NOVA ScienceNOW - Hunt for Alien Earths

NOVA’s ScienceNOW series, hosted by Neil de Grasse Tyson, has just released a new episode called Hunt for Alien Earths which is devoted to the work of astronomers who search for planets orbiting other stars that might host life. Astrobiologists Lisa Kaltenegger, David Charbonneau, and Geoff Marcy are featured in this beautifully produced, twelve minute video.

July 9, 2009 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice

The New Astrobiology Magazine

Is there life on other planets? What are the latest findings on Mars? Astrobiology Magazine has been reporting the latest and most exciting developments in science related to astrobiology since 2000. Now, Astrobiology Magazine has designed a completely new website in order to provide the best possible experience for viewers. The site can new be viewed at http://www.astrobio.net.

Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]

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...

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April 30, 2009 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice

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]

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