Invited Pesek lecture: Exploration rather than speculation–assembling the puzzle of potential life beyond Earth |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, BRBII/III, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;2. Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, BRBII/III, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;3. Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, BRBII/III, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;1. University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Inserm, P3Cell UMR-S1250, SFR CAP-SANTE, 51092 Reims, France;2. CHU of Reims, Hôpital Maison Blanche, Department of Respiratory Diseases, 51092 Reims, France;3. University of Lille, CNRS UMR8204, Inserm U1019, CHRU Lille, Institut Pasteur Lille, CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, 59000 Lille, France;4. Institut Pasteur Paris, Université de Paris, Integrative Neurobiology of Cholinergic Systems, CNRS, UMR 3571, Paris, France;5. CHU Reims, Hôpital Maison Blanche, Department of Biopathology, 51092 Reims, France;1. Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, 133207, Haryana, India;2. Department of Biotechnology, Sri Guru Gobind Singh College Sector-26, Chandigarh, UT, 160019, India;3. Department of Bio& Nanotechnology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India;1. Iowa State University, 1620 Howe Hall, Ames, IA 50011, United States;2. Polytechnic of Namibia, Private Bag 13388, Windhoek, Namibia;3. Iowa State University, Gerdin Building 3313, Ames, IA 50011, United States;1. Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA;2. Texas A&M Energy Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA;3. Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University, College station, TX 77845, USA;1. Department of Applied Science and Technology, Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy;2. Geostudi Astier, Livorno, Italy;3. 3DGeoimaging, Turin, Italy;4. Department of Earth Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy;5. Department of Environment, Infrastructures and Territory Engineering, Polytechnic University of Turin, Turin, Italy;6. Department of Architecture and Design, Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Speculations about the existence of life beyond Earth are probably as old as mankind itself, but still there is no evidence – neither for its presence nor for its absence. Moreover, we neither know the necessary nor the sufficient conditions for life to emerge, sustain or evolve. The Drake equation famously quantifies our ignorance by writing the number of detectable civilizations as product of factors that get increasingly uncertain the further one goes to the right. As a result, the predictive power is poor, and it ultimately depends on the most uncertain factor. However, if we were able to derive a reasonable estimate, we would not need SETI experiments to tell us whether we are alone or not. What has changed substantially over human history is our ability to explore the Universe. Most significantly, radio transmission technology gives us the opportunity to communicate over interstellar distances, and we are now able to not only determine the population statistics of planets within the Milky Way, but even in principle to find biosignatures in their atmospheres. By finding life beyond Earth, we will learn how frequently it emerges. By finding signals from intelligent extra-terrestrial civilizations, we will get unprecedented insight into our biological, technological, and societal evolution. The Drake equation is not such a useful means for assessing the chances of success of SETI, but instead it provides the framework for using observational data in advancing towards understanding the origins of our existence and our role in the cosmos, and maybe to get a glimpse of our future. |
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