"New technique finds Earth-like planet"

Submitted by clallen on Wed, 2006-01-25 23:32. weekly discussions

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/01/25/space.planet.reut/index.html

The linked article covered about the discovery of a new planet with a atmosphere much like ours. The planet is habitable enough to be considered "Earth-like" which adds to the discussion, "Are we alone?" Aside from that the main point that the story tried to get across was how this planet was discovered.

The way this new method works is using a network of telescopes to focus on light from distant stars and waiting for the opportunity for another star massive enough to move infront of the observed star and the telescope so the light from observed star is magnified. The light is bent around the interfearing star the same way light is bent from water, and due to the magnifying nature it is possible to observe these new planets.

This new method of discovering planets actually makes it easier to find more habital planets because the orbit of the planet has to be close enough to the star to show up. Planets that orbit too far away from the start wont be seen with this new method.

With all these new discoveries of habital planets, and new methods in finding habital planets are you starting to open up to a possibility that there can be life of any form living on these 'habital' planets? With over a 100 billion stars in our own galaxy, and more galaxies with an equal amount of galaxies in our universe, do you feel that is rational to say that there is definately life elsewher, or do you feel that we are on earth for a reason, and its just us in an endless pool of space. Are you thinking contrary to both those philosophies and think that our univerese is so large that we are so insignificant that it doesn't matter wether we find new stars or planets because we are just 'along for the ride'?

previous forum topic | next forum topic | printer friendly version | 90 reads

Life may be closer than we expect

Submitted by eleider on Thu, 2006-01-26 10:09.

The possiblility of life is much closer than most people notice. There is a strong possibility of life on a moon of Jupiter. Europa is a cold moon of Jupiter that recieved enough cosmic radiation to provide the moon with enough chemical energy to sustain life, provided that the ocean does circulate with the ice. Interestingly enough, there is proof that the water does circulate with the ice, because there are ridges where water pushes up through cracks in the ice, and at a rate quick enough to sustain life underneath. The other possible energy source for life is from gravitaional flexing, which means that the planet changes shape due to the gravitational force difference at the perihelion and apahelion. This solar flexing is postulated to be enough to cause underwater volcanos.
Both ice and underwater volcanos are able to sustain life on earth. There is extensive research going on at underwater vents and at the south pole to research the micro-organisms that reside there. This is relevent because these conditions are very similar to those that are measured and calculated on Europa.

As a side note, I dont think that the planet you refer to has been studied well enough to see an atmosphere. I sat in on a lecture by Dr. Michael Turner last year, and he talked about microlensing. It is a very good way to find planets of about earths mass, but then other methods need to be used to find any other information about these planets, such as atmospheric conditions.

aamazing discovery

Submitted by cburgess on Thu, 2006-01-26 12:38.

This amazing discovery would impact us expenetially if we had the technology to travel 20 trillion light years away, or just be able to have more solid proof. This new method of using several telescopes and using a star in front and behind to magnify the planet is a process that seems to have to many "X" factors to give alot of evidence.

Not Alone

Submitted by dralls on Thu, 2006-01-26 16:17.

I don't think it's rational to believe that we are alone. With so many galaxies similar to our own, it doesn't make sense that we are the only inhabitants. This artical only adds more proof that Earth isn't the only planet that can sustain life, and I am sure there are more planets out there just like it. Who knows, there may even be a parallel universe.

Planets

Submitted by dpochmar on Thu, 2006-01-26 20:30.

I think it's wonderful that our technology has come to this. It amazes me that we can discover these planets that are so far away.
These new advances absolutely astound me. It's great that there are scientists smart enough to make these discoveries.

It really makes me wonder if there is actually life in other galaxies. It may be narrow minded to have not thought of it before. It's sometimes hard to believe these ideas because they seem so far off. Most of us have a hard time believing things that we can't see. Hopefully one day we'll know for sure.

Other Life...I Think Yes

Submitted by browndt on Sat, 2006-01-28 12:41.

I think the universe is to large for anyone to say that there is not other life out there. I think that somewhere there is a planet out there with a whole civilization. Even though my thoughts are directed toward this point of view doesn't make me think our lives are any less significant. Each person's life is significant here on Earth. I think the real question here is whether or not we are apart of something bigger. Are we just a cell in something bigger? Much like the movie The Island, we only know the world as we have been introduced to it, and just because it is said to be a certain way doesn't mean thats how it actually is.

Life elsewhere

Submitted by awilson on Sat, 2006-01-28 22:21.

I think that there a possibility of life in places other than our universe. I also think that no matter how hard we search, we may never find these sorts of things. I think that it is also that we are so insignificant that it really doesn't matter. Our universe is just a speck of what is really out there.

ENGL 106

Navigation