Professional Documents
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COMMENT GRAPHICS A guide to great HISTORY In praise of William FUNDING Romanian scientists
hamper clinical use of data visualization to aid Smith, the first to map a feeling the pinch of EU
genomic data p.290 decision-making p.292 nation’s geology p.294 nuclear-physics project p.295
NASA/ESA/TEPLITZ/RAFELSKI/KOEKEMOER/WINDHORST/LEVAY
The Hubble Ultra Deep Field 2014 combines the full range of wavelengths available to the telescope, from ultraviolet to near-infrared.
Hubble’s legacy
Twenty-five years after launch, the wild success of the space telescope argues for a
new era of bold exploration in the face of tight budgets, says Mario Livio.
O
n 24 April, it will be 25 years since than 12,800 scientific articles have used the launch pad, it is a good time to reflect on
the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) HST results, and have been cited more than its legacy and lessons (see ‘Hubble’s hits and
was launched from Cape Canaveral, 550,000 times, making the telescope one of beyond’). Hubble has taught us that to answer
Florida, into low-Earth orbit aboard the space the most productive scientific instruments the most intriguing questions in astrophys-
shuttle Discovery. ever built. ics, we must think big and put scientific ambi-
As well as revolutionizing astrophysics, What are the secrets of Hubble’s success? tion ahead of budgetary concerns. In my view,
the first major optical observatory in space Its longevity, pioneering of open data, supe- the next priority should be the search for life
— built by NASA with contributions from rior archiving, attention to community beyond our Solar System. A powerful space
the European Space Agency (ESA) — has needs, dedicated teams of space agencies, telescope that can spot biological signatures
brought the excitement of scientific dis- astronauts, scientists and engineers, and in the atmospheres of Earth-like exoplanets
covery into millions of homes. Ask people outstanding outreach infrastructure are all would be a worthy successor.
to name a telescope and most will probably key. These have transformed what seemed
say “Hubble”. initially to be a gigantic failure — flaws in the ALL IN THE DETAILS
Circling the Earth every hour and a half, primary mirror were revealed within weeks Hubble’s greatness lies not so much in the
the observatory has completed more than — into a scientific triumph. singular discoveries that it has made as in
130,000 orbits and taken more than 1 mil- As Hubble enters its final productive confirming suggestive results from other
lion exposures of astronomical objects, decade, and successors such as the James observatories. As new details have become
from dust clouds to distant galaxies. More Webb Space Telescope (JWST) inch towards visible, astrophysicists have had to refine
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COMMENT
their theories about the Universe. born peaked about 10 billion years ago.
DORLING KINDERSLEY
The telescope’s power stems from its high Using its high resolution to observe the
perch above most of Earth’s atmosphere, at an motions of stars and gas in the centres of
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have been published each year than ones
NASA/ESA/E. SABBI (STSCI)
THE PEOPLE’S TELESCOPE The Tarantula nebula, snapped by Hubble in visible, infrared and ultraviolet light.
The HST has transformed the landscape of
scientific outreach and education. An STScI take to answer the question and the technical A large sample of planets — around 50 —
Office of Public Outreach was funded almost feasibility of doing so; estimate the full cost would have to be tested. Calculations show,
from the start to offer press releases, online of such a project; evaluate whether the goal for example, that if no biosignatures are
outreach and education to schools, science is worth the investment; and act accordingly. detected in more than about three dozen
centres and planetariums. Embedding the That is, establish the necessary funding pro- Earth analogues, the probability of remotely
office in the STScI — located on the campus file and keep it stable. Avoid cost overruns detectable extrasolar life in our Galactic
of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, through careful planning and oversight. neighbourhood is less than about 10%.
Maryland — ensured that professional The most intriguing question in astron- A report on such a ‘high-definition’
astronomers were involved. An attractive omy is, in my view, whether life exists in our telescope is expected to be published around
and user-friendly website (hubblesite.org) Galaxy beyond the Solar System. Thanks June by the Association of Universities for
attracts billions of hits a year. especially to the Kepler space telescope, we Research in Astronomy. Several steps should
Hubble educators pioneered the online know that the Galaxy is teeming with hun- be taken now. First, NASA, ESA and other
dissemination of materials to schools, start- dreds of millions of Earth-sized planets in potential international partners should
ing at a time when little was available. Today the ‘habitable zones’ of their host stars that convene a panel to examine such a project.
its materials reach more than 6 million stu- allow for liquid water on a rocky surface. Technology-development studies should
dents and 500,000 educators each year in the The next steps are laid out. When it is be accelerated to make a launch around
United States alone. Multimedia presenta- launched in 2017, the Transiting Exoplanet 2030 plausible. The search for life must be
tions on galaxies, exoplanets and black holes Survey Satellite (TESS) should find a handful prioritized in the next US and international
play in science centres worldwide. of nearby planets slightly heavier than Earth decadal surveys that guide national funding
Hubble images — dubbed by British art in the habitable zones of low-mass stars. decisions about missions. The US astro-
critic Jonathan Jones “the most flamboy- The orbital periods of such planets are short nomical community will recommence those
antly beautiful artworks of our time” — have and their stars faint, making them some- discussions in 2016 for research priorities in
infiltrated general culture. A dedicated team what easier to detect. Then, the JWST, to be the next decade.
ensures their visual launched in 2018, and the Wide Field Infra- In the meantime, I would also welcome
quality. HST views “For the first red Survey Telescope–Astrophysics Focused substantially increased investment in the
have been included time in human Telescope Assets (WFIRST/AFTA), planned Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
in art exhibits from history, an for around 2024, should look for water and (SETI) project. Around $100 million
Baltimore to Venice. answer to the other molecules in the atmospheres of a few in extra funding, perhaps from private
They adorn book question ‘Are of these planets. sources, would speed up the survey to a
covers and music we alone?’ is A more powerful telescope will be needed point at which about 10 million stars could
albums, such as Bin- within reach.” to place meaningful statistical constraints on be searched in a decade for radio or optical
aural by the rock how common or rare life in the Galaxy is. signals that are indicative of intelligent life.
band Pearl Jam, have inspired contemporary One with a mirror at least 12 metres across The chance of success may be low, but the
classical music (such as The Hubble Cantata and with a resolution 25 times that of Hub- pay-off could be huge.
by composer Paola Prestini) and dance per- ble’s would be able to image a planet next to For the first time in human history, an
formances. its star and detect spectrally the presence of answer to the question ‘Are we alone?’ is
oxygen and other biosignatures in its atmos- within reach. The search for life should be
NOW WHAT? phere. WFIRST/AFTA should be able to high on the scientific agenda for the next
The Hubble has shown that it is better to fund detect a planet 1 billion times fainter than its 25 years. ■ SEE NEWS FEATURE P.282
the right experiment fully than to compro- star; a brightness contrast of 10 billion will be
mise to fit a tight budget. Likewise, future required to image an Earth analogue next to Mario Livio is an astrophysicist at the
major astronomical endeavours should: iden- a Sun-like host star. Clearly, such a telescope Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in
tify the most important question that needs would offer a plethora of other discoveries Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
to be answered; determine what it would as well. e-mail: mlivio@stsci.edu
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