Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Pulsars are dense stars that rotate rapidly and flash like lighthouse beacons. Now, a new study is helping astrobiolgists understand the potential properties of planetary systems around these extreme stars. See article.
g Abodes - The asteroid 2201 Oljato appears to be exhibiting some strange behavior. Previous observations of Oljato showed unusual magnetic peaks, but new data from Venus Express suggest the asteroid has lost its magnetic mojo. See article.
g Intelligence - Will extraterrestrial civilizations (E.T.) actually persist long enough to make contact? See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Stellar shockwaves shape planet 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 - A new study indicates that shockwaves from the young Sun would have caused the planets of our solar system to form at different times. See article.
g Abodes - New research suggests that water near the surface of Europa does not stay in a liquid state for long. The findings could have implications in developing future missions to study life's potential on the Jovian moon. See article.
g Intelligence - Flying high, or down in the dumps - individuals suffering from bipolar dis¬order alternate between depressive and manic episodes. Re¬searchers from the University of Bonn and the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim have now discovered, based on patient data and animal models, how the NCAN gene results in the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - A new study indicates that shockwaves from the young Sun would have caused the planets of our solar system to form at different times. See article.
g Abodes - New research suggests that water near the surface of Europa does not stay in a liquid state for long. The findings could have implications in developing future missions to study life's potential on the Jovian moon. See article.
g Intelligence - Flying high, or down in the dumps - individuals suffering from bipolar dis¬order alternate between depressive and manic episodes. Re¬searchers from the University of Bonn and the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim have now discovered, based on patient data and animal models, how the NCAN gene results in the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, September 28, 2012
Microbes on land with no protective ozone
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's Dawn spacecraft has revealed that the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta has volatile materials in a broad swath around its equator. See article.
g Life - New research suggests that Earth's early microbes may have been widespread on land, despite the fact that the ozone layer had not yet formed. See article.
g Intelligence - Around 100 billion neurons in the human brain enable us to think, feel and act. They transmit electrical impulses to remote parts of the brain and body via long nerve fibres known as axons. This communication requires enormous amounts of energy, which the neurons are thought to generate from sugar. Axons are closely associated with glial cells which, on the one hand, surround them with an electrically insulating myelin sheath and, on the other hand support their long-term function. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - NASA's Dawn spacecraft has revealed that the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta has volatile materials in a broad swath around its equator. See article.
g Life - New research suggests that Earth's early microbes may have been widespread on land, despite the fact that the ozone layer had not yet formed. See article.
g Intelligence - Around 100 billion neurons in the human brain enable us to think, feel and act. They transmit electrical impulses to remote parts of the brain and body via long nerve fibres known as axons. This communication requires enormous amounts of energy, which the neurons are thought to generate from sugar. Axons are closely associated with glial cells which, on the one hand, surround them with an electrically insulating myelin sheath and, on the other hand support their long-term function. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Did large meteor impact kick start ice ages?
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - A new study suggests that a large meteor impact 2.5 million years ago could have caused massive tsunamis and kick started the world's Ice Ages. See article.
g Intelligence - A new study suggests that a poor sense of smell may be a marker for psychopathic traits. See article.
g Cosmicus - In this installment of his diaries from the Expedition 31 crew, astronaut Don Pettit talks about the difficulties of photographing Earth from orbit. Viewing our planet from above provides important information about our planet, including the effects of climate change on the land and oceans. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - A new study suggests that a large meteor impact 2.5 million years ago could have caused massive tsunamis and kick started the world's Ice Ages. See article.
g Intelligence - A new study suggests that a poor sense of smell may be a marker for psychopathic traits. See article.
g Cosmicus - In this installment of his diaries from the Expedition 31 crew, astronaut Don Pettit talks about the difficulties of photographing Earth from orbit. Viewing our planet from above provides important information about our planet, including the effects of climate change on the land and oceans. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Structure and dynamics of the universe
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - Astronomers in Germany have developed an artificial intelligence algorithm to help them chart and explain the structure and dynamics of the universe around us with unprecedented accuracy. See article.
g Abodes - New findings support the theory that a climate-altering cosmic impact that occurred some 13,000 years ago. See article.
g Cosmicus - David Grinspoon, curator of astrobiology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, describes his work with a Curiosity instrument that is totally RAD. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Astronomers in Germany have developed an artificial intelligence algorithm to help them chart and explain the structure and dynamics of the universe around us with unprecedented accuracy. See article.
g Abodes - New findings support the theory that a climate-altering cosmic impact that occurred some 13,000 years ago. See article.
g Cosmicus - David Grinspoon, curator of astrobiology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, describes his work with a Curiosity instrument that is totally RAD. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Exploring Earth's subsurface biosphere
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - A new study could help scientists solve some long-standing mysteries about the formation of the Moon. See article.
g Life - Jan Amend, professor of earth sciences and biological sciences in USC Dornsife, will lead an interdisciplinary team of researchers in an investigation into what life teems within Earth's subsurface biosphere. Their approach could become a template for collecting evidence of life or past life on extraterrestrial planetary bodies such as Mars. See article.
g Cosmicus - The international team of astronauts taking part in ESA’s caving adventure have returned to Earth after spending six days underground conducting research in areas including geology, biology and microbiology. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - A new study could help scientists solve some long-standing mysteries about the formation of the Moon. See article.
g Life - Jan Amend, professor of earth sciences and biological sciences in USC Dornsife, will lead an interdisciplinary team of researchers in an investigation into what life teems within Earth's subsurface biosphere. Their approach could become a template for collecting evidence of life or past life on extraterrestrial planetary bodies such as Mars. See article.
g Cosmicus - The international team of astronauts taking part in ESA’s caving adventure have returned to Earth after spending six days underground conducting research in areas including geology, biology and microbiology. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, September 24, 2012
Examining our place in the cosmos
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - Astronomers have spotted planets orbiting sun-like stars in a crowded cluster of stars. The findings show that planets can form in dense stellar environments. See article.
g Message - Science fiction writer David Brin examines “Intelligence, Uplift and Our Place in a Big Cosmos”.
g Cosmicus - Inspired by tuna, a new unmanned underwater vehicle could help researchers explore harsh, aqueous environments. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Astronomers have spotted planets orbiting sun-like stars in a crowded cluster of stars. The findings show that planets can form in dense stellar environments. See article.
g Message - Science fiction writer David Brin examines “Intelligence, Uplift and Our Place in a Big Cosmos”.
g Cosmicus - Inspired by tuna, a new unmanned underwater vehicle could help researchers explore harsh, aqueous environments. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, September 23, 2012
When methane doesn’t indicate life on alien worlds
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 says that methane generated by meteors could make alien worlds look like they are inhabited by life - even though they are not. See article.
g Intelligence - How do language families evolve over many thousands of years? How stable over time are structural features of languages?Researchers Dan Dediu and Stephen Levinson of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen introduced a new method using Bayesian phylogenetic approaches to analyse the evolution of structural features in more than 50 language families. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has driven up to a football-size rock that will be the first for the rover's arm to examine. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Researchers says that methane generated by meteors could make alien worlds look like they are inhabited by life - even though they are not. See article.
g Intelligence - How do language families evolve over many thousands of years? How stable over time are structural features of languages?Researchers Dan Dediu and Stephen Levinson of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen introduced a new method using Bayesian phylogenetic approaches to analyse the evolution of structural features in more than 50 language families. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has driven up to a football-size rock that will be the first for the rover's arm to examine. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Different type of spherule found on Martian surface
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 - Eight years after discovering “blueberries” on Mars, the Opportunity rover has found a different type of spherule on the Martian surface. They resemble previous “blueberries,” but are densely packed in an unusual rock outcrop. See article.
g Life - To understand how life began on Earth, researchers are creating concoctions of organics on ice and zapping them with lasers. The study provides the first look at organic chemistry on icy particles in the frigid reaches of our solar system. See article.
g Cosmicus - The biggest challenge in mounting a space mission to another star may not be technology, but people, experts say. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Eight years after discovering “blueberries” on Mars, the Opportunity rover has found a different type of spherule on the Martian surface. They resemble previous “blueberries,” but are densely packed in an unusual rock outcrop. See article.
g Life - To understand how life began on Earth, researchers are creating concoctions of organics on ice and zapping them with lasers. The study provides the first look at organic chemistry on icy particles in the frigid reaches of our solar system. See article.
g Cosmicus - The biggest challenge in mounting a space mission to another star may not be technology, but people, experts say. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, September 21, 2012
Planets orbiting 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 Abodes - NASA-funded astronomers have, for the first time, spotted planets orbiting sun-like stars in a crowded cluster of stars. The findings offer the best evidence yet that planets can sprout up in dense stellar environments. Although the newfound planets are not habitable, their skies would be starrier than what we see from Earth. See article.
g Message - SETI astronomer Jill Tarter recalls “Contact” 15 years on. See article.
g Cosmicus - In this interview, David Blake talks about how the Curiosity Rover’s CheMin instrument will allow us to better understand the history of Mars’s environment. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - NASA-funded astronomers have, for the first time, spotted planets orbiting sun-like stars in a crowded cluster of stars. The findings offer the best evidence yet that planets can sprout up in dense stellar environments. Although the newfound planets are not habitable, their skies would be starrier than what we see from Earth. See article.
g Message - SETI astronomer Jill Tarter recalls “Contact” 15 years on. See article.
g Cosmicus - In this interview, David Blake talks about how the Curiosity Rover’s CheMin instrument will allow us to better understand the history of Mars’s environment. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Fireball on Jupiter
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 - An amateur astronomer reported the visual detection of a fireball on Jupiter at 11:35 UT on Sept. 10, 2012. See article.
g Intelligence - Among patients with depression, the presence of many aspects of illness which may be associated with bipolar disorder does not appear to be associated with treatment resistance - evidence against the common hypothesis that some cases of difficult-to-treat depression are actually unrecognized bipolar disorder, according to a report posted online that will appear in a recent print issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. See article.
g Cosmicus - By simulating cosmic rays on Earth, scientists are studying methods for using Moon and Mars regolith to protect future explorers from harmful radiation. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - An amateur astronomer reported the visual detection of a fireball on Jupiter at 11:35 UT on Sept. 10, 2012. See article.
g Intelligence - Among patients with depression, the presence of many aspects of illness which may be associated with bipolar disorder does not appear to be associated with treatment resistance - evidence against the common hypothesis that some cases of difficult-to-treat depression are actually unrecognized bipolar disorder, according to a report posted online that will appear in a recent print issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. See article.
g Cosmicus - By simulating cosmic rays on Earth, scientists are studying methods for using Moon and Mars regolith to protect future explorers from harmful radiation. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Pioneer 10’s message to 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 Abodes - New research indicates that extrasolar planets with eccentric orbits may still be capable of supporting life - even though the planets do not orbit entirely within the habitable zone of their host star. See article.
g Intelligence - A new study provides fascinating insight into the genetic basis of bipolar disorder, a highly heritable mood disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. The research, published online February 24 in the American Journal of Human Genetics, identifies a previously unrecognized susceptibility factor for bipolar disorder. See article.
g Message - Pioneer 10 carries a plaque with a message to any intelligent life it might encounter on its journey. The Pioneer plaque includes diagrams of Earth's location and drawings of a man and a woman. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - New research indicates that extrasolar planets with eccentric orbits may still be capable of supporting life - even though the planets do not orbit entirely within the habitable zone of their host star. See article.
g Intelligence - A new study provides fascinating insight into the genetic basis of bipolar disorder, a highly heritable mood disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. The research, published online February 24 in the American Journal of Human Genetics, identifies a previously unrecognized susceptibility factor for bipolar disorder. See article.
g Message - Pioneer 10 carries a plaque with a message to any intelligent life it might encounter on its journey. The Pioneer plaque includes diagrams of Earth's location and drawings of a man and a woman. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Life on strange exoplanetary bodies
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, published in the Astrobiology journal, reveals that life might actually be able to survive on some of the many strange exoplanetary bodies. See article.
g Life - Johns Hopkins scientists report what is believed to be the first evidence that complex, reversible behavioral patterns in bees - and presumably other animals - are linked to reversible chemical tags on genes. See article.
g Intelligence - Positive emotions like joy and compassion are good for your mental and physical health, and help foster creativity and friendship. But people with bipolar disorder seem to have too much of a good thing. In a new article to be published in the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, psychologist June Gruber of Yale University considers how positive emotion may become negative in bipolar disorder. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - New research, published in the Astrobiology journal, reveals that life might actually be able to survive on some of the many strange exoplanetary bodies. See article.
g Life - Johns Hopkins scientists report what is believed to be the first evidence that complex, reversible behavioral patterns in bees - and presumably other animals - are linked to reversible chemical tags on genes. See article.
g Intelligence - Positive emotions like joy and compassion are good for your mental and physical health, and help foster creativity and friendship. But people with bipolar disorder seem to have too much of a good thing. In a new article to be published in the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, psychologist June Gruber of Yale University considers how positive emotion may become negative in bipolar disorder. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, September 17, 2012
Dust devils causing methane on Mars
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 - Methane on Mars has been taken as an indication that the planet could be geologically or biologically active. The origin of Mars methane is unknown, but a new theory suggests an unexpected source - dust storms and dust devils. See article.
g Life - Sixty-five million years ago, a mass extinction on Earth wiped out the dinosaurs. New research now indicates that a separate extinction event occurred shortly before that, triggered by volcanic eruptions that warmed the planet. See article.
g Intelligence - Lithium, introduced in the late 1940's, was the first "wonder drug" in psychiatry. It was the first medication treatment for the manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder and it remains among one of the most effective treatments for this disorder. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Methane on Mars has been taken as an indication that the planet could be geologically or biologically active. The origin of Mars methane is unknown, but a new theory suggests an unexpected source - dust storms and dust devils. See article.
g Life - Sixty-five million years ago, a mass extinction on Earth wiped out the dinosaurs. New research now indicates that a separate extinction event occurred shortly before that, triggered by volcanic eruptions that warmed the planet. See article.
g Intelligence - Lithium, introduced in the late 1940's, was the first "wonder drug" in psychiatry. It was the first medication treatment for the manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder and it remains among one of the most effective treatments for this disorder. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Planets form in 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 Abodes - New research shows that planets are able to form in the crowded region of stars, supernovas and intense radiation at the center of the Milky Way. See article.
g Intelligence - A team of over 250 researchers from more than 20 countries have discovered that common genetic variations contribute to a person's risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. See article.
g Cosmicus - An important test is coming up to see whether a heat shield made from the soil of the moon, Mars or an asteroid will stand up to the searing demands of a plunge through Earth's atmosphere. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - New research shows that planets are able to form in the crowded region of stars, supernovas and intense radiation at the center of the Milky Way. See article.
g Intelligence - A team of over 250 researchers from more than 20 countries have discovered that common genetic variations contribute to a person's risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. See article.
g Cosmicus - An important test is coming up to see whether a heat shield made from the soil of the moon, Mars or an asteroid will stand up to the searing demands of a plunge through Earth's atmosphere. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Turbulence and temperature in protostellar disks
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 - Simulated models are helping astronomers better understand how turbulence and temperature in protostellar disks can affect how planets are born. See article.
g Intelligence - Five genes have been found to determine human facial shapes, as reported by researchers from the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics. See article.
g Cosmicus - In this interview, Chris McKay describes how he’ll use two of Curiosity Rover’s instruments: he’ll help determine what ChemCam should focus its laser on, and then compare the organic analysis by the SAM instrument to what was measured by the Mars Viking mission, and also to what he’s found in deserts on Earth. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Simulated models are helping astronomers better understand how turbulence and temperature in protostellar disks can affect how planets are born. See article.
g Intelligence - Five genes have been found to determine human facial shapes, as reported by researchers from the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics. See article.
g Cosmicus - In this interview, Chris McKay describes how he’ll use two of Curiosity Rover’s instruments: he’ll help determine what ChemCam should focus its laser on, and then compare the organic analysis by the SAM instrument to what was measured by the Mars Viking mission, and also to what he’s found in deserts on Earth. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, September 14, 2012
Sending a spaceship to another star
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 hints that some clays on Mars may have formed in a way that does not involve soil interacting with standing water, or water bubbling up from hydrothermal vents. See article.
g Life - A new study of giant viruses supports the idea that viruses are ancient living organisms and not inanimate molecular remnants run amok, as some scientists have argued. The study may reshape the universal family tree, adding a fourth major branch to the three that most scientists agree represent the fundamental domains of life. See article.
g Cosmicus - Celebrities, scientists, artists and astronauts converged in Houston Thursday to discuss what it will take to send a spaceship to another star. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - New research hints that some clays on Mars may have formed in a way that does not involve soil interacting with standing water, or water bubbling up from hydrothermal vents. See article.
g Life - A new study of giant viruses supports the idea that viruses are ancient living organisms and not inanimate molecular remnants run amok, as some scientists have argued. The study may reshape the universal family tree, adding a fourth major branch to the three that most scientists agree represent the fundamental domains of life. See article.
g Cosmicus - Celebrities, scientists, artists and astronauts converged in Houston Thursday to discuss what it will take to send a spaceship to another star. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, September 13, 2012
How Curiosity will determine if building blocks of life can survive on Mars’ surface
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 shows how tiny sea creatures called rhabdopleurids have survived for more than 500 million years and outlasted more elaborate species that descended from a common ancestor. See article.
g Cosmicus - In this interview, NASA scientist Danny Glavin describes how NASA’s Curiosity rover will be used to determine if the building blocks of life could have survived on the surface of Mars. See article.
g Aftermath - How will we react, the day we hear the news that scientists have found life on another planet? Science fiction writer Orson Scott Card has dreamed up many first contact scenarios. His classic science fiction novel, "Ender's Game" is all about the consequences of a first contact gone badly wrong. He's just published a long-awaited sequel. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Life - A new study shows how tiny sea creatures called rhabdopleurids have survived for more than 500 million years and outlasted more elaborate species that descended from a common ancestor. See article.
g Cosmicus - In this interview, NASA scientist Danny Glavin describes how NASA’s Curiosity rover will be used to determine if the building blocks of life could have survived on the surface of Mars. See article.
g Aftermath - How will we react, the day we hear the news that scientists have found life on another planet? Science fiction writer Orson Scott Card has dreamed up many first contact scenarios. His classic science fiction novel, "Ender's Game" is all about the consequences of a first contact gone badly wrong. He's just published a long-awaited sequel. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Tweets into outer space
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - It's long been known that earthly metals like gold and silver were forged in supernova explosions, but the metals' exact origins have been shrouded in mystery. Now a new study has identified the unique nuclear recipe for silver in space. See article.
g Abodes - On Mars’s poles there are ice caps of ice and dust with layers that reflect to past climate variations on Mars. Researchers have related the layers in the ice cap on Mars’s north pole to variations in solar insolation on Mars, thus establishing the first dated climate history for Mars. See article.
g Message - What would you say to an alien that lived on a planet 22 light years away? Could you say it in 140 characters or less? An upcoming performance at the International Symposium on Electronic Art will collect your tweets and then send them to a specific planet far, far away. This hour, we get the details of the project and hear what YOU would tweet into outer space. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - It's long been known that earthly metals like gold and silver were forged in supernova explosions, but the metals' exact origins have been shrouded in mystery. Now a new study has identified the unique nuclear recipe for silver in space. See article.
g Abodes - On Mars’s poles there are ice caps of ice and dust with layers that reflect to past climate variations on Mars. Researchers have related the layers in the ice cap on Mars’s north pole to variations in solar insolation on Mars, thus establishing the first dated climate history for Mars. See article.
g Message - What would you say to an alien that lived on a planet 22 light years away? Could you say it in 140 characters or less? An upcoming performance at the International Symposium on Electronic Art will collect your tweets and then send them to a specific planet far, far away. This hour, we get the details of the project and hear what YOU would tweet into outer space. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Bacteria as social creatures
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 - New research has revealed that bacteria can have social structures similar to plants and animals. The study provides new insight into mechanisms that could affect the evolution of life on Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - A new study in Biological Psychiatry confirms that scientists may have found a better treatement for bipolar depression in a drug called ketamine. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new book details the protective clothing worn by humans at the edge of space. Pressure suits and spacesuits have allowed us to explore the edge of Earth's atmosphere and beyond, and will continue to play a major role on future missions. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Life - New research has revealed that bacteria can have social structures similar to plants and animals. The study provides new insight into mechanisms that could affect the evolution of life on Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - A new study in Biological Psychiatry confirms that scientists may have found a better treatement for bipolar depression in a drug called ketamine. See article.
g Cosmicus - A new book details the protective clothing worn by humans at the edge of space. Pressure suits and spacesuits have allowed us to explore the edge of Earth's atmosphere and beyond, and will continue to play a major role on future missions. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, September 10, 2012
Examining Mars’ Hadley Crater
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 explored a discrepancy between the amount of lithium predicted by the standard models of elemental production during the Big Bang and the amount of lithium observed in the gas of the Small Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy near to our own. See article.
g Abodes - ESA's Mars Express has returned to its primary mission after providing support for the landing of the Curiosity rover. The spacecraft has returned deep views into the Martian crust within the walls of Hadley Crater, providing insight into the history of Mars's climate. See article.
g Learning - NASA has announced an asteroid naming contest for students. The winner will name an asteroid from which the upcoming OSIRIS-REx mission will return samples to Earth. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Astrophysicists have explored a discrepancy between the amount of lithium predicted by the standard models of elemental production during the Big Bang and the amount of lithium observed in the gas of the Small Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy near to our own. See article.
g Abodes - ESA's Mars Express has returned to its primary mission after providing support for the landing of the Curiosity rover. The spacecraft has returned deep views into the Martian crust within the walls of Hadley Crater, providing insight into the history of Mars's climate. See article.
g Learning - NASA has announced an asteroid naming contest for students. The winner will name an asteroid from which the upcoming OSIRIS-REx mission will return samples to Earth. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, September 09, 2012
Alien life may be discovered within 40 years
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 - Neptune’s largest moon Triton is most likely a captured Kuiper Belt Object. The capture of icy Triton and the subsequent taming of its orbit likely led to the formation of a subsurface ocean through tidal heating. New research suggests that this ocean could still exist today. See article.
g Message - Finding alien life beyond our solar system would be the most profound discovery in all of humanity, and a royal astronomer for the Queen of England believes it could happen within the next 40 years. See article.
g Cosmicus - After driving more than a football field’s length since landing, NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity is spending several days preparing for full use of the tools on its arm. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Neptune’s largest moon Triton is most likely a captured Kuiper Belt Object. The capture of icy Triton and the subsequent taming of its orbit likely led to the formation of a subsurface ocean through tidal heating. New research suggests that this ocean could still exist today. See article.
g Message - Finding alien life beyond our solar system would be the most profound discovery in all of humanity, and a royal astronomer for the Queen of England believes it could happen within the next 40 years. See article.
g Cosmicus - After driving more than a football field’s length since landing, NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity is spending several days preparing for full use of the tools on its arm. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, September 08, 2012
SETI’s first artist-in-residence
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - The Kepler mission announced the discovery of a unique binary star two planet system. The Kepler 47 family consists of a binary pair, a G-type star – about 84% as massive as the Sun, and a smaller M-type red dwarf roughly 36% of the Sun’s mass, but only 1.4% as luminous. See article.
g Cosmicus - Small patches of ice could make up at most five to ten percent of material in walls of Shackleton crater on the Moon. See article.
g Imagining - SETI’s first artist-in-residence transports viewers to alien worlds. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - The Kepler mission announced the discovery of a unique binary star two planet system. The Kepler 47 family consists of a binary pair, a G-type star – about 84% as massive as the Sun, and a smaller M-type red dwarf roughly 36% of the Sun’s mass, but only 1.4% as luminous. See article.
g Cosmicus - Small patches of ice could make up at most five to ten percent of material in walls of Shackleton crater on the Moon. See article.
g Imagining - SETI’s first artist-in-residence transports viewers to alien worlds. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, September 07, 2012
Weird chemistry practiced by microbes
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - Scientists have discovered "weird chemistry" practiced by the most abundant microbes on the planet, and could be responsible for up to 4 percent of the methane on Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - Almost everyone reports experiencing mind-pops at some time or another, but some experience them more than others according to research conducted by the University of Hertfordshire. In the paper to be published in Psychiatry Research, findings suggest that mind-pop experiences are related to hallucinations in those people suffering from schizophrenia. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Japanese space agency is preparing for a second attempt at collecting material from an asteroid in an attempt to search for clue about how life began on Earth. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Scientists have discovered "weird chemistry" practiced by the most abundant microbes on the planet, and could be responsible for up to 4 percent of the methane on Earth. See article.
g Intelligence - Almost everyone reports experiencing mind-pops at some time or another, but some experience them more than others according to research conducted by the University of Hertfordshire. In the paper to be published in Psychiatry Research, findings suggest that mind-pop experiences are related to hallucinations in those people suffering from schizophrenia. See article.
g Cosmicus - The Japanese space agency is preparing for a second attempt at collecting material from an asteroid in an attempt to search for clue about how life began on Earth. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Understanding the Kuiper Belt
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 - Planetary science is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the discovery of the Kuiper Belt. Since 1992, more than 1,000 objects have been discovered in this distant region of our solar system. See article.
g Intelligence - Flying high, or down in the dumps - individuals suffering from bipolar dis¬order alternate between depressive and manic episodes. Re¬searchers from the University of Bonn and the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim have now discovered, based on patient data and animal models, how the NCAN gene results in the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder. See article.
g Cosmicus - Don Pettit, member of the Expedition 31 crew, discusses the laboratory that humankind has built in orbit of the Earth. The International Space Station offers many unique conditions in which to study life's adaptation to the space environment. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Planetary science is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the discovery of the Kuiper Belt. Since 1992, more than 1,000 objects have been discovered in this distant region of our solar system. See article.
g Intelligence - Flying high, or down in the dumps - individuals suffering from bipolar dis¬order alternate between depressive and manic episodes. Re¬searchers from the University of Bonn and the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim have now discovered, based on patient data and animal models, how the NCAN gene results in the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder. See article.
g Cosmicus - Don Pettit, member of the Expedition 31 crew, discusses the laboratory that humankind has built in orbit of the Earth. The International Space Station offers many unique conditions in which to study life's adaptation to the space environment. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Might Gliese 163 Super-Earth be habitable?
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 Super-Earth planet has been found in the stellar habitable zone of the red dwarf star Gliese 163. The planet receives more light from its parent star than Earth from the Sun, but it still might be habitable for life as we know it. See article.
g Intelligence - You already know it's hard to balance your checkbook while simultaneously reflecting on your past. Now, investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine - having done the equivalent of wire-tapping a hard-to-reach region of the brain - can tell us how this impasse arises. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission has launched from Cape Canaveral. The twin-spacecraft mission will study the radiation belts, providing important information about the connections between the Sun and the Earth. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - A new Super-Earth planet has been found in the stellar habitable zone of the red dwarf star Gliese 163. The planet receives more light from its parent star than Earth from the Sun, but it still might be habitable for life as we know it. See article.
g Intelligence - You already know it's hard to balance your checkbook while simultaneously reflecting on your past. Now, investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine - having done the equivalent of wire-tapping a hard-to-reach region of the brain - can tell us how this impasse arises. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission has launched from Cape Canaveral. The twin-spacecraft mission will study the radiation belts, providing important information about the connections between the Sun and the Earth. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
How do we know Martians aren’t Earthlings?
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Intelligence - Scientists have created a type of "cyborg" tissue by embedding a three-dimensional network of functional, bio-compatible nanoscale wires into engineered human tissues. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Dawn spacecraft is preparing to leave the giant asteroid Vesta and start its two-and-a-half-year journey to the dwarf planet Ceres. See article.
g Aftermath - NASA’s roving Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity, has begun its journey to look for the evidence of life, past and present, on Mars. If we found life though, how would we know that we didn’t put it there? See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Intelligence - Scientists have created a type of "cyborg" tissue by embedding a three-dimensional network of functional, bio-compatible nanoscale wires into engineered human tissues. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Dawn spacecraft is preparing to leave the giant asteroid Vesta and start its two-and-a-half-year journey to the dwarf planet Ceres. See article.
g Aftermath - NASA’s roving Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity, has begun its journey to look for the evidence of life, past and present, on Mars. If we found life though, how would we know that we didn’t put it there? See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, September 03, 2012
From 10 to 10,000 alien civilizations, according to new estimate
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 on the number of microbes living in ocean sediments has produced a result much lower than previous estimates. Even so, the new estimate is still staggering. See article.
g Intelligence - Using computer simulations based on the age of the universe, the rate of star formation, a varying number of alien civilizations, from 10 to 10,000, that could either have evolved or still could be evolving in the Milky Way galaxy over billions of years. See article.
g Cosmicus - A team of astronauts are taking part in a caving adventure designed to prepare them for spaceflight. While working in the confined space, the they will also search for unique cave-dwelling life while testing new equipment and scientific procedures. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Life - A new study on the number of microbes living in ocean sediments has produced a result much lower than previous estimates. Even so, the new estimate is still staggering. See article.
g Intelligence - Using computer simulations based on the age of the universe, the rate of star formation, a varying number of alien civilizations, from 10 to 10,000, that could either have evolved or still could be evolving in the Milky Way galaxy over billions of years. See article.
g Cosmicus - A team of astronauts are taking part in a caving adventure designed to prepare them for spaceflight. While working in the confined space, the they will also search for unique cave-dwelling life while testing new equipment and scientific procedures. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Exoplanet with massive dust tail
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - Astronomers have found clear evidence that the exoplanet known as KIC 12557548 is slowly falling apart. The planet has a massive dust tail, similar to a comet's tail, and is the only known exoplanet of its kind. See article.
g Message - The cash-strapped SETI Institute is set to get money from a new start-up firm to aid in its search for alien life. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has set off from its landing vicinity on a trek to a science destination about a quarter-mile (400 meters) away, where it may begin using its drill. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Astronomers have found clear evidence that the exoplanet known as KIC 12557548 is slowly falling apart. The planet has a massive dust tail, similar to a comet's tail, and is the only known exoplanet of its kind. See article.
g Message - The cash-strapped SETI Institute is set to get money from a new start-up firm to aid in its search for alien life. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has set off from its landing vicinity on a trek to a science destination about a quarter-mile (400 meters) away, where it may begin using its drill. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, September 01, 2012
How old are the first planets?
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - Heavy elements – ‘metals’ in astronomer-speak – are created within stars and then spewed out across the cosmos by supernovae. Scientists are now asking: when did the Universe have enough metals to start building planets? See article.
g Intelligence - The more that we understand the brain, the more complex it becomes. The same can be said about the genetics and neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. For "Mendelian" disorders, like Huntington disease, mutation of a single gene predictably produces a single clinical disorder, following relatively simple genetic principals. Compared to Mendelian disorders, understanding bipolar disorder has been extremely challenging. Its biology is not well understood and its genetics are complex. See article.
g Cosmicus - Curiosity has debuted the first recorded human voice that traveled from Earth to another planet and back. The voice playback was released along with new telephoto camera views of the varied Martian landscape. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - Heavy elements – ‘metals’ in astronomer-speak – are created within stars and then spewed out across the cosmos by supernovae. Scientists are now asking: when did the Universe have enough metals to start building planets? See article.
g Intelligence - The more that we understand the brain, the more complex it becomes. The same can be said about the genetics and neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. For "Mendelian" disorders, like Huntington disease, mutation of a single gene predictably produces a single clinical disorder, following relatively simple genetic principals. Compared to Mendelian disorders, understanding bipolar disorder has been extremely challenging. Its biology is not well understood and its genetics are complex. See article.
g Cosmicus - Curiosity has debuted the first recorded human voice that traveled from Earth to another planet and back. The voice playback was released along with new telephoto camera views of the varied Martian landscape. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
