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 the formation of most minerals containing mercury could be linked to episodes of supercontinent assembly over the last 3 billion years. See article.
g Cosmicus - Ice samples pulled from deep inside glaciers have long served as historical thermometers. However, a new study questions whether or not oxygen isotopes ratios in the ice cores can be interpreted as a signal of temperature. See article.
g Aftermath - Is SETI at risk of downloading a malicious virus from outer space? See article.
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Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Can SKA be used to hunt for ETI and more Martian water than estimated
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 - What is the potential habitability of the nearby star 54 Piscium? See article.
g Abodes - By analyzing the water content of two Martian meteorites that originate from inside Mars, scientists have determined that the amount of water in the Martian mantle is vastly larger than previous estimates. The findings raise questions about the potential for life on present day Mars. See article.
g Message - Can the Square Kilometer Array – a network of thousands of radio antennas to be based in South Africa and Australia – be used to hunt for extraterrestrial signals? See article.
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g Stars - What is the potential habitability of the nearby star 54 Piscium? See article.
g Abodes - By analyzing the water content of two Martian meteorites that originate from inside Mars, scientists have determined that the amount of water in the Martian mantle is vastly larger than previous estimates. The findings raise questions about the potential for life on present day Mars. See article.
g Message - Can the Square Kilometer Array – a network of thousands of radio antennas to be based in South Africa and Australia – be used to hunt for extraterrestrial signals? See article.
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Thursday, June 28, 2012
First contact’s potential effect on religion and cluster contains many Sun-like 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 - A unique group of stars could provide important information about the evolution of sun-like stars and aid in the search for Earth-like worlds. The loose cluster of stars, known as NGC 6774, contains many that are similar to the Sun in both mass and age. See article.
g Life - Research on the International Space Station is providing important data about the potential for life arriving on Earth from outer space. By exposing organic compounds and living organisms to space, scientists are studying the survival of life in the extreme environment that rests beyond Earth's atmosphere. See article.
g Aftermath - Would people still believe in God after we made contact with aliens? See article.
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g Stars - A unique group of stars could provide important information about the evolution of sun-like stars and aid in the search for Earth-like worlds. The loose cluster of stars, known as NGC 6774, contains many that are similar to the Sun in both mass and age. See article.
g Life - Research on the International Space Station is providing important data about the potential for life arriving on Earth from outer space. By exposing organic compounds and living organisms to space, scientists are studying the survival of life in the extreme environment that rests beyond Earth's atmosphere. See article.
g Aftermath - Would people still believe in God after we made contact with aliens? See article.
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Really close exoplanets and potential habitability of Upsilon Andromedae AB
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 - What is the potential habitability of the nearby star system Upsilon Andromedae AB? See article.
g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered a new, two-planet system where the planets are closer to each other than any other system yet found. The discovery is providing new data about the diversity of worlds that exist around distant stars. See article.
g Message - TV programs about space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) often say our broadcast signals are traveling into space and will someday be seen by intelligent beings many light years from here. On the other hand, the program “Life After People” said these signals disperse after a few light years and are too scattered and weak for anyone to see or hear them. Which is true? See article.
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g Stars - What is the potential habitability of the nearby star system Upsilon Andromedae AB? See article.
g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered a new, two-planet system where the planets are closer to each other than any other system yet found. The discovery is providing new data about the diversity of worlds that exist around distant stars. See article.
g Message - TV programs about space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) often say our broadcast signals are traveling into space and will someday be seen by intelligent beings many light years from here. On the other hand, the program “Life After People” said these signals disperse after a few light years and are too scattered and weak for anyone to see or hear them. Which is true? See article.
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
How soil affects a planet’s atmosphere and alien hunter packs up telescope
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 soil plays an important role in controlling the Earth's atmospheric future. The results are shedding new light on how ecosystems respond to rising levels of carbon dioxide. See article.
g Message - Jill Tarter, one of the world's foremost alien hunters, is packing up her telescope. See article.
g Cosmicus - An asteroid that recently passed by Earth is about twice as large as originally estimated, and it would have had serious global consequences if it had impacted Earth. See article.
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g Abodes - A new study shows that soil plays an important role in controlling the Earth's atmospheric future. The results are shedding new light on how ecosystems respond to rising levels of carbon dioxide. See article.
g Message - Jill Tarter, one of the world's foremost alien hunters, is packing up her telescope. See article.
g Cosmicus - An asteroid that recently passed by Earth is about twice as large as originally estimated, and it would have had serious global consequences if it had impacted Earth. See article.
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Monday, June 25, 2012
Size of Martian snow particles and why Jill Tarter had a cool job
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 have calculated the size of carbon dioxide snow particles in the clouds at Mars' poles. The particles are very small, roughly the size of a red blood cell. See article.
g Message - SETI’s Jill Tarter, the inspiration for the movie “Contact,” retired after 30 years as director of research. Alas, she’s not retiring to some other planet, because we still haven’t found intelligent life outside of the Earth, except for on the moon, but those are people we sent there so that doesn’t really count. Still, Tarter’s job was a cool one. See article.
g Cosmicus - Engineers have recently tested the Seeker full-scale rover, a fully autonomous vehicle that charted its own course through Chile's Atacama Desert. The technology could be used in future missions to help robotic explorers roam the surface of planets like Mars. See article.
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g Abodes - Researchers have calculated the size of carbon dioxide snow particles in the clouds at Mars' poles. The particles are very small, roughly the size of a red blood cell. See article.
g Message - SETI’s Jill Tarter, the inspiration for the movie “Contact,” retired after 30 years as director of research. Alas, she’s not retiring to some other planet, because we still haven’t found intelligent life outside of the Earth, except for on the moon, but those are people we sent there so that doesn’t really count. Still, Tarter’s job was a cool one. See article.
g Cosmicus - Engineers have recently tested the Seeker full-scale rover, a fully autonomous vehicle that charted its own course through Chile's Atacama Desert. The technology could be used in future missions to help robotic explorers roam the surface of planets like Mars. See article.
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Sunday, June 24, 2012
Super Earths more common than once believed and an interview with former SETI director
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 based on data from the Kepler mission indicates that planets as big as Earth but smaller than Neptune could be more common in our galaxy than previously believed. See article.
g Abodes - A new study reveals that ancient Antarctica was much warmer and wetter than previously expected. See article.
g Message - For some three decades, Dr. Jill Tarter, now 68, has been the person most likely to be the first to know if we make contact with E.T. — the one who will sound the alarm, spreading the news that We Are Not Alone. See article.
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g Stars - A new study based on data from the Kepler mission indicates that planets as big as Earth but smaller than Neptune could be more common in our galaxy than previously believed. See article.
g Abodes - A new study reveals that ancient Antarctica was much warmer and wetter than previously expected. See article.
g Message - For some three decades, Dr. Jill Tarter, now 68, has been the person most likely to be the first to know if we make contact with E.T. — the one who will sound the alarm, spreading the news that We Are Not Alone. See article.
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Saturday, June 23, 2012
How ice affects Earth’s habitability and could Epsilon Eridani support 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 - What is the potential habitability of the nearby star system Epsilon Eridani? See article.
g Abodes - Scientists have published the most comprehensive study every performed on ice. Ice plays an important role in Earth's habitability, affecting everything from life's origins to our planet's global climate. See article.
g Life - Rare and extremely endangered coelacanths are animals that have not fundamentally changed for 400 million years. Dubbed "living fossils," these animals are still able to genetically adapt to their environment. See article.
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g Stars - What is the potential habitability of the nearby star system Epsilon Eridani? See article.
g Abodes - Scientists have published the most comprehensive study every performed on ice. Ice plays an important role in Earth's habitability, affecting everything from life's origins to our planet's global climate. See article.
g Life - Rare and extremely endangered coelacanths are animals that have not fundamentally changed for 400 million years. Dubbed "living fossils," these animals are still able to genetically adapt to their environment. See article.
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Friday, June 22, 2012
Moon's Shackleton crater mapped and potential habitability of Iota Perseus
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 - What is the potential habitability of the nearby G-type star Iota Perseus? See article.
g Abodes - Scientists anticipate that the asteroid 2011 AG5 will fly safely past and not impact the Earth in 2040. See article.
g Cosmicus - Researchers have mapped the Moon's Shackleton crater, finding possible evidence for small amounts of ice on the crater's floor. The ice could be an important resource for future human explorers. See article.
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g Stars - What is the potential habitability of the nearby G-type star Iota Perseus? See article.
g Abodes - Scientists anticipate that the asteroid 2011 AG5 will fly safely past and not impact the Earth in 2040. See article.
g Cosmicus - Researchers have mapped the Moon's Shackleton crater, finding possible evidence for small amounts of ice on the crater's floor. The ice could be an important resource for future human explorers. See article.
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Thursday, June 21, 2012
Searching how life began and potential habitability of 61 Cygni
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 - What is the potential habitability of the nearby star system 61 Cygni AB?. See article.
g Abodes - From the vantage of the International Space Station, astronauts are conducting studies that are providing valuable data about the conditions deep inside Earth. See article.
g Life - Three teams of scientists were just awarded private research grants to aid their search into how life began. See article.
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g Stars - What is the potential habitability of the nearby star system 61 Cygni AB?. See article.
g Abodes - From the vantage of the International Space Station, astronauts are conducting studies that are providing valuable data about the conditions deep inside Earth. See article.
g Life - Three teams of scientists were just awarded private research grants to aid their search into how life began. See article.
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Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Unusual exoplanets discovered and potential habitability of Delta Pavonis
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 - What is the potential habitability of the star system Delta Pavonis? See article.
g Abodes - Using a lens no more powerful than a high-end digital camera, the KELT North telescope has revealed the existence of two very unusual extrasolar planets. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has encountered a region in space where the intensity of charged particles beyond our solar system has markedly increased. Scientists have concluded that the craft is now on the edge of the Solar System. See article.
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g Stars - What is the potential habitability of the star system Delta Pavonis? See article.
g Abodes - Using a lens no more powerful than a high-end digital camera, the KELT North telescope has revealed the existence of two very unusual extrasolar planets. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has encountered a region in space where the intensity of charged particles beyond our solar system has markedly increased. Scientists have concluded that the craft is now on the edge of the Solar System. See article.
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Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Extreme views of ETI’s nature and small planets can form around stars poor in heavy elements
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 small planets could form around stars that are poor in heavy elements. The study may significantly increase the likelihood that Earth-like planets are widespread in the universe. See article.
g Intelligence - The landmark publication of a "map" of the bacterial make-up of healthy humans has deep roots in an unexpected place: the ocean. See article.
g Imagining - At one extreme in alien-invasion movies, there's the slimy, razor-toothed, grotesque creature full of powerhouse violence - and a too-eager desire to feast on human filet. These aliens, never cordial in social settings, are the worst-nightmare kind of beast that one finds in the "Alien" series or "The Thing," among many others. At the other extreme are kinder, gentler alien visitors - "E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial," "Paul" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," along with those using human form to hide their extraterrestrial identities as happened in "Starman" and "Cocoon." And as crazy as it sounds, those extremes reflect opposing positions of an actual scientific debate about extraterrestrial invaders, or at least a well-publicized intellectual disagreement that occurred this spring between two renowned scientists, Jill Tarter and Stephen Hawking. See article. Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - New research shows that small planets could form around stars that are poor in heavy elements. The study may significantly increase the likelihood that Earth-like planets are widespread in the universe. See article.
g Intelligence - The landmark publication of a "map" of the bacterial make-up of healthy humans has deep roots in an unexpected place: the ocean. See article.
g Imagining - At one extreme in alien-invasion movies, there's the slimy, razor-toothed, grotesque creature full of powerhouse violence - and a too-eager desire to feast on human filet. These aliens, never cordial in social settings, are the worst-nightmare kind of beast that one finds in the "Alien" series or "The Thing," among many others. At the other extreme are kinder, gentler alien visitors - "E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial," "Paul" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," along with those using human form to hide their extraterrestrial identities as happened in "Starman" and "Cocoon." And as crazy as it sounds, those extremes reflect opposing positions of an actual scientific debate about extraterrestrial invaders, or at least a well-publicized intellectual disagreement that occurred this spring between two renowned scientists, Jill Tarter and Stephen Hawking. See article. Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, June 18, 2012
SETIcon II about to open and Io’s volcanoes
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 finds that the heat that powers Io's volcanoes comes from a complex, multi-layer source. See article.
g Life - Melt-glass material in a thin layer of sedimentary rock, which dates back nearly 13,000 years, may suggest that an impact was linked to the extinction of North America's megafauna. See article.
g Learning - SETIcon takes place later this week in Santa Clara. See article.
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g Abodes - A new study finds that the heat that powers Io's volcanoes comes from a complex, multi-layer source. See article.
g Life - Melt-glass material in a thin layer of sedimentary rock, which dates back nearly 13,000 years, may suggest that an impact was linked to the extinction of North America's megafauna. See article.
g Learning - SETIcon takes place later this week in Santa Clara. See article.
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Sunday, June 17, 2012
SETI head says look for Dyson spheres and finding new life forms in the Atacama
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Life - A new DNA analysis of soils from the Atacama desert has revealed a handful of new bacteria, fungi and archaea. The organisms discovered have a different way of converting energy than similar organisms found elsewhere in the world. See article.
g Message - Geoff Marcy, the chair for SETI at the University of California at Berkeley, recently told io9 he'd like to start searching the depths of space for Dyson spheres — those massive star-encasing structures that could be built by advanced extraterrestrials. Here's why the best way to find aliens is to search for Dyson spheres in deep space. See article.
g Cosmicus - Traveling to Mars is difficult, but successfully landing on the planet is even harder. NASA is now testing new technologies that could soon help large missions, including human missions, touch down safely on the surface of the red planet. See article.
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g Life - A new DNA analysis of soils from the Atacama desert has revealed a handful of new bacteria, fungi and archaea. The organisms discovered have a different way of converting energy than similar organisms found elsewhere in the world. See article.
g Message - Geoff Marcy, the chair for SETI at the University of California at Berkeley, recently told io9 he'd like to start searching the depths of space for Dyson spheres — those massive star-encasing structures that could be built by advanced extraterrestrials. Here's why the best way to find aliens is to search for Dyson spheres in deep space. See article.
g Cosmicus - Traveling to Mars is difficult, but successfully landing on the planet is even harder. NASA is now testing new technologies that could soon help large missions, including human missions, touch down safely on the surface of the red planet. See article.
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Saturday, June 16, 2012
Mars’ changing climate similar to Earth cycle and astobiology graphic novels
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 - Images of a remarkable crater on Mars show that the planet's climate fluctuated due to changes in its rotation axis. See article.
g Cosmicus - Traveling 300 million miles through deep space to reach the planet Mars is difficult; successfully landing there is even harder. The process of entering the Red Planet's atmosphere and slowing down to land has been described as "six minutes of terror." See article.
g Learning - Through fantastic original artwork and a compelling storyline, this series of graphic novels chronicles the origin and evolution of astrobiology itself. Produced by the NASA Astrobiology Program, the series began in 2010 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Exobiology and Astrobiology at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. See article.
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g Abodes - Images of a remarkable crater on Mars show that the planet's climate fluctuated due to changes in its rotation axis. See article.
g Cosmicus - Traveling 300 million miles through deep space to reach the planet Mars is difficult; successfully landing there is even harder. The process of entering the Red Planet's atmosphere and slowing down to land has been described as "six minutes of terror." See article.
g Learning - Through fantastic original artwork and a compelling storyline, this series of graphic novels chronicles the origin and evolution of astrobiology itself. Produced by the NASA Astrobiology Program, the series began in 2010 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Exobiology and Astrobiology at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. See article.
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Friday, June 15, 2012
New ‘failed stars’ found close to home and closing in on quantum computer
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Astronomers are getting to know the neighbors better. Our sun resides within a spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy about two-thirds of the way out from the center. It lives in a fairly calm, suburb-like area with an average number of stellar residents. Recently, NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has been turning up a new crowd of stars close to home: the coldest of the brown dwarf family of "failed" stars. See article.
g Message - Using a conservative approach to interstellar travel that intelligent extraterrestrials may be present in our solar system, living in world ships that have colonized cometary or asteroidal objects during the last billion years. The originating star systems for these advanced beings could be solar-type stars that fortuitously approach our Sun within a light year or so at intervals of about a million years or nearby stars that have left the main sequence, prompting interstellar migration. If we are indeed within such a "Dyson Sphere" of artificial worldlets, we could detect their presence through astronomical means since a space habitat will emit more infrared radiation than a like-sized comet or asteroid. See article.
g Cosmicus - The quantum computer is a futuristic machine that could operate at speeds even more mind-boggling than the world's fastest super-computers. Research involving physicist Mike Thewalt of Simon Fraser University offers a new step towards making quantum computing a reality, through the unique properties of highly enriched and highly purified silicon. See article.
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g Stars - Astronomers are getting to know the neighbors better. Our sun resides within a spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy about two-thirds of the way out from the center. It lives in a fairly calm, suburb-like area with an average number of stellar residents. Recently, NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has been turning up a new crowd of stars close to home: the coldest of the brown dwarf family of "failed" stars. See article.
g Message - Using a conservative approach to interstellar travel that intelligent extraterrestrials may be present in our solar system, living in world ships that have colonized cometary or asteroidal objects during the last billion years. The originating star systems for these advanced beings could be solar-type stars that fortuitously approach our Sun within a light year or so at intervals of about a million years or nearby stars that have left the main sequence, prompting interstellar migration. If we are indeed within such a "Dyson Sphere" of artificial worldlets, we could detect their presence through astronomical means since a space habitat will emit more infrared radiation than a like-sized comet or asteroid. See article.
g Cosmicus - The quantum computer is a futuristic machine that could operate at speeds even more mind-boggling than the world's fastest super-computers. Research involving physicist Mike Thewalt of Simon Fraser University offers a new step towards making quantum computing a reality, through the unique properties of highly enriched and highly purified silicon. See article.
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
The Artifact Hypothesis and massive bloom of phytoplankton beneath ice-covered Arctic waters
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Life - A team of researchers, including scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), discovered a massive bloom of phytoplankton beneath ice-covered Arctic waters. Until now, sea ice was thought to block sunlight and limit the growth of microscopic marine plants living under the ice. 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 - The decks have arrived. Engineers working on NASA'S Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission have started integrating instruments on the first of four instrument decks in a newly fabricated cleanroom at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The MMS mission consists of four identical spacecraft, and each instrument deck will have 25 sensors per spacecraft. See article.
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g Life - A team of researchers, including scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), discovered a massive bloom of phytoplankton beneath ice-covered Arctic waters. Until now, sea ice was thought to block sunlight and limit the growth of microscopic marine plants living under the ice. 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 - The decks have arrived. Engineers working on NASA'S Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission have started integrating instruments on the first of four instrument decks in a newly fabricated cleanroom at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The MMS mission consists of four identical spacecraft, and each instrument deck will have 25 sensors per spacecraft. See article.
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Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Glow from universe’s first objects and why intelligent plants are unlikely
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 faint, lumpy glow given off by the very first objects in the universe may have been detected with the best precision yet, using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. These faint objects might be wildly massive stars or voracious black holes. They are too far away to be seen individually, but Spitzer has captured new, convincing evidence of what appears to be the collective pattern of their infrared light. See article.
g Life - New research published June 8 in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Genomics reveals that the Malaysian parasitic plant Rafflesia cantleyi, with its 50cm diameter flowers, has 'stolen' genes from its host Tetrastigma rafflesiae. Analysis of these genes shows that their functions range from respiration to metabolism, and that some of them have even replaced the parasites own gene activity. See article.
g Imagining - Cold plants ever be intelligent as is often shown in science fiction videos? Probably not. To quote the Web site “Evolutionary Psychology Primer”: "That’s because organisms that don't move, don't have brains. Trees don't have brains, bushes don't have brains, flowers don't have brains. In fact, there are some animals that don't move during certain stages of their lives. And during those stages, they don't have brains. The sea squirt, for example, is an aquatic animal that inhabits oceans. During the early stage of its life cycle, the sea squirt swims around looking for a good place to attach itself permanently. Once it finds the right rock, and attaches itself to it, it doesn't need its brain anymore because it will never need to move again. So it eats (reabsorbs) most of its brain. After all, why waste energy on a now useless organ? Better to get a good meal out of it."
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g Stars - The faint, lumpy glow given off by the very first objects in the universe may have been detected with the best precision yet, using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. These faint objects might be wildly massive stars or voracious black holes. They are too far away to be seen individually, but Spitzer has captured new, convincing evidence of what appears to be the collective pattern of their infrared light. See article.
g Life - New research published June 8 in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Genomics reveals that the Malaysian parasitic plant Rafflesia cantleyi, with its 50cm diameter flowers, has 'stolen' genes from its host Tetrastigma rafflesiae. Analysis of these genes shows that their functions range from respiration to metabolism, and that some of them have even replaced the parasites own gene activity. See article.
g Imagining - Cold plants ever be intelligent as is often shown in science fiction videos? Probably not. To quote the Web site “Evolutionary Psychology Primer”: "That’s because organisms that don't move, don't have brains. Trees don't have brains, bushes don't have brains, flowers don't have brains. In fact, there are some animals that don't move during certain stages of their lives. And during those stages, they don't have brains. The sea squirt, for example, is an aquatic animal that inhabits oceans. During the early stage of its life cycle, the sea squirt swims around looking for a good place to attach itself permanently. Once it finds the right rock, and attaches itself to it, it doesn't need its brain anymore because it will never need to move again. So it eats (reabsorbs) most of its brain. After all, why waste energy on a now useless organ? Better to get a good meal out of it."
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Viruses from Venus and image of another spiral galaxy
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 image, taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows a detailed view of the spiral arms on one side of the galaxy Messier 99. Messier 99 is a so-called grand design spiral, with long, large and clearly defined spiral arms - giving it a structure somewhat similar to the Milky Way. See article.
g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered two new moons orbiting Jupiter. See article.
g Life - The Transit of Venus this week launched an invasion of alien bugs from the planet to the Earth, a leading but controversial astrobiologist has claimed. Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe believes that thousands of billions of bacteria and viruses were carried from Venus into our own atmosphere following the event. He says they will eventually fall to the surface inside raindrops. See article.
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g Stars - A new image, taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows a detailed view of the spiral arms on one side of the galaxy Messier 99. Messier 99 is a so-called grand design spiral, with long, large and clearly defined spiral arms - giving it a structure somewhat similar to the Milky Way. See article.
g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered two new moons orbiting Jupiter. See article.
g Life - The Transit of Venus this week launched an invasion of alien bugs from the planet to the Earth, a leading but controversial astrobiologist has claimed. Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe believes that thousands of billions of bacteria and viruses were carried from Venus into our own atmosphere following the event. He says they will eventually fall to the surface inside raindrops. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, June 11, 2012
SETI finds no evidence of ETI on Gliese 581 and Hollywood tries to make more realistic aliens
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Life - A new study has revealed how giant insects that ruled the prehistoric skies of Earth gave way to birds. See article.
g Message - The first targeted SETI search of a system with a potentially habitable world has come up empty. However, the study was a proof of concept for targeted SETI searches, and sets the stage for examining specific star systems in the hope of detecting a signal from intelligent, extrasolar life. See article.
g Imagining - The Science and Entertainment Exchange, with 800 scientists on its roster, gives Hollywood writers access to NASA experts and other scientists. See article.
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g Life - A new study has revealed how giant insects that ruled the prehistoric skies of Earth gave way to birds. See article.
g Message - The first targeted SETI search of a system with a potentially habitable world has come up empty. However, the study was a proof of concept for targeted SETI searches, and sets the stage for examining specific star systems in the hope of detecting a signal from intelligent, extrasolar life. See article.
g Imagining - The Science and Entertainment Exchange, with 800 scientists on its roster, gives Hollywood writers access to NASA experts and other scientists. See article.
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Sunday, June 10, 2012
Bringing exoplanet search to High Arctic and ‘Prometheus’ may ignite astrobiology discussions
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 - To understand how the first cells transported ions across their membranes, researchers are studying simple channels used by fungi to kill off bacteria See article.
g Cosmicus - The continuous winter darkness of the Canadian High Arctic could prove beneficial in the search for extrasolar planets. Research performed at the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory, located at 80 degrees north, has confirmed that the site would be an excellent place to set up large telescopes. See article.
g Imagining - Are we alone? That question has plagued scientists and space enthusiasts for generations. The release of Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," which opened nationwide Friday, may reignite questions about life beyond the boundaries of our galaxy. See article.
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g Life - To understand how the first cells transported ions across their membranes, researchers are studying simple channels used by fungi to kill off bacteria See article.
g Cosmicus - The continuous winter darkness of the Canadian High Arctic could prove beneficial in the search for extrasolar planets. Research performed at the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory, located at 80 degrees north, has confirmed that the site would be an excellent place to set up large telescopes. See article.
g Imagining - Are we alone? That question has plagued scientists and space enthusiasts for generations. The release of Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," which opened nationwide Friday, may reignite questions about life beyond the boundaries of our galaxy. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Geoff Marcy now heading SETI and more hydrogen gas in universe than expected
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 shows that there is more hydrogen gas in the universe than previously thought. See article.
g Abodes - A new study shows that when life began on Earth, iron may have helped RNA assume the molecular shapes necessary for biology. Today, this role is played by magnesium See article.
g Message - Geoff Marcy has spent the better part of his career peering into the depths of space in the search for exoplanets and brown dwarfs. His pioneering work has resulted in the discovery of over 110 planets outside of our own solar system - including the first system of planets orbiting a distant star. But now, Marcy has decided to shift his focus and direct his efforts at detecting something just a bit more elusive: extraterrestrial intelligence. See article.
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g Stars - A new study shows that there is more hydrogen gas in the universe than previously thought. See article.
g Abodes - A new study shows that when life began on Earth, iron may have helped RNA assume the molecular shapes necessary for biology. Today, this role is played by magnesium See article.
g Message - Geoff Marcy has spent the better part of his career peering into the depths of space in the search for exoplanets and brown dwarfs. His pioneering work has resulted in the discovery of over 110 planets outside of our own solar system - including the first system of planets orbiting a distant star. But now, Marcy has decided to shift his focus and direct his efforts at detecting something just a bit more elusive: extraterrestrial intelligence. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, June 08, 2012
Is life an ‘artificial category’ and white dwarfs at galaxy’s center
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 has revealed that white dwarfs in the inner region of the Milky Way galaxy's halo are younger than the first generation of Milky Way stars. See article.
g Abodes - Data from the Rosetta spacecraft provides a unique window into the complex history of asteroid (21) Lutetia. Studies suggest that Lutetia is a primordial planetesimal from the early Solar System. See article.
g Life - Here's an interview with astrobiologist Maggie Turnbull, who ponders if life is an “artificial category”? See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - A new study has revealed that white dwarfs in the inner region of the Milky Way galaxy's halo are younger than the first generation of Milky Way stars. See article.
g Abodes - Data from the Rosetta spacecraft provides a unique window into the complex history of asteroid (21) Lutetia. Studies suggest that Lutetia is a primordial planetesimal from the early Solar System. See article.
g Life - Here's an interview with astrobiologist Maggie Turnbull, who ponders if life is an “artificial category”? See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Iron’s role in bringing about life and R.I.P. Ray Bradbury
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 has revealed that white dwarfs in the inner region of the Milky Way galaxy's halo are younger than the first generation of Milky Way stars. See article.
g Abodes - When life began on Earth, iron may have done the job of magnesium, making life possible. See article.
g Cosmicus - Recent findings reveal that Saturn’s geyser moon Enceladus provides a special laboratory for watching unusual behavior of plasma, or hot ionized gas. See article.
g Learning - Ray Bradbury, writer of classic science fiction and fantasy works, died Tuesday at the age of 91. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - A new study has revealed that white dwarfs in the inner region of the Milky Way galaxy's halo are younger than the first generation of Milky Way stars. See article.
g Abodes - When life began on Earth, iron may have done the job of magnesium, making life possible. See article.
g Cosmicus - Recent findings reveal that Saturn’s geyser moon Enceladus provides a special laboratory for watching unusual behavior of plasma, or hot ionized gas. See article.
g Learning - Ray Bradbury, writer of classic science fiction and fantasy works, died Tuesday at the age of 91. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Searching for extrasolar worlds just 135,000 feet above us and Venus transit today
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 developing a small, segmented mirror that could revolutionize space-based telescopes. Yhe technology could also be applied to a balloon-borne instrument that would search for extrasolar planets from just 135,000 feet above the Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - Biological intelligence is only a transitory phenomenon, according to physicist and computer scientist Giulio Prisco. See article.
g Cosmicus - Today scientists will watch the sky as Venus transits across the face of the Sun. Why has Venus been an object worthy of ogling for hundreds of centuries? See article.
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g Abodes - Scientists are developing a small, segmented mirror that could revolutionize space-based telescopes. Yhe technology could also be applied to a balloon-borne instrument that would search for extrasolar planets from just 135,000 feet above the Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - Biological intelligence is only a transitory phenomenon, according to physicist and computer scientist Giulio Prisco. See article.
g Cosmicus - Today scientists will watch the sky as Venus transits across the face of the Sun. Why has Venus been an object worthy of ogling for hundreds of centuries? See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Europan life analog in Canadian fjord and the greatest question posed by space exploration
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - New research shows that the Moon has a far-reaching influence on the solar wind. See article.
g Abodes - A frozen and sulphurous environment in a Canadian fjord is helping scientists understand how microorganisms might survive on Jupiter's moon Europa. See article.
g Message - Are we alone in the universe? It's probably the greatest question posed by space exploration. It fascinates scientists and the general public. It's important and deeply compelling. We want to know, and we have ways of finding out. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - New research shows that the Moon has a far-reaching influence on the solar wind. See article.
g Abodes - A frozen and sulphurous environment in a Canadian fjord is helping scientists understand how microorganisms might survive on Jupiter's moon Europa. See article.
g Message - Are we alone in the universe? It's probably the greatest question posed by space exploration. It fascinates scientists and the general public. It's important and deeply compelling. We want to know, and we have ways of finding out. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, June 04, 2012
Make-up of Martian atmosphere and our once violent galaxy
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 - Compared to other galaxies, the Milky Way has a relatively quiet core. New research, however, shows that our galaxy was not always so peaceful. See article.
g Abodes - A new discovery about the make-up of Martian atmosphere could have implications in the search for life on Mars. See article.
g Life - How can blue whales, the largest animals on the planet, survive by feeding on krill, shrimp-like creatures that are the size of a penny? According to UCLA life scientists, it's all a matter of dimensions. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Compared to other galaxies, the Milky Way has a relatively quiet core. New research, however, shows that our galaxy was not always so peaceful. See article.
g Abodes - A new discovery about the make-up of Martian atmosphere could have implications in the search for life on Mars. See article.
g Life - How can blue whales, the largest animals on the planet, survive by feeding on krill, shrimp-like creatures that are the size of a penny? According to UCLA life scientists, it's all a matter of dimensions. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Future Mars missions practiced in Alps and SETI in financial peril
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Life - A new study has shown that birds are essentially living dinosaurs, with skulls that are similar to those of their juvenile ancestors. See article.
g Message - SETI might be forced to sharply curtail its search for alien life if it can’t plug large losses in funding. See article.
g Cosmicus - In the largest ice caves on Earth, spacesuits and remote-controlled planetary rovers were recently tested in a five-day odyssey in the Alps designed to mimic potential future missions on Mars. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Life - A new study has shown that birds are essentially living dinosaurs, with skulls that are similar to those of their juvenile ancestors. See article.
g Message - SETI might be forced to sharply curtail its search for alien life if it can’t plug large losses in funding. See article.
g Cosmicus - In the largest ice caves on Earth, spacesuits and remote-controlled planetary rovers were recently tested in a five-day odyssey in the Alps designed to mimic potential future missions on Mars. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, June 02, 2012
Nearby exoplanets examined for ETI and SpaceX Dragon vehicle successful
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 indicates that it took 10 million years for Earth to recover after the largest mass extinction known. See article.
g Message - Astronomers have completed the first search for extraterrestrial intelligence on nearby exoplanets using very long baseline interferometer. See article.
g Cosmicus - The SpaceX Dragon vehicle has become the first private space capsule to successfully dock at the International Space Station. The mission could signal a new era where private access to space might increase our ability to perform science in orbit and explore the solar system. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - New research indicates that it took 10 million years for Earth to recover after the largest mass extinction known. See article.
g Message - Astronomers have completed the first search for extraterrestrial intelligence on nearby exoplanets using very long baseline interferometer. See article.
g Cosmicus - The SpaceX Dragon vehicle has become the first private space capsule to successfully dock at the International Space Station. The mission could signal a new era where private access to space might increase our ability to perform science in orbit and explore the solar system. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, June 01, 2012
Key ingredient for building blocks of life can originate on Mars and collecting microorganisms at the edge of 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 - NASA-funded research on Mars meteorites that landed on Earth shows strong evidence that very large molecules containing carbon, which is a key ingredient for the building blocks of life, can originate on the Red Planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's call to scientists and engineers for a new Mars exploration strategy has resulted in almost double the amount of expected submissions. See article.
g Learning - A NASA-inspired competition is challenging citizen scientists to build hardware for collecting microorganisms at the edge of space. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - NASA-funded research on Mars meteorites that landed on Earth shows strong evidence that very large molecules containing carbon, which is a key ingredient for the building blocks of life, can originate on the Red Planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's call to scientists and engineers for a new Mars exploration strategy has resulted in almost double the amount of expected submissions. See article.
g Learning - A NASA-inspired competition is challenging citizen scientists to build hardware for collecting microorganisms at the edge of space. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
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