PHY2390 Astronomy

Fall 2020
Liang Chen
15
Life on Other
Worlds

15–1
 The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems
like an awful waste of space.
Carl Sagan
Contact

Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we

are not. Both are equally terrifying.

I'm sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It's just been too
intelligent to come here.

This is the first age that's ever paid much attention to the future,
which is a little ironic since we may not have one.

Arthur C. Clarke
15–2 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.
 Chapter 15

The Goals of This Chapter

• In this chapter, we will encounter four important
questions:
– What is life?
– How did life originate on Earth?
– Does life exist on other worlds?
– Can humans communicate with intelligent beings
on other worlds?
A R B ON f life
C s o
i ca l basi
h e p hys arth.
T on E

15–3 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

On Earth, all life:

• Extracts energy from its surroundings;
• Maintains itself;
• Modifies its surroundings for its own survival;
• Reproduces;
• Evolves by natural selection.

Or

• Is a self-sustaining chemical system capable of

Darwinian evolution.
15–4 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.
 15.1 The Nature of Life

The Physical Basis of Life

• Carbon
– Can form long and stable chains capable of storing
a lot of information.
– Is the basis of life on Earth.

• Amino acids
• Proteins

15–5 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

Information Storage and Duplication

Three important points about the code of life (1):
• The chemical recipes of life are stored in each
cell as information on DNA molecules, which
resemble a ladder with rungs that are composed
of chemical bases.
• The recipe information is expressed by the
sequence of ladder rungs, providing instructions
that guide chemical reactions within the cell.

15–6 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

Information Storage and Duplication

Three important points about the code of life (2):
• DNA instructions normally are expressed by
being copied into a messenger molecule called
RNA, which causes molecular units called amino
acids to become connected into large molecules
called proteins. RNA not as stable as DNA
because only single-stranded.
• Proteins serve as the cell’s basic structural
molecules or as enzymes that control chemical
reactions.

15–7 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

Information Storage and Duplication

Three important points about the code of life (3):
• The instructions stored in DNA are genetic
information passed along to offspring. Not a
blueprint, more like a recipe, with the entire
planet as assumed knowledge!!!
• The DNA molecule reproduces itself when a cell
divides so that each new cell contains a copy of
the original information. A usually perfect
copy...

15–8 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

15–9 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

https://www.y
outube.com/w
atch?v=6rv5Z8
EBXwY 3min

15–10 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

15–11 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URUJD5NEXC8 8min play this

15–12 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFCvkkDSfIU 9.5min play this

15–13 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.1 The Nature of Life

Modifying the Information

• Biological evolution – The process by which life
adjusts itself to (is adjusted by?) its changing
environment.
• Mutation – Altered section of DNA resulting from
a mistake in the copying process.
• Natural selection – The process by which the best
genetic traits are preserved and accumulated,
allowing the fittest organisms and species to
survive and proliferate.

15–14 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

The Origin of Life on Earth

• All the oldest fossils are the remains of sea
creatures, and this indicates that life began in the
sea.
• The evidence indicates that simple organisms
lived in Earth’s oceans 3.4 billion years ago.
• Stromatolites – Layered formations caused by
mats of algae or bacteria combined with
sediments.

15–15 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

Stromatolites

15–16 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

The Origin of Life on Earth

• Chemical evolution – The chemical process that
led to the growth of complex molecules on
primitive Earth. This did not involve the
reproduction of exact molecules.
• Primordial soup – The rich solution of organic
molecules in Earth’s first oceans.

15–17 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

The Miller-Urey Experiment

An experiment that attempted to reproduce early Earth
conditions and showed how easily amino acids and
other organic compounds can form.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNijmxsKGbc 8min play this

15–18 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.
 15.2 Life in the Universe

Amino acids can link together by releasing a water

molecule to form carbon-chain protein molecules

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQZQiEdO
PJY 6min MIA
PANSPER r the origin
a te th e o ry fo
An altern m o le c u les
lding tha t
o f life h o
g m a y h ave
p roduci n
l e o f re
capab f ro m sp ace .
arrived
15–19 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.
 15.2 Life in the Universe

https://ww
w.youtube.c
o r o f the
om/watch? inter i als
f th e E r eve
is o IT
Analys ON METEOR acids.
v=O4tP7l0X
A8Q 3min
UR C HIS o f a m in o
M sence
e p re
th

This carbonaceous chondrite fell near

Murchison, Australia, in 1969. Illustrate how
commonly amino acids and other complex
organic molecules occur in the universe, even
in the absence of living things.

15–20 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

L LU LAR more
LTIC E d of
U s e
M
co mpo .
a n ism c e ll
rg n e
An o than
o

15–21 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

Deep Time and the Evolution of Life

• Life has existed on

SION
Earth for 3.4 billion B R IA
P L
i
O
N EX ef period
CAM gically br ears ago
years. lo y
A geo 40 million evidence
t5 sil e
abou which fos rth becam n
• Multicellular life g Ea
durin es life on se. Cambr ly
ia
at er si
indic x and div oldest ea
developed during the le
comp contain t
he
ssils.
e fo
Cambrian explosion. rocks dentifiabl
i

15–22 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe
Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) event:
most recent mass extinction,
may or may not have been helped by
Chicxulub impact...

https:/ Earth Calendar: Life on land

/www. appear on Nov. 28, it diversified
youtub quickly. By Dec. 12 the dinosaurs
e.com/ were walking the continents and
watch? by Dec. 28th they were gone, and
v=qNt mammals and birds were on the
QwUO rise. The 1st humanoid forms
9ff8 might have appeared by
11min suppertime on New Year’s Eve,
and by late evening humans
were making the 1st stone tools.
Suddenly, things began to
happen at lightning speed.
Human intelligence may have
evolved as a unique solution to a
problem that confronted our
ancient ancestors. Because a
smart animal can better escape
predators, outwit its prey, and
feed and shelter itself and its
offspring. Evolution likely
selected for intelligence.
15–23 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.
 15.2 Life in the Universe

Life in Our Solar System

• Conditions for “life-like-us”:
• Water
• Organic molecules
• Energy

• Suitable candidates:
• Moons of Jupiter and
Saturn
• Mars Hydrothermal vent in deep-sea. Hot,
black water is source of energy for some
living organisms.

15–24 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

Jupiter: Europa, Ganymede, Callisto

• Have water oceans under the surface ice.
• Energy provided by tidal heating.

15–25 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

Saturn: Enceladus

• Hydrothermal
vents may provide
energy source for
life.

15–26 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

Saturn: Titan
• Rich in organic molecules.
• Sunlight converts methane into organic smog,
which rains on Titan.
• Has rivers and lakes of methane.
• Similar to the young Earth.

15–27 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

Mars
• Currently, there is no clear
evidence of life on Mars, but
there is evidence of conditions
favourable to life in the past.
• Chemical and physical traces of
what was thought to be
evidence of life may have
formed by processes that did
not involve life.

15–28 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

Life in Other Planetary Systems

Habitable zone – A region around a star within
which planets have temperatures that permit the
existence of liquid water on their surfaces.

15–29 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnU3M5C2Hcw 9.5min

15–30 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.2 Life in the Universe

i
u n l ikely
ve in ments.
Thermophiles
th r
an n
Life c stile enviro
o
an d h

Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Prismatic Spring,

temperature ~72 degree, thermophilic single-celled
organism thrive around the edge
15–31 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.
 15.3 Intelligent Life in the Universe

Travel Between the Stars

• The space shuttle would take about 150 000 years to
reach the nearest star.
• Accelerating a spaceship close to the speed of light
would take a huge amount of energy. However
travelling at such a speed makes trip seem shorter for
passengers: twins ‘paradox’.
• These limitations make it difficult not only for humans
to leave the solar system, but also for aliens to visit
Earth. Very difficult. Television/movies have had a bad
influence...
We’re trapped physically….

15–32 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.3 Intelligent Life in the Universe

Radio Communication
• SETI – Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence.
• Water hole – The interval of the radio spectrum
between the 21-cm hydrogen emission line and
the 18-cm OH emission line—wavelengths likely
to be used in the search for extraterrestrial life.

15–33 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.3 Intelligent Life in the Universe

15–34 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.3 Intelligent Life in the Universe

The Arecibo Message

• Sent in 1974 to
globular cluster
M13, at 26 000 ly
from Earth.
• 73 rows of 23
pulses and gaps.

https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=eKSKHZ6ChYo
1min

15–35 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.3 Intelligent Life in the Universe

How Many Inhabited Worlds?

Drake equation – The equation that estimates the
total number of communicative civilizations in the
Milky Way Galaxy.

Nc = R* × fp × nHZ × fL × fi × fc × L
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giNQNhgknvE 3min

15–36 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 15.3 Intelligent Life in the Universe

• Estimated between zero and 30 million

technological civilizations per galaxy

15–37 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 Chapter 15

Summary

• The Nature of Life

• Life in the Universe
• Intelligent Life in the Universe

15–38 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.

 The End

15–39 Copyright © 2021 by Cengage Learning Canada, Inc.