Astrobiology Antarctic Meteorites Antarctic Meteorites ALH 84001 – Meteorite from Mars Extremophiles – Life in “extreme” environments

Hyperthermophiles Thrive at T from 60 C to 113 C

Adapted heat-stable proteins that are more densely packed, contain more saturated and longer chained fatty acids

Sulfolobus solfataricus Black Smokers – Deep Sea Vents Extremophiles

Eats sulfur & hydrogen and fixes carbon from CO2 Deep Sea Chemistry Extremophiles - Radiation

Deincoccus radiodurans – can withstand 500x human killing dose Organic Molecules In Space Organic Molecules In Space Organic Molecules In Space Murchison Meteroite – contains organic molecules Miller Uray Experiment Is there/was there Life on Mars ? Life on Europa & Titan ?

Water Ocean Hydrocarbon Lakes Life on Exoplanets ?

Artists conception of Gliese 581 system SETI – Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Frank Drake – Project Ozma

1960: Pointed 25-m toward ε Eri & τ Ceti Radio Frequency Window Allen Telescope Array Drake Equation

N = SFR x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L

SFR = star formation rate fp = fraction of stars with planets ne = number of habitable planets fl = fraction with life fi = fraction that develop intelligent life fc = fraction with “broadcasting civilizations” L = lifetime of civilization Sending Signals to Space “Stephen Hawking says We’re Doomed”

http://www.manolith.com/2010/05/01/stephen-hawking-says-we’re-doomed/ Fermi Paradox If there are intelligent civilizations in our Galaxy – why haven’t we found evidence for them yet?

(1) Few exist today (2) Other intelligent civilizations never existed (Rare Earth Hypothesis) (3) They destroy themselves too quickly to interact/communicate (4) They just don’t travel (homebodies) (5) We are not searching properly/have not searched long enough (6) Vast distances make ambient detection improbable (7) They aren’t intentionally broadcasting (8) etc. !