Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Cosmic Evolution
Cosmic evolution:
Includes seven major evolutionary phases in the history of the universe: particulate, galactic, stellar, planetary, chemical, biological, and cultural evolution. The continuous transformation of matter and energy that has led to the appearance of life and civilization on Earth.
What are some characteristics of life? In other words, how do you decide if something is alive?
Life on Earth
Building blocks of life as we know it - amino acids and nucleotide bases (organic, carbon-based, molecules). Amino acids build proteins and nucleotide bases form genes. In 1953, the first scientist proved that you could make amino acids and nucleotide bases from simpler ingredients that would have existed on a young Earth (water, methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia). Can synthesize biological molecules through nonbiological means. However, these experiments have yet to create a living organism.
An Interstellar Origin
Suggested that there wasnt enough raw material on Earth for the reactions to occur at a significant rate to form organic material. An alternate possibility - the organic material was produced in interstellar space and arrived on Earth in the form of interplanetary dust and meteors that didnt burn up during their descent through the atmosphere. Large amounts of organic material were detected on comets Halley and Hale-Bopp.
Life as We Know It
Generally taken to mean carbon-based life that originated in a liquid-water environment, or life as it is on Earth. In our solar system, Europa and Titan both hold the possibility of harboring life. Most likely planet to harbor life (or to have had it in the past) is Mars. Need to keep in mind that life as we know it can exist in extremely hostile environments (and does on Earth as well).
Which of the following factors would you expect to see in the Drake equation?
A. Fraction of stars with planetary systems B. Fraction of planets on which life arises C. Average lifetime of a technologically competent civilization D. All of the above E. A and B only
Dr. Frank Drake is the Director of the SETI Institute's Center for the Study of Life in the Universe and also serves on the Board of Trustees of the SETI Institute as Chairman Emeritus. In 1960, as a staff member of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, he conducted the first radio search for extraterrestrial intelligence. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences where he chaired the Board of Physics and Astronomy of the National Research Council (1989-92). Frank also served as President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. He was a Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University (1964-84) and served as the Director of the Arecibo Observatory. He is Emeritus Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California at Santa Cruz where he also served as Dean of Natural Sciences (1984-88). In his spare time Frank enjoys cutting gem stones and growing orchids.Frank has three grown sons and two daughters in college. Both daughters are superb ballet dancers.
http://www.seti.org
Radio Searches
A cheap way to make contact across interstellar space is to use electromagnetic radiation - fastest means of transferring information from one place to another. Radio is the best bet as its least affected by interstellar dust, etc. Possible to detect waste radio emissions as well (like the TV and radio emissions from Earth).