Astrobiology and Space Exploration (Winter 2010)
By Lynn Rothschild
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Description
Astrobiology asks: Where do we come from? Are we alone? Where are we going? This course gives an overview of the excitement of astrobiology and space exploration, from the origin of our own biofriendly universe to questions of the future of mankind both on Earth and beyond.
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Video3. The Search for other Earths and Life in the Universe (January 14, 2010) | Geoff Marcy, UC Berkeley Professor of Astronomy and Co-Investigator on Kepler Team, discusses the Keplar Teams efforts to locate earth-like planets by observing orbit, doppler shift, and dimming of Upsilon Andromedae. (January 14, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 2 | Video2. From Astrochemistry to Astrobiology: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (January 12, 2010) | (February 9, 2010) Louis Allamandola, Research Scientist with NASA Astrobiology Institute Ames Research Center, discusses his research, which implies that if life is extreme chemical complexity, and knowing that life-forming chemicals are widespread in the universe, it may be posited that the universe, if the conditions are right, is poised for life. | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 3 | Video4. What is Life? (January 19, 2010) | Lynn Rothschild, Research Scientist NASA Astrobiology Institute Ames Research Center, discusses the need for and attempts to create an operational definition of what it means to be alive. (January 19, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 4 | Video5. Evolution (January 21, 2010) | Professor Lynn Rothschild discusses evolution in the context of space and time, focusing on the emergence of life in a planetary context on Earth and possibly elsewhere as well as the evolution of intelligence. (January 21, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 5 | Video6. Life in Extreme Environments (January 26, 2010) | Professor Lynn Rothschild discusses what extremophiles are, why they are important, and how they are applicable to the evolution of life, what else might be out there, and the future of life. (January 26, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 6 | Video7. How Predictable Is Evolution? (January 28, 2010) | Professor Lynn Rothschild discusses the predictability of evolution in regards to in the world today by using insight from the past. (January 28, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 7 | Video8. Catastrophic Impacts in Earth's History (February 2, 2010) | David Morrison, NASA Lunar Science Institute, discusses the discovery of the cretaceous catastrophe that caused the last mass extinction and explains NASA's research on the danger of similar events occurring in Earth's near future. (February 2, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 8 | Video9. The Search for Life on Mars (February 9, 2010) | Dr. Janice Bishop with Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute and the NASA Ames Research Center discusses Martian geology and mineralogy, and the search for life on Mars. (February 9, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 9 | Video10. What is Astrobiology?: What is the History of Life? Are We Alone? What is the Future of Life? (February 11, 2010) | Lynn Rothschild, Professor and NASA Research Scientist, and Stephen Palumbi, Director of the Hopkins Marine Station, discuss Darwin's career from childhood to the end of his life and his theory of evolution. (February 11, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 10 | Video11. Life Beyond It's Planet of Origin (February 16, 2010) | Rocco Mancinelli, Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, discusses how research has taken the first step to understanding how organisms survive and evolve outside of planet earth. (February 16, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 11 | Video12. Biologically Reversible Exploration (February 23, 2010) | Chris McKay, Planetary Scientist with the Space Science Division of NASA Ames Research Center , discusses the idea that, based on the human valuation of life, the mission of astrobiology is to expand the richness and diversity of life. (February 23, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 12 | Video14. Advanced Life Support Systems (March 2, 2010) | John Hogan, Bioengineering Branch NASA Ames Research Center, discusses research in life support systems that could be used to create a sustainable and regenerative environment in space. (March 2, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 13 | Video15. A Human Place in Outer Space: Reflection on the Progress of Space Human Factors & Habitability (March 4, 2010) | Dr. Yvonne Clearwater, Past Principle Investigator for NASA Habitability Research Program, discusses the complexity of designing a habitable space station that promotes research productivity by keeping astronauts healthy and happy in space. (March 4, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 14 | Video16. A Life with SETI (March 9, 2010) | Dr. Frank Drake discusses the program that he founded, Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI), and the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life in the greater universe. (March 9, 2010) | 5/21/2010 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 14 Items |
Customer Reviews
What a gift to those that can't afford formal education
Thanks so much for providing this lecture series to us. Just the most intellectually stimulating lecture series, and dated Winter 2010, it doesn't get more current than this. Thanks for the history, alternative ideas, And story telling technique. In my days of college in the 1990 time frame classes like this came with prerequisites and a inference that this is Hard stuff to learn, take notes. The new approach of " this is easy to understand" , " don't take notes that distract from the lecture" and " know where to get the math formulas, and databases of info", inspires me to want to teach.
In addition to completing lectures from neuroscience ( Gerald Schneider) and berkleys astronomy classes, a biology series lecture, and lastly the serendipity series lectures, has created a new person, that understands the "beginners mind", and I can't wait to get into geology, and chemistry.
The professors new way of teaching ha s me literally addicted to knowledge.
Thank you so much !
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