Explore novel search methods for detecting primitive and intelligent life beyond Earth in this comprehensive lecture by Harvard astronomer Abraham (Avi) Loeb. Delve into cutting-edge techniques for identifying potential life forms in our solar system and around nearby stars, examining the possibility of early life after the Big Bang and its long-term cosmic prospects. Learn about astronomers' vocabulary, biology far from Earth, detection techniques for artificially-illuminated objects, and methods for identifying bio-markers in planetary atmospheres. Discover upcoming technological advancements like the James Webb Space Telescope and Extremely Large Telescopes, and investigate intriguing concepts such as industrial pollution detection, panspermia, and the transfer of life between galaxies. Gain insights into the habitable epoch of the universe and the potential for life in unexpected places, from Mars and Europa to white dwarf systems.
Overview
Syllabus
SCIENCE LECTURE
Astronomer's Vocabulary . Life is associated with chemical reactions in liquid water which produce gases, like O2 and Methane, at abundances vastly out of chemical equilibrium
Biology Far From the Earth . Life in the solar system (early life in liquid water on Mars, bacteria in Enceladus, fish in Europa)
Detection Technique for Artificially-Illuminated Objects in the Outer Solar System and Beyond
Ballistic Missile Early Warning Systems
Detecting bio-markers fingerprints: Spectroscopy of Planetary Atmospheres During Transits of their Host Star
Transits of Nearby Stars by Earth-like Planets in the Habitable Zone
Abundance of planets
Detecting Biomarkers In 5 years: James Webb Space Telescope
Extremely Large Telescopes (24-39 meters)
White Dwarf = 1% R Sun
Detection of Oxygen (Loeb & Maoz arxiv:1301.4994)
Industrial Pollution
Our Archaeological Dig
Thinking Inside the Simulation Box
THE DARK AGES of the Universe
The Habitable Epoch of the universe
Panspermia: proof of concept with Tardigrades
Transfer of Life Between Galaxies: Ejection of Fast Stars
Taught by
Harvard University
