Life On Other Planets
Life exists on other planets. Out of the billions of solar systems, there has to be a chance that a least a couple planets have the ability to support life. Life may have developed on the planets like life developed here, but it may have developed differently also. Are they more intelligent than we are or are they single-celled organisms? Do they have broadcast capabilities, so they can contact us?
“It goes back to how life on Earth started. In the early days of Earth, the atmosphere was just carbon monoxide, but algae developed into plants which produced oxygen” (Rather and Bowen 2). That brings us to the question of how the algae got here. The answer to that question may lay right beneath us, at the bottom of the earth. There are scientists in Antarctica digging in the snow hoping to find some answers.
Some of earth’s fossil records indicate that within a billion year period of it’s formation as a planet, as soon as heavy bombardment by asteroids ceased, primitive organisms such as bacteria and algae evolved and spread around the globe very quickly. Those organisms illustrated the totality of life here for the next two billion years or so. Therefore, if life exists on other planets, it might well be in this highly uncommunicative form. Consequently it might be a while until it would finally evolve into a slightly intelligent form of life. As algae became more extensive, they began adding large amounts of oxygen to Earth’s atmosphere. The manufacturing of oxygen, fed by energy derived from sunlight, is fundamental to carbon-based life. Oxygen is a chemically reactive gas; without continued replenishment by algae and, later in Earth’s evolution, by plants, its concentration would fall. Consequently, the presence of large amounts of oxygen in a planet’s atmosphere is a good indicator that some form of carbon-based life may exist there.
But there is still a problem as to how the initial jump from non-alive to alive came about. We know a lot of details, and have a pretty good idea of how life got from algae to cat to man, but how we ended up with algae is the big question here. This mystery makes it hard for us to figure out how life would arise on other planets. “Life is not all that mysterious, it is a property of a collection of extremely complex molecules” (Britt 1).
In order to help people figure out what planets out there could support life and may have life on them, we have to look at what life needs to survive. If other planets had carbon-based life they would likely have the same or close to the same chemistry that earth has. Water is an excellent solvent for life’s biological reactions and serves as a source of needed hydrogen. Carbon is a particularly suitable building block of life. Carbon is abundant ‘in this universe, and no other known element can form the myriad of complex but stable molecules necessary for life as we know it. It is believed that if a planet looks like Earth and has liquid water and oxygen, then this would present strong evidence for its having life. There could be some other non-biological source on a lifeless planet. Life could also develop from some other type of chemistry that does not generate oxygen. We should still be able to detect all stirring from chemical residues.
There is a theory that maybe life came from outer space, or the comets and meteorites in it. “Like giant interstellar sperm, comets might transport the seeds of life from collapsed space clouds to fledgling and otherwise barren planets, depositing their life-giving substances in a colossal impact” (Britt 1). A new computer shows that at least one building block of DNA could develop in space when giant clouds of molecular matter collapse under their own gravity, squeezing and forcing chemical reactions. “If the controversial theory gains support, it would be a shot in the arm for an idea more than 20 years old: that life on Earth originated in space” (Britt 1). This theory could explain how life got started on our planet so soon after this planet was formed. It definitely proposes that life is not as rare or as tough to jump-start as we might think. This confirms the idea that life isn’t all that rare.
The list of planets beyond our solar system is growing by leaps and bounds, and scientists are developing new methods to expand their reach toward these other worlds. The tally of extra solar planets has raised to more than 50. “All of these planets were detected indirectly, in most cases using a “radial velocity” technique that analyzes subtle variations in the light coming from distant stars” (Boyle 1). Planet-hunters say such differences are generated as they orbit the stars. “The most notable detection relates to a planet circling the star Epsilon Eridani, just 10.5 light years or about 63 trillion miles away” (Boyle 1). That would make it the closest world ever found beyond our solar system. “Researchers analyzed nearly 20 years’ worth of observations from four different telescopes to conclude that the faint variations in Epsilon Eridani’s spectrum were caused by a circling planet” (Boyle 1).
Some scientists have been looking at dust trails around stars and have concluded that dust trails bare the signatures of unseen planets. But all of the planets found in this manner are thought to have orbits much wider than Pluto’s track around our sun, meaning that they will most likely not be inhabitable by life. “We’re now at a stage where we are finding planets faster than we can investigate them and write up the results” (Boyle 4). All of these results hint that our celestial neighborhood could be a fertile field for planets like Earth. None of the methods used so far are fine enough to detect Earth-like planets directly. “However, in the next 10 years, scientists hope to develop space-based instruments capable of spotting such worlds around relatively nearby stars” (Boyle 4). Possibly even analyze their atmospheres for signs of life. In order to find some of these planets people need to have a lot more powerful telescopes than they now have. “To detect them we would have to have a telescope 100 meters in diameter in space but we cannot launch something like that” (Dalton and Lambie 2).
Many scientists believe that planets similar in size, distance from the sun, and have oceans of water like Earth are likely to sustain life. If each star has planets spanning a range of orbital distances, as occurs in our solar system, then one of those planets is likely to orbit at the right distance to sustain liquid water, even if the star shines more or less brightly than the sun. Temperature means little if a planet’s gravitational pull cannot hold on to oceans and an atmosphere. “If distance from a star were the only factor to consider, Earth’s moon would have liquid water” (Angel and Wolff 3). But gravity depends on the size and density of the body. Because the moon is smaller and less dense than Earth, its gravitational pull is much weaker. Any water or layers of atmosphere that might develop on or around such a body would quickly be lost to space.
Three key compounds that we would expect to find on inhabited planets? ozone, carbon dioxide, and water? leave strong imprints in a planet’s infrared spectrum. To see a planet’s infrared spectrum, the telescope would have to be placed in space. There would be no way that a telescope on Earth would be able to see the planets infrared spectrum.
“Polls show that 54% of Americans are convinced that there are aliens out there, to say nothing of the significant fraction (30%) who suspect we’ve already been visited by them” (Golden 1). If there is other life out there, what are the chances of finding it in our lifetime, or even our children’s lifetime. Conditions have to be just perfect to develop life. Under the right circumstances life can arise pretty easily. That is if it does reach a level advanced enough to broadcast its presence, it won’t destroy itself in a nuclear war or an environmental meltdown before firing off Earth-bound messages. Could this be a prophecy of what will become of this planet? “Hunting for extraterrestrial’s requires a lot of faith” (Golden 1). Even scientists shy of success don’t want to be malcontents. They agree on the importance of continuing the quest, not just for the microbes on Mars or Europa but also for those faint signals from some remote world.
The question still stands. Does life exist on other planets? Are they intelligent or are they microbes? Will we ever really know?
Другие работы по теме:
Horoscopes Essay Research Paper HOROSCOPESHoroscopes are charts
Horoscopes Essay, Research Paper HOROSCOPES Horoscopes are charts created by astrologers. A definition of a horoscope is: the illustration of the position of the sun, moon, and planets from a given location on earth, usually at birth. Which simply means, where everything in the universe was in relation to everything else when you were born.
Supernova Essay Research Paper The titanic explosion
Supernova Essay, Research Paper The titanic explosion of a star is commonly known as a supernova. Supernova’s outbursts of energy are the largest explosions and events that occur in the universe. Essentially, they create the basic elements of life. Shock waves from the exploding star trigger the births of new stars and the formation of solar systems like our own.
Dust Cloud Essay Research Paper The universe
Dust Cloud Essay, Research Paper The universe contains huge clouds made up of very large amounts of dustand gas. About 6,000,000,000 (billion) years ago, one of these clouds began to
Life Essay Research Paper You have been
Life Essay, Research Paper You have been ready to move on for quite some time But maybe not so ready to let go Of all that you know (Your friends, your family, and all the sweet memories)
Warstrider Essay Research Paper WarstriderWilliam H Keith
Warstrider Essay, Research Paper Warstrider William H. Keith, Jr. Pgs: 327 1. Do not trust anyone, even if they look harmless. In this book Dev Cameron is trying to fight the Confederations army. They have taken over many planets and recently took over New America. Along the way, Dev xenolinked with an alien species called the Naga.
NanoTechnology Essay Research Paper One of the
Nano-Technology Essay, Research Paper One of the big problems not fully appreciated with current ideas in nano technology research is the energy requirement for the development of shuttles and using it to carry the bots to other planets. First of all, the design of the shuttle would have to be very intricate because it would have to be able to manage to intense cold since it has to travel farther and farther away from the sun.
Poem Destiny Essay Research Paper Sometimes I
Poem: Destiny Essay, Research Paper Sometimes I wonder if life is just meant to be If we have not a choice in the matter, or we really are free I walked down the street on one fine day
The Telescope Essay Research Paper The TelescopeIn
The Telescope Essay, Research Paper The Telescope In 1609 Galileo Galilee Constructed his first telescope. Little did he know that this would be one of the greatest inventions the world would ever see. This fairly simple creation enhanced our ability to see things that are very far away and that can?t be seen with the naked eye.
Pluto Essay Research Paper Pluto repeats an
Pluto Essay, Research Paper Pluto repeats an anomaly when compared with the terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, the Earth and Mars) or the giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune). This icy world is more like a huge asteroid or the satellites of the outer planets; it has even been suggested that Pluto was a satellite that escaped from Neptune’s pull.
Philosophy On Life Essay Research Paper My
Philosophy On Life. Essay, Research Paper My philosophy on life begins with the subject of death, which infact terrifies most people. Many people believe after you die you go to ‘heaven’ or ‘hell’, my opinion is similar but in a way different. I believe that there is certainly an afterlife but not as limited to those two fictional places.
Astrology Essay Research Paper Astrology From the
Astrology Essay, Research Paper Astrology From the dawn of civilisation, humans have looked with wonder and awe at the heavens, seeking to understand the nature of the sun moon and planets. Astrology and astronomy are sometimes confused, but they are both very different from each other. Astrology and astronomy started off as being the same as they had both developed a set of principals the originated more than 2000 years ago.
Poem Belong Essay Research Paper Where I
Poem: Belong Essay, Research Paper Where I belong I am weak, I am strong I will fit where I belong don’t know where it is for now but it will come, if I allow tomorrow, I start a brand new day
Life And Chess Essay Research Paper To
Life And Chess Essay, Research Paper To run, to hide, to fight, Are the questions we face, day and night. To run, to hide, to fight, You have options, choose well, choose right.
Babylonian
– Mayan Astronomy Essay, Research Paper Mayan Astronomy was better Than Babylonian Astronomy Mayan astronomy differed in several ways compared to Babylonian astronomy. Among the numerous ways were their different beliefs in the heavens, space, planets Earth and even their calendars.
Blade Runner Essay Research Paper Blade RunnerThis
Blade Runner Essay, Research Paper Blade Runner This movie was very similar to the many other shall we say ?alien? movies out there. This movie may have been more correct with what may happen in the future. There wasn?t any explosions or planets blowing up, or anything as drastic as that. It was a more subtle thought of what happens if aliens really do take over.
Quotes About Life Essay Research Paper Quotes
Quotes About Life Essay, Research Paper Quotes About Life “The answers to life s problems aren t at the bottom of a bottle: they re on TV!” Homer Simpson “It s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”
Are We Alone In This Universe Essay
, Research Paper Are we alone in this universe? Does life exist in other planets? These are the kind of questions that are yet to be answered. Within the last 100 years scientists have shown remarkable advancement in space science. Millions of dollars are gone and a lot of time has been spent to answer the above questions.
Aliens Essay Research Paper Aliens
Aliens Essay, Research Paper Aliens What are aliens? There are illegal aliens. Their are UFO aliens. You have to ask yourself one question, do you think there could be intelligent life
Galileo Galilei Essay Research Paper Galileo Galilei1564
Galileo Galilei Essay, Research Paper Galileo Galilei 1564 -1642 Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564 in Pisa, Italy. Galileo pioneered “experimental scientific method,” and was the first to use a refracting telescope to make important astronomical discoveries.
Shampoo Planets 2
Shampoo Planets – Book Report Essay, Research Paper Shampoo Planets – book Report The book I chose is Shampoo Planet, writen by Douglas Coupland. I chose to read this particular book because it was written by an author of my generation; generation X. Most books that were on the list were book written by people that were either dead or very old.
Where The Planets Are Essay Research Paper
Where the Planets Are In the beginning, the Earth was believed to be both flat and at the center of the universe. Then a sailor set sail to prove that the Earth is in fact round. Decades later science proved that the churches were wrong and in fact the Earth orbited around the Sun not the other way around. Now it is commonly known that the solar system that the human race lives in is just a small part of a much larger spinning body called a galaxy.
Secrets Of Life Essay Research Paper There
Secrets Of Life Essay, Research Paper There is one part of my life that no one knows about. This secret has caused me to act in ways I thought I wasn’t capable of doing. For the past five years, I
The Earth Essay Research Paper THE EARTH
The Earth Essay, Research Paper THE EARTH The Earth’s Place In Space: Despite its own special conditions,the Earth is in some ways similar to the other inner planets the group of planets
Living With Parents Vs Living Alone Essay
, Research Paper Living with Parents vs. Living Alone Living with your family and living all by yourself is like living on two different planets. It will affect every detail of your life, right down to the way you talk, the foods youeat, and how much money you can spend. It will also determine how often your friends visitand how much freedom you have.
Near Earth Objects Essay Research Paper Near
Near Earth Objects Essay, Research Paper Near Earth Objects What are NEOs? Where do they come from? Do they pose any real threat to Earth? Can they provide viable space resources? All of these questions are now
Life Is Like Essay Research Paper Life
Life Is Like Essay, Research Paper Life is like a car. When it?s new, it usually works all right. As time drives by, it breaks down and needs repairs. Life is like a leaf. In its youth, it
Extra Solar Planets Essay Research Paper Earths
Extra Solar Planets Essay, Research Paper Earths Beyond Earth: The Search for Other Worlds In early 1990, the first extrasolar planet was detected, surprising everyone by its strangeness. More