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 team behind NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers has released new results from the two years that Opportunity spent exploring Victoria Crater. Opportunity's instruments have revealed more evidence for a windy and wet past on Mars. The findings further our understanding of the habitability of ancient Mars. See article.
g Cosmicus - The White House announced on Saturday the nomination of Charles F. Bolden Jr., a former space shuttle astronaut and retired Marine general, to head the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. See article.
g Aftermath - Quote of the Day: “The diversity which some people are so quick to see among human populations is going to dwindle overnight. So in a very real sense, I think that the receipt of an interstellar radio message will make all of mankind brothers and sisters.” – Carl Sagan
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Early bombardment boosted life and what would you say to ET?
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 study indicates that an intense asteroid bombardment nearly 4 billion years ago may not have sterilized the early Earth as completely as previously thought. The asteroids, some the size of Kansas, possibly even provided a boost for early life. See article.
g Message - For nearly fifty years, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has used radio telescopes to scan the heavens for signs of alien technology. But scientists still do not agree about whether we should reply to an extraterrestrial signal, and if we do, what we should say. To help answer these questions, the SETI Institute has launched Earth Speaks, a research project to collect messages online from people around the world. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a great book for fourth- through sixth-grade kids: “Is Anybody Out There?” by Heather Couper, Nigel Henbest and Luciano Corbella. Of the book, one reviewer wrote: “Does intelligent life exist beyond our planet? This visually exciting examination looks at both the myth and the science related to the question. The authors, both British science writers, describe what alien lifeforms might look like, how we might communicate with them, and the impact the discovery of extrasolar planets has had on the development of scientific equipment. The book is organized into 17 appealing photo-spreads, comprising color photographs, detailed captions and boxed insets that contain information about a scientist or about a historic scientific event, or suggested activities for would-be scientists. The inclusion of a "count the alien civilizations" foldout board game is a bonus.”
g Aftermath - Quote of the Day: “It is not a question of whether we are emotionally prepared in the long run to confront a message from the stars. It is whether we can develop a sense that beings with quite different evolutionary histories, beings who may look far different from us, even "monstrous," may, nevertheless, be worthy of friendship and reverence, brotherhood and trust. We have far to go; while there is every sign that the human community is moving in this direction, the question is, are we moving fast enough?” – Carl Sagan
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g Abodes - NASA-funded study indicates that an intense asteroid bombardment nearly 4 billion years ago may not have sterilized the early Earth as completely as previously thought. The asteroids, some the size of Kansas, possibly even provided a boost for early life. See article.
g Message - For nearly fifty years, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has used radio telescopes to scan the heavens for signs of alien technology. But scientists still do not agree about whether we should reply to an extraterrestrial signal, and if we do, what we should say. To help answer these questions, the SETI Institute has launched Earth Speaks, a research project to collect messages online from people around the world. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a great book for fourth- through sixth-grade kids: “Is Anybody Out There?” by Heather Couper, Nigel Henbest and Luciano Corbella. Of the book, one reviewer wrote: “Does intelligent life exist beyond our planet? This visually exciting examination looks at both the myth and the science related to the question. The authors, both British science writers, describe what alien lifeforms might look like, how we might communicate with them, and the impact the discovery of extrasolar planets has had on the development of scientific equipment. The book is organized into 17 appealing photo-spreads, comprising color photographs, detailed captions and boxed insets that contain information about a scientist or about a historic scientific event, or suggested activities for would-be scientists. The inclusion of a "count the alien civilizations" foldout board game is a bonus.”
g Aftermath - Quote of the Day: “It is not a question of whether we are emotionally prepared in the long run to confront a message from the stars. It is whether we can develop a sense that beings with quite different evolutionary histories, beings who may look far different from us, even "monstrous," may, nevertheless, be worthy of friendship and reverence, brotherhood and trust. We have far to go; while there is every sign that the human community is moving in this direction, the question is, are we moving fast enough?” – Carl Sagan
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Friday, May 22, 2009
Martian antifreeze and 600 million years for life
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - Even if an early Mars never got above freezing, the brine on its surface could have stayed liquid and supported life, a new study says. See article.
g Life - According to a Nature paper that's receiving some pickup (Reuters, CSM ) the history of life on earth may just have got roughly 15% longer. That may not sound a huge difference, but a 15% extension on life's lease adds up to 600 million years -- roughly equivalent to the time taken for animals to get from creepy little things that couldn’t even crawl to your pet cat. See article.
g Cosmicus - In a project designed to help NASA plan for a future mission to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa, researchers have begun testing an autonomous underwater vehicle, known as ENDURANCE, in the ice-covered waters of Antarctica’s Lake Bonney. The biggest problem they’ve run into so far? Bubbles. See article.
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g Abodes - Even if an early Mars never got above freezing, the brine on its surface could have stayed liquid and supported life, a new study says. See article.
g Life - According to a Nature paper that's receiving some pickup (Reuters, CSM ) the history of life on earth may just have got roughly 15% longer. That may not sound a huge difference, but a 15% extension on life's lease adds up to 600 million years -- roughly equivalent to the time taken for animals to get from creepy little things that couldn’t even crawl to your pet cat. See article.
g Cosmicus - In a project designed to help NASA plan for a future mission to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa, researchers have begun testing an autonomous underwater vehicle, known as ENDURANCE, in the ice-covered waters of Antarctica’s Lake Bonney. The biggest problem they’ve run into so far? Bubbles. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Comet composition and an extraterrestrial’s legal rights
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 - By studying sun-like stars, astronomers may have solved a mystery about the composition of comets. The study provides new insight into the processes behind planet and comet formation. See article.
g Cosmicus - Nearly 40 years after Americans first set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969 with NASA's historic Apollo 11 flight, a host of private rocketeers are hoping to follow to win a $30 million prize. Here, SPACE.com looks at Team FREDNET, one of 17 teams competing in the Google Lunar X Prize. See article.
g Aftermath - When an alien lands on the White House lawn, who should greet him (her? it?): Someone from the Immigration and Naturalization Service or someone from the Fish and Wildlife Commission? What legal rights would an extraterrestrial have? See article. Note: This article is from 1977, but the issue has been thought about very little.
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g Abodes - By studying sun-like stars, astronomers may have solved a mystery about the composition of comets. The study provides new insight into the processes behind planet and comet formation. See article.
g Cosmicus - Nearly 40 years after Americans first set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969 with NASA's historic Apollo 11 flight, a host of private rocketeers are hoping to follow to win a $30 million prize. Here, SPACE.com looks at Team FREDNET, one of 17 teams competing in the Google Lunar X Prize. See article.
g Aftermath - When an alien lands on the White House lawn, who should greet him (her? it?): Someone from the Immigration and Naturalization Service or someone from the Fish and Wildlife Commission? What legal rights would an extraterrestrial have? See article. Note: This article is from 1977, but the issue has been thought about very little.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Super-strong crust of neutrino stars and what Mount Everest might tell us about life on other 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 Stars - The crust of neutron stars could be 10 billion times stronger than steel, based on an innovative model of elements compressed as tightly as they would be on the surface of a neutron star. See article.
g Abodes - Searching for signs of life on Mount Everest could provide a window into the extreme environments that organisms might inhabit elsewhere in the universe. See article.
g Cosmicus - In order for NASA to send astronauts to the moon on long duration missions, new technologies are needed to protect human explorers from the harsh environment of space. One of the most dangerous aspects of the trip will be exposure to DNA-damaging radiation. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat set of lessons, designed for at-risk students: “The Plausibility of Interstellar Communication and Related Phenomena Depicted in Science Fiction Literature and the Movies.” The curriculum has four major objectives: first, to educate students to develop concepts about the proximity of our solar system in relation to other probable solar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy; second, to give students the opportunity to use these concepts to evaluate the plausibility of interstellar communication depicted in science fiction literature and movies; third, to create an opportunity for students not only to look out on the universe but to turn it inward to look at the world, their own society, and themselves as individuals; and fourth, an objective that will be integrated with all of the others is to give students to opportunity to learn and/or sharpen skills in: using the scientific method, research, reading, writing, collaboration, discussion and in critical thinking. See article.
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g Stars - The crust of neutron stars could be 10 billion times stronger than steel, based on an innovative model of elements compressed as tightly as they would be on the surface of a neutron star. See article.
g Abodes - Searching for signs of life on Mount Everest could provide a window into the extreme environments that organisms might inhabit elsewhere in the universe. See article.
g Cosmicus - In order for NASA to send astronauts to the moon on long duration missions, new technologies are needed to protect human explorers from the harsh environment of space. One of the most dangerous aspects of the trip will be exposure to DNA-damaging radiation. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat set of lessons, designed for at-risk students: “The Plausibility of Interstellar Communication and Related Phenomena Depicted in Science Fiction Literature and the Movies.” The curriculum has four major objectives: first, to educate students to develop concepts about the proximity of our solar system in relation to other probable solar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy; second, to give students the opportunity to use these concepts to evaluate the plausibility of interstellar communication depicted in science fiction literature and movies; third, to create an opportunity for students not only to look out on the universe but to turn it inward to look at the world, their own society, and themselves as individuals; and fourth, an objective that will be integrated with all of the others is to give students to opportunity to learn and/or sharpen skills in: using the scientific method, research, reading, writing, collaboration, discussion and in critical thinking. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Meteorites tell early history of solar system and ESA launches pair of observatories
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 group of Swiss geologists, who have conducted systematic meteorite searches in Oman since 2001, recently returned from their latest hunt. Their findings could provide valuable information about the early history of the solar system. See article.
g Cosmicus - The European Space Agency has successfully launched two new observatories. The Herschel and Planck missions are now set to conduct a number of scientific studies important to astrobiology, including the study of objects in our solar system's Kuiper belt and the search for water in remote areas of the Universe. See article.
g Learning - Here’s something neat for kids: Ask an Astrobiologist: NASA's Astrobiology Institute Web site lists on-line questions and responses on astrobiology; gives profiles of eminent astrobiologists. See article.
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g Abodes - A group of Swiss geologists, who have conducted systematic meteorite searches in Oman since 2001, recently returned from their latest hunt. Their findings could provide valuable information about the early history of the solar system. See article.
g Cosmicus - The European Space Agency has successfully launched two new observatories. The Herschel and Planck missions are now set to conduct a number of scientific studies important to astrobiology, including the study of objects in our solar system's Kuiper belt and the search for water in remote areas of the Universe. See article.
g Learning - Here’s something neat for kids: Ask an Astrobiologist: NASA's Astrobiology Institute Web site lists on-line questions and responses on astrobiology; gives profiles of eminent astrobiologists. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, May 18, 2009
Comets carry life’s key ingredients and ‘After Contact’
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - Scientists studying the chemical composition of comets have determined that they contain missing ingredients needed for life on the primordial Earth. The study lends weight to the idea that cometary impacts played an important role in the origin of life. See article.
g Cosmicus - As the president prepares to name a new NASA head, the agency is using Twitter to shape its reputation with contributions from astronauts and others. See article.
g Imagining - The secrets of the universe remain a mystery to us, but that doesn’t stop us from making guesses. An author who writes a science fiction novel tries to base it around the technology and knowledge that we have available to us. Those tidbits of knowledge are then exaggerated to great lengths, and then set into the future, on other planets, in other dimensions in time, or under new variants of scientific law. This process is called extrapolation, and becomes the premise of the story. Here’s a Web site that works in reverse, by taking the scientific aspects from classic works of science fiction and explaining how they relate to astrobiology.
g Aftermath - Here’s an interesting book for some astrobiological reading: “After Contact: The Human Response to Extraterrestrial Life” by Albert A. Harrison. See reviews.
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g Abodes - Scientists studying the chemical composition of comets have determined that they contain missing ingredients needed for life on the primordial Earth. The study lends weight to the idea that cometary impacts played an important role in the origin of life. See article.
g Cosmicus - As the president prepares to name a new NASA head, the agency is using Twitter to shape its reputation with contributions from astronauts and others. See article.
g Imagining - The secrets of the universe remain a mystery to us, but that doesn’t stop us from making guesses. An author who writes a science fiction novel tries to base it around the technology and knowledge that we have available to us. Those tidbits of knowledge are then exaggerated to great lengths, and then set into the future, on other planets, in other dimensions in time, or under new variants of scientific law. This process is called extrapolation, and becomes the premise of the story. Here’s a Web site that works in reverse, by taking the scientific aspects from classic works of science fiction and explaining how they relate to astrobiology.
g Aftermath - Here’s an interesting book for some astrobiological reading: “After Contact: The Human Response to Extraterrestrial Life” by Albert A. Harrison. See reviews.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Detecting biosignatures around exoplanets and leading candidate to run NASA
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 - Signs of life on planets beyond our own solar system may soon be in our sights. Experiments and calculations presented at an astrobiology meeting last week reveal how the coming generation of space telescopes will for the first time be capable of detecting "biosignatures" in the light from planets orbiting other stars. See article.
g Cosmicus - Charles F. Bolden Jr., a former space shuttle astronaut and retired Marine major general, is the leading candidate for nomination as the next administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. See article.
g Imagining - Here’s the indispensable book on science fiction aliens: “Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials: Great Aliens from Science Fiction Literature”. Having been out a few years now, it may not be on your local bookstore’s shelves.
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g Abodes - Signs of life on planets beyond our own solar system may soon be in our sights. Experiments and calculations presented at an astrobiology meeting last week reveal how the coming generation of space telescopes will for the first time be capable of detecting "biosignatures" in the light from planets orbiting other stars. See article.
g Cosmicus - Charles F. Bolden Jr., a former space shuttle astronaut and retired Marine major general, is the leading candidate for nomination as the next administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. See article.
g Imagining - Here’s the indispensable book on science fiction aliens: “Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials: Great Aliens from Science Fiction Literature”. Having been out a few years now, it may not be on your local bookstore’s shelves.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Finding life in our own solar system and polar dinosaurs
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 - Daniel P. Glavin, an astrobiologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, says the possibility of extraterrestrial life in our solar system is not limited to Mars; other "habitable" worlds might exist including the icy Moons of Jupiter and Saturn, known as Europa and Enceladus. The challenge for scientists and engineers in the next couple of decades, he says, will be to design miniaturized instruments and technologies capable of detecting the signatures of life in our own solar system and beyond. See article.
g Life - Large, carnivorous dinosaurs roamed southern Australia 115 million years ago, when the continent was joined to the Antarctica, and were padded with body fat to survive temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Spirit rover is on slippery ground. The rover's five working wheels have been slipping in soft soil, causing them to sink into the ground. It may be weeks before Spirit attempts to drive again, but in the meantime the rover will use its scientific instruments to study the properties of the troublesome soil. See article.
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g Abodes - Daniel P. Glavin, an astrobiologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, says the possibility of extraterrestrial life in our solar system is not limited to Mars; other "habitable" worlds might exist including the icy Moons of Jupiter and Saturn, known as Europa and Enceladus. The challenge for scientists and engineers in the next couple of decades, he says, will be to design miniaturized instruments and technologies capable of detecting the signatures of life in our own solar system and beyond. See article.
g Life - Large, carnivorous dinosaurs roamed southern Australia 115 million years ago, when the continent was joined to the Antarctica, and were padded with body fat to survive temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Spirit rover is on slippery ground. The rover's five working wheels have been slipping in soft soil, causing them to sink into the ground. It may be weeks before Spirit attempts to drive again, but in the meantime the rover will use its scientific instruments to study the properties of the troublesome soil. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Friday, May 15, 2009
Astro-comb and we can visit Mars if we want to
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 developed a new technique to detect small, extrasolar planets that are more Earth-like than the majority of planets discovered thus far. They call it the "astro-comb", and it could help astrobiologists in the search for distant, habitable worlds. See article.
g Life - Synthetic biology and microbial insights will soon allow scientists to custom-build bacteria capable of surviving on other planets, says extremophile expert John Baross. See article.
g Cosmicus - When will humans visit Mars? Charles Cockell, a microbiologist who studies life in extreme environments, believes we have the necessary technology to go today if we really wanted to. See article.
g Aftermath - Here’s another “old” piece worth reading: “Consequences of Success in SETI: Lessons from the History of Science”, given during a Bioastronomy Symposium in 1993.
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g Abodes - Researchers have developed a new technique to detect small, extrasolar planets that are more Earth-like than the majority of planets discovered thus far. They call it the "astro-comb", and it could help astrobiologists in the search for distant, habitable worlds. See article.
g Life - Synthetic biology and microbial insights will soon allow scientists to custom-build bacteria capable of surviving on other planets, says extremophile expert John Baross. See article.
g Cosmicus - When will humans visit Mars? Charles Cockell, a microbiologist who studies life in extreme environments, believes we have the necessary technology to go today if we really wanted to. See article.
g Aftermath - Here’s another “old” piece worth reading: “Consequences of Success in SETI: Lessons from the History of Science”, given during a Bioastronomy Symposium in 1993.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Weird rocky exoplanets and the Herschel Space Observatory
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - At last we are finding rocky planets like our own. But some are pretty weird: The smallest may have a mineral-vapor atmosphere that condenses as lava rain or rock snow. See article.
g Life - Many of the organic molecules essential for life have been identified in space. Set to launch this month, the Herschel Space Observatory could help astronomers better characterize these molecules and determine whether or not these materials from space played a role in the origin of life on our planet. See article.
g Intelligence - Researchers who reverse-engineered an ancient superglue have found that Stone Age people were smarter than we thought. See article.
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g Abodes - At last we are finding rocky planets like our own. But some are pretty weird: The smallest may have a mineral-vapor atmosphere that condenses as lava rain or rock snow. See article.
g Life - Many of the organic molecules essential for life have been identified in space. Set to launch this month, the Herschel Space Observatory could help astronomers better characterize these molecules and determine whether or not these materials from space played a role in the origin of life on our planet. See article.
g Intelligence - Researchers who reverse-engineered an ancient superglue have found that Stone Age people were smarter than we thought. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Habitable zones and how close we are to answering the ET question
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 variety of new findings point to the "habitable zones" where we're likely to find extraterrestrials. See article.
g Life - After two decades of planet searching, Alan Boss has written a book about how far we have come and how close we are to answering the question of whether we are alone in the universe. See article.
g Aftermath - A SETI detection will have important consequences for society. So at the International Astronautics Federation’s annual get-together in Rio de Janeiro a few years ago, Hungarian astronomer Ivan Almar and SETI Institute researcher Jill Tarter proposed the Rio Scale for ranking both the importance and credibility of claims that evidence for extraterrestrial intelligence has been found. See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
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g Abodes - A variety of new findings point to the "habitable zones" where we're likely to find extraterrestrials. See article.
g Life - After two decades of planet searching, Alan Boss has written a book about how far we have come and how close we are to answering the question of whether we are alone in the universe. See article.
g Aftermath - A SETI detection will have important consequences for society. So at the International Astronautics Federation’s annual get-together in Rio de Janeiro a few years ago, Hungarian astronomer Ivan Almar and SETI Institute researcher Jill Tarter proposed the Rio Scale for ranking both the importance and credibility of claims that evidence for extraterrestrial intelligence has been found. See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Oxygen blamed for first ice age and two-thirds of adults think ETI exist
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 determined that the rise of oxygen on Earth may have caused the planet's first ice age. The research team believes that rising oxygen levels could have consumed atmospheric greenhouse gases, ultimately cooling the entire planet and profoundly influencing the evolution of life. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat Web site that links to sites offering K-12 instructional materials on space exploration astrobiology.
g Imagining - During the past several years, evolutionary biologists have proved that the disparate creatures of our planet are, at a fundamental genetic level, very similar to one another. The genes that differentiate the top and the bottom of a bug, for instance, are the same ones that differentiate our fronts from our backs. According to the paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, this new understanding is among "the most stunning evolutionary discoveries of the decade," and is clearly "a dominant theme in evolution." The same law applies, it appears, to the extraterrestrial creatures that come out of Hollywood. See article. Note: This article is from 1997.
g Aftermath - Two-thirds of adults think there are other forms of intelligent life in the universe, according to a recent Roper poll. This belief tends to be more prevalent among males, adults ages 64 or younger, and residents of the Northeast as opposed to North Central and South. See article.
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g Abodes - Scientists have determined that the rise of oxygen on Earth may have caused the planet's first ice age. The research team believes that rising oxygen levels could have consumed atmospheric greenhouse gases, ultimately cooling the entire planet and profoundly influencing the evolution of life. See article.
g Learning - Here’s a neat Web site that links to sites offering K-12 instructional materials on space exploration astrobiology.
g Imagining - During the past several years, evolutionary biologists have proved that the disparate creatures of our planet are, at a fundamental genetic level, very similar to one another. The genes that differentiate the top and the bottom of a bug, for instance, are the same ones that differentiate our fronts from our backs. According to the paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, this new understanding is among "the most stunning evolutionary discoveries of the decade," and is clearly "a dominant theme in evolution." The same law applies, it appears, to the extraterrestrial creatures that come out of Hollywood. See article. Note: This article is from 1997.
g Aftermath - Two-thirds of adults think there are other forms of intelligent life in the universe, according to a recent Roper poll. This belief tends to be more prevalent among males, adults ages 64 or younger, and residents of the Northeast as opposed to North Central and South. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Medea Hypothesis and Sptizer nears end of its primary missions
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 - In "The Medea Hypothesis," author and University of Washington professor Peter Ward presents an alternative to the "good mother earth" Gaia hypothesis — that life on Earth is inherently predatory and self-destructive. See article.
g Intelligence - Free will, or at least the place where we decide to act, is sited in a part of the brain called the parietal cortex, new research suggests. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Spizter Space Telescope is about to finish its primary missions after more than five and a half years. Spitzer has made many important discoveries, from studying galaxies to direct observations of extrasolar planets. Although its primary mission is over, Spitzer will continue to return valuable data for astrobiologists here on Earth. See article.
g Imagining - The students of Prof. Joan Slonczewski, who taught “Biology 103: Biology in Science Fiction” at Kenyon College in 2003, using astrobiological principles, attempted to create a number of plausible alien civilizations and worlds as a class project. Here’s one about the life in the ecosystem of planet Ralinius. See article.
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g Abodes - In "The Medea Hypothesis," author and University of Washington professor Peter Ward presents an alternative to the "good mother earth" Gaia hypothesis — that life on Earth is inherently predatory and self-destructive. See article.
g Intelligence - Free will, or at least the place where we decide to act, is sited in a part of the brain called the parietal cortex, new research suggests. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA's Spizter Space Telescope is about to finish its primary missions after more than five and a half years. Spitzer has made many important discoveries, from studying galaxies to direct observations of extrasolar planets. Although its primary mission is over, Spitzer will continue to return valuable data for astrobiologists here on Earth. See article.
g Imagining - The students of Prof. Joan Slonczewski, who taught “Biology 103: Biology in Science Fiction” at Kenyon College in 2003, using astrobiological principles, attempted to create a number of plausible alien civilizations and worlds as a class project. Here’s one about the life in the ecosystem of planet Ralinius. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Sunday, May 10, 2009
More than one moon and exposing biomolecules to rigors 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 - The prevailing theory about the formation of the moon is called the giant impact hypothesis: the theory goes that a Mars-sized object, known as Theia, crashed in to the young Earth. What left was Earth, and its moon. A new computer model suggests, however, that the Moon may not have been the only reminder of that big collision. See article.
g Life - Scientists have previously exposed organisms and biomolecules to the many rigors of space, but those experiments only managed to take "before" and "after" pictures of their samples. A planned small satellite will monitor on a continuous basis the negative effects of space on biology. See article.
g Cosmicus - As NASA prepares for its final service call to the Hubble Space Telescope, it's also preparing for something never attempted in the history of the shuttle program: a rescue operation so dramatic that Hollywood would be hard-pressed to come up with a more outlandish plot. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Abodes - The prevailing theory about the formation of the moon is called the giant impact hypothesis: the theory goes that a Mars-sized object, known as Theia, crashed in to the young Earth. What left was Earth, and its moon. A new computer model suggests, however, that the Moon may not have been the only reminder of that big collision. See article.
g Life - Scientists have previously exposed organisms and biomolecules to the many rigors of space, but those experiments only managed to take "before" and "after" pictures of their samples. A planned small satellite will monitor on a continuous basis the negative effects of space on biology. See article.
g Cosmicus - As NASA prepares for its final service call to the Hubble Space Telescope, it's also preparing for something never attempted in the history of the shuttle program: a rescue operation so dramatic that Hollywood would be hard-pressed to come up with a more outlandish plot. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, May 09, 2009
How life can thrive under extreme conditions and could the Alien be real?
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 been studying a unique undersea volcano that appears to be continuously active and supports unique biological communities. The site, dubbed NW Rota-1, is located near the Island of Guam and is helping astrobiologists understand how life can thrive under extreme conditions in the depths of the oceans. See article.
g Life - By studying how mussels adapt to acidic waters near underwater volcanoes, scientists are gaining a better understanding of how climate change could affect the ecology of Earth's oceans. Increasing carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere is leading to acidic water in the oceans, which could result in dramatic consequences for life as we know it. See article.
g Imagining - In Ridley Scott's 1979 slimy monster masterpiece "Alien," the extraterrestrial life form discovered by Sigourney Weaver and crew goes through two startlingly different phases after it hatches. Is such a change during the life of an animal mere sci fi license? Not really. In fact, many earthlings go through similar drastic changes in form. See article. Note: This article is from 2001.
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g Abodes - Scientists have been studying a unique undersea volcano that appears to be continuously active and supports unique biological communities. The site, dubbed NW Rota-1, is located near the Island of Guam and is helping astrobiologists understand how life can thrive under extreme conditions in the depths of the oceans. See article.
g Life - By studying how mussels adapt to acidic waters near underwater volcanoes, scientists are gaining a better understanding of how climate change could affect the ecology of Earth's oceans. Increasing carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere is leading to acidic water in the oceans, which could result in dramatic consequences for life as we know it. See article.
g Imagining - In Ridley Scott's 1979 slimy monster masterpiece "Alien," the extraterrestrial life form discovered by Sigourney Weaver and crew goes through two startlingly different phases after it hatches. Is such a change during the life of an animal mere sci fi license? Not really. In fact, many earthlings go through similar drastic changes in form. See article. Note: This article is from 2001.
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Friday, May 08, 2009
Orange stars best for life and finding moons around extrasolar planets
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Stars - The universe's best real estate for life may be around stars a little less massive than the sun, called orange dwarfs, according to a new analysis. These stars live much longer than sun-like stars, and have safer habitable zones – where liquid water can exist – than those of lighter red dwarf stars. See article.
g Abodes - Finding moons around extrasolar planets is an invigorating quest. After all, at least three moons around gas giants right here in our own system — Europa, Enceladus and Titan — are considered of high astrobiological interest. What about gas giants in the habitable zone of some distant star? See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered an ancient protein preserved in the 80 million-year-old bones of a dinosaur. The protein will provide scientists with a truly unique look into the evolutionary history of life on our planet. See article.
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g Stars - The universe's best real estate for life may be around stars a little less massive than the sun, called orange dwarfs, according to a new analysis. These stars live much longer than sun-like stars, and have safer habitable zones – where liquid water can exist – than those of lighter red dwarf stars. See article.
g Abodes - Finding moons around extrasolar planets is an invigorating quest. After all, at least three moons around gas giants right here in our own system — Europa, Enceladus and Titan — are considered of high astrobiological interest. What about gas giants in the habitable zone of some distant star? See article.
g Life - Scientists have discovered an ancient protein preserved in the 80 million-year-old bones of a dinosaur. The protein will provide scientists with a truly unique look into the evolutionary history of life on our planet. See article.
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Thursday, May 07, 2009
Habitable moons around gas giants and looking for alien signals in all the wrong places
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 - Do rogue black holes wander through the distant outskirts of the Milky Way? A new theory suggests one way to find out: Look for small clusters of stars that should accompany such objects. See article.
g Abodes - Moons of giant planets may represent an alternative to the classical picture of habitable worlds. See article.
g Life - A Tyrannosaurus rex ancestor and an ostrich-mimic have emerged as two new dinosaur species found among a treasure trove of skeletons in China's Gobi Desert. See article.
g Message - It's been almost 50 years since scientists first came up with the idea of looking for radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations - and although there have been a couple of curious blips, we haven't yet definitively heard E.T.'s cosmic call. Now the experts in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, or SETI, are wondering whether we've been looking in the wrong places for the wrong kinds of signals. See article.
g Cosmicus - With an eye on increasing the number of students interested in science, technology and engineering degrees, the Universities Space Research Administration has secured $10 million from NASA to manage, enhance, and expand the Education Associates Program. See article.
g Aftermath - If we encountered an intelligent species on another planet, could we understand them? In turn, could extrasolar species decipher one of our 8,000 terrestrial languages in use today? See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
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g Stars - Do rogue black holes wander through the distant outskirts of the Milky Way? A new theory suggests one way to find out: Look for small clusters of stars that should accompany such objects. See article.
g Abodes - Moons of giant planets may represent an alternative to the classical picture of habitable worlds. See article.
g Life - A Tyrannosaurus rex ancestor and an ostrich-mimic have emerged as two new dinosaur species found among a treasure trove of skeletons in China's Gobi Desert. See article.
g Message - It's been almost 50 years since scientists first came up with the idea of looking for radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations - and although there have been a couple of curious blips, we haven't yet definitively heard E.T.'s cosmic call. Now the experts in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, or SETI, are wondering whether we've been looking in the wrong places for the wrong kinds of signals. See article.
g Cosmicus - With an eye on increasing the number of students interested in science, technology and engineering degrees, the Universities Space Research Administration has secured $10 million from NASA to manage, enhance, and expand the Education Associates Program. See article.
g Aftermath - If we encountered an intelligent species on another planet, could we understand them? In turn, could extrasolar species decipher one of our 8,000 terrestrial languages in use today? See article. Note: This article is from 2004.
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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Questions discussed at Origins and a new NASA-ESA alliance
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 fossil of a primitive "walking seal" with four legs and webbed feet has been found in the Canadian Arctic and dated to be at least 20 million years old. See article.
g Intelligence - How did the universe begin? How did life begin? Is there intelligent life beyond Earth, or are we alone in the cosmos? These were some of the questions addressed at a remarkable symposium titled “Origins,” when distinguished scientists from a broad spectrum of disciplines gathered in Phoenix in early April. See article.
g Message - The structure of terrestrial music might provide clues to creating interstellar messages that could be understood by extraterrestrial intelligence. In the process, he suggests that music may provide a means of communicating "something of our consciousness that is essentially human, regardless of the civilization from which it emerges." See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
g Learning - NASA has selected two science investigations that will forge new alliances between NASA and the European Space Agency. The projects will also advance our knowledge of terrestrial planets in our solar system. Collaboration on the ExoMars mission in particular is set to help astrobiologists understand whether or not Mars was once habitable for life. See article.
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g Life - A fossil of a primitive "walking seal" with four legs and webbed feet has been found in the Canadian Arctic and dated to be at least 20 million years old. See article.
g Intelligence - How did the universe begin? How did life begin? Is there intelligent life beyond Earth, or are we alone in the cosmos? These were some of the questions addressed at a remarkable symposium titled “Origins,” when distinguished scientists from a broad spectrum of disciplines gathered in Phoenix in early April. See article.
g Message - The structure of terrestrial music might provide clues to creating interstellar messages that could be understood by extraterrestrial intelligence. In the process, he suggests that music may provide a means of communicating "something of our consciousness that is essentially human, regardless of the civilization from which it emerges." See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
g Learning - NASA has selected two science investigations that will forge new alliances between NASA and the European Space Agency. The projects will also advance our knowledge of terrestrial planets in our solar system. Collaboration on the ExoMars mission in particular is set to help astrobiologists understand whether or not Mars was once habitable for life. See article.
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Mars and Earth analogies and creating interstellar messages that can be understood
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 - In this podcast, host Simon Mitton investigates experiments being conducted at the University of Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Science – experiments that show similarities between Mars and Earth.
g Life - Scientists have found a diverse stash of dinosaur fossils laid down just a few million years before the big impact, along what's now the Kakanaut River of northeastern Russia. Even accounting for continental drift, the dinos lived at more than 70 degrees of latitude north, well above the Arctic Circle. See article.
g Intelligence - Our ancient human ancestors traded in the ability to climb trees for the power to walk on two legs, but it is unclear when this happened in evolutionary time. See article.
g Message - To create interstellar messages that have a realistic chance of being understood across interstellar distances, we need to identify some information shared by humans and extraterrestrials. We need to identify a foundation for establishing a universal language that will let us bridge the gap between our world and theirs, all without the convenience of face-to-face contact. See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
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g Abodes - In this podcast, host Simon Mitton investigates experiments being conducted at the University of Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Science – experiments that show similarities between Mars and Earth.
g Life - Scientists have found a diverse stash of dinosaur fossils laid down just a few million years before the big impact, along what's now the Kakanaut River of northeastern Russia. Even accounting for continental drift, the dinos lived at more than 70 degrees of latitude north, well above the Arctic Circle. See article.
g Intelligence - Our ancient human ancestors traded in the ability to climb trees for the power to walk on two legs, but it is unclear when this happened in evolutionary time. See article.
g Message - To create interstellar messages that have a realistic chance of being understood across interstellar distances, we need to identify some information shared by humans and extraterrestrials. We need to identify a foundation for establishing a universal language that will let us bridge the gap between our world and theirs, all without the convenience of face-to-face contact. See article. Note: This article is from 2002.
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Monday, May 04, 2009
Earthquakes plus asbestos equals life and the press when contact is made with ETI
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Life - Earthquakes and asbestos may seem an unlikely alliance to help life evolve on early Earth, yet they could have done just that. See article.
g Intelligence - Ancient humans started down the path of evolving into two separate species before merging back into a single population, a genetic study suggests. See article.
g Aftermath - How will the press handle the announcement that we’ve made contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence? See article.
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g Life - Earthquakes and asbestos may seem an unlikely alliance to help life evolve on early Earth, yet they could have done just that. See article.
g Intelligence - Ancient humans started down the path of evolving into two separate species before merging back into a single population, a genetic study suggests. See article.
g Aftermath - How will the press handle the announcement that we’ve made contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence? See article.
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Sunday, May 03, 2009
Fascinating discoveries about Mercury and ‘shadow’ life forms on Earth
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - NASA's Messenger spacecraft has returned fascinated observations from the tiny planet next to the sun, including the discovery of magnesium in Mercury's atmosphere. The data also shows that Mercury's geological past was much more active than scientists previously believed. The findings could help astrobiologists understand the formation and evolution of rocky planets. See article.
g Life - Because of our planet’s primordial molecular complexity, there’s a good chance “shadow” life forms exist on Earth today. But where? See article.
g Intelligence - A genetic map of Africa - the continent from which all modern humans originate - has provided information about its huge diversity of language and culture. See article.
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g Abodes - NASA's Messenger spacecraft has returned fascinated observations from the tiny planet next to the sun, including the discovery of magnesium in Mercury's atmosphere. The data also shows that Mercury's geological past was much more active than scientists previously believed. The findings could help astrobiologists understand the formation and evolution of rocky planets. See article.
g Life - Because of our planet’s primordial molecular complexity, there’s a good chance “shadow” life forms exist on Earth today. But where? See article.
g Intelligence - A genetic map of Africa - the continent from which all modern humans originate - has provided information about its huge diversity of language and culture. See article.
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Saturday, May 02, 2009
Making molecules follow the laws of evolution and communicating with ET
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Life - Scientists have discovered a way to make molecules evolve and compete according to the laws of Darwinian evolution. The results of their research shed light on how life can evolve at the molecular level and may provide clues about how life on Earth originated from simple molecules. See article.
g Cosmicus - NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field offered buyouts to nearly 500 employees last week, officials confirmed Thursday. See article.
g Aftermath - Douglas Vakoch is one of a relatively small collection of scientists addressing the question of how to talk back to extraterrestrials. While most researchers involved in the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence come from physics and engineering backgrounds, Vakoch draws on a background in linguistics, sociology and psychology to explore SETI-related issues. Here’s an interview with him from Aug. 2003 about communicating with ET.
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Friday, May 01, 2009
Exploring Mars’ moons and Frank Drake reassesses the odds of finding ETI
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Abodes - Mars has two tiny asteroid-like moons, Phobos and Deimos. The moons have not been the focus of Mars studies, but there are several missions in the planning stages that aim to change that. See article.
g Life - Coral-like mounds on the floor of a Canadian lake may make it easier someday to identify life on other planets. See article. Note: This article is from 2001.
g Message - If you'd asked 20 years ago the question he's heard over and over - whether humanity will discover extraterrestrial intelligence in his lifetime - Frank Drake would have shrugged and said, "sure." Today, the renowned astronomer, who turns 79 next month, admits the chances are slimming. See article.
g Aftermath - Humanity’s foray into the solar system brings out the ethical issue of what we should do if life is found in outer space. Do we send more probes to further investigate and do we have a responsibility to protect that life and allow it to develop naturally? See article. Note: This article is from 2007.
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g Abodes - Mars has two tiny asteroid-like moons, Phobos and Deimos. The moons have not been the focus of Mars studies, but there are several missions in the planning stages that aim to change that. See article.
g Life - Coral-like mounds on the floor of a Canadian lake may make it easier someday to identify life on other planets. See article. Note: This article is from 2001.
g Message - If you'd asked 20 years ago the question he's heard over and over - whether humanity will discover extraterrestrial intelligence in his lifetime - Frank Drake would have shrugged and said, "sure." Today, the renowned astronomer, who turns 79 next month, admits the chances are slimming. See article.
g Aftermath - Humanity’s foray into the solar system brings out the ethical issue of what we should do if life is found in outer space. Do we send more probes to further investigate and do we have a responsibility to protect that life and allow it to develop naturally? See article. Note: This article is from 2007.
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Exoplanets falling into their stars and determining what bacteria might survive 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 Stars - In a galaxy filled with billions of stars, scientists searching for alien life need some way to pick out those which are most likely to harbor habitable planets and moons. For more than 150 years, an important tool in this screening process has been the concept of a "circumstellar habitable zone." See article. Note: This article is from 2006.
g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered why some distant solar systems don't contain as many planets as expected. Some extrasolar planets may have been destroyed after falling into their parent stars. The research is helping astrobiologists understand how planetary systems form and evolve. See article.
g Life - In searching for unusual alien life on Earth, and life that can survive on Mars, scientists are experimenting with bacterial life forms to see if they can withstand extreme environments. See article.
g Learning - A NASA Web site featuring Montana State University's astrobiology research has been honored as one of the top science sites on the Internet. See article.
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g Stars - In a galaxy filled with billions of stars, scientists searching for alien life need some way to pick out those which are most likely to harbor habitable planets and moons. For more than 150 years, an important tool in this screening process has been the concept of a "circumstellar habitable zone." See article. Note: This article is from 2006.
g Abodes - Astronomers have discovered why some distant solar systems don't contain as many planets as expected. Some extrasolar planets may have been destroyed after falling into their parent stars. The research is helping astrobiologists understand how planetary systems form and evolve. See article.
g Life - In searching for unusual alien life on Earth, and life that can survive on Mars, scientists are experimenting with bacterial life forms to see if they can withstand extreme environments. See article.
g Learning - A NASA Web site featuring Montana State University's astrobiology research has been honored as one of the top science sites on the Internet. See article.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Interstellar messaging and questions about how dinos went extinct
Welcome! "Alien Life" tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. Here's today's news:
g Life - Scientists have long believed that the Chicxulub crater in the northern Yucutan was evidence of a massive, extra-terrestrial impact that signaled the end of the dinosaurs. A new study indicates that this may not be the case. In fact, the dinosaurs may not have gone extinct until 300,000 years after the impact. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat Web site: “Interstellar Messaging”. You’ll find discussion, history and real-world examples of mankind's methods and ongoing attempts to communicate with extraterrestrials.
g Aftermath - Humans live and die by approximations. We are seldom as perfect or as accurate as we would like to be. And as we contemplate what we might say to an advanced extraterrestrial civilization, maybe that's a point we should emphasize. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
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g Life - Scientists have long believed that the Chicxulub crater in the northern Yucutan was evidence of a massive, extra-terrestrial impact that signaled the end of the dinosaurs. A new study indicates that this may not be the case. In fact, the dinosaurs may not have gone extinct until 300,000 years after the impact. See article.
g Message - Here’s a neat Web site: “Interstellar Messaging”. You’ll find discussion, history and real-world examples of mankind's methods and ongoing attempts to communicate with extraterrestrials.
g Aftermath - Humans live and die by approximations. We are seldom as perfect or as accurate as we would like to be. And as we contemplate what we might say to an advanced extraterrestrial civilization, maybe that's a point we should emphasize. See article. Note: This article is from 2003.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Replicating evolution in the lab and the challenge of learning about worlds orbiting distant 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 - Imagine trying to learn everything you can about the Earth from a distance of billions or even trillions of kilometers. That's the challenge facing scientists who search for life on worlds orbiting distant stars. See article. Note: This article is from 2007.
g Life - Can evolution be played over again in the lab? A group of researchers plans to insert an ancient gene in a modern day bacteria and see if this gene will mutate back to its current-day form. The results will give insight into how unique the evolutionary path may be. See article.
g Intelligence - More Americans have given up their faith or changed religions because of a gradual spiritual drift than switched because of a disillusionment over their churches' policies, according to a new study released today which illustrates how personal spiritual attitudes are taking precedence over denominational traditions. See article.
g Cosmicus - Strange and exotic weapons are a recurring theme in science fiction. In some cases, weapons first introduced in science fiction have now been made a reality. Other science fiction weapons remain purely fictional, and are often beyond the realms of physical possibility. See article.
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g Abodes - Imagine trying to learn everything you can about the Earth from a distance of billions or even trillions of kilometers. That's the challenge facing scientists who search for life on worlds orbiting distant stars. See article. Note: This article is from 2007.
g Life - Can evolution be played over again in the lab? A group of researchers plans to insert an ancient gene in a modern day bacteria and see if this gene will mutate back to its current-day form. The results will give insight into how unique the evolutionary path may be. See article.
g Intelligence - More Americans have given up their faith or changed religions because of a gradual spiritual drift than switched because of a disillusionment over their churches' policies, according to a new study released today which illustrates how personal spiritual attitudes are taking precedence over denominational traditions. See article.
g Cosmicus - Strange and exotic weapons are a recurring theme in science fiction. In some cases, weapons first introduced in science fiction have now been made a reality. Other science fiction weapons remain purely fictional, and are often beyond the realms of physical possibility. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Monday, April 27, 2009
Price for orbiting too close to one’s star and detecting chiral molecules
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 - Yes, M-type stars do evolve, just not in the classical sense that we are used to with solar-type stars. See article.
g Abodes - Astronomers have determined that giant exoplanets orbiting close to their stars could lose so much of their mass that only their cores remain. The smallest exoplanet discovered so far, which is less than twice the size of Earth, may be an example of this phenomenon. The study could have implications in the search for habitable worlds around distant stars. See article.
g Life - Scientists have developed an instrument for detecting polarized light after it reflects off of chiral molecules. Living organisms contain many chiral molecules, and the new technology could be useful in searching for life beyond our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - The White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico is testing a new "laser beam." See article.
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g Stars - Yes, M-type stars do evolve, just not in the classical sense that we are used to with solar-type stars. See article.
g Abodes - Astronomers have determined that giant exoplanets orbiting close to their stars could lose so much of their mass that only their cores remain. The smallest exoplanet discovered so far, which is less than twice the size of Earth, may be an example of this phenomenon. The study could have implications in the search for habitable worlds around distant stars. See article.
g Life - Scientists have developed an instrument for detecting polarized light after it reflects off of chiral molecules. Living organisms contain many chiral molecules, and the new technology could be useful in searching for life beyond our planet. See article.
g Cosmicus - The White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico is testing a new "laser beam." See article.
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Sunday, April 26, 2009
New discoveries in Gliese 581 solar system and viral extinction rates
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 large fraction of red dwarf stars are very old (>5 Gyr), which present intriguing possibilities for the development of highly advanced modes of intelligent life on planets that may orbit them. See article.
g Abodes - Planet hunter Michel Mayor and his team have made two amazing discoveries regarding the Gliese 581 solar system. This star is orbited by the lightest exoplanet ever found, less than twice the mass of the Earth. One of the other planets in this system, a super-Earth, orbits within the star’s habitable zone. These new discoveries indicate astronomers may have found a solar system where alien life is possible. See article.
g Life - Two researchers from the Spanish Centre of Astrobiology have developed a mathematical model which demonstrates that a mild increase in the mutation rate of some viruses can reduce their infectivity, driving them to extinction. See article.
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g Stars - A large fraction of red dwarf stars are very old (>5 Gyr), which present intriguing possibilities for the development of highly advanced modes of intelligent life on planets that may orbit them. See article.
g Abodes - Planet hunter Michel Mayor and his team have made two amazing discoveries regarding the Gliese 581 solar system. This star is orbited by the lightest exoplanet ever found, less than twice the mass of the Earth. One of the other planets in this system, a super-Earth, orbits within the star’s habitable zone. These new discoveries indicate astronomers may have found a solar system where alien life is possible. See article.
g Life - Two researchers from the Spanish Centre of Astrobiology have developed a mathematical model which demonstrates that a mild increase in the mutation rate of some viruses can reduce their infectivity, driving them to extinction. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
Saturday, April 25, 2009
A prediction that we’ll discover alien life within 10 years and understanding lunar dust behavior
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 - Because of their low luminosities, the circumstellar habitable zones of red dwarf stars are located within 0.05-0.4 AU of the host star. Nevertheless, the prospect of life on a planet located within the HZ of a red dwarf is moderately high, based on the longevity of these stars (>50 Gyr), their constant luminosities and high space densities, researchers say. See article.
g Abodes - It was arguably the biggest news in science this month: A graduate student in Australia discovered the continent of Africa. See article.
g Life - The genomes of man and dog have been joined in the scientific barnyard by the genome of the cow, an animal that walked beside them on the march to modern civilization. See article.
g Cosmicus - By revisiting data from the Apollo missions, researchers have gained new insight into the behavior of lunar dust. The very fine and sticky nature of dust on the moon could cause problems for future human missions. Lunar dust can coat and damage equipment, and poses health risks for astronauts who breathe it in. See article.
g Learning - Each year SPIE, an international optics and photonics society, recognizes outstanding achievements in the industry through its awards program. This year’s gold medal went to a scientist for work on an astrobiology-related project. See article.
g Aftermath - Professor Peter Smith, the University of Arizona expert who led NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission, predicts that at least basic forms of life would be discovered within the next decade. Microbes and bacteria were, thus far, the best bet, he said. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
g Stars - Because of their low luminosities, the circumstellar habitable zones of red dwarf stars are located within 0.05-0.4 AU of the host star. Nevertheless, the prospect of life on a planet located within the HZ of a red dwarf is moderately high, based on the longevity of these stars (>50 Gyr), their constant luminosities and high space densities, researchers say. See article.
g Abodes - It was arguably the biggest news in science this month: A graduate student in Australia discovered the continent of Africa. See article.
g Life - The genomes of man and dog have been joined in the scientific barnyard by the genome of the cow, an animal that walked beside them on the march to modern civilization. See article.
g Cosmicus - By revisiting data from the Apollo missions, researchers have gained new insight into the behavior of lunar dust. The very fine and sticky nature of dust on the moon could cause problems for future human missions. Lunar dust can coat and damage equipment, and poses health risks for astronauts who breathe it in. See article.
g Learning - Each year SPIE, an international optics and photonics society, recognizes outstanding achievements in the industry through its awards program. This year’s gold medal went to a scientist for work on an astrobiology-related project. See article.
g Aftermath - Professor Peter Smith, the University of Arizona expert who led NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission, predicts that at least basic forms of life would be discovered within the next decade. Microbes and bacteria were, thus far, the best bet, he said. See article.
Get your SF book manuscript edited
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