Physics 1080 Does ET Exist?
A multi-disciplinary science course about the emergence of intelligent life in the universe
Questions to be Discussed
· What is the universe?
· How do complex structures emerge in the universe?
· What are stars and planets? How did they form?
· What is life?
· How did life begin on Earth?
· How do we define intelligent life?
· Is the emergence of intelligent life inevitable?
· How strange can life be?
· Where is life likely to emerge?
· Are ETs likely to be plentiful --- or rare?
· Is it possible to travel to other solar systems?
· Should we search for ET and if so, how?
· What is SETI?
· … and if ET exists --- then where is she?
Prerequisites :
- Science
: Previous exposure to physics, biology, and/or chemistry is certainly
helpful, but not necessary.
- Mathematics
: The following was inscribed over Plato's Academy in Athens --- let
no one enter this portal who is ignorant of mathematics .
- Mathematics will be used in class … mostly in homework …
minimally in exams.
Text: Life in the Universe, Bennett &Shostak, 2nd Ed. Addison Wesley (2007)
Does ET Exist? Class Schedule
Tuesday
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Thursday
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08/26 ***PRE-TEST!***
Chapt_1 – A Universe of Life – Introduction
- Film –
Origins 4 - The Big Bang(Disk2) |
08/28 Chapt_2
– The Science of Life in the
Universe - The
Copernican Revolution (See Web Lectures) |
|
09/02 Chapt_2
– The
Copernican Revolution (See Web Lectures) |
09/04 Chapt_3 – The Universal Context of Life – Matter and Energy |
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09/09 Chapt_3 – The Big Bang – origin of the light elements (See Web
Lecture) *** HomeWork#1 Due *** |
09/11 Chapt_3
– Stars – Origin of the heavy elements – solar systems |
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09/16 Chapt_4
– The Habitability of the Earth – Time Scale – Earth formation |
09/18 Chapt_4 – Plate tectonics and the
carbonate-silicate (CO2) cycle |
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09/23 Film – Origins 1- Earth(Disk1) *** HomeWork#2 Due *** |
09/25 *** Exam_1
(Chapts 1-4) *** |
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09/30 Chapt_5 – The Nature of
Life on Earth – Defining life – The start of life – Molecules of Life - Cells |
10/02 Chapt_5
– The Genetic Code |
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10/07 Film – Origins 2- Origins of Life(Disk1) |
10/09 Film – Life on Mars |
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10/14 *** Fall Break ***
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10/16 *** Fall
Break *** |
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10/21 Chapt_6 – The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth –
Early chemistry – Panspermia - Extinctions |
10/23 Chapt_7
– Searching for Life in Our Solar System – Liquid water –
Biological tour * HomeWork#3 Due * |
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10/28 Chapt_8 – Mars
– Geology – Life on Mars? |
10/30 Chapt_9 – Life
on Jovian Moons – Europa, Titan and the other Jovian moons *** HomeWork#4
Due *** |
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11/04 *** Exam_2 (Chapts 5-9)*** |
11/06 Film
– CosmosIV – Heaven & Hell |
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11/11 Chapt_10 – The Nature and Evolution of Habitability – The
habitable zone – Venus & Earth |
11/13 Chapt_11
– The Search for Habitable Worlds – Suitable stars – Extrasolar
planets |
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11/18 Chapt_12 – The Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence – The
Drake equation – Modes of communication |
11/20 Chapt_12 – The Arecibo message (See
Web Lecture 6 - mandatory reading!) *** HomeWork#5 Due *** |
|
11/25 Chapt_13 – Interstellar
Travel – Relativity |
11/27 *** Thanksgiving Break *** |
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12/02 Chapts_13 – The
Fermi Paradox So where is everybody? |
12/04 Film – Origins 3 - Where is Everybody?(Disk2) *** HomeWork#6 Due *** |
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12/09 *** Exam_3 (Chapts 10-13, Lec6 Arecibo message)
*** *** Make Up HW Due*** |
12/11 *** Make Up Exam (All Chapts 1-14) *** |
Life in the Universe, 2nd Ed.,
Bennett & Shostak is the text for this class. You should read all of
it. I have written some supplementary material that should be helpful. You can
find it on the web site link under lecture notes heading on my home page. These lecture notes provide more detail than
your text on certain subjects, such as the beginning of science, the origin of
the universe and the emergence of complex structures in it. You must
read the lecture notes dealing with the
I urge you to read the relevant chapters in the text before listening to my lecture on that material. If you do this you will see that I will answer many questions that should arise during your reading. Failing to read the material before attending a lecture that deals with that material is the single biggest mistake that students make in science classes. The lectures are meant to explain and reinforce what you've already read; if you haven't done the reading ahead of time, the lectures are likely to be unintelligible.
There is a set of Review Questions, Discussion Questions and Problems at the end of each chapter. I have used many of them in your homework assignments. However, I would encourage you to try to answer as many of them as possible on your own. If you can, you should do well on the exams.