Search for Extraterrestrial Life:
Scientific Questions and Goals
Group 2: Christine Cho, Han Lin Rong, Jessica Williams
Scientific Questions
? Who is out there?
? What are they like and what are their fundamental values
and priorities?
? What do they know about us?
? What sorts of detectable communications might they be
using?
Scientific Questions Continued
? What role will they play in our long-term future?
? How can we benefit from this interaction in terms of solving
some of our present issues such as cancer and global
warming?
? What sort of information would be garnered by SEL
scientists?
Scientific Goals
Discover the Nature of Life throughout the Universe.
Help Develop Scientific Theory.
Provide Solutions to Earth’s Future Problems.
Get Philosophical Answers.
Discovering the Nature of Life
Understand the
requirements for life to
exist.
Distinguish between what
biological components are
inherent to all life vs. what
we have developed due to
the Earth’s environment.
Study the extraterrestrials
biochemistry, sensory
organs, and physiology.
Help Develop Scientific Theory
Help determine if universe
expansion is slowing or it will
recycle itself.
Develop potential technologies
to travel faster than light.
Synthesize new protein enzymes
with desirable characteristics.
Better estimate Drake Equation
coefficients.
Better understand the nature of
climate on terrestrial planets.
Solving Earth’s Future Problems
Existing life forms may provide cues to longevity.
Discover alternative places to live.
Solve ecological and pollution problems.
Provide insights into unknown possibilities.
Getting Philosophical Answers
Are we alone?
Accepting the existence of
extraterrestrial life.
Finding new art forms that
would enrich life.
References
Tough, A. "Positive Consequences of SETI before Detection."
Acta Astronautica 42.10-12 (1998): 745-48. Print.
Shapiro, Robert, and Dirk Schulze-Makuch. "The Search for Alien
Life in Our Solar System: Strategies and Priorities." Astrobiology
9.4 (2009): 335-43. Print.
Harp, G. R., and G. S. Shostak. "Beings on Earth: Is That All There
Is?" Proceedings of the IEEE 100 (2013): 1000-017. Print.
Cleland, Carol E. "Life without Definitions." Synthese 185.1 (2012):
125-44. Print.
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