HNRT 228 Astrobiology with Bennett and Shostak Chapter

HNRT 228: Astrobiology with Bennett and Shostak Chapter 12 overview SPRING 2016 by Dr. Geller With added material by Dr. Zimmerman Ind. U. 1

i. Clicker Question z. About how many extrasolar planets have been detected to date? y. A y. B y. C between 10 and 100 between 100 and 1000 more than 1000 2

i. Clicker Question z. How have we detected most extrasolar planets discovered to date (before Kepler mission)? y. A y. B y. C Transits Hubble Space Telescope images the Doppler related technique 3

i. Clicker Question z. Which technique does the Kepler mission use to search for Earth size planets around other stars? y. A y. B y. C y. D Transits. The astrometric technique. The Doppler related technique. Gravitational lensing. 4

i. Clicker Question z. Nearly all the extrasolar planets discovered to date are y. A y. B y. C terrestrial-like planets. jovian-like planets. large, icy worlds. 5

What’s talked about in Chapter 12 z. The Drake Equation (12. 1) z. The Question of Intelligence (12. 2) z. Searching for Intelligence (12. 3) z. The Process of Science in Action: UFOs and Aliens on Earth (12. 4) 6

It’s a Big Galaxy in a Big Universe 7

Extrasolar Capability Review 8

The First Extrasolar Planets Discovered 9

What are the odds? z Drake Equation y. Odds of planets y. Odds of Earth-like planet y. Odds of life y. Odds of civilization y. Longevity of civilization 10

The Drake Equation N = R f p np fl fi ft L zfi = fraction of those life-bearing planets on which intelligence evolves zft = fraction of those intelligent-life planets that develop technological society z. L = average lifetime of a technologically competent civilization. 11

Original Drake Equation 12

The Rate of Star Formation We can estimate the average number of stars forming each year in the Galaxy simply by noting that at least 100 billion stars now shine in the Milky Way. Dividing this number by the 10 -billion-year lifetime of the Galaxy, we obtain a formation rate of 10 stars per year. This may be an overestimate because we think that fewer stars are forming now than formed at earlier epochs of the Galaxy, when more interstellar gas was available. However, we do know that stars are forming today, and our estimate does not include stars that formed in the past and have since exploded, so our value of 10 stars per year is probably reasonable when averaged over the lifetime of the Milky Way. HST has provided us with a value of 20 stars per year. 13

Fraction of Stars with Planets z Accepting the condensation theory and its consequences, and without being either too conservative or naively optimistic, we assign a value near 1 to this term - that is, we believe that essentially all stars have planetary systems. z A caveat: Note that extrasolar planets have very different characteristics than the planets of the Solar System. 14

The Number of Habitable Planets Per Star z Estimate 1 planet in 10 would be a habitable planet z Eliminate planets around the short lived stars z Most likely candidates are stars somewhat similar to the Sun (F, G, K) y Long lived; fairly large habitable zone z This means (combining probabilities) the number of habitable planets per star is between 0. 1 and 0. 01 15

Fraction upon which Life arises z. If we accept the mediocrity principle then this fraction is 1. z. It could be as low as 0 if one believes life is rare. 16

Intelligent Life z One school of thought maintains that, given enough time, intelligence is inevitable. In this view, assuming that natural selection is a universal phenomenon, at least one organism on a planet will always rise to the level of "intelligent life. " If this is correct, then the fifth term in the Drake equation equals or nearly equals 1. z Others argue that there is only one known case of intelligence, and that case is life on Earth. For 2. 5 billion years from the start of life about 3. 5 billion years ago to the first appearance of multicellular organisms about 1 billion years ago life did not advance beyond the one-celled stage. This would mean the fraction is close to 0. 17

Technology z. The anthropomorphic view: if we do it every one else will so the fraction is 1. z. The view of the dolphins: show me the fish. The fraction is close to 0. 18

Lifetime of Civilizations z. Guess y. We blow ourselves up: 75 years y. We do not blow ourselves up who knows? x> 100 years or > 100000 years ? 19

$Putting in the Numbers z Unless one is pessimistic the fractions are all of$

Putting in the Numbers z Unless one is pessimistic the fractions are all of order 1 so we get z N = 1 * Lifetime z So we get 10's to 1000's of civilizations y. Many use 10, 000 z But now consider the distances between those civilizations!!! 20

i. Clicker Question z. The end result of a calculation with Drake equation is intended to be an estimate of y. A the number of worlds in the galaxy on which life has arisen. y. B the number of worlds in the galaxy on which intelligence has arisen. y. C the number of worlds in the galaxy on which civilizations are transmitting signals now. 21

i. Clicker Question z. Which of the following statements is true about the terms in the Drake equation? y. A Astronomical research will soon give us firm values for all of the terms. y. B Some of the terms depend on sociology, and cannot be determined by astronomers alone. y. C We already know the terms of the equation to an accuracy within a factor of 2. 22

What about Reports of Abductions for Sexual Relations? z Consider the number of ETI life forms with whom humans could successfully have sexual relations: z Where: y Sx = Number of ETI civilizations with whom humans could have sexual relations. y N = Number of civilizations in The Milky Way Galaxy with electromagnetic emissions. y fs = Fraction of ETIs with dextro sugar stereo-isomers. y faa = Fraction of ETIs with levo amino acid stereo-isomers. y fcod = Fraction of ETIs with same codon interpretation. y fchr = Fraction of ETIs with same chromosomal length. y fmem = Fraction of ETIs with same cell membrane structure to allow egg penetration. 23

What is intelligent life? z. How do you measure intelligence? y. IQ x. Intelligence Quotient y. EQ x. Encephalization Quotient z. Are humans only intelligent species on Earth? y. Great apes and chimpanzees xdo they have a sense of “I” 24

Encephalization Quotient 25

Intelligence Quotient z An Intelligence Quotient or IQ is a score derived from one of several different standardized tests attempting to measure intelligence. The term "IQ, " a translation of the German Intelligenz-Quotient, was coined by the German psychologist William Stern in 1912 as a proposed method of scoring early modern children's intelligence tests such as those developed by Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon in the early 20 th Century. Although the term "IQ" is still in common use, the scoring of modern IQ tests such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale is now based on a projection of the subject's measured rank on the Gaussian bell curve with a center value (average IQ) of 100, and a standard deviation of 15 (different tests have various standard deviations; the Stanford-Binet IQ test has a standard deviation of 16). 26

i. Clicker Question z. The fact that marine predators like dolphins and sharks have similar shapes despite different ancestry is an example of y. A y. B y. C convergent evolution. narrow bandwidth. spontaneous creation. 27

i. Clicker Question z. Which of the following would lead an animal to a higher encephalization quotient (EQ) as it evolved? y. A y. B y. C Growth in both body size and brain size. Growth in body size but not in brain size. Growth in brain size but not in body size. 28

Cosmic Evolution? 29

Where to look? The Water Hole 30

Investigator Antenna Diameter (meters) Frequency Observed (MHz) Drake 26 1420 1968 -1982 Troitskii 14 100, 1800 & 2500 1972 -1976 Zuckerman & Palmer 91 1413 -1425 Verschuur 43 & 91 1420 1976 -1985 Bowyer 26 variable 1973 -1986 Dixon 53 1420 1972 -1976 Bridle & Feldman 46 22 & 235 1975 -1976 Drake & Sagan 305 1420, 1653 & 2380 Bania & Rood 43 8665 Horowitz 26 1400 -1720 1992 -1993 NASA 305 1300 -2400 1992 -1993 NASA 26 & 34 1700 & 8300 -8700 1992 -present Bowyer 305 424 -436 1996 -present Werthimer 305 1370 -1470 1995 -present SETI Institute 64 & 305 1200 -1750 1990 -present Horowitz 30 1420, 1667 & 3300 1995 -present Kingsley 0. 1 0. 55 1995 -present Horowitz 26 1400 -1720 1996 -present SETI League 305 1420 -1720 1997 -present BAMBI & SARA 2. 6 & 3 3700 -4200 1998 -present SETI Institute 305 & 76 1200 -3000 1998 -present Australia SERENDIP 64 1420 1999 -present UC Berkeley 305 1420 2000 -present Montebugnoli 32 1420 & 4260 Year 1960 1972 1988 Past Searches (to 2000) 1995 -present 31

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How Far Can We Go? 33

Looking for Life z. Artifacts yaliens here? z. Probes y. Viking, Voyager, Pioneer z. Signals yradio yoptical yother 34

One Form of Communication 35

Another Form of Communication 36

Is this really how it’s done? 37

One Way It’s Done 38

Arecibo Message 39

What does it mean? 40

Decoded Arecibo Message 41

i. Clicker Question z. Two-way conversation with other societies is probably unlikely, even if we make contact. This is mainly because y. A aliens won’t speak our language. y. B it might be dangerous to get in touch. y. C the time it takes for signals to cross the distance to them could be centuries or more. 42

i. Clicker Question z. One reason the scientists doubt that crop circles have alien origin is y. A they are always beautiful. y. B they can be easily made by humans. y. C their appearance is not correlated with sightings of bright lights. 43

And Now a Word From Dr. Zimmerman Lost Tribes, Sunken Continents, and Ancient Astronauts On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology Larry Zimmerman Department of Anthropology/Museum Studies IUPUI 44

ys nt M e nci A On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology es? teri 45

Why Search Elsewhere When The Midwest has it all? Atlantis The Mou ndbuilde r Myth Sunken Pyramid s On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology Bigfoot s ablet T cient An UFOs 46

Why People Believe Weird Things • Fun • Fantasy and escapism • The truth is too simple • Mistrust of science • Poor science education • “Received” wisdom Purposes of this lecture: 1. To show some examples of fantastic archaeology in the Midwest 2. To provide some tools for examining fantastic claims 3. To have some fun On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 47

The Mound Builders The Archaeology of a Myth The Core belief: Indians could not have built the mounds and other amazing earthworks, therefore someone else must have. Who? Almost anyone—Irish, Scandinavians, Libyans, Tartars, Lost Tribes of Israel, and many others Why? Lack of reliable data, theological modes of explanation, non-existence of a tradition of scientific thought, a continuing sense of wonder at the exotic nature of the New World The Result? On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology Wild speculation 48

A European (i. e. , white) History of America? There was an apparent need for an heroic past that would resemble that of Europe. The reasons are complex: • The colonists were in one sense a "people without a history" • Those living in Europe thought that something must be wrong with the environment here to cause such revolutions • Needed a "white" history to claim the land - a precursor to Manifest Destiny On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 49

A Case from Iowa, 1877 The Davenport Conspiracy Jacob Gass On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 50

Goodbye to the Mound Builders On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology Or was it? 51

Mound Builder Survivals On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 52

Diffusionists Ignatius Donnelly and Atlantis, 1882 Barry Fell and Epigraphy Graham Hancock’s Lost Civilization at 12, 500 BP On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 53

Hoaxes thrived in the late 1800 s • Social contexts similar to Mound Builder Myth Piltdown Man, 1912 Cardiff Giant, 1868 : An Iowa Connection “There’s a sucker born every minute. ” David Hannum On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 54

Hoax or not? The Kensington Runestone Olaf Ohman, 1898 They really got around! • Kensington Runestone - April 24 th, 1362 • Heavener Runestone - November 11 th, 1012 • Poteau Runestone - November 11 th 1017 Not Olaf Ohman, 2003 “ 2 nd Minn. Runestone a hoax, say carvers” • Shawnee Runestone - November 24 th, 1024 • Tulsa Runestone - December 2 nd, 1022 On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology AVM stone inscription 55

Just how many Vikings came? This book says there are now fewer than 42 Viking settlements in Chickasaw, Howard, and Mitchell Counties in Iowa and Mower County in Minnesota. On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 56

Apparently, quite a few! Map of the grave of 12 Vikings found by dowsing near Spring Grove, MN On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 57

The Minnesota Iceman Artist Lee Krystek’s conception of the Iceman The tour truck A juvenile Bigfoot? Frank Hansen and the Iceman On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 58

There were giants in the earth in those days… (Gen. 6: 1 -4) George W. Hill, M. D. , dug out a skeleton "of unusual size" in a mound of Ashland County, Ohio. In 1879, a nine-foot, eight-inch skeleton was excavated from a mound near Brewersville, Indiana. The bones, which were stored in a grain mill, were swept away in the 1937 Flood (Indianapolis News, Nov 10, 1975). Could this be the remains of one? Photo is a 2004 Web hoax 59

The Saga of Burrows Cave―Olney, Illinois A cache of Mauritanian coins from the cave A Mauritanian warship The Crucifixion The scarification of this man identifies him as Senegalese. One of the relatively few marble slabs removed from the Illinois site portrays either a Mauritanian ruler or high priest of the 1 st Century A. D. 60

Bigfoot and Other Critters Mike Quast and Bigfoot sightings in Minnesota A few of the reported monsters in the Midwest Illinois: The Hardin Monster, Murphysboro Mud Monster, Indiana: The Beast of Busco (Churubusco), The Crawfordsville Monster, 30 reported Bigfoot sightings since 1997, the majority in southern Indiana Wisconsin: The Lake Koshkonong Monster, Long Lake, Elkhart Lake, Lake Geneva, Lake Kegonsa, Lake Michigan, Oconomowoc Lake, Pewaukee Lake, Red Cedar Lake, Rock Lake, Lake Superior, Sturgeon Lakes, Mendota and Monona in Madison On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 61

Prince Madoc: The Founder of Clark County Indiana …and progenitor of the Mandan Indians of the Missouri River Based on the painter George Catlin’s comments: • The Mandans spoke Welsh (he didn’t know Welsh!) • They used a boat which was know as the Welsh Coracle • Many of the Mandans had blond hair and blue eyes 62

Ancient Astronauts and The Pyramids of Rock Lake, Wisconsin In his books (lower right), Erich von Daniken (below) suggests that many of the earth’s monuments were built by ancient astronauts. Could Wisconsin’s pyramids have been built by ancestors of the occupants of this UFO (right) reported in in West Central Minnesota, November, 2003? On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 63

Whats’ the Harm? Many diminish human abilities & accomplishments. They deprive people of knowledge about their real history. They draw away funding from scientific research. Belief in pseudoscientific ideas about “harmless” notions supports belief in pseudoscientific belief about harmful notions, such as false medical claims. Other than that, not much. On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 64

Recognizing Pseudoscientific Claims about the Past Sometimes you can read a book by its cover! Are seemingly outr ageous claims made? tials ining or creden tra imant have any ? Does the claim is made h th ject about whic in the sub Are leading question s being asked? it? alking about s t eal scientist Are r Be a skeptic! On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 65

A Skeptic’s Tools Always keep an open mind, but consider: Irrefutable hypothesis Argument by authority Appeal to myth Argument by spurious similarity Heresy does not equal correctness Occam's razor Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof Good old common sense http: //www. skeptic. com http: //www. csicop. org/si/ http: //homepages. wmich. edu/~korista/baloney. html On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 66

Satan’s Corpse in South Dakota? On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 67

Finally, there is proof Aliens believe in Skeptics On the Wild Side of Midwestern Archaeology 68