Extraterrestrial Life

1. Extraterrestrial Life AM

2. Definitions • Definition of life: Living things tend to be very complicated but at the same time very organized. They have the ability to obtain energy from their environment and alter it to help them in the process of growth and reproduction. • Definition of extraterrestrial: Origination outside of our planet earth. • “Astrobiology” is the current term used for the study of extra terrestrial life.

3. Myths FRANK People tend to think of an alien as a “Humanoid”. If there is aliens no one knows what they would look like, and most likely they would not look like us due to different environments and surroundings.

4. Past • The existence of extra terrestrial life started becoming a common question thousands of years ago. • Ancient texts have been found discussing the “plurality of worlds”. • G. Bruno suggested, “the universe is full of planets that harbour life”… He was burned at the stake. 1500s. • Copernican Principle- We are not special. 1500s. • More recently there has been contemporary science fiction novels published and films (ET). • As questions begun arising, NASA took it upon themselves to find the answers.

5. Past~ Galileo • On September 21st, 2003, Galileo was sent up to Jupiter, it was the first to: Fly past an asteroid. See a moon of an asteroid. On Jupiter’s moon Europa, it found an icy ocean, that had potential habitat for extra terrestrial life. • Hope for future explorations.

6. Past~ Mars • There is evidence that mars once contained an ocean approx. 100m deep. • Radar waves were bounced off the planet by MARSIS that has been orbiting Mars since 2003 and ice sediments and shore lines were found. • This shows us that Mars may have been habitable 3 billion years ago.

7. Mars continued • Further exploring was done by two rovers names “Spirit” and “Opportunity” . • Signs of wet and non acidic ancient environment. • Signs of water flow because of carved channels.

8. Strange Life Found • In 2003 a scientist from NASA discovered a meteorite called, “CI 1 Carbonaceous Chondrites. • Fossil evidence of bacterial life. • Remains of living organisms. • Most of the fossils and remains he found were very strange and not earth like. • This is a potential signature of extra terrestrial life, but it is not yet proven.

9. Present • Now that the NASA scientists have found clues they want to know for sure. • They are broadening their journeys to even further places. • They are digging deeper into things they do not know for sure.

10. Habitable Planet Found • The beginning of 2012 scientists discovered a planet 4.5x the size of earth that “may harbour water possible even life”. • “Habital Zone”. – Not to hot not too cold. • Alien super earth- GJ 667Cc • Does not mean there is life, shows there are possible habitats other than earth. • Since this one was so easy to find, there must be more.

11. Curiosity • On August 6th, 2012, curiosity is being sent to Mars. • Too see if Mars still obtains microbial life.

12. Future • As technology continues to evolve, so do scientific discoveries. • NASA plans on launching MAVEN in 2013 to Mars.” Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN • Its mission is too study Mars’s atmosphere too see where all the water and gases went.

13. Conclusion • As time goes on NASA has been coming up with suitable technologies that will aide in the possible finding of extra terrestrial life. By looking at the size of our universe and the already found “Habitable Planet” it shows us the possibilities of finding other life. NASA hopes to discover life or have evidence that life was once out there in the years to come. • “To declare that earth must be the only planet in the cosmos with life would be inexcusably egocentric of us” -Neil Tyson

14. Picture Bibliographies • http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/05/exclusive-nasa-scientists-claims-evidence-alien-life-meteorite/ • http://mikesirota.wordpress.com/tag/alien-lobotomy/ • http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/647434main_pia15681-full.jpg • http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html • http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html • http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=habitable-planet-gj-667cc • http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/galileo/gallery/top10science.cfm

15. References • Dunbar, Brian. NASA. (2007). Lifes Working Definition: How does it work?. Retrieved: May 27th, 2012, from http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/life%27s_working_definition.html • NASA. (2012). MAVEN News. Retrieved: May 27th, 2012, from http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html • Ridpath, Ian. Science Referance Services.(2011). Extra terrestrial Life. Retrieved May 27th, 2012, from http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/tracer-bullets/extraterrestrialtb.html • Smith, Yvette. Nasa.(2012).Missions. Retrieved: May 27th, 2012, from http://www.nasa.gov/missions/index.html • Scientific America. (2012). Newfound Alien Planet is best Candidate yet to support life, Scientists say. Retrieved: March 19th, 2012, from www.scientificamerica.com • Scientific America. (2012). Red Sea: Once had an Ocean. Retrieved March 19th, 2012, from www.scientificamerica.com • Tenney, Garrett. Foxnews.(2011). Exclusive: NASA Scientists Claims Evidence of Alien Life on Meteorite. Retrieved: March 19th, 2012, from http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/05/exclusive-nasa-scientists-claims-evidence-alien-life-meteorite/ • Watanabe, Susan. NASA. (2007).Search for life in the Universe. Retrieved: May 27th, 2012, from http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/search_life_I.html