth. See article.
g Life - Scientists have proven that animals can and do consume Archaea. The discovery documents the important role these single-celled organisms play in providing a base for food chains around deep sea vents. See article.
g Message - Book alert: Despite an evidently open-minded attitude, Barry R. Parker in his new book “Alien Life: The Search for Extraterrestrials and Beyond” delivers the hard line to ET enthusiasts: "Strangely, we haven't found a single sign of life beyond our solar system." In “Alien Life,” the emeritus Idaho State University professor of astronomy and physics summarizes recent scientific conjecture on extraterrestrial life without venturing much personal speculation. He considers the "architecture of life" and the mystery of DNA as related to its possible exploitation elsewhere; the possibility of non-carbon-based life forms; the history of Mars exploration (including the recent "meteorite from Mars" discovery); the results of NASA space probes; the discovery of distant planets through advanced telescopy; and SETI's search for alien radio signals. Parker acknowledges the contentions of UFO believers, but devotes few pages to claims of alien encounters such as the well-known Roswell incident. Steering clear of that controversy as "an argument not likely to be resolved in the near future," Parker's hopeful and energetic book ends up reinforcing the science establishment's lonely outlook for humanity, but still leaves room for the possibility that if they are out there, we will find them - or they, us. See article.
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012
New theory about continent formation and maintaining strategic dialogue with ETI
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 - Geologists have developed a new theory for how the earliest continents on Earth were formed. The processes behind continent formation and development on our planet have a profound effect on Earth's climate and the evolution of life as we know it. See article.
g Life - A new study shows that proteins began interacting with RNA even before ribosomes were present in cells. The findings challenge a long-held hypothesis about the early evolution of life. See article.
g Aftermath - What are the challenges to comprehension in initiating and maintaining strategic dialogue in highly uncertain situations — such as with extraterrestrials? See article.
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g Abodes - Geologists have developed a new theory for how the earliest continents on Earth were formed. The processes behind continent formation and development on our planet have a profound effect on Earth's climate and the evolution of life as we know it. See article.
g Life - A new study shows that proteins began interacting with RNA even before ribosomes were present in cells. The findings challenge a long-held hypothesis about the early evolution of life. See article.
g Aftermath - What are the challenges to comprehension in initiating and maintaining strategic dialogue in highly uncertain situations — such as with extraterrestrials? See article.
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Monday, March 19, 2012
Consequences of receiving a signal from the cosmos and eye damage for astronauts
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 have proposed a new theory for the presence of vast swaths of highly magnetic material in some parts of the Moon's crust. See article.
g Cosmicus - New research shows that prolonged periods of time in space could cause abnormalities in the eyes of astronauts. The study was performed with 27 astronauts, each of whom spent an average of 108 days on space missions. See article.
g Aftermath - Book alert: In “Cosmic Company,” Seth Shostak and Alex Barnett ponder the possibility of aliens visiting the Earth, as well as the consequences of receiving a signal from the cosmos proving we're neither alone, nor the most intelligent life forms. They explain why scientists think life might exist on other worlds, and how we might contact it. Shostak and Barnett, experienced writers of popular astronomy, provide an accessible overview of the science and technology behind the search for life in the universe See article.
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g Abodes - Scientists have proposed a new theory for the presence of vast swaths of highly magnetic material in some parts of the Moon's crust. See article.
g Cosmicus - New research shows that prolonged periods of time in space could cause abnormalities in the eyes of astronauts. The study was performed with 27 astronauts, each of whom spent an average of 108 days on space missions. See article.
g Aftermath - Book alert: In “Cosmic Company,” Seth Shostak and Alex Barnett ponder the possibility of aliens visiting the Earth, as well as the consequences of receiving a signal from the cosmos proving we're neither alone, nor the most intelligent life forms. They explain why scientists think life might exist on other worlds, and how we might contact it. Shostak and Barnett, experienced writers of popular astronomy, provide an accessible overview of the science and technology behind the search for life in the universe See article.
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Sunday, March 18, 2012
Types of stars that could support Earth-like worlds and what to say to ETI
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 - Jupiter is often credited for shielding Earth from catastrophic asteroid and comet impacts. But new simulations of the influence of gas giant planets in solar systems casts doubt on Jupiter's reputation as Earth's protector. See article.
g Life - Photosynthesis maintains Earth's habitability for life as we know it, and shapes the way we search for habitable worlds around distant stars. Scientists have discovered a microbe that can use low-energy light to perform photosynthesis. This discovery could alter theories about the types of stars that could support Earth-like worlds. See article.
g Message - If anybody's out there, what do we tell them? See article.
g Cosmicus - Origins missions are designed to observe the birth of the earliest galaxies and the formation of stars, to find all the planetary systems in our solar neighborhood, to find planets that are capable of harboring life and to learn to what extent life exists beyond our solar system. We do this to understand the origins of our world. We do this to answer two questions: Where did we come from? Are we alone? See article.
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g Abodes - Jupiter is often credited for shielding Earth from catastrophic asteroid and comet impacts. But new simulations of the influence of gas giant planets in solar systems casts doubt on Jupiter's reputation as Earth's protector. See article.
g Life - Photosynthesis maintains Earth's habitability for life as we know it, and shapes the way we search for habitable worlds around distant stars. Scientists have discovered a microbe that can use low-energy light to perform photosynthesis. This discovery could alter theories about the types of stars that could support Earth-like worlds. See article.
g Message - If anybody's out there, what do we tell them? See article.
g Cosmicus - Origins missions are designed to observe the birth of the earliest galaxies and the formation of stars, to find all the planetary systems in our solar neighborhood, to find planets that are capable of harboring life and to learn to what extent life exists beyond our solar system. We do this to understand the origins of our world. We do this to answer two questions: Where did we come from? Are we alone? See article.
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Saturday, March 17, 2012
New tool for spotting Earth-like planets and more than one way to make crucial components of life
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 are studying how a new laser frequency comb might boost the search for Earth-like planets. The comb precisely measures frequencies of light and has been used for the first time to calibrate measurements of starlight from distant stars. See article.
g Life - New research shows that there is more than one way to make crucial components of life. The study increases the likelihood that life emerged elsewhere in the universe. See article.
g Message - It's possible to split up the methods of finding extraterrestrial life into two categories; humans trying to discover extraterrestrial life, and humans trying to be discovered by extraterrestrial life. See article.
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g Abodes - Scientists are studying how a new laser frequency comb might boost the search for Earth-like planets. The comb precisely measures frequencies of light and has been used for the first time to calibrate measurements of starlight from distant stars. See article.
g Life - New research shows that there is more than one way to make crucial components of life. The study increases the likelihood that life emerged elsewhere in the universe. See article.
g Message - It's possible to split up the methods of finding extraterrestrial life into two categories; humans trying to discover extraterrestrial life, and humans trying to be discovered by extraterrestrial life. See article.
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Friday, March 16, 2012
More Earth-size planet candidates and searching for ETI’s laser beacons
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 - The Kepler team has released the third catalog of transiting planet candidates. The new catalog contains 1,091 candidates, including some that could be smaller than twice the size of Earth. Kepler has now identified well over 200 Earth-size planet candidates. See article.
g Life - The Burgess Shale of British Columbia is one of the most important fossil deposits in the world. Now, scientists are beginning to understand how these fossils were preserved. See article.
g Message - In 2001, California astronomers broadened the search for extraterrestrial intelligence with a new experiment to look for powerful light pulses beamed our way from other star systems. Scientists from the University of California's Lick Observatory, the SETI Institute, UC-Santa Cruz, and UC-Berkeley used the Lick Observatory's 40-inch Nickel Telescope with a pulse-detection system capable of finding laser beacons from civilizations many light-years distant. Unlike other optical SETI searches, this new experiment is largely immune to false alarms that slow the reconnaissance of target stars. See article.
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g Abodes - The Kepler team has released the third catalog of transiting planet candidates. The new catalog contains 1,091 candidates, including some that could be smaller than twice the size of Earth. Kepler has now identified well over 200 Earth-size planet candidates. See article.
g Life - The Burgess Shale of British Columbia is one of the most important fossil deposits in the world. Now, scientists are beginning to understand how these fossils were preserved. See article.
g Message - In 2001, California astronomers broadened the search for extraterrestrial intelligence with a new experiment to look for powerful light pulses beamed our way from other star systems. Scientists from the University of California's Lick Observatory, the SETI Institute, UC-Santa Cruz, and UC-Berkeley used the Lick Observatory's 40-inch Nickel Telescope with a pulse-detection system capable of finding laser beacons from civilizations many light-years distant. Unlike other optical SETI searches, this new experiment is largely immune to false alarms that slow the reconnaissance of target stars. See article.
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Thursday, March 15, 2012
How space weather affects Venus and searching for alien Dyson Spheres
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 have found evidence for a space weather effect - called a hot flow anomaly - on Venus. See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered the oldest animal with a skeleton. The organism is between 560 million and 550 million years old, and lived during the Ediacaran period. See article.
g Message - Could intelligent beings in another solar system have hidden their sun by knocking their planets apart and using the pieces to build a hollow ball around their sun? For more on “Dyson Spheres,” see article.
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g Abodes - Scientists have found evidence for a space weather effect - called a hot flow anomaly - on Venus. See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered the oldest animal with a skeleton. The organism is between 560 million and 550 million years old, and lived during the Ediacaran period. See article.
g Message - Could intelligent beings in another solar system have hidden their sun by knocking their planets apart and using the pieces to build a hollow ball around their sun? For more on “Dyson Spheres,” see article.
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Where life thrives without sunlight and Teen-Age Message to extraterrestrial intelligence
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 chance alignment of planets has allowed scientists to compare the protective effects of Earth's magnetic field with that of Mars' naked atmosphere. See article.
g Life - Scientists have uncovered a new undersea ecosystem where life thrives without sunlight: hydrothermal seeps. The term refers to hybrid sites where hydrothermal vents and methane seeps exist side-by-side. See article.
g Message - In 2001, a group of Russian teens from Moscow, Kaluga, Voronezh and Zheleznogorsk participated directly and via the Internet in composing a Teen-Age Message to extraterrestrial intelligence, and in the selection of target stars. Their message was transmitted in the autumn of that year, from the Evpatoria Deep Space Center. See article.
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g Abodes - A chance alignment of planets has allowed scientists to compare the protective effects of Earth's magnetic field with that of Mars' naked atmosphere. See article.
g Life - Scientists have uncovered a new undersea ecosystem where life thrives without sunlight: hydrothermal seeps. The term refers to hybrid sites where hydrothermal vents and methane seeps exist side-by-side. See article.
g Message - In 2001, a group of Russian teens from Moscow, Kaluga, Voronezh and Zheleznogorsk participated directly and via the Internet in composing a Teen-Age Message to extraterrestrial intelligence, and in the selection of target stars. Their message was transmitted in the autumn of that year, from the Evpatoria Deep Space Center. See article.
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Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Acidifying oceans and what ETI might not understand about our messages
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 team of international scientists has uncovered evidence that a large impact occurred on Earth around 13,000 years ago. The impact may have corresponded with an unusually cold period in Earth's history known as the Younger Dryas. See article.
g Life - A new study indicates that the oceans of Earth may be acidifying faster today than they did in the last 300 million years. If the trend continues, it may bring about dramatic changes for marine species on our planet. See article.
g Message - There are two interconnected, inverse and direct, problems in concept of extraterrestrial intelligence – Search for ETI by terrestrial intelligence and Messages to ETI from terrestrial intelligence. The key element of SETI is the Object of search, namely Universe, where we hope to detect the ETI and then to decode theirs Messages, and so the essence of SETI is Space Science. In turn, the key element of METI is the intellectual subject, who creates new messages for potential ETI and hope that They will detect and perceive these Messages, and so the essence of METI is Space Art. Of course, both SETI and METI have both scientific and art components, but it’s important to underline that dominant of SETI is Science, and dominant of METI is Art. Also, the Messages for ETI might content both terrestrial knowledge and art, however scientific objective laws, known to terrestrials probably similar to ETI one, in turn the terrestrial subjective Art is unique and definitely unknown to ETI. See article.
g Learning - Scientists have revealed new information about the “man in the Moon” many people see when gazing at our familiar celestial neighbor. See article.
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g Abodes - A team of international scientists has uncovered evidence that a large impact occurred on Earth around 13,000 years ago. The impact may have corresponded with an unusually cold period in Earth's history known as the Younger Dryas. See article.
g Life - A new study indicates that the oceans of Earth may be acidifying faster today than they did in the last 300 million years. If the trend continues, it may bring about dramatic changes for marine species on our planet. See article.
g Message - There are two interconnected, inverse and direct, problems in concept of extraterrestrial intelligence – Search for ETI by terrestrial intelligence and Messages to ETI from terrestrial intelligence. The key element of SETI is the Object of search, namely Universe, where we hope to detect the ETI and then to decode theirs Messages, and so the essence of SETI is Space Science. In turn, the key element of METI is the intellectual subject, who creates new messages for potential ETI and hope that They will detect and perceive these Messages, and so the essence of METI is Space Art. Of course, both SETI and METI have both scientific and art components, but it’s important to underline that dominant of SETI is Science, and dominant of METI is Art. Also, the Messages for ETI might content both terrestrial knowledge and art, however scientific objective laws, known to terrestrials probably similar to ETI one, in turn the terrestrial subjective Art is unique and definitely unknown to ETI. See article.
g Learning - Scientists have revealed new information about the “man in the Moon” many people see when gazing at our familiar celestial neighbor. See article.
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Monday, March 12, 2012
Life right after Big Bang and Jodrell Bank SETI observations
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 - The last transit of Venus this century will occur June 5-6. The event will provide astrobiologists with the opportunity to view Venus as an example of a transiting exoplanet. See article.
g Life - Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, Director of the Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, working in collaboration with Rudolph Schild (Harvard University) and Carl Gibson (UCSD) recently published a theory that argues for the first microbial life in the Universe originating in the watery interiors of primordial planets numbering about 1080 (1 followed by 80 zeros), just a few million years after the Big Bang. See article.
g Intelligence - Chimpanzees are interested in social cohesion and have various strategies to guarantee the stability of their group. Anthropologists now reveal that chimpanzees mediate conflicts between other group members, not for their own direct benefit, but rather to preserve the peace within the group. Their impartial intervention in a conflict - so-called "policing" - can be regarded as an early evolutionary form of moral behavior. See article.
g Message - A while back, the BBC interviewed Ian Morison, coordinator of the Jodrell Bank SETI observations — whose job is to search for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligent life. See article.
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g Abodes - The last transit of Venus this century will occur June 5-6. The event will provide astrobiologists with the opportunity to view Venus as an example of a transiting exoplanet. See article.
g Life - Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, Director of the Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, working in collaboration with Rudolph Schild (Harvard University) and Carl Gibson (UCSD) recently published a theory that argues for the first microbial life in the Universe originating in the watery interiors of primordial planets numbering about 1080 (1 followed by 80 zeros), just a few million years after the Big Bang. See article.
g Intelligence - Chimpanzees are interested in social cohesion and have various strategies to guarantee the stability of their group. Anthropologists now reveal that chimpanzees mediate conflicts between other group members, not for their own direct benefit, but rather to preserve the peace within the group. Their impartial intervention in a conflict - so-called "policing" - can be regarded as an early evolutionary form of moral behavior. See article.
g Message - A while back, the BBC interviewed Ian Morison, coordinator of the Jodrell Bank SETI observations — whose job is to search for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligent life. See article.
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Sunday, March 11, 2012
Dione’s oxygen atmosphere and nuclear clock
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 - Cassini spacecraft has detected molecular oxygen ions around Saturn's icy moon Dione. The discovery indicates that the moon has a very tenuous atmosphere. See article.
g Message - In July 2003, an international science team, led by Alexander Zaitsev of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Richard Braastad of Team Encounter, LLC, broadcast scientific and personal messages in “Cosmic Call 2003” to five, sun-like stars. Here’s a brief description of the preparation and implementation of CC-2003. See article.
g Cosmicus - A proposed new time-keeping system tied to the orbiting of a neutron around an atomic nucleus could have such unprecedented accuracy that it neither gains nor loses 1/20th of a second in 14 billion years - the age of the universe. See article.
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g Abodes - Cassini spacecraft has detected molecular oxygen ions around Saturn's icy moon Dione. The discovery indicates that the moon has a very tenuous atmosphere. See article.
g Message - In July 2003, an international science team, led by Alexander Zaitsev of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Richard Braastad of Team Encounter, LLC, broadcast scientific and personal messages in “Cosmic Call 2003” to five, sun-like stars. Here’s a brief description of the preparation and implementation of CC-2003. See article.
g Cosmicus - A proposed new time-keeping system tied to the orbiting of a neutron around an atomic nucleus could have such unprecedented accuracy that it neither gains nor loses 1/20th of a second in 14 billion years - the age of the universe. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, March 10, 2012
How Jupiter formed and interstellar messaging
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 - Comet samples from NASA's Stardust spacecraft are helping scientists understand the formation of Jupiter. Understanding the history of the early Solar System is important in determining how Earth became habitable for life as we know it. See article.
g Life - More than 99 percent of Antarctic blue whales were killed by commercial whalers during the 20th century, but the first circumpolar genetic study of these critically endangered whales has found a surprisingly high level of diversity among the surviving population of some 2,200 individuals. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat Web site: “Interstellar Messaging.” You’ll find discussion, history and real-world examples of mankind's methods and ongoing attempts to communicate with extraterrestrials. See article.
g Cosmicus - Filmmaker and explorer James Cameron has unveiled plans to visit the deepest place on planet Earth in the coming weeks, aboard a state-of-the-art, deep-diving craft built beneath a veil of secrecy in Australia. See article.
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g Abodes - Comet samples from NASA's Stardust spacecraft are helping scientists understand the formation of Jupiter. Understanding the history of the early Solar System is important in determining how Earth became habitable for life as we know it. See article.
g Life - More than 99 percent of Antarctic blue whales were killed by commercial whalers during the 20th century, but the first circumpolar genetic study of these critically endangered whales has found a surprisingly high level of diversity among the surviving population of some 2,200 individuals. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat Web site: “Interstellar Messaging.” You’ll find discussion, history and real-world examples of mankind's methods and ongoing attempts to communicate with extraterrestrials. See article.
g Cosmicus - Filmmaker and explorer James Cameron has unveiled plans to visit the deepest place on planet Earth in the coming weeks, aboard a state-of-the-art, deep-diving craft built beneath a veil of secrecy in Australia. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, March 09, 2012
Targeting stars with dusky discs and picking up what looks like ETI’s signal
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 - Stars with disks of debris around them might be good targets to search for Earth-like planets, researchers say. See article.
g Abodes - Debris responsible for an ancient 'lunar cataclysm' struck the Moon at much higher speeds than the impacts that made the most ancient craters visible today. See article.
g Message - Astronomer Michael M. Davis checked his computer. One of the antennas on the state-of-the-art radio telescope being built in the valley outside his office was picking up an unusual pulse from beyond the Earth. A signal from another intelligent civilization? Not today. It was the Rosetta Satellite, en route to study a comet. See article.
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g Stars - Stars with disks of debris around them might be good targets to search for Earth-like planets, researchers say. See article.
g Abodes - Debris responsible for an ancient 'lunar cataclysm' struck the Moon at much higher speeds than the impacts that made the most ancient craters visible today. See article.
g Message - Astronomer Michael M. Davis checked his computer. One of the antennas on the state-of-the-art radio telescope being built in the valley outside his office was picking up an unusual pulse from beyond the Earth. A signal from another intelligent civilization? Not today. It was the Rosetta Satellite, en route to study a comet. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, March 08, 2012
New model of solar system formation and sending signals to ETI
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 model could help explain how our solar system formed. The three-dimensional model examines the possibility that planets were created at essentially the same time as the Sun - during the collapse of the pre-solar nebula. See article.
g Message - While some scientists cautiously plan for ways to reply to extraterrestrial transmissions, others haven't waited for a signal to start talking. Sending messages from Earth into space to announce the existence of the human race is somewhat rare and controversial. Digital transmissions have been beamed into space from radio telescopes, and four spacecraft currently leaving the solar system bear messages for anyone who finds them. See article.
g Cosmicus - Despite feverish speculation from doomsayers, the near-Earth asteroid 2012 DA14 won't slam into our planet next year, NASA researchers say. See article.
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g Abodes - A new model could help explain how our solar system formed. The three-dimensional model examines the possibility that planets were created at essentially the same time as the Sun - during the collapse of the pre-solar nebula. See article.
g Message - While some scientists cautiously plan for ways to reply to extraterrestrial transmissions, others haven't waited for a signal to start talking. Sending messages from Earth into space to announce the existence of the human race is somewhat rare and controversial. Digital transmissions have been beamed into space from radio telescopes, and four spacecraft currently leaving the solar system bear messages for anyone who finds them. See article.
g Cosmicus - Despite feverish speculation from doomsayers, the near-Earth asteroid 2012 DA14 won't slam into our planet next year, NASA researchers say. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Mars’ salty soils and heading through Saturn’s rings
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 astronomers has discovered the most distant cluster of red galaxies ever observed using FourStar, a new and powerful near-infrared camera on the 6.5m Magellan Baade Telescope. The galaxy cluster is located 10.5 billion light years away in the direction of the constellation Leo. It is made up of 30 galaxies packed closely together, forming the earliest known "galaxy city" in the universe. See article.
g Abodes - A new study shows that salty soils in Antarctica suck moisture out of the atmosphere. If a similar process occurs on planets like Mars, it could have an impact on their potential habitability. See article.
g Message - Before the Pioneer 11 spacecraft could venture beyond our solar system, it had to pass through the rings of Saturn. At the time, the rings were not well characterized and some thought the spacecraft could be destroyed. Whatever happened to Pioneer 11 at Saturn's rings would affect the flight plan of the Voyager spacecraft. See article.
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g Stars - A team of astronomers has discovered the most distant cluster of red galaxies ever observed using FourStar, a new and powerful near-infrared camera on the 6.5m Magellan Baade Telescope. The galaxy cluster is located 10.5 billion light years away in the direction of the constellation Leo. It is made up of 30 galaxies packed closely together, forming the earliest known "galaxy city" in the universe. See article.
g Abodes - A new study shows that salty soils in Antarctica suck moisture out of the atmosphere. If a similar process occurs on planets like Mars, it could have an impact on their potential habitability. See article.
g Message - Before the Pioneer 11 spacecraft could venture beyond our solar system, it had to pass through the rings of Saturn. At the time, the rings were not well characterized and some thought the spacecraft could be destroyed. Whatever happened to Pioneer 11 at Saturn's rings would affect the flight plan of the Voyager spacecraft. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Europa’s acidic oceans and secret plans for first contact
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 - Oxidants from the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa's might react with sulfides and other compounds in the moon's ocean, generating acids. This could make the ocean too acidic to support life as we know it. See article.
g Life - Researchers have unearthed an entire fossil forest dating back 385 million years. See article.
g Cosmicus - LAMIS, a green chemistry laser spectroscopy technique from Berkeley Lab, is faster and less expensive than mass spectrometry and can be carried out from across vast distances. Among other applications, it can be used to date geological objects on Earth and beyond. See article.
g Aftermath - Within the scientific community, the question is no longer whether extraterrestrial life exists, but if ET is smart enough to do long division — and the U.S. and other world governments already have detailed secret plans for first contact. My apologies in advanced for Popular Mechanic’s lurid title, but the reporting is sound. See article.
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g Abodes - Oxidants from the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa's might react with sulfides and other compounds in the moon's ocean, generating acids. This could make the ocean too acidic to support life as we know it. See article.
g Life - Researchers have unearthed an entire fossil forest dating back 385 million years. See article.
g Cosmicus - LAMIS, a green chemistry laser spectroscopy technique from Berkeley Lab, is faster and less expensive than mass spectrometry and can be carried out from across vast distances. Among other applications, it can be used to date geological objects on Earth and beyond. See article.
g Aftermath - Within the scientific community, the question is no longer whether extraterrestrial life exists, but if ET is smart enough to do long division — and the U.S. and other world governments already have detailed secret plans for first contact. My apologies in advanced for Popular Mechanic’s lurid title, but the reporting is sound. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, March 05, 2012
‘Exploring Mars’ and message in a bottle to ETI
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 on cloud height has revealed a possible cooling mechanisms that may be in play in the Earth's climate. See article.
g Message - A new study suggests it is more energy efficient to communicate across interstellar space by sending physical material — a sort of message in a bottle — than beams of electromagnetic radiation. Solid matter can hold more information and journey farther than radio waves, which disperse as they travel. See article.
g Cosmicus - Book alert: "Exploring Mars" is Scott Hubbard's absorbing story of how he created teams of talented scientists and engineers inside a headquarters building that is, as he writes, "a combination of alphabet soup and numerology" that was rife with internal politics and power trips. See review.
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g Abodes - A new study on cloud height has revealed a possible cooling mechanisms that may be in play in the Earth's climate. See article.
g Message - A new study suggests it is more energy efficient to communicate across interstellar space by sending physical material — a sort of message in a bottle — than beams of electromagnetic radiation. Solid matter can hold more information and journey farther than radio waves, which disperse as they travel. See article.
g Cosmicus - Book alert: "Exploring Mars" is Scott Hubbard's absorbing story of how he created teams of talented scientists and engineers inside a headquarters building that is, as he writes, "a combination of alphabet soup and numerology" that was rife with internal politics and power trips. See review.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Studying life from 1 billion years ago and Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence
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 have discovered seawater preserved in oceanic plates that could be 1 billion years old. See article.
g Life - Three and a half billion years ago our planet was quite different and Earth's earliest biosphere was dominated by microbial communities - complex multicellular organisms were not to evolve for quite some time, only arriving on the scene about 600 million years ago. Those early ecosystems resulted in the formation of luxuriant microbial mats with a variety of morphologies which are seen today in the stromatolitic fossil record scattered around the globe. One of these morphologies was simply large cones, sometimes reaching heights of 2 meters. See article.
g Message - We’ve all heard of SETI, but what about METI — “Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence,” or sending both scientific and artistic messages to the stars? See article.
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g Abodes - Scientists have discovered seawater preserved in oceanic plates that could be 1 billion years old. See article.
g Life - Three and a half billion years ago our planet was quite different and Earth's earliest biosphere was dominated by microbial communities - complex multicellular organisms were not to evolve for quite some time, only arriving on the scene about 600 million years ago. Those early ecosystems resulted in the formation of luxuriant microbial mats with a variety of morphologies which are seen today in the stromatolitic fossil record scattered around the globe. One of these morphologies was simply large cones, sometimes reaching heights of 2 meters. See article.
g Message - We’ve all heard of SETI, but what about METI — “Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence,” or sending both scientific and artistic messages to the stars? See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, March 03, 2012
How future mission to Enceladus could study this water for signs of life and our gold-plated message to ETI
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 - The Cassini mission has confirmed the presence of active jets of water ice that erupt from Saturn's moon, Enceladus. Scientists are looking at the ways in which a future mission to Enceladus could study this water for signs of life. See article.
g Life - Researchers have demonstrated how a flatworm overcomes the ageing process. See article.
g Message - A 12-inch gold plated copper disk containing recorded sounds and images representing human cultures and life on Earth — intended for extraterrestrial eyes and ears — is traveling about the galaxy. See article.
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g Abodes - The Cassini mission has confirmed the presence of active jets of water ice that erupt from Saturn's moon, Enceladus. Scientists are looking at the ways in which a future mission to Enceladus could study this water for signs of life. See article.
g Life - Researchers have demonstrated how a flatworm overcomes the ageing process. See article.
g Message - A 12-inch gold plated copper disk containing recorded sounds and images representing human cultures and life on Earth — intended for extraterrestrial eyes and ears — is traveling about the galaxy. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, March 02, 2012
Titan’s seasonal shifts and Pioneer’s messages to extraterrestrials
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 studies of Titan show how the moon shifts with the seasons and even throughout the day. See article.
g Life - New research is shedding light on the evolution of a plant cell component that is key for photosynthesis. See article.
g Message - What do the Pioneer plaques that carry messages to extraterrestrials look like and say? See article.
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g Abodes - New studies of Titan show how the moon shifts with the seasons and even throughout the day. See article.
g Life - New research is shedding light on the evolution of a plant cell component that is key for photosynthesis. See article.
g Message - What do the Pioneer plaques that carry messages to extraterrestrials look like and say? See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, March 01, 2012
More nomad planets than stars and test flight of suborbital spaceliner by the end of year?
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 shows that our galaxy could host 100,000 times more nomad planets than stars. These wandering planets drift through space instead of orbiting a star, and could change our understanding of life's potential in the universe. See article.
g Message - Recent discussions within the SETI community have thoroughly explored the issue of whether people with access to radio telescopes should send powerful signals to alien civilizations without some process of prior international consultation. In particular, those exchanges have focused on the question of "Active SETI." See article.
g Cosmicus - Virgin Galactic hopes to perform the first rocket-powered test flight of its suborbital spaceliner by the end of 2012, with commercial operations perhaps beginning a year or two later, company officials said. See article.
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g Abodes - A new study shows that our galaxy could host 100,000 times more nomad planets than stars. These wandering planets drift through space instead of orbiting a star, and could change our understanding of life's potential in the universe. See article.
g Message - Recent discussions within the SETI community have thoroughly explored the issue of whether people with access to radio telescopes should send powerful signals to alien civilizations without some process of prior international consultation. In particular, those exchanges have focused on the question of "Active SETI." See article.
g Cosmicus - Virgin Galactic hopes to perform the first rocket-powered test flight of its suborbital spaceliner by the end of 2012, with commercial operations perhaps beginning a year or two later, company officials said. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
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