#astrobiologist

[midnights-wish]

“Odds are you're right-handed, but really you're not. You're left-handed. Every amino acid in every protein in your body has a left-handed twist to it. In fact, virtually every protein in every life form that has ever existed is exclusively left-handed. If astrobiologists ever find a microbe on a meteor or moon of Jupiter, almost the first thing they'll test is the handedness of its proteins. If the proteins are left-handed, the microbe is possibly earthly contamination. If they're right-handed, it's certainly alien life.”

Sam Kean, ‘The Disappearing Spoon’.

[therealuniverse]

How do you study the types of environments where life might exist on other worlds throughout the solar system without finding it there? Astrobiology can involve studying extreme environments on Earth, such that we can understand the kinds of life that might live in those environments throughout the solar system. Meet an astrobiologist using Earth as a laboratory for understanding the potential of life elsewhere.

[shirtoid]

Vintage Carl by ApeLad is $15 + free shipping for a limited time at Shirt.Woot

[exo-research]

What's the Big Deal with Ultima Thule?

This is in response to comments all over social media or posts were asking what's the big deal with a space rock.

2 factors:

1: It is about 30km in diameter. This means the gravity of the object is not strong enough to force it into a sphere. This process tends to change the chemistry of the rocks, ice and chemicals in the object.

2: At 6.6 billion kilometers it is far enough away and with a relatively circular orbit, for the suns radiation and heat to not have much of an impact in its chemistry.

Therefore:

The chemical profile should more closely match that of the early solar system. As for astrobiological implications, we can better understand the progression of chemical transformation over the billions of years since the suns formation. And of course there are some unknowns that are even more intriguing. Like how early did organic compounds form and if being in the inner solar system matters for biochemical production.

Anyone with further insight feel free to comment or correct if there are any errors in my statement.

[sininho115]

[robertadelaspraderas]

Carl Sagan

[exo-research]

This video lecture goes into how you can use the second law of thermodynamics to derive the definition of life.

[exo-research]

What's the meaning of life? Well it depends on who you ask🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 Follow me for updates on my research #astrobiologist #astronomy #biology #physics #meaningoflife #experiment #research #phd #Science https://www.instagram.com/p/BsBZn7Ah_cV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bf5o1s9bf19d