Tag Archives: blog9

Solutions to the Fermi Paradox

Posted on April 29, 2014 by almetetj

Ever since Enrico Fermi first posed the infamous Fermi Paradox, people have been coming up with potential solutions to answer why humanity has yet to come into contact with other intelligent life. While nobody can definitively claim to have found the answer to Fermi’s question, the Steven Webb from the University of Florida has published […] Continue reading →

Posted in Class | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Solutions to the Fermi Paradox

The Infamous Alcubierre Drive

Posted on April 29, 2014 by zkorman

What is the true future of propulsion? Better yet what is the definition of propulsion? For most, it is the art of ejecting mass at velocity in one direction in order to, using Newton’s 3rd law, “propel” something in the other direction. Well for the rest of this post let’s forget that definition of propulsion, and widen … Continue reading The Infamous Alcubierre Drive → Continue reading →

Posted in Class | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Infamous Alcubierre Drive

The origins of life and the Drake equation

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Drew Hamilton

In using the Drake equation to discuss and estimate the probability of non-Earth life in our universe, one factor we estimated was the probability of life developing on a given planet in the habitable zone. The problem with making such an estimate as students in an Astronomy 201 course, of course, is that we all… Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Historical, Physics, Science, Universe | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The origins of life and the Drake equation

Are We Alone?

Posted on April 28, 2014 by jblubin

The famous science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke was quoted as saying, “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” A truer statement is hard to come by. Yet quote also sparks tremendous debate and intrigue among those whose ears come across it for the … Continue reading Are We Alone? → Continue reading →

Posted in Aliens, Historical, Space Travel | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Are We Alone?

SETI Institute

Posted on April 27, 2014 by katiew

The existence of life outside of planet Earth is one of the greatest mysteries, but the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute is trying to solve it. Given our understanding about life and the vastness of the universe, it is not unreasonable to believe that there is life out there somewhere. So far, scientists have […] Continue reading →

Posted in Aliens | Tagged , , | Comments Off on SETI Institute

New Zealanders

Posted on April 27, 2014 by thegarrettnondorf

Picture from here. Improvise, adapt, and overcome. That’s what the Marines say. That’s what Life does, when you put it under extreme circumstances. The Anglerfish is one example of this adaptation and in this post, I’d like to take a look at some much simpler examples known as extremophiles. My parents recently took a trip … Continue reading New Zealanders → Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , , | Comments Off on New Zealanders

Bussard Ramjet: Interstellar Travel

Posted on April 27, 2014 by waldentb

Interstellar Travel Ramjet Interstellar travel is travel between stars. Interstellar travel is much more difficult than interplanetary travel because of …

Continue reading →

Continue reading →

Posted in Space Travel, Stars | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Bussard Ramjet: Interstellar Travel

Extremophiles

Posted on April 27, 2014 by mariah0407

The idea that there is life that does not live and survive the way we do is very interesting.  I think humans have come up with an idea of what they are looking for when defining “life.” Yet, these extremophiles prove many of these ideas wrong.  They live in places humans never could survive but […] Continue reading →

Posted in Class | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Extremophiles

Ammonia Aliens

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Chad F

When we look for planets that harbor alien life, we usually are searching for planets within the habitability zone around their stars.  This habitability zone really is just where the temperature is just right for liquid water to exist.  All life on Earth uses water as the solvent for the reactions of life, so it […] Continue reading →

Posted in Aliens, Class, Exoplanets | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Ammonia Aliens

Thermococcus gammatolerans: The “hottest” thing alive

Posted on April 26, 2014 by haydenwalling

This rare microbe is the most radiation resistant organism known to man. Discovered in 2003 living inside of a hydrothermal vent at the bottom of the pacific ocean off the coast of California, this little guy is capable of withstanding over 30,000 grays (a Gray is the absorption of one joule of such energy by […] Continue reading →

Posted in Science | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Thermococcus gammatolerans: The “hottest” thing alive