Introduction Life: Here? There? Elsewhere?
Preface
Are we alone in the Milky Way Galaxy? When many people hear about the search for intelligent life on other planets, they think about science fiction, or tabloid stories of UFO abductions. The reality is that many scientists take the possibility of life on other worlds seriously, and some have undertaken the difficult task of finding out if we are the only intelligent beings in our galaxy. Astronomer Frank Drake proposed the Drake Equation as a method of estimating the number of civilizations in our galaxy that may produce radio waves which we could detect with radio telescopes. The number of civilizations that we might someday contact depends upon the answers to several questions:
- How many stars form in our galaxy each year?
- How many of those stars are similar to our own Sun?
- What percentage of stars have planets?
- What is the average number of planets in a system?
- What percentage of planets are Earth-like, and suitable for life?
- On what fraction of these planets does life develop?
- What percentage of life-bearing planets evolve intelligent civilizations?
- What percentage of intelligent civilizations develop the radio technology?
- What is the average lifetime of an intelligent civilization?
Scientists pursuing these questions work in many fields, including astronomy, geology, biology, anthropology, and the history of science. Several projects to listen for radio signals produced by other civilizations on distant planets have been conducted. The most ambitious of these has been undertaken by the SETI Institute research staff, at first in cooperation with NASA and later using privately donated funds. The SETI team is "listening" for intelligent signals. The interdisciplinary makeup and highly motivational nature of the search for intelligent life prompted the NSF to support the development of the Life In The Universe Curriculum Project . Designed by curriculum developers working with teachers and NASA scientists, this program reflects the way science is really done, through observations, experiments, building models, conducting simulations, and by using imagination. It brings the excitement of searching for life beyond Earth into the classroom. This search is a unifying theme that can unleash the imagination of students through integrated lessons in physical, life, space, and social sciences.
Life: Here? There? Elsewhere? The Search For Life On Venus and Mars, engages your students in a search for life or the signs of life within our solar system. Your students will learn that "life" does not have to be intelligent, or even easily recognizable as life. Your students will "explore" Venus and Mars, and learn why these two planets are the only ones in our solar system that may harbor life. Each step of the way, your students will work in cooperative groups and build on the knowledge of previous activities to help them understand the rich complexity of searching for life or signs of life on other planets. Life: Here? There? Elsewhere? is the first of two guides designed for grades 7, 8, and 9. The second, entitled Project Haystack, focuses on SETI, the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence. Your students explore the vast celestial "Haystack" in a search for a "Needle", the "Needle" being a radio signal, a sign of intelligent life. With Project Haystack, your students move beyond our own solar system and look to other stars for radio signals that may indicate intelligent life. Either guide can be used independently.
Adapted from Life: Here? There? Elsewhere?, SETI Institute, Teacher Ideas Press, Englewood, CO, 1(800)237-6124
Return to description of lessons on 1995 CMEX Mars Sampler CD ROM