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.OPENING MY THIRD EYE.
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| pronouns | labels | names |
|---|---|---|
| any includng neos, ask 4 specific preferences or use whatever u want i dont really care tbh ^_^ | i dont use labels usually bc its very hard to describe how Gender is and how Sexuality is. its easiest to say genderfluid & omni but it doesnt QUIIITE fit so just call me a fag idk...im whatever u assume i guess | u can generally call me astor or goo, i ADORE nicknames <3 n then if yk me as one of the many previous ones from the questioning phase js lmk first |
there used 2 be like a chart here 4 terms u can use 4 me or whyyvr but its wrong n outdated. bc it changes consistently. just ask if yr worried but i honestly dont care. or see gender2
Astrobiology: A World Beyond our Own
For years, humanity has speculated about life outside our own. Humans have created theories of aliens on Mars, premises of microbial life on Europa, and Sci-Fi movies with fictional planets bearing as much as Earth does. Even so, the concept of even living off of our planet is moderately new. If researchers know that there are plenty of worlds in our galaxy alone, besides the 5,227 worlds scientists have confirmed, then where are all the aliens? (Eyes on Exoplanets, NASA) If only a fifth of the known planets we have inaugurated were Earth-sized and harbored water, following the principle of mediocrity, we would have made contact with intelligent life by now. Yet we have not, and we may never find living organisms outside our Earth, and there must be a reason. So, would find alien life in the future affect humanity, and how?
The Fermi Paradox, titled after Enrico Fermi, asks where extraterrestrial life may be. (Brennan) It covers astrobiology, the study of life outside our universe that merges multiple fields of study. (Angelo, Jr) There are many solutions to said question, but we cannot determine correctness until we discover life. The Great Filter theory states that discovering life other than ours on any other planet would be bad because it would imply that a huge deterrent would be ahead of us and would condemn human life as we know it. This deterrent would be the equivalent of pandemonium or Armageddon. It would wipe us all out. This theory uses the Kardashev scale - a method of ranking societies - and says that somewhere along that scale is a great filter that could wipe out life. Nikolai Kardashev, an avid astrophysicist, produced the Kardashev scale. This scale consists of 3 types, Type I (uses energy resources of a whole planet), Type II (uses energy sources of their star), and Type III (uses energy sources of the entire galaxy). A Type III civilization would be extremely easy to detect, even at extreme or vast distances and with our current technology. (http://abyss.uoregon.edu) There are many further theories, as well. To list them all would be a Sisyphean task. Another often brought up thing in astrobiology, the study of aliens somewhere else, is the principle of mediocrity: The notion that everything around the universe is about the same as anywhere else. There are four primary approaches to astrobiology. One is by sending rovers to other planets and testing samples. The second is by testing other planetary conditions within laboratories to see if life would form. There are also theories and probability equations, such as the Drake equation, N = R fp ne fl fi fc L. According to Lisa Yount, "N is the product of the rate of star formation (R), the fraction of stars that form planets (fp), the number of planets hospitable to life (ne), the fraction of those planets on which life develops (fl), the fraction of planets where life evolves into sentient beings (fi), the fraction of planets with sentient creatures capable of interstellar communication (fc), and the average amount of time that such a civilization remains detectable (L)." (Yount) Finally, there is SETI/CETI. SETI stands for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, while CETI is Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence. SETI generally has a more conservative direction: They do not send out signals but wait patiently for one. If we received a message, SETI would have no obligation to respond. Joseph A. Angelo, Jr, explains that “Contemporary SETI activities throughout the world have as their principal aim to listen for evidence of extraterrestrial radio signals generated by intelligent alien civilizations.” (Angelo, Jr, Life in the Universe) CETI, on the other hand, would respond and actively gives out radio signals into space.
Astrobiologists tend to agree that the habitable zone is vital to look for alien life. The habitable zone is the area around a star where water can exist as a liquid. Many use it as a reference for where life is. However, many astrobiologists, such as Kasting, disagree on this topic. They argue that the habitable zone does not concede everything needed for life. (Blaustein, 464) Therefore, we should consider that existence of life is, by no means, demarcated by the habitable zone. A planet being tidally locked would also be an issue. Being tidally locked is when one side is in the constant sun while the other is eternally in the moonlight. That would be a nearly incomprehensible impediment for lifeforms to overcome. There are also astrobiological chauvinisms, which state that life can only exist if it shares at least one common factor with us. For example, water chauvinism, or follow the water, states that for life to evolve, they must have water on the planet. There are many more examples of chauvinism. With all of this in mind, astrobiologists must be wary of their venture ahead.
We began physically exploring astrobiology with Mars landing rovers. These rovers usually took samples from the ground on Mars. We tested these samples to detect microbial life, yet we found nothing. (Angelo, Jr) The search for life began far earlier. Enrico Fermi, the asker of the famous "Where are all the aliens?" inquiry, proposed the Fermi Paradox at a conference with a few colleagues in the 1950s. The records of this meeting are lost, but we know that distinction is his. His line of reasoning is as tails.
Our galaxy is some 13.6 billion (109) years old and contains perhaps 100 to 400 billion stars. If just one advanced civilization had arisen in this period of time and attained the technology necessary to travel between the stars, that advanced civilization could have diffused through or swept across the entire galaxy within 50 million to 100 million years—leaping from star to star, starting up other civilizations, and spreading intelligent life everywhere. But as we look around, we do not see a galaxy teeming with intelligent life, nor do we have any technically credible evidence of visitations or contact with alien civilizations, so we must conclude that perhaps no such civilization has ever arisen in the 13.6-billion-year history of the galaxy. Therefore, the paradox: Although we might expect to see signs of a universe filled with intelligent life (on the basis of statistics and the number of possible "life sites," given the existence of some 100 to 400 billion stars in just this galaxy alone), we have seen no evidence of such. Are we, then, really alone? If we are not alone—where are they? (Angelo, Jr.)
This question started up years of debates that still have yet to end today. Some explain it with theories that attack variables in the Drake equation. Some, instead, look deep into their laboratories and replicate the conditions of certain exoplanets. Other things, like SETI/CETI, have radio needles set up worldwide with open ears for humanity to hear. For example, in the 1930s, Karl Guthe Jansky, while working for Graham Bell, picked up radio waves coming from the center of the Milky Way galaxy. He is today considered the father of radio astronomy. According to Joseph Angelo, Jr, “The classic paper by Giuseppe Cocconi (1914–2008) and Philip Morrison (1915–2005) entitled ‘Searching for Interstellar Communications’ (Nature, 1959) is often regarded as the start of modern SETI.” Many SETI projects started afterward. Even earlier than Enrico Fermi, Frank Drake was born in 1930 and claimed he had been mesmerized by the idea of life on another planet since age eight. In college, he heard a well-known astronomer speak of his dreams. It inspired him greatly. (Yount) Thus, in 1961, he came up with the Drake Equation and started many projects. Drake died on September 2nd, 2022, at the age of 92. These people have contributed to astrobiology heavily, along with many more.
Astrobiology (or Exobiology) is a heavily inclusive term; that may explain why so many people have contributed to it. It looks at a few subjects, such as radiology, astrophysics, optical astronomy, biology, geology, astrometry, et cetera. It includes uncovering stars, calculating their habitable zone, learning what makes up their atmosphere, transmitting signals, looking through observatories, et cetera. Some people may dedicate their lives to this all-inclusive, expansive field of study. Any search for life, however, requires us to understand our own. Life is, as we know it, structured and contains information, must be able to replicate itself, and experiences a few random differences within times periods to apply to Darwinian context or survival of the fittest. (Angelo, Jr) However, there may be an issue if we find some obscure form of life that is not as we know it. For instance, if we were to find something identical to any other form of itself as if they all evolved as a group. Or, we could discover another form of life that has to rely on another creature to multiply. In these scenarios, we would have an analogous situation to the virus; Is it alive? Simple questions like this could continue years of debate about alien life. People may also try to replicate otherworldly habitats within laboratories. So far, these tests have shown that microbial life would feasibly grow. However, we have not found any microbial life on the only planet we have actively searched: Mars. Some are still desiring life below the surface of Mars, while others negate it. One day we might locate microbial life with more futuristic technology and venture out of our solar system. But the day is not today.
Though some may view the search for aliens as silly and unreasonable, astrobiology affects us all. In many ways, life would indefinitely affect - or even hurt - our planet and the life (us) it harbors. For example, regarding the Great Filter theory, finding life would increase the chances of the filter being ahead of us. Or, it could mean war if we seem threatening to an intelligent life species. It could also mean we are further along the Kardashev scale. That would be a good thing, as further advancements in human society would likely improve our lifestyle and chance of survival. It could also mean we are doomed if the Great Filter exists. However, depending on the size of the filter, humanity would likely stick through it. Even if it sent us back millions of years, a million years is a blink of an eye in universal time. Some, on the contrary, stick to the Star Trek theory. This theory implies an extensive, intergalactic group waiting for us to be ready for them. That would indicate massive improvements for us and our planet. However, finding alien life might result in the inability to spread elsewhere due to its abundance. Thus, overpopulation is a huge issue associated with astrobiology.
Astrobiology is a very untried and growing subject. We still have much to discover in our future. After all, we are only 0.72 on the Kardashev scale. Anyone who could detect us would have likely contacted us by now unless they deemed us dangerous. We may be alone in the heavens, or we may be one of many civilizations. There have been great minds who contributed to the study of astrobiology, such as Enrico Fermi, Frank Drake, and the brilliant minds at NASA. Whisps of solar wind fly past us, and the sun shines bright among billions of stars and supernovae and black holes, filling up our universe, and it might be all to ourselves. It is up to us to decide if we want to share it. Either way, as of now, it is just a matter of perspective. Would finding alien life affect humanity? Would it affect us negatively or positively? For now, these speculations are up to you.Works Cited
Angelo, Joseph A. “How Scientists Search for Alien Life”, 2007. Science Online, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=101164&itemid=WE40&articleId=530140. Accessed 6 Dec. 2022.
Angelo, Joseph A. “Life in the Universe”, Facts On File, 2007. Science Online, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=101164&itemid=WE40&articleId=530120. Accessed 6 Dec. 2022.
BLAUSTEIN, RICHARD. “Advances in Astrobiology.” BioScience, vol. 65, no. 5, May 2015, pp. 460–65. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv043. Accessed 6 Dec. 2022
Brennan, P. (2020, September 22). “Among Trillions of Planets, Are We 'Home Alone?'. Exoplanet Exploration: Planets Beyond our Solar System.” https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/news/1658/among-trillions-of-planets-are-we-home-alone/ Accessed 6 Dec. 2022
Brennan, P. (2021, March 9). Life in the Universe: What are the Odds? Exoplanet Exploration: Planets Beyond our Solar System. https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/news/1675/life-in-the-universe-what-are-the-odds/ Accessed 6 Dec. 2022
“Chauvinism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chauvinism. Accessed 6 Dec. 2022.
Fermi's Paradox. (n.d.). 403 Forbidden. http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/cosmo/lectures/lec28.htmlAccessed 6 Dec. 2022
Hendricks, S. (2018, June 14). “Dark Forest theory: A terrifying explanation of why we haven’t heard from aliens yet.” Big Think. https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/the-dark-forest-theory-a-terrifying-explanation-of-why-we-havent-heard-from-aliens-yet/ Accessed 6 Dec. 2022
Hughes, A. (2022, May 18). Kardashev Scale: What is it and where is Earth listed? BBC Science Focus Magazine - science, nature, technology, Q&As - BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/kardashevs-scale/ Accessed 6 Dec. 2022
McDonald, R. (2020, October 29). How Many Habitable Planets are Out There? SETI Institute. https://www.seti.org/press-release/how-many-habitable-planets-are-out-there
Overbye, D. (2022, September 5). “Frank Drake, Who Led Search for Life on Other Planets, Dies at 92.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/05/science/space/frank-drake-dead.html Accessed 6 Dec. 2022
Yount, Lisa. “Frank Drake and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.” Modern Astronomy, Chelsea House, 2006. Science Online, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=101164&itemid=WE40&articleId=370814. Accessed 6 Dec. 2022.
also heres a thing my boyfie wrote about how to land a plane its good go read it(autism won)
im an artist!!! my comissions are open go look at my insta
im making a comic. hopefully maybe. help? lmk :3 id be down 2 have assistance mayb :3 i still have a long ways to go b4 im ready 2 start(art is hard)
๑ RIDE THE SPIRAL TILL THE END ๑
