"What is the definition of life? Is it likely that there is life on other planets?"
Content with the tag: “extrasolar planets”
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Reflections of Chirality as a Possible Biomarker
Scientists have come up with a novel way to detect life on other planets. Rather than try to measure the composition of atmospheres, they want to look at the chirality of light coming from the planet. “If the [planet’s] surface had just a collection of random chiral molecules, half would go left, half right,” says author T.A. Germer of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. “But life’s self-assembly means they all would go one way. It’s hard to imagine a planet’s surface exhibiting handedness without the presence of self assembly, which is an essential component of...
April 30, 2009 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice
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To See a Clear Day From Far Away
With the launch of NASA’s new Kepler spacecraft, the chances of discovering Earth-sized planets in Earth-like orbits around distant stars have increased. However, the real question for astrobiologists is, are these worlds habitable? Can we find an Earth-like planet with an Earth-like atmosphere? Answering such questions may prove to be very difficult.
Future missions like the James Webb Space Telescope (now scheduled for launch in 2013) may help astronomers characterize the atmospheres of distant planets, helping astrobiologists identify a true Earth twin beyond our solar system.Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]
March 22, 2009 / Posted by: Aaron Gronstal -
Finding Earth’s Twin: No Easy Task
NASA’s new Kepler mission is scheduled to launch in just a couple of days. Once in orbit, the powerful telescope will provide astrobiologists with the ability to search for rocky, Earth-like planets around distant stars. Ultimately, Kepler will help us determine if these potentially life-supporting worlds are common or rare in the Universe.
Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]
March 1, 2009 / Written by: Henry Bortman
Earth as an Extrasolar Planet
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2, 7.2
Module 3: Nature of Planetary Systems
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1, 1.2
Spectropolarimetric studies of stars with hot jupiters
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2
The Virtual Planetary Laboratory – The Life Modules - Photosynthesis
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.2
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