Blog #8: Nasa: Alien Life May Be Found Within 10 Years on Other Planets

Nasa: Alien Life May Be Found Within 10 Years on Other Planets

One of the greatest discoveries that could possibly be made may be made in the next decade or so, and that is the discovery of extraterrestrial life. Life on other planets has been predicted for decades now and appear in almost every science fiction story and show. Science Fiction has longed helped to inspire scientists to develop technologies and study ideas presented in the shows. This can be the same for the search for extraterrestrial life which as the chief scientist Ellen Stofan at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces.

Since life as we know it is fundamentally made up of the most common elements found in the universe it is improbable to think that life on Earth is the only life found within the universe. This is essentially what Stofan is saying. We have the technology already to do just this such as the proper rovers and satellites in space looking for certain gases, molecules, and emissions that would give credence to the idea that life may be found on that particular planet.

The life that we are most likely to find in the universe are microbial life, at least in our solar system. These are expected to be found on the moons in our solar system that have liquid oceans of water underneath their systems such as Europa and Enceladus. These moons most likely have oceans of liquid water underneath their crust at temperatures of around 200°F which really gives scientists hope for finding life since that can be related to the immense amount of life found at and around hydrothermal vents in the oceans here on Earth.

We currently have our rovers on Mars, and another one launching in 2020 which are currently using various technologies to detect life in the ancient riverbeds and among the rocks. We are also planning on sending a rover to Europa soon in the hopes of finding life among the water plumes of water that cover the surface. The probability is high that we will find life and in terms of scientific discovery it will one of the greatest things we could have ever found.


Ryan Campbell
11:26
April 10, 2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/32216869