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 with the OSIRIS-REx mission have measure the orbit of the asteroid 1999 RQ36 with such accuracy that they were able to determine the drift it experiences after absorbing sunlight and re-emitting the energy as heat. See article.
g Life - Scientists have used ultrafast spectroscopy to see what happens at the subatomic level during photosynthesis. See article.
g Cosmicus - What is the history of space stations in our literature and thinking? See article.
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Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Mission proposed to study exoworlds’ atmospheres and why movies get ETI wrong
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 ground beneath our feet may have more influence on the air than previously thought. A new study links the oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere to a sudden change in the inner workings of our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new mission proposed as part of NASA's Explorers program could help gather data that would greatly aid in the search for habitable, extrasolar worlds. FINESSE would be the first mission dedicated to studying atmospheres on worlds around distant stars. See article.
g Imagining - Despite what the movies tell us, any aliens that visit Earth probably won't want to enslave or vaporize us, veteran E.T. hunter Jill Tarter says. See article.
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g Abodes - The ground beneath our feet may have more influence on the air than previously thought. A new study links the oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere to a sudden change in the inner workings of our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new mission proposed as part of NASA's Explorers program could help gather data that would greatly aid in the search for habitable, extrasolar worlds. FINESSE would be the first mission dedicated to studying atmospheres on worlds around distant stars. See article.
g Imagining - Despite what the movies tell us, any aliens that visit Earth probably won't want to enslave or vaporize us, veteran E.T. hunter Jill Tarter says. See article.
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Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Quadrillions of nomad planets and the appropriateness of space colony architecture
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 has estimated the number of nomad planets that might exist in the Milky Way Galaxy: 100,000 for every star. The Milky Way contains 200 to 400 billion stars, meaning quadrillions of nomad planets could be drifting through the space between the stars of our galaxy. See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered that some hardy organisms living around deep-sea vents can survive the extreme change in pressure that occurs when a research submersible rises to the surface. See article.
g Cosmicus - Previous papers have examined the physical differences between natural and artificial gravity, through mathematical derivation and computer simulation. Taking those differences as given, this paper examines: the role of gravity in architectural design; the extensions of architectural theory necessary to accommodate the peculiarities of artificial gravity; and the appropriateness of space colony architecture as illustrated in the "Stanford Torus", "Bernal Sphere", and similar proposals. In terrestrial gravity, there are three principal directions - up, down, and horizontal - and three basic architectural elements - ceiling, floor, and wall. In artificial gravity, due to inertial effects of relative motion in a rotating environment, east and west (prograde and retrograde) emerge as gravitationally distinct. Thus, there are not only three, but at least five principal directions: up, down, east, west, and axial. The grammar of architecture for artificial gravity should accommodate this fact. To be meaningful, architecture should have formal properties that are similar to other aspects of the environment. The goal is not to fool people into thinking they're still on Earth, but rather, to help them orient themselves to the realities of their rotating environment. See article.
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g Abodes - A new study has estimated the number of nomad planets that might exist in the Milky Way Galaxy: 100,000 for every star. The Milky Way contains 200 to 400 billion stars, meaning quadrillions of nomad planets could be drifting through the space between the stars of our galaxy. See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered that some hardy organisms living around deep-sea vents can survive the extreme change in pressure that occurs when a research submersible rises to the surface. See article.
g Cosmicus - Previous papers have examined the physical differences between natural and artificial gravity, through mathematical derivation and computer simulation. Taking those differences as given, this paper examines: the role of gravity in architectural design; the extensions of architectural theory necessary to accommodate the peculiarities of artificial gravity; and the appropriateness of space colony architecture as illustrated in the "Stanford Torus", "Bernal Sphere", and similar proposals. In terrestrial gravity, there are three principal directions - up, down, and horizontal - and three basic architectural elements - ceiling, floor, and wall. In artificial gravity, due to inertial effects of relative motion in a rotating environment, east and west (prograde and retrograde) emerge as gravitationally distinct. Thus, there are not only three, but at least five principal directions: up, down, east, west, and axial. The grammar of architecture for artificial gravity should accommodate this fact. To be meaningful, architecture should have formal properties that are similar to other aspects of the environment. The goal is not to fool people into thinking they're still on Earth, but rather, to help them orient themselves to the realities of their rotating environment. See article.
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Monday, May 28, 2012
Runaway greenhouse effect on Mars and the Jamesburg Earth Station
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 - Cosmic impacts on Mars might have sent temperatures skyrocketing upward on the Red Planet in ancient times, enough to trigger a runaway greenhouse effect. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Jamesburg Earth Station is a massive satellite receiver in a remote valley in California. It played a central role in satellite communications for three decades, but had been forgotten until the current owner put it up for sale, promoting it as a great place to spend the apocalypse. It stands feet from a trailer park and down the road from a Buddhist retreat. This is the story of one of the old, weird ties between Earth and space. See article.
g Learning - A private philanthropist will shortly announce the winner(s) of his Origin of Life $50K Challenge. The prize is awarded to the "best proposal detailing 'first life.'" See article.
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g Abodes - Cosmic impacts on Mars might have sent temperatures skyrocketing upward on the Red Planet in ancient times, enough to trigger a runaway greenhouse effect. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Jamesburg Earth Station is a massive satellite receiver in a remote valley in California. It played a central role in satellite communications for three decades, but had been forgotten until the current owner put it up for sale, promoting it as a great place to spend the apocalypse. It stands feet from a trailer park and down the road from a Buddhist retreat. This is the story of one of the old, weird ties between Earth and space. See article.
g Learning - A private philanthropist will shortly announce the winner(s) of his Origin of Life $50K Challenge. The prize is awarded to the "best proposal detailing 'first life.'" See article.
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Sunday, May 27, 2012
ETI searchers help track asteroids and new study on universe’s origin
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 new study is helping scientists better understand the 13.7-billion-year history of the universe. See article.
g Abodes - A new study is shedding new light on the Arctic Ocean's carbon cycle. The results could help us determine how ecosystems respond to rising global temperature. See article.
g Cosmicus - A privately funded search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has pulled in its antenna horns a tad to help the U.S. Air Force gauge human-made space junk circling Earth. See article.
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g Stars - A new study is helping scientists better understand the 13.7-billion-year history of the universe. See article.
g Abodes - A new study is shedding new light on the Arctic Ocean's carbon cycle. The results could help us determine how ecosystems respond to rising global temperature. See article.
g Cosmicus - A privately funded search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has pulled in its antenna horns a tad to help the U.S. Air Force gauge human-made space junk circling Earth. See article.
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Saturday, May 26, 2012
Why finding ET won’t result in anarchy or universal brotherhood and new data on geology of Venus
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 is providing surprising insights about the geology of Venus. Data from the Venus Express mission has revealed that the planet's highlands contain geochemically evolved rocks, not just the basaltic rocks found in the volcanic plains. See article.
g Cosmicus - For the first time, a cargo-carrying spacecraft made by a private company arrived at the International Space Station. See article.
g Aftermath - The idea that finding extraterrestrial life would lead to civil unrest or an outbreak of peace and brotherhood on planet Earth has already been disproved in an accidental experiment that NASA performed in 1996, says Seth Shostak of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence See article.
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g Abodes - A new study is providing surprising insights about the geology of Venus. Data from the Venus Express mission has revealed that the planet's highlands contain geochemically evolved rocks, not just the basaltic rocks found in the volcanic plains. See article.
g Cosmicus - For the first time, a cargo-carrying spacecraft made by a private company arrived at the International Space Station. See article.
g Aftermath - The idea that finding extraterrestrial life would lead to civil unrest or an outbreak of peace and brotherhood on planet Earth has already been disproved in an accidental experiment that NASA performed in 1996, says Seth Shostak of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence See article.
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Friday, May 25, 2012
When NASA descends on your backyard hunting for clues to extraterrestrial life and could aliens really come from Planet G?
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Cosmicus - For a fantastic collection of links to space art websites (most with downloadable prints), see article.
g Learning - It's not every day that NASA descends on your backyard, hunting for clues to extraterrestrial life. See article.
g Imagining - Within the first five minutes of “Battleship,” we learn that contact has been made with Planet G, a rocky planet that actually exists in the constellation Libra. Could the aliens really come Planet G? See article.
g Aftermath - How would the public react if SETI found evidence of alien life? See article.
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g Cosmicus - For a fantastic collection of links to space art websites (most with downloadable prints), see article.
g Learning - It's not every day that NASA descends on your backyard, hunting for clues to extraterrestrial life. See article.
g Imagining - Within the first five minutes of “Battleship,” we learn that contact has been made with Planet G, a rocky planet that actually exists in the constellation Libra. Could the aliens really come Planet G? See article.
g Aftermath - How would the public react if SETI found evidence of alien life? See article.
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Thursday, May 24, 2012
Famed SETI astronomer Jill Tarter retiring and SpaceX rocket successfully launches
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 - Still soft ink sacs from 160-million-year-old squidlike animals have yielded pigment matching that of modern cuttlefish. See article.
g Message - Jill Tarter, the famed astronomer who for more than 35 years has led scientists listening for signals from extraterrestrial beings in distant worlds, is leaving her role at the SETI Institute in Mountain View. See article.
g Cosmicus - Billionaire Elon Musk, founder and chief executive of SpaceX, sent his Falcon 9 rocket into space early Tuesday morning with an unmanned Dragon capsule after an original mission was aborted over the weekend. How’s he feeling? Extremely relieved. See article.
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g Life - Still soft ink sacs from 160-million-year-old squidlike animals have yielded pigment matching that of modern cuttlefish. See article.
g Message - Jill Tarter, the famed astronomer who for more than 35 years has led scientists listening for signals from extraterrestrial beings in distant worlds, is leaving her role at the SETI Institute in Mountain View. See article.
g Cosmicus - Billionaire Elon Musk, founder and chief executive of SpaceX, sent his Falcon 9 rocket into space early Tuesday morning with an unmanned Dragon capsule after an original mission was aborted over the weekend. How’s he feeling? Extremely relieved. See article.
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Wednesday, May 23, 2012
How to see Venus’ transit and why space colonies shouldn’t be on planets first
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 - On June 4th, 2012, Venus will pass across the face of the Sun creating an eclipse that will not happen again until 2117. In the past, Venus' rare eclipses have taught scientists important information about our solar system. Data from this year's event could help us study extrasolar planets. See article.
g Life - Researchers have documented one of the longest ecological interaction chains ever documented. Their findings shed light on how human disturbance may lead to widespread ecological disruptions. See article.
g Cosmicus - From the very beginnings of both science fiction and serious scientific speculation, most concepts for future colonization beyond the Earth have targeted the planet Mars. The reason why is easy to see. Of all the planets in our solar system, it's the one most like Earth. But starting in 1969, Princeton University's Professor Gerard O'Neill began looking in a different direction: toward artificial habitats constructed in orbit from materials already in space. He had started by asking the question, "Is the surface of the Earth really the right place for an expanding technological civilization?" Some study seemed to indicate the answer was "No". Calculations revealed that orbital habitats could be surprisingly large and Earth-like, and would have many advantages over any planetary home. O'Neill's findings made us realize there was an unspoken and unquestioned assumption underlying the logic that pointed toward Mars: In order to create colonies beyond Earth, we must first find a planet on which to build them. See article.
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g Abodes - On June 4th, 2012, Venus will pass across the face of the Sun creating an eclipse that will not happen again until 2117. In the past, Venus' rare eclipses have taught scientists important information about our solar system. Data from this year's event could help us study extrasolar planets. See article.
g Life - Researchers have documented one of the longest ecological interaction chains ever documented. Their findings shed light on how human disturbance may lead to widespread ecological disruptions. See article.
g Cosmicus - From the very beginnings of both science fiction and serious scientific speculation, most concepts for future colonization beyond the Earth have targeted the planet Mars. The reason why is easy to see. Of all the planets in our solar system, it's the one most like Earth. But starting in 1969, Princeton University's Professor Gerard O'Neill began looking in a different direction: toward artificial habitats constructed in orbit from materials already in space. He had started by asking the question, "Is the surface of the Earth really the right place for an expanding technological civilization?" Some study seemed to indicate the answer was "No". Calculations revealed that orbital habitats could be surprisingly large and Earth-like, and would have many advantages over any planetary home. O'Neill's findings made us realize there was an unspoken and unquestioned assumption underlying the logic that pointed toward Mars: In order to create colonies beyond Earth, we must first find a planet on which to build them. See article.
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Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Planet evaporating in star’s heat and ‘Human Colonies 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 Abodes - Researchers at MIT, NASA and elsewhere have detected a possible planet, some 1,500 light years away, that appears to be evaporating under the blistering heat of its parent star. The scientists infer that a long tail of debris - much like the tail of a comet - is following the planet, and that this tail may tell the story of the planet's disintegration. According to the team's calculations, the tiny exoplanet, not much larger than Mercury, will completely disintegrate within 100 million years. See article.
g Life - Satellite data is helping scientists understand how the forests around Mt. St. Helens have recovered in the 32 years since the volcano erupted. See article.
g Cosmicus - Book alert: “The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space” is a 1976 book by Gerard K. O'Neill, a road map for what the United States might do in outer space after the Apollo program, the drive to place a man on the Moon. See article.
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g Abodes - Researchers at MIT, NASA and elsewhere have detected a possible planet, some 1,500 light years away, that appears to be evaporating under the blistering heat of its parent star. The scientists infer that a long tail of debris - much like the tail of a comet - is following the planet, and that this tail may tell the story of the planet's disintegration. According to the team's calculations, the tiny exoplanet, not much larger than Mercury, will completely disintegrate within 100 million years. See article.
g Life - Satellite data is helping scientists understand how the forests around Mt. St. Helens have recovered in the 32 years since the volcano erupted. See article.
g Cosmicus - Book alert: “The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space” is a 1976 book by Gerard K. O'Neill, a road map for what the United States might do in outer space after the Apollo program, the drive to place a man on the Moon. See article.
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Monday, May 21, 2012
Billions of planets hospitable to life and potentially hazardous asteroids in our solar system
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 - All told, there may be billions of planets hospitable to life in the Milky Way galaxy alone, dozens of them much closer to Earth than previously suspected, several new star surveys and statistical studies suggest. See article.
g Intelligence - Exercise clears the mind. It gets the blood pumping and more oxygen is delivered to the brain. This is familiar territory, but Dartmouth's David Bucci thinks there is much more going on. See article.
g Cosmicus - New observations are helping scientists assess the number of potentially hazardous asteroids in our solar system. These asteroids include those big enough to make it through the Earth's atmosphere and cause damage on regional or greater scales. See article.
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g Abodes - All told, there may be billions of planets hospitable to life in the Milky Way galaxy alone, dozens of them much closer to Earth than previously suspected, several new star surveys and statistical studies suggest. See article.
g Intelligence - Exercise clears the mind. It gets the blood pumping and more oxygen is delivered to the brain. This is familiar territory, but Dartmouth's David Bucci thinks there is much more going on. See article.
g Cosmicus - New observations are helping scientists assess the number of potentially hazardous asteroids in our solar system. These asteroids include those big enough to make it through the Earth's atmosphere and cause damage on regional or greater scales. See article.
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Sunday, May 20, 2012
Earth as a living organism and gathering enough solar energy to power cities on 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 - A new discovery may help answer the question, is the planet Earth really a giant “living organism.” The research focuses on interactions between ocean organisms, atmosphere and land. See article.
g Intelligence - Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on my parahippocampal gyrus. Scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have found that suspicion resides in two distinct regions of the brain: the amygdala, which plays a central role in processing fear and emotional memories, and the parahippocampal gyrus, which is associated with declarative memory and the recognition of scenes. See article.
g Cosmicus - Scientists have tested a new “space web” technology that could pave the way for building large structures in orbit that gather enough solar energy to power cities on Earth. See article.
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g Abodes - A new discovery may help answer the question, is the planet Earth really a giant “living organism.” The research focuses on interactions between ocean organisms, atmosphere and land. See article.
g Intelligence - Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on my parahippocampal gyrus. Scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have found that suspicion resides in two distinct regions of the brain: the amygdala, which plays a central role in processing fear and emotional memories, and the parahippocampal gyrus, which is associated with declarative memory and the recognition of scenes. See article.
g Cosmicus - Scientists have tested a new “space web” technology that could pave the way for building large structures in orbit that gather enough solar energy to power cities on Earth. See article.
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Saturday, May 19, 2012
How Arctic microbes may help us discover ET and galaxy superclusters
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 McGill-led research team using the Herschel Space Observatory has discovered a giant, galaxy-packed filament ablaze with billions of new stars. The filament connects two clusters of galaxies that, along with a third cluster, will smash together and give rise to one of the largest galaxy superclusters in the universe. See article.
g Abodes - Six papers on results of the Dawn spacecraft's exploration of the protoplanet Vesta were published on May 11, detailing a plethora of new discoveries. See article.
g Life - Microbes living at the edges of Arctic ice sheets could help researchers find evidence for life on Mars, Jupiter's moon Europa, or Saturn's moon Enceladus. See article.
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g Stars - A McGill-led research team using the Herschel Space Observatory has discovered a giant, galaxy-packed filament ablaze with billions of new stars. The filament connects two clusters of galaxies that, along with a third cluster, will smash together and give rise to one of the largest galaxy superclusters in the universe. See article.
g Abodes - Six papers on results of the Dawn spacecraft's exploration of the protoplanet Vesta were published on May 11, detailing a plethora of new discoveries. See article.
g Life - Microbes living at the edges of Arctic ice sheets could help researchers find evidence for life on Mars, Jupiter's moon Europa, or Saturn's moon Enceladus. See article.
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Friday, May 18, 2012
The Great Exoplanet Debate and partial solar eclipse over Southern California
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 Great Exoplanet Debate, hosted by Astrobiology Magazine during the recent 2012 Astrobiology Science Conference, is now available for viewing online. See article.
g Life - Research shows that ancient mollusks made their homes around methane seeps in the seaway that once covered America's Great Plains. See article.
g Learning - A partial solar eclipse will occur late in the day in Southern California on Sunday, beginning at 5:24 p.m., reaching its maximum coverage at 6:38 p.m., and exiting the sun's path at 7:42 p.m., just 10 minutes before sunset. See article.
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g Abodes - The Great Exoplanet Debate, hosted by Astrobiology Magazine during the recent 2012 Astrobiology Science Conference, is now available for viewing online. See article.
g Life - Research shows that ancient mollusks made their homes around methane seeps in the seaway that once covered America's Great Plains. See article.
g Learning - A partial solar eclipse will occur late in the day in Southern California on Sunday, beginning at 5:24 p.m., reaching its maximum coverage at 6:38 p.m., and exiting the sun's path at 7:42 p.m., just 10 minutes before sunset. See article.
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Thursday, May 17, 2012
Life-bearing planets between the stars and Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity’s new 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 Abodes - Researchers say life-bearing planets may exist in vast numbers in the space between stars in the Milky Way See article.
g Life - A fragment recovered from the "Sutter's Mill Meteorite," which fell to Earth on April 22, has been generously donated to NASA. Now, research on the meteorite fragment could bring answers to unsolved mysteries about our solar system and the origins of molecules necessary for life. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has driven off of Greeley Haven after surviving yet another Martian winter. Opportunity will now make its way toward veins in the bedrock on the northern edge of Cape York to study whether or not they contain minerals deposited by flowing water. See article.
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g Abodes - Researchers say life-bearing planets may exist in vast numbers in the space between stars in the Milky Way See article.
g Life - A fragment recovered from the "Sutter's Mill Meteorite," which fell to Earth on April 22, has been generously donated to NASA. Now, research on the meteorite fragment could bring answers to unsolved mysteries about our solar system and the origins of molecules necessary for life. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has driven off of Greeley Haven after surviving yet another Martian winter. Opportunity will now make its way toward veins in the bedrock on the northern edge of Cape York to study whether or not they contain minerals deposited by flowing water. See article.
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Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Ultra-cool brown dwarf discovered and first fossil record of pollination
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 an ultra-cool brown dwarf that is more than 99% hydrogen and helium. The discovery could help scientists distinguish between brown dwarfs and giant planets. See article.
g Abodes - NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed that sand dune fields on Mars move on a scale similar to those on Earth, even though Mars' atmosphere is much thinner. See article.
g Life - Amber from Cretaceous deposits (110-105 my) in Northern Spain has revealed the first ever record of insect pollination. Scientists have discovered in two pieces of amber several specimens of tiny insects covered with pollen grains, revealing the first record of pollen transport and social behavior in this group of animals. See article.
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g Stars - Astronomers have discovered an ultra-cool brown dwarf that is more than 99% hydrogen and helium. The discovery could help scientists distinguish between brown dwarfs and giant planets. See article.
g Abodes - NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed that sand dune fields on Mars move on a scale similar to those on Earth, even though Mars' atmosphere is much thinner. See article.
g Life - Amber from Cretaceous deposits (110-105 my) in Northern Spain has revealed the first ever record of insect pollination. Scientists have discovered in two pieces of amber several specimens of tiny insects covered with pollen grains, revealing the first record of pollen transport and social behavior in this group of animals. See article.
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Brown dwarf discovered orbiting Sun-like star and what constitutes ‘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 Stars - An international team of astronomers led by David Pinfield of the University of Hertfordshire has found a brown dwarf that is more than 99% hydrogen and helium. Described as ultra-cool, it has a temperature of just 400 degrees Celsius and its discovery could be a key step forward in helping astronomers distinguish between brown dwarfs and giant planets. See article.
g Abodes - New research shows that a giant impact crater on the Asteroid (4) Vesta was created much more recently than previously thought. See article.
g Life - In a new essay, published in the journal PLoS Biology, professor Gerald Joyce of the Scripps Research Institute examines what constitutes “life” and the probability of discovering new life forms on Earth and beyond. See article.
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g Stars - An international team of astronomers led by David Pinfield of the University of Hertfordshire has found a brown dwarf that is more than 99% hydrogen and helium. Described as ultra-cool, it has a temperature of just 400 degrees Celsius and its discovery could be a key step forward in helping astronomers distinguish between brown dwarfs and giant planets. See article.
g Abodes - New research shows that a giant impact crater on the Asteroid (4) Vesta was created much more recently than previously thought. See article.
g Life - In a new essay, published in the journal PLoS Biology, professor Gerald Joyce of the Scripps Research Institute examines what constitutes “life” and the probability of discovering new life forms on Earth and beyond. See article.
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Monday, May 14, 2012
Exoplanet discovered around Sun-like star and how environment affects star formation
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 state of the art computer simulations, a team of astronomers from the University of Bonn in Germany have found the first evidence that the way in which stars form depends on their birth environment. See article.
g Abodes - By identifying small deviations in the motion of a transiting exoplanet, researchers have identified a unseen companion planet around the Sun-like star, KOI-872. It is the first time this technique has been successfully used in the search for worlds outside our solar system. See article.
g Life - A new study is helping scientists understand how chirality, or “handedness,” occurs in the majority of proteins and functional molecules in living organisms on Earth. See article.
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g Stars - Using state of the art computer simulations, a team of astronomers from the University of Bonn in Germany have found the first evidence that the way in which stars form depends on their birth environment. See article.
g Abodes - By identifying small deviations in the motion of a transiting exoplanet, researchers have identified a unseen companion planet around the Sun-like star, KOI-872. It is the first time this technique has been successfully used in the search for worlds outside our solar system. See article.
g Life - A new study is helping scientists understand how chirality, or “handedness,” occurs in the majority of proteins and functional molecules in living organisms on Earth. See article.
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Sunday, May 13, 2012
Ethics of contacting alien life and light detected from super-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 Stars - A new study reveals that the heliosphere is not preceded by a bow shock as it plows through the gas and dust in interstellar space. See article.
g Abodes - NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected light emanating from a "super-Earth" planet beyond our solar system for the first time. While the planet is not habitable, the detection is a historic step toward the eventual search for signs of life on other planets. See article.
g Message - The ethical implications of contacting alien life have been debated in innumerable science fiction works (although not quite so readily by scientific researchers). See article.
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g Stars - A new study reveals that the heliosphere is not preceded by a bow shock as it plows through the gas and dust in interstellar space. See article.
g Abodes - NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected light emanating from a "super-Earth" planet beyond our solar system for the first time. While the planet is not habitable, the detection is a historic step toward the eventual search for signs of life on other planets. See article.
g Message - The ethical implications of contacting alien life have been debated in innumerable science fiction works (although not quite so readily by scientific researchers). See article.
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Saturday, May 12, 2012
Hot Jupiters spoil chances of life and testing Mars-mission spacesuits and rovers
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 hot Jupiter-type planets may be alone in the systems that support them. The study indicates that giant planets would wreak havoc on any other planets forming in the inner regions of a solar system. See article.
g Life - By analyzing more than 46,000 fossils from 52 sites, scientists are revealing new information about the complex relationship between species abundance and extinction. See article.
g Cosmicus - A team of engineers, physicists and astrobiologists has been using Alpine ice caves to test spacesuits and other apparatus - including rovers, 3D cameras and communications systems - intended for use on Mars. See article.
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g Abodes - New research shows that hot Jupiter-type planets may be alone in the systems that support them. The study indicates that giant planets would wreak havoc on any other planets forming in the inner regions of a solar system. See article.
g Life - By analyzing more than 46,000 fossils from 52 sites, scientists are revealing new information about the complex relationship between species abundance and extinction. See article.
g Cosmicus - A team of engineers, physicists and astrobiologists has been using Alpine ice caves to test spacesuits and other apparatus - including rovers, 3D cameras and communications systems - intended for use on Mars. See article.
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Friday, May 11, 2012
Search for Earth-like planets near Jupiter-like planets and why the odds of us being alone is an unlikely statistic
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 could help astrobiologists narrow down the search for Earth-like planets near Jupiter-like planets that orbit distant stars. See article.
g Life - The idea of discovering a new form of life has not only excited astronomers and astrobiologists for decades, but also the wider public. The notion that we are the only example of a successful life form in the galaxy has, for many, seemed like an unlikely statistic, as we discover more and more habitable planetary bodies and hear yet more evidence of life's ability to survive in extreme conditions. See article.
g Message - Just how does SETI work? Here’s a good primer for those looking to get a basic overview.
g Aftermath - Quote of the Day: "If we ever establish contact with extraterrestrial life, it will reveal to us our true place in the universe, and with that comes the beginnings of wisdom." — Issac Asimov
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g Abodes - New research could help astrobiologists narrow down the search for Earth-like planets near Jupiter-like planets that orbit distant stars. See article.
g Life - The idea of discovering a new form of life has not only excited astronomers and astrobiologists for decades, but also the wider public. The notion that we are the only example of a successful life form in the galaxy has, for many, seemed like an unlikely statistic, as we discover more and more habitable planetary bodies and hear yet more evidence of life's ability to survive in extreme conditions. See article.
g Message - Just how does SETI work? Here’s a good primer for those looking to get a basic overview.
g Aftermath - Quote of the Day: "If we ever establish contact with extraterrestrial life, it will reveal to us our true place in the universe, and with that comes the beginnings of wisdom." — Issac Asimov
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Potential for habitable environments in Mars' past and handling security during first 30 days of 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 - A new report details the discoveries of NASA's Opportunity Mars rover at the rim of Endeavour Crater. The findings shed new light on the history of water on Mars and the potential for habitable environments in Mars' past. See article.
g Life - Quote of the Day: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." - Charles Darwin
g Imagining - A scientist at Washington State University says the first extraterrestrial life we find is likely to be single-celled organisms surviving on a moon of Saturn, or in the atmosphere of Venus. See article.
g Aftermath - The scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence is accelerating its pace and adopting fresh strategies. This increases the likelihood of successful detection in the near future. Humanity's first contact with alien intelligence will trigger extraordinary attention from the media, from government authorities, and from the general public. By improving our readiness for contact, especially for security during the first 30 days, we can avoid the most negative scenarios — and also enhance humanity's benefits from this first contact with an alien intelligence. Six potential problem areas include communicating with the media and the public, communicating with scientific colleagues, government control, an assassin or saboteur, well-meaning officials and lawsuits See article.
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g Abodes - A new report details the discoveries of NASA's Opportunity Mars rover at the rim of Endeavour Crater. The findings shed new light on the history of water on Mars and the potential for habitable environments in Mars' past. See article.
g Life - Quote of the Day: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." - Charles Darwin
g Imagining - A scientist at Washington State University says the first extraterrestrial life we find is likely to be single-celled organisms surviving on a moon of Saturn, or in the atmosphere of Venus. See article.
g Aftermath - The scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence is accelerating its pace and adopting fresh strategies. This increases the likelihood of successful detection in the near future. Humanity's first contact with alien intelligence will trigger extraordinary attention from the media, from government authorities, and from the general public. By improving our readiness for contact, especially for security during the first 30 days, we can avoid the most negative scenarios — and also enhance humanity's benefits from this first contact with an alien intelligence. Six potential problem areas include communicating with the media and the public, communicating with scientific colleagues, government control, an assassin or saboteur, well-meaning officials and lawsuits See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Evidence for a once habitable Mars and insights into a thinking brain
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 uncovered more evidence that early Mars was once saturated with water and had a thicker atmosphere. The findings bolster theories that Mars was once habitable for life as we know it. See article.
g Intelligence - Gaining access to the inner workings of a neuron in the living brain offers a wealth of useful information: its patterns of electrical activity, its shape, even a profile of which genes are turned on at a given moment. However, achieving this entry is such a painstaking task that it is considered an art form; it is so difficult to learn that only a small number of labs in the world practice it. See article.
g Cosmicus - Astronomers are pointing the Hubble Space Telescope at the Moon's Tycho crater in preparation for the transit of Venus across the Sun's surface on June 5-6. See article.
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g Abodes - Scientists have uncovered more evidence that early Mars was once saturated with water and had a thicker atmosphere. The findings bolster theories that Mars was once habitable for life as we know it. See article.
g Intelligence - Gaining access to the inner workings of a neuron in the living brain offers a wealth of useful information: its patterns of electrical activity, its shape, even a profile of which genes are turned on at a given moment. However, achieving this entry is such a painstaking task that it is considered an art form; it is so difficult to learn that only a small number of labs in the world practice it. See article.
g Cosmicus - Astronomers are pointing the Hubble Space Telescope at the Moon's Tycho crater in preparation for the transit of Venus across the Sun's surface on June 5-6. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
White dwarf stars consuming rocky planets and dinosaur flatulence warmed the 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 Stars - Astrophysicists have spotted four white dwarf stars surrounded by dust from shattered planetary bodies that once bore similarities to the composition of the Earth. See article.
g Abodes - A new technique for observing electromagnetic signatures on Earth could be used to study other planets in the Solar System. See article.
g Life - Sauropod dinosaurs could in principle have produced enough of the greenhouse gas methane to warm the climate many millions of years ago, at a time when Earth was warm and wet. That's according to calculations reported in the May 8th issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication See article.
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g Stars - Astrophysicists have spotted four white dwarf stars surrounded by dust from shattered planetary bodies that once bore similarities to the composition of the Earth. See article.
g Abodes - A new technique for observing electromagnetic signatures on Earth could be used to study other planets in the Solar System. See article.
g Life - Sauropod dinosaurs could in principle have produced enough of the greenhouse gas methane to warm the climate many millions of years ago, at a time when Earth was warm and wet. That's according to calculations reported in the May 8th issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, May 07, 2012
New model of brown dwarf formation and studying Jupiter’s moons for habitability
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 - Researchers have developed a new model of brown dwarf formation. Understanding how these low mass objects form and evolve can help astrobiologists understand their potential for supporting solar systems with habitable planets. See article.
g Abodes - Linked to the close of the Mayan calendar, a variety of rumors have spread regarding ways the world could end in 2012. One popular contender is Nibiru, a supposed planet that some claim will collide with Earth at the end of the year. But despite the buzz, there is no scientific evidence supporting the alleged planet's existence. See article.
g Cosmicus - The European Space Agency has selected its next large science mission - the Jupiter Icy moons Explorer (JUICE). JUICE is set to launch in 2022 and will study the diverse moons of Jupiter and their potential as habitats for life. See article.
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g Stars - Researchers have developed a new model of brown dwarf formation. Understanding how these low mass objects form and evolve can help astrobiologists understand their potential for supporting solar systems with habitable planets. See article.
g Abodes - Linked to the close of the Mayan calendar, a variety of rumors have spread regarding ways the world could end in 2012. One popular contender is Nibiru, a supposed planet that some claim will collide with Earth at the end of the year. But despite the buzz, there is no scientific evidence supporting the alleged planet's existence. See article.
g Cosmicus - The European Space Agency has selected its next large science mission - the Jupiter Icy moons Explorer (JUICE). JUICE is set to launch in 2022 and will study the diverse moons of Jupiter and their potential as habitats for life. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Faster developing solar system and rubber chicken survives solar storm
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 - Our solar system may have formed over a shorter period of time that we previously thought. See article.
g Abodes - New research shows that the Yellowstone "super-volcano" is less "super" but more active than previously thought. The volcano is still large enough to have been responsible for one of the largest known volcanic explosions to have occurred on Earth. See article.
g Cosmicus - A NASA video chronicles the flight of a rubber chicken during a sun storm in March, a student experiment to observe the radiation from the strongest solar tempest in nearly a decade. See article.
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g Stars - Our solar system may have formed over a shorter period of time that we previously thought. See article.
g Abodes - New research shows that the Yellowstone "super-volcano" is less "super" but more active than previously thought. The volcano is still large enough to have been responsible for one of the largest known volcanic explosions to have occurred on Earth. See article.
g Cosmicus - A NASA video chronicles the flight of a rubber chicken during a sun storm in March, a student experiment to observe the radiation from the strongest solar tempest in nearly a decade. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, May 05, 2012
A hundred life-sustaining super-Earths within 30 light years and Phoebe more Earth-like than thought
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 - Low-density, low-luminosity red dwarfs are the most common stars in the universe, maybe 160 billion in the Milky Way alone. We’re paying attention to them now because they generated headlines in January, when the Journal of Astrobiology calculated that 40 percent of them have rocky “super-Earth” satellites. The red-dwarf planets in question are roughly four to five times the size of Earth, and are located in Goldilocks zones theoretically conducive to liquid surface water, i.e., life. According to the Journal, there could be as many as 100 life-sustaining super-Earths within 30 light years of here. See article.
g Abodes - Data from Cassini has revealed that Saturn's moon Phoebe is more planet-like than previously thought. Phoebe may have originated in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune, and was later captured by Saturn's gravity when it somehow got close to the giant planet. See article.
g Life - A new study is helping scientists understand whether or not dinosaurs were already undergoing a long-term decline before an asteroid struck the planet Earth at the end of the Cretaceous period. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Low-density, low-luminosity red dwarfs are the most common stars in the universe, maybe 160 billion in the Milky Way alone. We’re paying attention to them now because they generated headlines in January, when the Journal of Astrobiology calculated that 40 percent of them have rocky “super-Earth” satellites. The red-dwarf planets in question are roughly four to five times the size of Earth, and are located in Goldilocks zones theoretically conducive to liquid surface water, i.e., life. According to the Journal, there could be as many as 100 life-sustaining super-Earths within 30 light years of here. See article.
g Abodes - Data from Cassini has revealed that Saturn's moon Phoebe is more planet-like than previously thought. Phoebe may have originated in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune, and was later captured by Saturn's gravity when it somehow got close to the giant planet. See article.
g Life - A new study is helping scientists understand whether or not dinosaurs were already undergoing a long-term decline before an asteroid struck the planet Earth at the end of the Cretaceous period. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, May 04, 2012
Martian geology and rogue stars
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 - It's very difficult to kick a star out of the galaxy. In fact, the primary mechanism that astronomers have come up with that can give a star the two-million-plus mile-per-hour kick it takes requires a close encounter with the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's core. See article.
g Abodes - Five years of data from the Mars Express mission has revealed new insights about what lies beneath the largest volcanoes on Mars. See article.
g Cosmicus - Eight years after landing on Mars, the Opportunity rover has gained access to geological deposits from an earlier period in Martian history than anything it has previously examined. See article.
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g Stars - It's very difficult to kick a star out of the galaxy. In fact, the primary mechanism that astronomers have come up with that can give a star the two-million-plus mile-per-hour kick it takes requires a close encounter with the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's core. See article.
g Abodes - Five years of data from the Mars Express mission has revealed new insights about what lies beneath the largest volcanoes on Mars. See article.
g Cosmicus - Eight years after landing on Mars, the Opportunity rover has gained access to geological deposits from an earlier period in Martian history than anything it has previously examined. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, May 03, 2012
How long Titan’s chemical factory has been active and ancient star with arsenic and selenium found
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 Big Bang produced lots of hydrogen and helium and a smidgen of lithium. All heavier elements found on the periodic table have been produced by stars over the last 13.7 billion years. Astronomers analyze starlight to determine the chemical makeup of stars, the origin of the elements, the ages of stars, and the evolution of galaxies and the universe. Now for the first time, astronomers have detected the presence of arsenic and selenium, neighboring elements near the middle of the periodic table, in an ancient star in the faint stellar halo that surrounds the Milky Way. Arsenic and selenium are elements at the transition from light to heavy element production, and have not been found in old stars until now. See article.
g Abodes - Saturn's moon Titan is well known as one of the most complex chemical environments in the Solar System. Now scientists are trying to determine just how long the “chemical factory” of Titan has been active. See article.
g Cosmicus - A private company has announced plans to mine Near-Earth Asteroids for raw materials ranging from water to precious metals. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - The Big Bang produced lots of hydrogen and helium and a smidgen of lithium. All heavier elements found on the periodic table have been produced by stars over the last 13.7 billion years. Astronomers analyze starlight to determine the chemical makeup of stars, the origin of the elements, the ages of stars, and the evolution of galaxies and the universe. Now for the first time, astronomers have detected the presence of arsenic and selenium, neighboring elements near the middle of the periodic table, in an ancient star in the faint stellar halo that surrounds the Milky Way. Arsenic and selenium are elements at the transition from light to heavy element production, and have not been found in old stars until now. See article.
g Abodes - Saturn's moon Titan is well known as one of the most complex chemical environments in the Solar System. Now scientists are trying to determine just how long the “chemical factory” of Titan has been active. See article.
g Cosmicus - A private company has announced plans to mine Near-Earth Asteroids for raw materials ranging from water to precious metals. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Flaring radio emissions from an ultra-cool star and why bigger isn't always faster
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 - Penn State University astronomers using the world's largest radio telescope, at Arecibo, Puerto Rico, have discovered flaring radio emissions from an ultra-cool star, not much warmer than the planet Jupiter, shattering the previous record for the lowest stellar temperature at which radio waves were detected. See article.
g Abodes - Images of lava flows in Mars have revealed spiral patterns that resemble snail shells. The patterns indicate possible interactions between lava and floods of water. See article.
g Life - New research in the journal Physiological and Biochemical Zoology shows why bigger isn't always better when it comes to sprinting speed. See article.
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g Stars - Penn State University astronomers using the world's largest radio telescope, at Arecibo, Puerto Rico, have discovered flaring radio emissions from an ultra-cool star, not much warmer than the planet Jupiter, shattering the previous record for the lowest stellar temperature at which radio waves were detected. See article.
g Abodes - Images of lava flows in Mars have revealed spiral patterns that resemble snail shells. The patterns indicate possible interactions between lava and floods of water. See article.
g Life - New research in the journal Physiological and Biochemical Zoology shows why bigger isn't always better when it comes to sprinting speed. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Seeking Martians in subglacial lakes and molecules hitching rides on volcanic rocks
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 - Water may have played a role in forming plains of volcanic glass that spread across nearly a third of Mars. The discovery of this volcanic glass could steer scientists toward subglacial lakes where Martian life could thrive. See article.
g Life - A new project looks at how floating pumice provides a unique habitat for microbes, and how it might have played an integral part in the origin of life. See article.
g Cosmicus - Russia appears to have plans to recover its past glory. According to a leaked document from the national space agency Roscosmos to the country’s government, Russia is planning to develop a network of research facilities on Mars, a manned mission to the moon and probes to Venus and Jupiter, all by the year 2030. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Water may have played a role in forming plains of volcanic glass that spread across nearly a third of Mars. The discovery of this volcanic glass could steer scientists toward subglacial lakes where Martian life could thrive. See article.
g Life - A new project looks at how floating pumice provides a unique habitat for microbes, and how it might have played an integral part in the origin of life. See article.
g Cosmicus - Russia appears to have plans to recover its past glory. According to a leaked document from the national space agency Roscosmos to the country’s government, Russia is planning to develop a network of research facilities on Mars, a manned mission to the moon and probes to Venus and Jupiter, all by the year 2030. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
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