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MEETING |
TOPIC |
READING:
CH = Chyba & Hand, "Astrobiology: The Study of the Living Universe"
**SI = Social Implications of the Detection of an Extraterrestrial
Civilization
**G&S = Gilmore & Sephton, eds.: "An Introduction to Astrobiology" (optional reading, likely to be quite helpful)
**LOW = Dick: "Life on Other Worlds"
**on 4-hour reserve at Schow
You must be logged in to Blackboard for the article links below to work!
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| Thursday, Sept. 4, 8:30 PM | Introductory Group Meeting in TPL 114 BRING YOUR SCHEDULES! |
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| Week 1 Sept. 9, 10, 11 | History of Thought About Life on Other Worlds Q: Describe and defend your choice for the two most important historical events (one pre-1900, one post-1900) affecting humanity's conception about the possibility of life on other worlds. |
BS: Ch. 1, 2 **SI: Ch. 2 **LOW: Introduction, Ch. 1, Ch. 4
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| Week 2 Sept. 16, 17, 18 | Astronomical and Physical Background Q: Part A: Incorporating physics and astronomy principles from the reading, discuss the processes of planetary system formation that lead to trends in planetary composition, size and location. Part B: Epsilon Eridani, the nearest star with detected planets, is located 3.2 parsecs away. Show how to calculate the angular separation in arcseconds between the star and its planet orbiting at a distance of 3.5 AU from it. Give as many reasons as you can think of why we can't just "look" to see it. |
BS: Ch. 3 Angle discussion (scroll down to "Small Angle Approximation") |
| Week 3 Sept. 23, 24, 25 |
Geological Background Q: Describe how the CO2 and other cycles have acted to stabilize the Earth's climate, and discuss why they failed to do so for Mars and Venus. |
BS: Ch.4
Kasting & Catling: Evolution of a Habitable Planet Section 3 |
| Week 4 Oct. 2, 7, 8 |
Life and Its Evolution on Earth Q: Describe what it means for matter to be "alive." Present and defend one of the current views of the origin of life on Earth. |
BS: Ch. 5,6 **G&S: Ch. 1 **LOW: Ch. 6
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| Week 5 Oct. 21, 22, 23 |
Prospects for Life Elsewhere in the Solar System Q: Reviewing the evidence amassed thus far, stake out a position on whether Mars has ever harbored life. Also summarize the current state of knowledge and give your opinion of the possibility of life in another solar system location. |
BS: Ch. 7-9 **G&S: Ch. 3-5 Discovery of ALH84001's birthplace
**Comins, "What if the Moon Didn't Exist?": Ch. 1-4 |
| Week 6 Oct. 28, 29, 30 | The Concept of Habitability Q: Describe the past and future evolution of the Sun's habitable zone, including discussion of solar system bodies that were/are/will be in it. |
BS: Ch. 10 Kasting & Catling: Evolution of a Habitable Planet Section 3.6-3.8 **G&S: Ch. 2
The following websites: |
| Week 7 Nov. 4, 5, 6 | Extrasolar Planets Q: Part A. Building on last week's question, discuss how stellar evolution and Galactic history produce a "Galactic Habitable Zone." Part B. Describe how the techniques used to search for planets select, a priori, the kinds of planets found. How will we ever be able to detect an "earth"? |
BS: Ch. 11 **G&S: Ch. 6-8
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| Week 8 Nov. 11, 12, 13 | The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Q: In a review of current and upcoming SETI efforts, consider the relative merits of targeted searches vs. broad surveys and defend promoting one over the other. Write down your own values for the Drake Equation and justify them. Add and justify any new factors you think relevant. |
BS: Ch. 12 **G&S: Ch. 9 **LOW: Ch. 8 The Carl Sagan - Ernst Mayr Debate from the Planetary Society's website |
| Week 9 Nov. 18, 19, 20 |
The Fermi Paradox: Where is Everybody? And What Would We Say to Them? Q: Consider both sides of the "where are they?" debate, and defend a position. In an appendix to your paper, design and describe a message to be transmitted to a distant Earth-like planet. By "design" I mean to create a transmission to be sent in bits, like the Arecibo message. Do NOT include the key to the message in your paper, but keep it separate to be handed in at the end of the tutorial session, since your partner and I will be trying to decipher it in real time. |
BS: Ch. 13 |
| Week 10 Dec. 2, 3, 4 | Aftermath Q: You have been appointed as the U.S. director of public information in the case of a positive SETI detection. Outline your actions in the days following the first detection of a simple, "are you there?" signal from a very distant star system. Include a list of meetings you would convene and your first press release. |
BS: Epilog **SI: Ch. 3-5 **LOW: Ch. 8 |
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