Difference between revisions of "Exobiology"

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==Definition==
 
==Definition==
 
'''Exobiology''' is the study of possible [[life]] beyond the confines of present-day [[Earth]].  Exobiology is a speculative science, as extra-terrestrial life has yet to be found.
 
'''Exobiology''' is the study of possible [[life]] beyond the confines of present-day [[Earth]].  Exobiology is a speculative science, as extra-terrestrial life has yet to be found.
  
Finding life on Mars might have major implication for Mars colonization.  Preservation of this life from contamination from Earth is an open problem.
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Water, free oxygen and chlorophyll are all possible tracers for life on other planets that could be detected by astronomers.
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==Life on Mars==
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Finding [[w:Life_on_Mars|life on Mars]] might have major implication for Mars colonization.  Preservation of this life from contamination from Earth is an open problem.  On the other hand, humanity may be an active force in the dissemination of life in the solar system and beyond.  Humanity may eventually create the field of Exobiology by moving life away from Earth and onto Mars and other places in the solar system. 
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Another point of concern is the possibility of [[Exobiological Illnesses|health problems]] for the colonists through contact with existing martian life.  This has been the focus of the (mostly horrific) scenarios for a number of movies about Mars, including [[w:The_Last_Days_on_Mars|The Last Days on Mars]],  [[w:Life_(2017_film)|Life]], and the [[w:Mars_(2016_TV_series)|Mars]] National Geographic series.
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==Search for life on Mars==
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The search for life on Mars has been an important part of the robotic missions to that planet.
  
 
==Evolution==
 
==Evolution==
If extra-terrestrial life is ever found, it can be assumed that it follows the laws of evolution.
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If extra-terrestrial life is ever found, it will follow the laws of evolution.  However, It will be interesting to know if the evolutionary paths followed are similar; with DNA, similar proteins and amino acids or if differents ones are used by different life forms.  About 500 naturally occurring amino acids are known, but only 20 appear in the genetic code of life on Earth.  So there is a wide variety to choose from, and we don't know if the selection on Earth was random or optimised in some way be evolution.
  
 
==SETI==
 
==SETI==
The search for extra-terrestrial life is usually done by scanning the sky for any [[radio]] (or other) transmission that would indicate an advanced ciziliation. So far no such transmissions have been found.
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The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is usually done by scanning the sky for any [[radio]] (or other) transmission that would indicate an advanced civilization. So far no such transmissions have been found.  There have also been searches for signs of large artificial constructs such as Dyson spheres and for traces left be high velocity starships.
  
 
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[[Category:Biospherics]]
 
[[Category:Biospherics]]

Latest revision as of 08:51, 10 November 2019

Definition

Exobiology is the study of possible life beyond the confines of present-day Earth. Exobiology is a speculative science, as extra-terrestrial life has yet to be found.

Water, free oxygen and chlorophyll are all possible tracers for life on other planets that could be detected by astronomers.

Life on Mars

Finding life on Mars might have major implication for Mars colonization. Preservation of this life from contamination from Earth is an open problem. On the other hand, humanity may be an active force in the dissemination of life in the solar system and beyond. Humanity may eventually create the field of Exobiology by moving life away from Earth and onto Mars and other places in the solar system.

Another point of concern is the possibility of health problems for the colonists through contact with existing martian life. This has been the focus of the (mostly horrific) scenarios for a number of movies about Mars, including The Last Days on Mars, Life, and the Mars National Geographic series.

Search for life on Mars

The search for life on Mars has been an important part of the robotic missions to that planet.

Evolution

If extra-terrestrial life is ever found, it will follow the laws of evolution. However, It will be interesting to know if the evolutionary paths followed are similar; with DNA, similar proteins and amino acids or if differents ones are used by different life forms. About 500 naturally occurring amino acids are known, but only 20 appear in the genetic code of life on Earth. So there is a wide variety to choose from, and we don't know if the selection on Earth was random or optimised in some way be evolution.

SETI

The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is usually done by scanning the sky for any radio (or other) transmission that would indicate an advanced civilization. So far no such transmissions have been found. There have also been searches for signs of large artificial constructs such as Dyson spheres and for traces left be high velocity starships.

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