NATS 1572: Class 1 - Universe of Life

Also contiains iClicker questions from the slides

What is astrobiology primarily concerned with?

The origin, evolution, distribution, and possibility of life in the Universe

(iClicker) Since light has a finite speed, when we observe objects very far away, we are seeing how they…

Looked in the past

Approximately how far does light travel in one year?

9.46 trillion kilometres

Which sequence correctly moves from smaller cosmic structures to larger ones?

Solar system, galaxy, galaxy group or cluster, supercluster, cosmic web

[Original iClicker] The Milky Way Galaxy is…

A giant collection of more than 100 billion stars

[Original iClicker] The laws of physics, biology, and chemistry appear to be…

The same everywhere in the Universe

[Original iClicker] Which of the following is NOT an ingredient that scientists look for when considering conditions that could support life?

Social media

Scientists discover a planet with liquid water and a possible energy source. What is the strongest conclusion they can draw?

The planet may have conditions suitable for life, but life has not been confirmed

Why are organic molecules alone not sufficient evidence that life exists on a planet?

Organic molecules can exist without being produced by living organisms

What can extremophiles teach scientists about the possibility of life beyond Earth?

Life can survive in some environments previously considered extreme

What is the main difference between imaging and spectroscopy?

Imaging reveals spatial structure, while spectroscopy helps identify substances through their interactions with light

A planet’s spectrum contains an absorption line characteristic of a particular element. What can scientists infer?

The element may be present in material that absorbed the light

Why can taking images of a planet at different times be useful?

It allows scientists to track changes or movement over time

[Original iClicker] How do we search for life in the Universe beyond our Solar System?

By studying light from other planetary systems

Which statement correctly distinguishes SETI from METI?

SETI searches for signals from extraterrestrial intelligence, while METI sends messages intended for extraterrestrial intelligence