UWash: Where to Search for Life?

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bystander
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UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by bystander » Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:30 pm

Where to Search for Life?
University of Washington | 2015 Oct 05

UW astronomers devise ‘habitability index’ to guide future search
[img3="The James Webb Space Telescope, a large infrared telescope with a 6.5-meter primary mirror, is scheduled to be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana in October of 2018 and will be the premier NASA observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers around the world. UW astronomers have created a “habitability index for transiting planets” to help guide the ongoing search for life beyond Earth. (Credit: NASA)"]http://www.washington.edu/news/files/20 ... t_new6.jpg[/img3][hr][/hr]
Powerful telescopes are coming soon. Where exactly shall we point them?

Astronomers with the University of Washington’s Virtual Planetary Laboratory have created a way to compare and rank exoplanets to help prioritize which of the thousands discovered warrant close inspection in the search for life beyond Earth.

The new metric, called the “habitability index for transiting planets,” is introduced in a paper accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal by UW astronomy professors Rory Barnes and Victoria Meadows, with research assistant and co-author Nicole Evans.

“Basically, we’ve devised a way to take all the observational data that are available and develop a prioritization scheme,” said Barnes, “so that as we move into a time when there are hundreds of targets available, we might be able to say, ‘OK, that’s the one we want to start with.'”

The Kepler Space Telescope has enabled astronomers to detect thousands of exoplanets, those beyond our solar system — far more than can be investigated one by one. The James Webb Space Telescope, set for launch in 2018, will be the first able to actually measure the atmospheric composition of a rocky, possibly Earthlike planet far off in space, and so vastly enhance the search for life.

Astronomers detect some planets when the worlds “transit” or pass in front of their host star, thus blocking some of the light. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, is scheduled to launch in 2017 and will find many more worlds in this way. But it’s the Webb telescope and its “transit transmission spectroscopy” that will really be able to study planets closely to hunt for life.

But access to such telescopes is expensive and the work is methodical and time-consuming. The Virtual Planetary Laboratory’s index is a tool to help fellow astronomers decide which worlds might have the better chance of hosting life, and so are worthy of focusing limited resources on. ...

Comparative Habitability of Transiting Exoplanets - Rory Barnes, Victoria S. Meadows, Nicole Evans
Know the quiet place within your heart and touch the rainbow of possibility; be
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk.
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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by neufer » Tue Oct 06, 2015 6:58 pm

bystander wrote:
Where to Search for Life?
University of Washington | 2015 Oct 05
UW astronomers devise ‘habitability index’ to guide future search
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Sawngrighter » Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:40 pm

"Where to search for life" and "Habitability index" reveal that the kahunas in charge of U Wash have not escaped the gravitational pull of 'Life as we know it." Just like we have been flabgerasted by many discoveries such as geyers of water on moons, tons of water on earth's moon, probably hundreds or millions of millions of tons of water on Mars, and Pluto's possible ocean so will we be flabergasted by life forms discovered even in our own solar system. Discoveries are often made by breaking free of boundaries such as 'Life As We Know It.'

Sawngrighter

Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Sawngrighter » Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:43 pm

Sawngrighter wrote:"Where to search for life" and "Habitability index" reveal that the kahunas in charge of U Wash have not escaped the gravitational pull of 'Life as we know it." Just like we have been flabgerasted by many discoveries such as geyers of water on moons, tons of water on earth's moon, probably hundreds or millions of millions of tons of water on Mars, and Pluto's possible ocean so will we be flabergasted by life forms discovered even in our own solar system. Discoveries are often made by breaking free of boundaries such as 'Life As We Know It.'

If I could have edited that post I would have removed "Where to search for life" as well as the following "and" .. I would have begun with "Habitality index reveals ..."

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Chris Peterson » Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:49 pm

Sawngrighter wrote:"Where to search for life" and "Habitability index" reveal that the kahunas in charge of U Wash have not escaped the gravitational pull of 'Life as we know it." Just like we have been flabgerasted by many discoveries such as geyers of water on moons, tons of water on earth's moon, probably hundreds or millions of millions of tons of water on Mars, and Pluto's possible ocean so will we be flabergasted by life forms discovered even in our own solar system. Discoveries are often made by breaking free of boundaries such as 'Life As We Know It.'
Discoveries of life in our solar system are possible, but unlikely. And since "life as we know it" is the only kind we can actually construct good tests for, it is very reasonable that we look for just that. Plenty of scientists speculate on types of life very different from our own. But searching for them at this point would not be a very good use of resources, and would probably not be very good science.
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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by geckzilla » Tue Oct 06, 2015 10:07 pm

Example of not very good science: That guy who wanted to sue NASA for not looking closer at that jelly doughnut rock because, in his opinion, it was a life form.
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Ann » Tue Oct 06, 2015 11:22 pm

Chris Peterson wrote:
Sawngrighter wrote:"Where to search for life" and "Habitability index" reveal that the kahunas in charge of U Wash have not escaped the gravitational pull of 'Life as we know it." Just like we have been flabgerasted by many discoveries such as geyers of water on moons, tons of water on earth's moon, probably hundreds or millions of millions of tons of water on Mars, and Pluto's possible ocean so will we be flabergasted by life forms discovered even in our own solar system. Discoveries are often made by breaking free of boundaries such as 'Life As We Know It.'
Discoveries of life in our solar system are possible, but unlikely. And since "life as we know it" is the only kind we can actually construct good tests for, it is very reasonable that we look for just that. Plenty of scientists speculate on types of life very different from our own. But searching for them at this point would not be a very good use of resources, and would probably not be very good science.
Thanks for putting that much better than I could, Chris.

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by neufer » Tue Oct 06, 2015 11:59 pm

geckzilla wrote:
Example of not very good science: That guy who wanted to sue NASA for not looking closer at that jelly doughnut rock because, in his opinion, it was a life form.
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/coast-guard-missing-cargo-ship-sank-in-bermuda-triangle/ wrote:
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
Coast Missing cargo ship sank in Bermuda Triangle

CBS: October 5, 2015

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Monday that the El Faro, a U.S. cargo ship that went missing last week during Hurricane Joaquin, sank in the Bermuda Triangle. Thirty-three crew members were on board and searchers found one body. Mark Strassmann reports from Jacksonville, Florida.
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Sawngrighter » Wed Oct 07, 2015 4:09 pm

Chris Peterson wrote:
Sawngrighter wrote:"Where to search for life" and "Habitability index" reveal that the kahunas in charge of U Wash have not escaped the gravitational pull of 'Life as we know it." Just like we have been flabgerasted by many discoveries such as geyers of water on moons, tons of water on earth's moon, probably hundreds or millions of millions of tons of water on Mars, and Pluto's possible ocean so will we be flabergasted by life forms discovered even in our own solar system. Discoveries are often made by breaking free of boundaries such as 'Life As We Know It.'
Discoveries of life in our solar system are possible, but unlikely. And since "life as we know it" is the only kind we can actually construct good tests for, it is very reasonable that we look for just that. Plenty of scientists speculate on types of life very different from our own. But searching for them at this point would not be a very good use of resources, and would probably not be very good science.
So just continue on in darkness.

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by neufer » Wed Oct 07, 2015 4:37 pm

Sawngrighter wrote:
Chris Peterson wrote:
Discoveries of life in our solar system are possible, but unlikely. And since "life as we know it" is the only kind we can actually construct good tests for, it is very reasonable that we look for just that. Plenty of scientists speculate on types of life very different from our own. But searching for them at this point would not be a very good use of resources, and would probably not be very good science.
So just continue on in darkness.
Chapter VIII: “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons” wrote:
<<Holmes shrugged his shoulders. “We have a long way to go yet,” said he. “And yet—and yet—well, we have some suggestive facts to act upon. The possession of this trifling bust was worth more in the eyes of this strange criminal than a human life. That is one point. Then there is the singular fact that he did not break it in the house, or immediately outside the house, if to break it was his sole object.”

“He was rattled and bustled by meeting this other fellow. He hardly knew what he was doing.”

“Well, that’s likely enough. But I wish to call your attention very particularly to the position of this house in the garden of which the bust was destroyed.”

Lestrade looked about him.

“It was an empty house, and so he knew that he would not be disturbed in the garden.”

“Yes, but there is another empty house farther up the street which he must have passed before he came to this one. Why did he not break it there, since it is evident that every yard that he carried it increased the risk of someone meeting him?”

“I give it up,” said Lestrade.

Holmes pointed to the street lamp above our heads.

“He could see what he was doing here and he could not there. That was his reason.”

“By Jove! That’s true,” said the detective. “Now that I come to think of it, Dr. Barnicot’s bust was broken not far from his red lamp. Well, Mr. Holmes, what are we to do with that fact?”>>
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by saturno2 » Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:49 pm

Very, very interesting

Sawngrighter

Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Sawngrighter » Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:36 pm

neufer wrote:
Sawngrighter wrote:
Chris Peterson wrote:
Discoveries of life in our solar system are possible, but unlikely. And since "life as we know it" is the only kind we can actually construct good tests for, it is very reasonable that we look for just that. Plenty of scientists speculate on types of life very different from our own. But searching for them at this point would not be a very good use of resources, and would probably not be very good science.
So just continue on in darkness.
Chapter VIII: “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons” wrote:
<<Holmes shrugged his shoulders. “We have a long way to go yet,” said he. “And yet—and yet—well, we have some suggestive facts to act upon. The possession of this trifling bust was worth more in the eyes of this strange criminal than a human life. That is one point. Then there is the singular fact that he did not break it in the house, or immediately outside the house, if to break it was his sole object.”

“He was rattled and bustled by meeting this other fellow. He hardly knew what he was doing.”

“Well, that’s likely enough. But I wish to call your attention very particularly to the position of this house in the garden of which the bust was destroyed.”

Lestrade looked about him.

“It was an empty house, and so he knew that he would not be disturbed in the garden.”

“Yes, but there is another empty house farther up the street which he must have passed before he came to this one. Why did he not break it there, since it is evident that every yard that he carried it increased the risk of someone meeting him?”

“I give it up,” said Lestrade.

Holmes pointed to the street lamp above our heads.

“He could see what he was doing here and he could not there. That was his reason.”

“By Jove! That’s true,” said the detective. “Now that I come to think of it, Dr. Barnicot’s bust was broken not far from his red lamp. Well, Mr. Holmes, what are we to do with that fact?”>>
"Are you then, Neufer, suggesting we return to the Garden? If so, it is quite impossible, you know, those angels, and that big flaming sword. And as we know, so-called intelligent life was driven from the Garden, driven out into the cold, dark realms of the planet, leaving only the lower creatures, in their peace, in their serenity, in their Garden."

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Ann » Thu Oct 08, 2015 12:18 am

I couldn't resist googling for some weird life forms. On this page I found the Hello Kitty caterpillar, the Elvis Presley shield bug, the Donald Trump caterpillar and the Alien caterpillar. (Lots of caterpillars there.)

But although all these life forms were unknown to me, I still think they are life as we know it.

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by neufer » Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:24 am

Click to play embedded YouTube video.
Sawngrighter wrote:
"Are you then, Neufer, suggesting we return to the Garden? If so, it is quite impossible, you know, those angels, and that big flaming sword. And as we know, so-called intelligent life was driven from the Garden, driven out into the cold, dark realms of the planet, leaving only the lower creatures, in their peace, in their serenity, in their Garden."
Hey... I find the myth of William Shakespeare of Stratford upon Avon way too hard to swallow:

. http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=25619

Please don't talk to me about angels with flaming swords :!:
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Ann » Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:54 am

Oy! :shock:


Verily I say, for the sake of the Sacred Starship, 'tis nobler to keep Art on the Barque of the Stars than with the Earl of the Sixteenth century!



(Warning: Keep off the grass, and stay clear of Oxford!)

Click to play embedded YouTube video.












No, (B)Art. Put it down.



Ann
Last edited by Ann on Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by geckzilla » Thu Oct 08, 2015 7:37 am

Sawngrighter wrote:So just continue on in darkness.
Accept that we must. It is entirely possible that we'll fail to find alien life in any form within our solar system. It's also entirely possible that none of our exoplanet studies will ever yield anything conclusive. There are a lot of things that may be unknowable. Sometimes it's even hard to figure out where the limits to knowing are. Finding life might be one of those things. If it's just too far away, we might never make it before our own species (or whatever it evolves into) dies out.
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by neufer » Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:51 pm

Ann wrote:
No, (B)Art. Put it down.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Simpson#Personality wrote:
<<Ann is extremely intelligent and sees herself as a misfit within the Asterisk* family due to her knowledge. She shows characteristics rarely seen in Stockholm, including spirituality and commitment to peaceful ways. Ann's knowledge covers a wide range of subjects, including medicine, physics, geography, art, language arts and algebra. She he is notably more concerned with world affairs than her life in Stockholm. Although her rebellion against social norms is usually depicted as constructive and heroic, Ann can be self-righteous at times.>>
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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Ann » Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:17 pm

neufer wrote:
Ann wrote:
No, (B)Art. Put it down.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Simpson#Personality wrote:
<<Ann is extremely intelligent and sees herself as a misfit within the Asterisk* family due to her knowledge. She shows characteristics rarely seen in Stockholm, including spirituality and commitment to peaceful ways. Ann's knowledge covers a wide range of subjects, including medicine, physics, geography, art, language arts and algebra. She he is notably more concerned with world affairs than her life in Stockholm. Although her rebellion against social norms is usually depicted as constructive and heroic, Ann can be self-righteous at times.>>
:lol2:
But Lisa Simpson I ain't!

(Though I guess I can be a bit self-righteous.)

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by Chris Peterson » Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:25 pm

geckzilla wrote:Accept that we must. It is entirely possible that we'll fail to find alien life in any form within our solar system. It's also entirely possible that none of our exoplanet studies will ever yield anything conclusive. There are a lot of things that may be unknowable. Sometimes it's even hard to figure out where the limits to knowing are. Finding life might be one of those things. If it's just too far away, we might never make it before our own species (or whatever it evolves into) dies out.
The good news is that, assuming life similar to what we know exists and is somewhat common around other stars, it is virtually certain we'll find it in the near future. This involves technology and understanding we already have.
Chris

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Re: UWash: Where to Search for Life?

Post by neufer » Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:50 pm


geckzilla wrote:
It is entirely possible that we'll fail to find alien life in any form within our solar system. It's also entirely possible that none of our exoplanet studies will ever yield anything conclusive. There are a lot of things that may be unknowable. Sometimes it's even hard to figure out where the limits to knowing are. Finding life might be one of those things. If it's just too far away, we might never make it before our own species (or whatever it evolves into) dies out.
A: That's tough!
B: What's tough?
A: Life.
B: What's Life?
A: Life's a magazine.
B: How much does it cost?
A: A dime.
B: I only have a nickel.
A: That's tough!
Art Neuendorffer

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