2024-25 Neil Graham Lecture: The Search for Signs of Life Beyond Earth in the New Space Era скачать в хорошем качестве

2024-25 Neil Graham Lecture: The Search for Signs of Life Beyond Earth in the New Space Era

Recorded Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in the Paul Cadario Conference Centre at Croft Chapter House University College University of Toronto 15 King's College Circle Toronto, ON M5S 3H7 Presented by Professor Sara Seager For thousands of years, inspired by the star-filled dark night sky, people have wondered what lies beyond Earth. Today, the search for signs of life is a key motivator in exoplanet and solar system research. The discovery of biosignature gases in exoplanet atmospheres and biomarkers in situ on Solar System bodies has become a central goal. This search is fueled in part by the unprecedented capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope, despite challenges such as faint signals, unknown planetary environments, and contamination from host stars. Concurrently, the enigmatic clouds of Venus, rich in sulfuric acid yet potentially hospitable to complex chemicals essential for life, rekindle debates over habitability in our Solar System and beyond. The innovative practices of the New Space era, with emphasis on agility, focus, and cutting-edge technology, are poised to significantly accelerate our progress in these quests. But we must strategically navigate both challenges and opportunities to edge us closer to answering one of humanity's most profound questions: Are we alone in the universe? The Neil Graham Lecture series was established through the generosity of Mr. Neil Graham, a 1930 graduate of University College and a former teacher of high school mathematics.