The Search for Life Beyond Earth
Dr. Daniel McIntosh, Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Division of Energy, Matter and Systems, School of Science and Engineering
Wednesdays, 10:30 – noon
March 4, 11, and 18 and April 1
UMKC Administrative Center, Plaza Room
$50 ($70 with parking permit)
Are we alone in the universe? This engaging 4-session course for general audiences will explore humanity’s scientific quest to find extraterrestrial life. We begin by situating ourselves within our “Cosmic Address” to appreciate our place in the universe and the scale of the cosmos, helping us understand the likelihoods of receiving potential signals or visits from ET civilizations. The course then introduces astrobiology, the interdisciplinary science studying the necessary conditions for life beyond Earth. As Carl Sagan noted, we are made of “star stuff” – the essential elements of life as we know it were forged in ancient stars, linking biology to cosmic processes and suggesting life may emerge wherever conditions are right. We will also learn how astronomers detect exoplanets – worlds orbiting distant stars — including many Earth-sized planets in potentially life-supporting orbits. Finally, the course looks to our Solar System, highlighting upcoming missions designed to investigate nearby environments that may harbor life today or hold evidence of ancient biology.
