essay on life on other planets
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It has been centuries now since humankind looked up to the sky and wondered, is there any other life out there apart from our own? Ever since that question has been asked, it’s been a mystery and many scientists and astronomers have come out with many theories about what lies out there and what they look like, if any exist. However, these theories will remain only as theories before someone can actually find evidence of what lies out there. Evidence that the scientists found might prove that humans are not alone in this universe or it also might not be true. Humans have created fiction of other life forms to fill out our curiosity of the unknown to us.Many scientists and astronomers are trying to find evidence of other living creatures and things out there in the universe. For example, NASA has discovered that there might be life on the fourth planet from the sun, Mars. According to NASA administrator Daniel S. Goldin issued a statement saying, “NASA has made a startling discovery.” He called the evidence “exciting, even compelling, but not conclusive…I want every to understand that we are not talking about ‘little green men.’ These are extremely small, single-cell creatures that somewhat resemble bacteria on Earth. There is no evidence or suggestion that any higher life form ever existed on Mars.” Many NASA’s scientists do back up their statements with evidence although other scientists do not agree with NASA’s announcement about life on Mars. Ever since NASA has discovered living things on Mars, Mars has been the center of attention in the world of science.Even before the discovery of extremely small, single-cell creatures that somewhat resemble bacteria on Earth, a group of scientists found a meteorite approximately “the size of a large Idaho’s potato” on the Antarctica ice field (Jaroff 60). The meteorite originated from Mars before it came to the Earth’s surface thousands of years ago. This was determined when scientists compared the composite of the meteorite with what Viking 1 and Viking 2 had collected. These probes were the first two probes that landed on Mars and analyzed the sample of the Mars soil and atmosphere. After this discovery was made, NASA scientists started to make several tests using a lot of sophisticated equipment. NASA scientists were very excited when they heard this meteorite came from Mars. What makes this finding even more interesting is that scientists found out that these remains consists of a group if carbonate globules. These carbonate globules are “a mineral that crystallizes in the presence of watera key ingredient for life” (Naeye 49).Bacteria on Earth also produce the same carbonate substances and that is why they were excited about it. Accompanying the carbonate was the substance called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which bacteria and other living things commonly produced. These substances (PAHs) are made up of hydrogen and carbon. Nevertheless, not all scientists agreed with this finding, because they said that the PAHs substance could occur in almost anywhere without having anything to do with life. For example, it could occur in a car exhaust or in a chicken on the grill (Shreeve 40).A group of scientists from New Mexico also conducted an experiment of their own on the same meteorite that NASA used but their results were different of those from NASA. They found no evidence or trace of life form in the particular rock (Fleck). They said that they did not find anything to suggest that there was life on Mars. According to Jim Papike ” ‘It [the result of our research’ doesn’t mean that they’re wrong’ UNM researcher Jim Papike said of the NASA claim that the meteorite contains evidence of the possibility of life on Mars. ‘But our dad gives no support for that’ ” (Fleck).Scientists also have theories about how life might have evolved on Mars billion of years ago. From the pictures and evidence that the probes collected, scientists said that there was no way for life to flourish on the surface of Mars today, but maybe there was life there billion of years ago. This is because the surface of Mars is contaminated with lethal carbon dioxide ice and surviving there is impossible for anything. Still, there is hope for life to exist there today, under the surface. Scientists’ theories said that after the water on the surface dried up, there was still water forming from underground and maybe this was enough for life to flourish there. Two probes called Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 were orbiting the planet when they witnessed what were similar to clouds on Earth. These clouds were formed when the carbon dioxide condensed from the surface. If there are clouds, there could surely be water no matter how much it is.
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For centuries, men have pondered the possibility of life on other planets and tried to prove its existence. Even before the first shuttle or probe was launched, stories of life on other planets and life invading our own planet, were published prolifically. Whether it’s a desire to connect with others or a burning curiosity to know whether we are truly alone, the question of life on other planets fascinates people from every walk of life.
An article on extraterrestrial life would not be complete without discussing Mars. Mars has been the biggest focus of the ongoing search for life on other planets for decades. This is not just a wild assumption or fancy; there are several reasons why scientists consider Mars the best place to look for extraterrestrial life. One reason why many people, including scientists, look to Mars as a possible source of life is because they believe there may be water on the planet. Since the telescope was first invented, astronomers have been able to see the channels in the terrain that look like canals or canyons. Finding water on a planet is vitally important to proving that life exists there because it acts as a solvent in chemical reactions for carbon-based life.
Most astronomers are looking for life that is carbon-based and similar to life on Earth. For instance, the habitable zone only applies to favorable conditions for supporting carbon-based life, and it is definitely possible for forms of life that do not need water to exist.
Astronomers do not limit themselves to our Solar System either, suggesting that we should look at different solar systems. Scientists are planning to use interferometry–an investigative technique that implements lasers, which is used in astronomy as well as other fields– to find planets in the habitable zones of other solar systems. Astronomers believe that there are hundreds of solar systems and thousands of planets, which means that statistically the odds are favorable for finding another planet that supports life. While NASA develops better probes, the search for life continues.
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