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Astrobiology: Seeking Evidence of Life Beyond Earth What Is Astrobiology?

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Astrobiology: Seeking Evidence of Life Beyond Earth What Is Astrobiology? ASTROBIOLOGY: SEEKING EVIDENCE OF LIFE BEYOND EARTH WHAT IS ASTROBIOLOGY? Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, and prevalence of life in the universe. Is life an inevitable consequence of cosmic evolution? How does a planet become a living world with a global biosphere? Are we alone in our corner of the Milky Way, or is life common? These are the questions UC Santa Cruz astrobiologists are working to answer. Are we alone in the universe? UC Santa Cruz’s Astrobiology Initiative seeks new answers to this ancient question. By probing how life forms, identifying the markers life creates, and observing our local astronomical neighborhood, astrobiology brings a 21st-century approach to a timeless puzzle: What processes give rise to complexity and self-awareness in the universe? “The search for We may soon know if we have With faculty who are world leaders interstellar neighbors. in the study of exoplanets, the evidence of life NASA’s recently completed Kepler origin of life, planetary science, beyond Earth Mission catalyzed a global scientific and instrument development, pivot toward the search for life UC Santa Cruz Astrobiology will is neither pipe beyond Earth, and UC Santa Cruz continue its groundbreaking dream nor stands at the forefront of the field. research while training diverse new generations of astrobiologists. daydream but Built to find planets outside the solar system, or exoplanets, Kepler This new field calls for collaboration, rather an open found that there are likely billions of and UC Santa Cruz has a tradition road to the end planets in our galaxy with the basic of crossing boundaries between conditions required to support life as research disciplines. The humanities, of our cosmic we know it. social sciences, and the arts will play central roles, engaging the public loneliness.” In the next decade, spacecraft will in our discoveries and their societal visit the watery worlds of our solar – Natalie Batalha, implications. system able to detect complex UC Santa Cruz organic molecules. The most This may be the dawn of a scientific Professor of Astronomy powerful telescopes in history will revolution, and you’re invited to take and Astrophysics, look through the atmospheres of part. UC Santa Cruz donors will former science lead exoplanets for gasses created by be critical to what happens next, of NASA’s living organisms. enabling scientists to commit to Kepler Mission new collaborations and providing tools and resources to accelerate their work. IT’S ALREADY HAPPENING HERE From the study of the forces that form stars and planets, to the search for exoplanets, to understanding what markers of life we can see across the galaxy, UC Santa Cruz researchers are already at work building the astrobiology field: • tracing the history of life on Earth • pushing ever closer to understanding how life’s building blocks form • documenting the processes that shape planets in the solar system • filling in the whole picture of planets beyond the solar system • building the instruments the world uses to explore the cosmos Origin of life WE BUILD THE TOOLS A team led by David Deamer has synthesized RNA-like molecules by We build the technology that will make this search possible. reproducing the conditions UC Santa Cruz is home to the world-class instrumentation in which life might form in facilities of UCO/Lick Observatories and its Center for hot springs. This challenges the consensus that life on Adaptive Optics. Our inventions help observatories around Earth originated near deep the globe see farther and clearer. We have a long record sea volcanic vents—and could be a step toward of overcoming the challenges involved with making identifying the type of observations of objects light years away. planetary surface astrobiol- ogists will look for. PIONEERS IN ASTROBIOLOGY Professor Natalie Batalha A global leader in astrobiology, Batalha oversaw the scientific work of the Kepler Mission. Under her direction Kepler exponentially expanded the num- ber of known exoplanets and the estimate of potentially habitable planets— sparking the worldwide acceleration of astrobiology. Batalha led the analysis that yielded the discovery in 2011 of Kepler 10b, the first confirmed rocky planet outside our solar system. In 2017, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people on Earth. Batalha, who earned her Ph.D. in astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, left NASA to establish and direct the UC Santa Cruz Astrobiology Initiative. Professor Ruth Murray-Clay Professor Jonathan Fortney Professor Zac Zimmer The inaugural holder of the Gunderson An expert on the atmospheres and An accomplished analyst of the Chair in Theoretical Astrophysics, interiors of giant planets, Fortney interplay between scientific discov- Murray-Clay’s influential investigations directs the UC Santa Cruz–based ery, science fiction, and world history, of planetary systems and international exoplanet collaboration, Zimmer’s current focus is on literary atmospheres have earned widespread the Other Worlds Laboratory. He has representations of the 16th-century recognition, including the American helped NASA interpret spacecraft conquest of the Americas–Earth’s Astronomical Society’s Helen B. observations of Saturn and Jupiter as most relevant historical experience Warner Prize for Astronomy. well as Kepler’s exoplanet data. of an initial encounter. Emeritus Physical and Biological Sciences Dean Frank Drake created the Drake Equation to represent of the challenges in predicting how hard it would be to detect extraterrestrial civilizations—five decades later, it continues to inspire the search for life. The Drake equation Kepler produced strong evidence regarding the percentage of stars with planets, f(p), and the portion that might be habitable, n(e). * = x x x x x x N R fp ne fl fi fc L Number of Rate of Fraction Number of Fraction Fraction of Fraction of Length of technologi- formation of those planets, per of suitable life-bearing civilizations time such cally of stars in stars with solar system, planets on planets on that develop civilizations advanced the galaxy planetary with an which life which a technology release civilizations systems environment actually intelligent that releases detectable in the Milky suitable appears life emerges detectable signals into Way galaxy for life signs of their space existence into space UC SANTA CRUZ ASTROBIOLOGY The James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to launch in 2021, starting a new era in the study of exoplanet atmospheres. On Earth, a new generation of 30-meter reflector telescopes with the potential to find evidence of life on planets orbiting some of the closest stars will begin operating in the next decade. Engineers are hard at work planning the space missions beyond Webb, equipped to detect the chemical signatures of life beyond the solar system. Closer to home, robotic spacecraft Diversifying the sciences will further explore Mars as well as Diverse perspectives lead to Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s greater innovation. UC Santa moons Titan and Enceladus, seeking Cruz established the nation’s signs of life. first endowed faculty position With influential achievements in dedicated to making astronomy exoplanet science, life sciences, and more inclusive. Astrobiology is planetary science, UC Santa Cruz committed to achieving this researchers have made many of the vision through greater discoveries that established this field. accessibility, community building, diverse mentorship, As new tools expand the possibilities of Reporting the work inquiry, UC Santa Cruz Astrobiology is and inclusive practices. The UC Santa Cruz Science Communi- ensured continued leadership. Connecting lessons to cation program is world renowned for Training the next generation of sustainability on Earth training top science journalists. Alumni astrobiologists Astrobiology will teach us the limits include reporters and editors for NPR, National Geographic, Ars Technica, The search for life is multigenerational. of planetary habitability, informing us and Scientific American. UC Santa The students we train today will be about our own biosphere and Earth’s Cruz Astrobiology’s first fellow will the pioneers of tomorrow. fragility and uniqueness. Our closest be a Science Communication student UC Santa Cruz will tune and focus its planetary neighbors appear lifeless. In who will further this program and outstanding, cutting-edge curriculum its low-pressure, low-surface-gravity communicate astrobiology findings and create new courses, building an environment, Mars has been unable to the public. interdisciplinary degree program in to hold onto surface liquid water astrobiology. Graduate student while our sister planet, Venus, is hot Science and art fellowships will create opportunities enough to melt lead on its surface. As we work to understand the limits At the nexus of science and art is for thesis research co-mentored by wonder. Understanding the meaning faculty in multiple departments. of planetary habitability, we will learn about the sustainability of life here on of the science and conveying it to a Sharing discoveries planet Earth. general audience will demand creative forms of expression. Artists in resi- Public lectures and engaging events The ethics of exploration dence will work closely with scientists will provide opportunities for audiences to share the significance of their to connect with researchers and their What does humanity’s history with findings effectively and accurately. findings and to share in the achievements “colonization” teach us about our and progress of the field. future in space exploration? How can Truly interdisciplinary we be good planetary stewards for Earth, as well as other planets we Astrobiology at UC Santa Cruz might visit? The UC Santa Cruz Center brings together scientists, scholars, for Public Philosophy excels at unpack- and artists. As we grow humanity’s ing and sparking discussion on human- knowledge, we will spark conversa- kind’s most difficult questions. tions through which society evolves. Life in our solar system? In the next decade new robotic missions will launch toward Mars, Jupiter’s moon Europa, and Saturn’s moon Titan.
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