By: Nicole Willett On December 16, 2014 at the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco, a panel of scientists working on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover data announced what we have all been waiting decades to hear. John Grotzinger stated unequivocally, “…there is methane occasionally present in the atmosphere of Mars
Read MoreBy: Nicole Willett The Sun has an approximate lifespan of ten billion years. Most scientists believe we are about halfway through that life span. Recently scientists have stated that the Sun will begin its death throes in about 2.8 billion years. If humans behave in a way conducive to the health of the planet and
Read MoreBy: Dr. Steven Benner and Nicole Willett For many years, scientists have considered the model that life originated on Mars and was transported to Earth, rather than originating on Earth. This model turns on answers to the question: What molecular structures are necessary for biology to “switch on”, moving from an inanimate state to a
Read Moreby: Nicole Willett Astrobiology is a growing field in scientific research. It is the study of organisms that live under extreme conditions. These organisms are called extremophiles. Astrobiology encompasses many different sciences, including biology, astronomy, chemistry, and geology. One goal of astrobiology is to search for habitable environments outside of Earth, on planets such as Mars. Another is to
Read MoreRecently NASA’s Dr. John Grotzinger has made some exciting statements regarding the recent discoveries on Mars by the Curiosity Rover. Later the news broke that there has not been any “definitive evidence of Martian organics.” The results in question will be announced December 3rd at 9:00 am PST / 12:00 pm EST at the American Geophysical Union Conference
Read More