Unit 1, Studio 2 Activity

Part A
1. Articles:
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_life
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Filter
2. Essentially, these two wikipedia articles revolve around alien life and what it
means for us if we do or do not find it. The Great Filter theory states that each time life
arises in the universe, it must go through certain filters which can either strengthen the
life, or take it away. In a shell, this theory postulates that all life to arise anywhere in the
Universe must overcome a colossal obstacle in order to prevail. This great obstacle
usually leads to the extinction of life wherever it crops up, and, if there truly are other
advanced civilizations out there, that means we haven't hit that filter yet. Conversely, if
we dont find advanced life anywhere, we have already hurtled this mysterious obstacle
and have come out on top, possibly as the first lifeforms to do so.
3. Scientists and more scientists are involved on this issue. Some say that finding
other advanced life would simply help us to make friends and advance our species on
the basis of sharing technology, others say it would mean that we are not yet done going
through filters and were likely going to get wiped out by one soon. Others, still, believe
that if we do find life, it will be small-cell organisms and will have no impact on us, but
will simply show us how early life may have looked on earth.
4. Key Words:
a. Fermi Paradox
b. Mars
c. Extinction
d. Drake equation
e. Kepler-186f
f. Back-engineering
g. Advanced life
5. Questions:
a. What are the implications of finding other life in the universe?
b. Why are humans so eager to answer the question as to whether
or not were alone?
c. What is the Drake Equation and its significance?
d. What exactly is the Fermi Paradox?
e. How could back-engineering help us if we do find advanced life?
f. Could mars be an example of a planet where an advanced
species hit the great filter?
g. If there is advanced life on Kepler-186f, could the discovery really
even affect us since it is so far away?