The Ultimate Thrillseekers

Posted on April 29, 2024 by obisesoa

Isn’t he cute?

Extremophiles, as their names insinuate, are capable of withstanding extreme conditions that would kill any other organism. The tardigrade, informally known as the “water bear”, is the most well known of these and can comfortably reside in ludicrous environments despite barely being any bigger than a millimeter. So how does this pertain to astronomy? Well, their durability extends to it even being able to survive the vacuum of space for years on end, causing the definition of life to be readjusted to show that the only necessary things for life are a source of nutrients, energy, and water, with air merely being an option for some beings.

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Fermi Paradox

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Ethan Jones
Fermi

Paradoxes are always interesting to contemplate, and the Fermi paradox is no different. First proposed by Enrico Fermi (above) the Fermi paradox in a nutshell is if the scale and probability of our universe favors intelligent life developing elsewhere, then why have we not found any evidence of that life. This paradox sparked Frank Drake to create the Drake equation we looked at in class. Many scientists have contemplated this paradox for years, but no real solution has come about, and one likely never will in our lifetimes. However, the theory I most subscribe to is the Great Filter. The Great Filter is whatever natural phenomena that would cause the evolution of intelligent life so rare. Having taken biology and seeing all the processes and events that led up to our evolution it’s a surprise that we are even here to begin with. I am open to hearing other’s thoughts on the matter.

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Drake vs Seager Equation

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Tejas Mahesh

The Drake Equation is

Credit: Wikipedia.

The Seager Equation is

Credit: NASA interview with Dr. Seager

Dr. Drake formulated his equation a century ago (in 1951) whereas Seager formulated hers approximately a decade (the interview was taken in 2013).

As we can see, there are wild differences between the two equations. Seager’s equation only deals with all the stars that we’ve observed, which are quiet, and have rocky planets within a habitable zone that are observed. The first four can be measured. The last two are guesses.

Both equations attempt to recreate the conditions for life to exist similar to Earth’s. For example, Seager’s equation contains two variables that each measure the fraction of stars that are quiet and the fraction of rocky planets in the habitable zone. Quiet stars are similar to our Sun and Earth is a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone. Drake’s equation subsumes all of that under one variable, the average number of planets that can actually support life. As we notice, both require planets to be in the habitable zone. Seager explicitly includes this. Drake implicitly includes this.

Since seem to give wildly different answers, which one do we use? Well, it depends. If you want to find the planets that are habitable for life, then it’s best to constrain yourself to the number of stars we’ve observed. If you want to guess as to how many planets are inhabitable for life, then you would want to use Drake’s equation. It also depends on the time frame one’s looking at. After all it takes time to develop technology to find stars since some of them are very far or not very luminous. If we want to measure the probability that we find a inhabited planet soon, then the best bet is to start off with all the stars we have observed. If we want to measure the probability that we’ll find an inhabited planet in, say, three centuries from now, then the Drake equation is a more appropriate (assuming we’ve not gone extinct and we’ve developed the necessary technology). At the end of the day, both equations give you a guess as to the number of planets that are habitable for life.

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Project Orion

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Jack Abrams
Artist Rendering of Project Orion

Due to the vast distance between stellar systems, a spacecraft traveling beyond our Solar System and into a different star system must reach speeds close to the speed of the light. Project Orion was a theoretical design from the late 1950s and early 1960s that proposed using nuclear explosions for propulsion. The basic idea was to detonate a series of atomic bombs behind a spacecraft that had a massive, shock-absorbing “pusher plate” to absorb the blasts and propel the spacecraft forward.

Project Orion began in 1958 by Ted Tayllor and Freeman Dyson under the company General Atomics. A main engineering challenge of this project was the design of the pusher plate which was required to withstand many nuclear explosions. From initial calculations, an Orion spacecraft could reach speeds up to 9-11% of the speed of light. Although this is faster than any human-made object has ever reached, it pales in comparison to matter-antimatter annihilation rockets which could be capable of obtaining a velocity between 50% to 80% of the speed of light. 

At the speeds Orion would travel at, it would require a flight time of at least 44 years to reach Alpha Centauri, the closest star to our Sun. Although this is still a long time, it is a significant improvement compared to our current capabilities. Also, this project could provide a great practical use for the world’s large stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

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Would humans survive without Jupiter?

Posted on April 28, 2024 by katie shapiro

“Our solar system is a cosmic dance of planets, moving together in perfect harmony.”-Unknown

Jupiter and Earth comparison: Done by NASA

At the beginning of this course I understood that the solar system had planets and other objects, such as asteroids and comets, but I believed that they all acted independently of each other, with the exception of gravity. In other words, I believed that because these objects were so far apart that they would act completely independently of each other and have no influence on each other. However, that is not the truth. One clear example of how objects in our solar system influence each other is the effect of Jupiter on Earth. Comets make up a large proportion of our solar system, and can crash into planets which can make large craters. Although we have the Kuiper belt, the most abundant area of comets is the Oort cloud. This area contains up to a trillion comets which is just insane to think about! However, these comets did not originate there. They formed in areas near the Jovian planets, especially, Jupiter. Due to Jupiter’s massive size, this planet had the ability to use its ginormous gravitational influence to throw these comets into the outer solar system. This is vital for Earth because if these comets remained within this area, there would be a much higher chance that they would have more frequently impacted with Earth leading to the possibility of mass extinctions. This could be detrimental towards the destruction of life on Earth. This was just one example of how planets effect each other. Additionally, life is possible on other moons due to the influence of other moons and planets via orbital resonance and tidal heating. This idea changed my perception of the solar system, and now I think of the planets and moons in our solar system as a unifying body, instead of independently acting objects.

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Potential for Life on Europa

Posted on April 28, 2024 by katie shapiro

“Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”-Arthur C. Clarke

Image of Jupiter’s moon, Europa: Taken by NASA

In order for their to be the possibility of life, there needs to be liquid water. That is why life is so successful here on Earth; we have an abundance of liquid water in the form of oceans, lakes, and many more sources. However, Earth is a unique case in our solar system because the conditions on Earth are practically perfect to have liquid water. For example, the temperature and pressure on Earth is exactly what our planet needs to have liquid water. However, this is not necessarily the case for other planets or moons in our solar system, specifically the existence of surface water. However, recent discoveries have shown that liquid water exists on certain objects in our solar system, specifically the Jovian moons, such as Europa. Although there is no surface water, it is studied that Europa has a subsurface ocean that is salty in nature. The way that researchers were able to determine that this existed was from Europa’s magnetic field. The findings that determined the existence of a subsurface ocean makes sense due to Europa’s internal heating from orbital resonance and tidal heating from Jupiter. The fact that Europa has water has been a groundbreaking discovery for astronomical researchers focusing on astrobiology because where there is water, there is the potential for life. Due to the lack of photosynthetic activity in subsurface oceans, it is unlikely for their to be large creatures. However, there is a high possibility of having primitive life on Europa. In order to determine if life actually exists on this moon, researchers would have to potentially be able to study the frozen microbes that arise on Europa’s surface, via vents. In order to study these microbes, spectroscopy needs to be utilized. Additionally, there could be a possibility of sending a robotic submarine down into the subsurface ocean. Finally, with the vents on Europa, gases could be vented out, which would allow researchers to be able to study this gas for these primitive creatures. So, there are many different ways to determine if biological life exists on this moon. This is such an exciting concept for me because I am a biology major, so any potential for life outside of our Earth is extremely fascinating and something that I would hope to study further. The goal for the future, is that researchers will be able to have the funding available to carry out some of these missions to determine if liquid water on Europa is feasible to sustain life.

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Blog 8 – Culmination

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Julian Delamaza
EarthHow

Throughout this class, I have learned so much about astronomy and the universe that we are just a minuscule part of. Everything from how we detect far-away planets through spectroscopy to estimating how big of a crater a meteorite may make has led me to become more curious about Astronomy. My favorite part of it all, however, is the crossover between astronomy and all other sciences. I love how astronomers use chemistry to determine the composition of atmospheres and how that may result in certain geological processes and environments. The use of physics to determine how gravity presents itself on each planet in our system and how that can affect the orbits of other worlds that they are near. The combination of disciplines creates in me so much curiosity, that I feel is reflected in astronomers. The field makes me excited to learn rather than be bogged down by the traditional confines of academics that some of my other STEM friends seem to experience. As I continue, I want to learn more about how chemical compositions and geological features of certain planets may help scientists find life on these planets, and what this life may look like. 

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Blog Post 8 – How Tyson Saved Astronomy

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Thomas Shelton

Atlanta Magazine

By pure coincidence, in 1958, Neil Degrasse Tyson was born into a small family in the Bronx the same exact week that NASA was founded. At the time, nobody, not even Tyson himself, had any idea the impact he would have on NASA’s field of study. At 9 years old, Tyson made his first venture into the stars at the American Museum of Natural History. Incredibly, 29 years later, he became the youngest ever director of that planetarium. Throughout his career he has given multiple talks, speeches, presentations, and more about the incredible wonders that exist in our solar system and beyond. Tyson receives a lot of credit for popularizing astrophysical concepts and discoveries, due in large part to his soothing voice and propensity to explaining things in ways that kept listeners engaged. In this way, Tyson paved the way for generations of future astronomers and astronauts, inspiring them on their ventures to discover the stars as he did. Apart from that, Tyson has made a fantastic name for himself. Countless accolades and honors cement him in astronomical history.

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Blog Post 7 – Extremophiles

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Thomas Shelton

News Medical Life Sciences

In the most unsought after pockets of our planet, in places once believed to be impossible to sustain life, exist organisms that not only can survive in these places but thrive under these conditions as well. These impressive organisms are known as extremophiles. The existence of extremophiles challenges everything that we know or think that we know about life and how it is sustained. Places where life should not be able to exist – scalding waters beneath Earth’s surface, acidic springs, frozen tundras – are all places where these extremophiles live and thrive. 

    One particularly interesting aspect of extremophiles is their fascinating ability to adapt to their environments, particularly ones that are similar to conditions that can be found on other worlds. Each new extremophile discovered that can endure conditions similar to other worlds, or even space itself provides new insight into how life can be sustained on these planets and moons, and how we can discover new life.

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    Blog 7 – Extremeophiles on Mars?!

    Posted on April 28, 2024 by Julian Delamaza
    Space.com

    Unfortunately, life on other planets has not yet been found but astronomers and astrobiologists are constantly working to find any signs of it in our solar system and beyond. One of the most investigated worlds is our neighbor, Mars. While evidence has not yet been found, there have been discoveries that lead some to believe that life could be (or once was) on the red planet. But what would life on Mars look like? It surely wouldn’t be humans, or most animals we have on Earth. Instead, life on Mars would likely be full of extremophiles. Extremophiles are tiny organisms that have adapted to live in the craziest of conditions. On Mars, we know that there are extremely high levels of radiation and extremely low temperatures so an organism would have to endure both of those. Recent experiments have shown that the microbe colloquially known as “Conan the Bacterium” (Deinococcus radiodurans) would be able to survive these radiation levels as well as survive extremely cold temperatures. As the bacterium would be under the surface of the planet, the experiment also tested this and determined that Conan the Bacterium would be able to live up to 280 million years if buried 10 meters underground. This is all super intriguing for extraterrestrial life and future explorations into our Solar System. Maybe we aren’t alone out here after all?!

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