Astrobiology 2 (Astrobiology)
Science Capstone Course
This course is an exploration of the study of Astrobiology (a combination of astronomy and biology), a relatively new field of science that is essentially a logical investigation of the possibility of life on other worlds, based on knowledge we have acquired relating to the existence of life on our own planet- the Earth. Although it is designed for students who have taken all the other Sky Islands core science courses (Plant Biology, Earth Science, and Ecobiology), or have some background experience in biology/ ecology, astronomy, earth science, and other areas of study- including basic chemistry, cellular biology, and evolutionary biology- it is not necessary. The goal of the course is to understand how the ingredients of life are produced and recycled in the universe, how those ingredients were incorporated into our solar system and the Earth, how life originated and flourished on the Earth, and then apply that knowledge towards which areas of our solar system or beyond may be capable of supporting life as well, and how we may find it.
Final Project:
One of the goals of Astrobiology is to identify those characteristics that make a planet or environment habitable to life, as well as what the nature of life on Earth is and how it has evolved up to this point. This gives scientists a template for both imagining and finding life on other worlds. Students will incorporate all of the major areas of study in this course to create their own habitable world and solar system, and to design the habitats and organisms on it. The project must be scientifically feasible and based on the information presented in the course, as well as outside research. In addition, it must contain both a written and a visual component. For more specific information, grading criteria and rubrics, and a list of due dates, refer to the Final Project Guidelines.
Final Project:
One of the goals of Astrobiology is to identify those characteristics that make a planet or environment habitable to life, as well as what the nature of life on Earth is and how it has evolved up to this point. This gives scientists a template for both imagining and finding life on other worlds. Students will incorporate all of the major areas of study in this course to create their own habitable world and solar system, and to design the habitats and organisms on it. The project must be scientifically feasible and based on the information presented in the course, as well as outside research. In addition, it must contain both a written and a visual component. For more specific information, grading criteria and rubrics, and a list of due dates, refer to the Final Project Guidelines.
Unit One: Introduction to Astrobiology
Objectives:
Introduction to the field of astrobiology, learn how to distinguish between science and pseudoscience and how to debunk pseudoscience, overview of basic principles and theories in astrobiology
Handouts/ Materials:
Course Syllabus, Final Project Guidelines, 'How Many Worlds Might Harbor Life?', 'Pseudoscience and Skeptical Thinking'
Assignments/ Activities:
How Many Worlds Might Harbor Life? Questions, Pseudoscience Article Activity
Supplementary Links:
How would we recognize alien life if we saw it?
How aliens might see Earth
Astronomers looked for alien civilization in the 1,300 closest stars- here's what they found
TESS mission spots potentially habitable Earth-size planet
Here's why Earth-like planets may be common
NASA confirms Milky Way holds over 300 million habitable planets
Astronomers confirm water vapor in exoplanet's atmosphere
Forget the habitable exoplanets- here are the galaxy's freaks
What astronomers can learn from hot jupiters
The discovery of alien life is coming much sooner than you think
NASA chief scientist says we're close to finding life on Mars but 'not ready'
How would society react if the Europa Clipper discovered life?
Two potentially habitable planets found in our backyard
Mars colonists will mutate really fast
Why Mars colonists may never be able to interbreed with Earth humans
A comprehensive list of topics considered to be pseudoscience
Six tips to spot fake science news
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Introduction to the field of astrobiology, learn how to distinguish between science and pseudoscience and how to debunk pseudoscience, overview of basic principles and theories in astrobiology
Handouts/ Materials:
Course Syllabus, Final Project Guidelines, 'How Many Worlds Might Harbor Life?', 'Pseudoscience and Skeptical Thinking'
Assignments/ Activities:
How Many Worlds Might Harbor Life? Questions, Pseudoscience Article Activity
Supplementary Links:
How would we recognize alien life if we saw it?
How aliens might see Earth
Astronomers looked for alien civilization in the 1,300 closest stars- here's what they found
TESS mission spots potentially habitable Earth-size planet
Here's why Earth-like planets may be common
NASA confirms Milky Way holds over 300 million habitable planets
Astronomers confirm water vapor in exoplanet's atmosphere
Forget the habitable exoplanets- here are the galaxy's freaks
What astronomers can learn from hot jupiters
The discovery of alien life is coming much sooner than you think
NASA chief scientist says we're close to finding life on Mars but 'not ready'
How would society react if the Europa Clipper discovered life?
Two potentially habitable planets found in our backyard
Mars colonists will mutate really fast
Why Mars colonists may never be able to interbreed with Earth humans
A comprehensive list of topics considered to be pseudoscience
Six tips to spot fake science news
Supplementary Films:
Unit Two: Elements of Life and Galactic Recycling in the Universe
Objectives:
Learn about characteristics and processes that occur in the sun and other stars, understand star life cycles, characteristics and types of galaxies, as well as the role of galaxies and stars in producing and recycling heavy elements
Handouts/ Materials:
'Why Does the Sun Shine?', 'Star Life Cycles', Star Life Cycle Group Project Guidelines, 'Galaxy Q and A'
Assignments/ Activities:
The Universe: Secrets of the Sun Questions, H-R Diagram Activity, Why Does the Sun Shine? Questions, Final Project Pt. I (Star), Binder Check 1, Unit Quiz One, Star Life Cycles Reading Activity, Star Life Cycle Group Project, Galaxy Graphic Organizer, Galaxy Questions
Supplementary Links:
NASA's Space Weather Prediction Center- Great realtime solar footage
Highest ever resolution video taken of the sun is mesmerizing
Listen to the sound of solar storms hitting our magnetic field!
Good website on the structure of the Sun, with nice links to the other objects in the Solar System
See how a massive supernova made the elements of life
Take a 3D tour of a space cloud filled with baby stars
Interactive website where you can create different stars and test their orbital stability
Good website with data about the habitable zone distances and other info for each star type
Why Type K stars may be our best bet at finding alien life
Another article about 'orange dwarfs' and their ability to support life
Wikipedia list of star names- click on each to find its characteristics
Interactive H-R Diagram
Cool video on how the H-R Diagram is used
What happens when a star dies? (video)
What our sun's death will look like, in pictures
Carbon's interstellar journey to Earth
Single neutron star merger supplied half the solar system's plutonium
Two different supernovae provided the material that made our solar system
Exoplanet core orbiting a dead star gives clues to Earth's future
Massive superbubbles photographed in distant galaxy
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Learn about characteristics and processes that occur in the sun and other stars, understand star life cycles, characteristics and types of galaxies, as well as the role of galaxies and stars in producing and recycling heavy elements
Handouts/ Materials:
'Why Does the Sun Shine?', 'Star Life Cycles', Star Life Cycle Group Project Guidelines, 'Galaxy Q and A'
Assignments/ Activities:
The Universe: Secrets of the Sun Questions, H-R Diagram Activity, Why Does the Sun Shine? Questions, Final Project Pt. I (Star), Binder Check 1, Unit Quiz One, Star Life Cycles Reading Activity, Star Life Cycle Group Project, Galaxy Graphic Organizer, Galaxy Questions
Supplementary Links:
NASA's Space Weather Prediction Center- Great realtime solar footage
Highest ever resolution video taken of the sun is mesmerizing
Listen to the sound of solar storms hitting our magnetic field!
Good website on the structure of the Sun, with nice links to the other objects in the Solar System
See how a massive supernova made the elements of life
Take a 3D tour of a space cloud filled with baby stars
Interactive website where you can create different stars and test their orbital stability
Good website with data about the habitable zone distances and other info for each star type
Why Type K stars may be our best bet at finding alien life
Another article about 'orange dwarfs' and their ability to support life
Wikipedia list of star names- click on each to find its characteristics
Interactive H-R Diagram
Cool video on how the H-R Diagram is used
What happens when a star dies? (video)
What our sun's death will look like, in pictures
Carbon's interstellar journey to Earth
Single neutron star merger supplied half the solar system's plutonium
Two different supernovae provided the material that made our solar system
Exoplanet core orbiting a dead star gives clues to Earth's future
Massive superbubbles photographed in distant galaxy
Supplementary Films:
Unit Three: Our Solar System
Objectives:
Learn about the solar system’s formation, patterns, and characteristics; overview of planetary geology and planetary science, survey the planets and moons in our solar system with an eye towards potential habitability
Handouts/ Materials:
'Basics of Our Solar System', 'Terrestrial and Jovian Planets'
Assignments/ Activities:
Solar System Walkthrough Activity, Basics of Our Solar System Questions, Binder Check 2, Midterm Exam, Final Project Pt. II (Solar System), The Universe: Mars- The Red Planet Questions, Earth: The Biography- Rare Planet Questions, Terrestrial and Jovian Planets Questions, Final Project Pt. III (Planet)
Supplementary Links:
Here's a few websites that will be really useful for Part II, III, and IV of your final projects:
Simulation where you can test orbital stability of planets in a solar system
Calculator where you can identify the habitable zones around binary stars
NASA Exoplanet Travel Bureau explorer
The Habitable Zone Gallery
Habitable Exoplanets Catalog
Open exoplanet catalog
List of Potentially Habitable Exoplanets
10 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life
Guide to the most habitable exoplanets
The Extrasolar Planet Encyclopedia
List of multiplanetary systems
Gravity simulator for different planets and systems
23 exoplanets that could be a second earth
Planet map generator
How small is too small for a habitable planet?
Eyeball planets might exist, and they're as creepy as they sound
The closest star to our sun has a planet in the habitable zone
Water world 'super-Earths' could have insanely deep oceans
Exoplanet Trappist-1e could be a habitable water world
Solving the mystery of our solar system's 'great divide'
Listen to the eerie, real-life sounds of every planet in our solar system
Astronomers have found the first evidence of tectonic activity on an exoplanet
Researchers theorize worlds with underground oceans could support life
Breathable atmospheres may be common throughout the universe
Were Mars and Venus ever living planets?
How a habitable Venus could become hell
Venus was potentially habitable until a mysterious event occurred
Evidence suggests maybe life is on Venus- how would that be possible?
Pieces of Theia inside Earth are millions of times larger than Mount Everest
What if the moon disappeared tomorrow?
What living on Earth would be like without the moon
Why Mars is red and dead
First active fault zone found on Mars
Rivers flowed on Mars until 1 billion years ago
We now have a good idea of when Mars lost its water
Astounding amount of water found beneath Mars' north pole
Salty waters on Mars could host Earth-like life
Scientists glimpse Titan's terrain for the first time
First global map of Titan reveals its secrets
Scientists find more organic molecules coming from Enceladus
Enceladus' ocean might have the right conditions for life
Jupiter is a jerk
Interactive tour of the solar system
Another good interactive tour
National Geographic solar system tour
Guide to the planets: Mercury
Guide to the planets: Venus
Guide to the planets: Mars
Guide to the planets: Jupiter
Guide to the planets: Saturn
Guide to the planets: Uranus
Guide to the planets: Neptune
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Learn about the solar system’s formation, patterns, and characteristics; overview of planetary geology and planetary science, survey the planets and moons in our solar system with an eye towards potential habitability
Handouts/ Materials:
'Basics of Our Solar System', 'Terrestrial and Jovian Planets'
Assignments/ Activities:
Solar System Walkthrough Activity, Basics of Our Solar System Questions, Binder Check 2, Midterm Exam, Final Project Pt. II (Solar System), The Universe: Mars- The Red Planet Questions, Earth: The Biography- Rare Planet Questions, Terrestrial and Jovian Planets Questions, Final Project Pt. III (Planet)
Supplementary Links:
Here's a few websites that will be really useful for Part II, III, and IV of your final projects:
Simulation where you can test orbital stability of planets in a solar system
Calculator where you can identify the habitable zones around binary stars
NASA Exoplanet Travel Bureau explorer
The Habitable Zone Gallery
Habitable Exoplanets Catalog
Open exoplanet catalog
List of Potentially Habitable Exoplanets
10 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life
Guide to the most habitable exoplanets
The Extrasolar Planet Encyclopedia
List of multiplanetary systems
Gravity simulator for different planets and systems
23 exoplanets that could be a second earth
Planet map generator
How small is too small for a habitable planet?
Eyeball planets might exist, and they're as creepy as they sound
The closest star to our sun has a planet in the habitable zone
Water world 'super-Earths' could have insanely deep oceans
Exoplanet Trappist-1e could be a habitable water world
Solving the mystery of our solar system's 'great divide'
Listen to the eerie, real-life sounds of every planet in our solar system
Astronomers have found the first evidence of tectonic activity on an exoplanet
Researchers theorize worlds with underground oceans could support life
Breathable atmospheres may be common throughout the universe
Were Mars and Venus ever living planets?
How a habitable Venus could become hell
Venus was potentially habitable until a mysterious event occurred
Evidence suggests maybe life is on Venus- how would that be possible?
Pieces of Theia inside Earth are millions of times larger than Mount Everest
What if the moon disappeared tomorrow?
What living on Earth would be like without the moon
Why Mars is red and dead
First active fault zone found on Mars
Rivers flowed on Mars until 1 billion years ago
We now have a good idea of when Mars lost its water
Astounding amount of water found beneath Mars' north pole
Salty waters on Mars could host Earth-like life
Scientists glimpse Titan's terrain for the first time
First global map of Titan reveals its secrets
Scientists find more organic molecules coming from Enceladus
Enceladus' ocean might have the right conditions for life
Jupiter is a jerk
Interactive tour of the solar system
Another good interactive tour
National Geographic solar system tour
Guide to the planets: Mercury
Guide to the planets: Venus
Guide to the planets: Mars
Guide to the planets: Jupiter
Guide to the planets: Saturn
Guide to the planets: Uranus
Guide to the planets: Neptune
Supplementary Films:
|
|
Unit Four: The Origin and Evolution of Life
Objectives:
Distinguish between life vs. nonlife, learn about the necessary conditions for life, understand organic compounds and basic chemical components of living organisms; survey scientific theories on the origin and history of life on Earth, particularly in regards to microbial organisms; investigate methods of extrasolar planet detection and potential travel
Handouts/ Materials:
'What is Life, Anyway?', 'From Soup to Cells: The Origin of Life', 'The Microbial World', 'The Search for Exoplanets'
Assignments/ Activities:
What is Life? Questions, Final Project Pt. IV (Environment), Binder Check 3, Unit Quiz Two, From Soup to Cells Questions, The Microbial World Questions, Alien Planet Questions, Final Project Pt. V (Ecosystem), Genesis: Where are We Coming From? Questions, Final Project, Binder Check 4, Final Exam, Course Evaluation
Supplementary Links:
When did life first emerge in the universe?
Claimed signs of life (again) in a Martian meteorite
New study challenges Darwin's assumptions of the origin of life on Earth
A new clue as to how life originated on Earth
We finally got a look at the microbe that might have been our ancestor
Ancient lightning may have sparked life on Earth
Evidence that Earth's first cells could have made specialized compartments
Scientists create self-replicating chemicals to help explain origins of life
What did the earliest life look like?
Synthetic cell with fewer than 500 genes successfully grows and divides
Mars has the right ingredients for present-day microbial life beneath its surface
Red Dwarf starlight used to grow photosynthesizing bacteria
100 million year old seafloor bacteria have been resuscitated
Our oxygenated atmosphere only has a billion more years left
Online database of Darwin IV and its inhabitants
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Distinguish between life vs. nonlife, learn about the necessary conditions for life, understand organic compounds and basic chemical components of living organisms; survey scientific theories on the origin and history of life on Earth, particularly in regards to microbial organisms; investigate methods of extrasolar planet detection and potential travel
Handouts/ Materials:
'What is Life, Anyway?', 'From Soup to Cells: The Origin of Life', 'The Microbial World', 'The Search for Exoplanets'
Assignments/ Activities:
What is Life? Questions, Final Project Pt. IV (Environment), Binder Check 3, Unit Quiz Two, From Soup to Cells Questions, The Microbial World Questions, Alien Planet Questions, Final Project Pt. V (Ecosystem), Genesis: Where are We Coming From? Questions, Final Project, Binder Check 4, Final Exam, Course Evaluation
Supplementary Links:
When did life first emerge in the universe?
Claimed signs of life (again) in a Martian meteorite
New study challenges Darwin's assumptions of the origin of life on Earth
A new clue as to how life originated on Earth
We finally got a look at the microbe that might have been our ancestor
Ancient lightning may have sparked life on Earth
Evidence that Earth's first cells could have made specialized compartments
Scientists create self-replicating chemicals to help explain origins of life
What did the earliest life look like?
Synthetic cell with fewer than 500 genes successfully grows and divides
Mars has the right ingredients for present-day microbial life beneath its surface
Red Dwarf starlight used to grow photosynthesizing bacteria
100 million year old seafloor bacteria have been resuscitated
Our oxygenated atmosphere only has a billion more years left
Online database of Darwin IV and its inhabitants
Supplementary Films:
|
|