• The Goldilocks Zone!


    Okay, I think you get the idea.

    Answer this question in your journal.

    1. What would it mean for humanity if we discovered life on another planet?
      How would that revelation shake our world?
      Be prepared to share your thoughts.

     

    Returning to our place in time and space, we should acknowledge some of the things we have learned.

    Our Universe is very isotropic! The forces that move, make, and destroy things in our universe seem to be and act the same, no matter where we look in our universe. 

    • Our universe has evolved! The elements that make up the universe are very similar in every direction. Only when we travel very deep into space and time do we notice that the most distant galaxies are composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium (the first two elements created in the Big Bang).
    • Our universe is now awash with the elements of life! Billions upon billions of supernovas have strewn space with all the elements that make up the rest of the periodic table. Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur are key elements forming the basis of Earth's life, and they shine everywhere in our cosmos! You saw them in the spectra of the stars and nebulae that you investigated.  
    • Exoplanets are far more abundant than stars!
      We have discovered more than 5,000 exoplanets, which is just looking at a sliver of our galaxy! You have also participated in possibly making some of those discoveries! Remember Donovan's Exoplanet?

    Donovans_exoplanet


    https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/cosmic-milestone-nasa-confirms-5000-exoplanets/

    https://time.com/4098635/500-exoplanets-chart/

    • We are trapped in our Solar System! The incredible distances and the speed limit of light prevent us from physically interacting with these different worlds. While we can examine the spectrum of the light that makes it to us from these exotic places, we can never know what these places look like now, and never get to them because their distance is so great! Our human frailty, current technology, and spacetime limitations curtail our exploration to examine only our cosmic backyard more closely! Only in our imagination can these planets' possibilities be pondered, and through the eyes of science, those possibilities can be pondered much more profoundly! Just as you did!
    • Life is very adaptable and persistent! Some creatures live in what we consider the most inhospitable places on Earth: some very deep underground, some in extremely hot environments, and some have even survived for periods in outer space!

    Our Goldilocks Zone paradigm may be expanding!


    Only watch the first 5 minutes.

    Asteroids with potential for life?

    We are on the cusp of taking baby steps into our cosmic backyard. Your generation may be the first to discover life outside Earth in our solar system! Let's see if you can predict where the next BIG discovery will be made!

    Your Quest!

    • Research a planet, moon, asteroid, or other celestial object (other than Earth) in our solar system to evaluate the possibility of life! 
    • Each student must have a different object in our Solar System.
    • Present your findings to our class. Google Slides Presentation (that you know so well).

    1. Choose your Celestial Object! 

    • Your object must be part of our Solar System.
    • It could be a planet (other than Earth), moon, asteroid, or anything orbiting the sun that you think may harbor life!
    • I have set up a Magic School AI assistant to help with your research, but you are not required to use it. Just be careful because there is a lot of crazy misinformation out there in cyberspace!

    2. Reserve your Celestial Object!

    • Once you have found your research candidate, comment on today's post with its name.
    • The first one to reserve their object has dibs!
    • If you want to change it, comment on the post to update your change.
    • No two students can have the same celestial object, so look through the reservations carefully.

    3. Investigate your potential life-bearing celestial object!

    • Take detailed notes in your journal. Try to answer the following. 
      • Celestial Object Type: What is it, and where is it located?
      • Description: Size, shape, mass, orbit, distance from the Sun, atmosphere, composition, liquid water, or anything else you find important that will help determine if it may be able to harbor life.
      • Key Features and evidence: Why do you think this is a candidate that may harbor life? 
        Current scientific findings related to the possibility of life. Why is it a potential prospect?
      • In the News: Search for current scientific findings about your object.
        What has been discovered? How will we find out if it contains life?

    4. Google Slides Presentation!

    • Create a 5-7 Google Slides presentation on your chosen celestial object.
    • Your presentation should include the following.
      • Title slide: Name of your object and your name
      • Information slide: General description 
      • Key features and interesting facts slide
      • Conclusion slide summarizing your findings
        *Be sure to include images
      • References Slide: Where did you get your information?
    • As always, there will be opportunities for questions at the end of your presentation.

    Assessment

    1. Research Quality: Depth of information gathered about the galaxy.
    2. Creativity: Visual appeal and design of slides.
    3. Presentation Skills: Clear delivery, confidence, and engagement.
    4. Understanding: Ability to answer classmates' or teachers' questions about their galaxy.

    A bit more on Astrobiology!

     

    You will be graded using a rubric by your peers and teachers.
    You will also be able to self-assess your project/presentation.
    Your teacher will determine your final grade based on the above assessments.

    Here are some potential places to investigate.
    Research and decide which object you want to explore.

    Planets: Our closest neighbors (Venus and Mars) have shown signs of possible life. If not now, maybe in their past. Are there other planets with the possibility of life?

    Moons: There are Six Moons Most Likely to Host Life in Our Solar System (but there are probably many more possibilities) https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-six-moons-most-likely-to-host-life-in-our-solar-system/

    Did you know Saturn has 274 confirmed moons as of March 2025, making it the planet with the most moons in our solar system?
    There is so much we have yet to discover in our cosmic backyard!
    https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/moons/

    Dwarf Planets: Surprisingly, scientists now think Pluto may harbor life!
    How can that be when it is so very far from the sun? 
    Ceres, the largest asteroid and smallest dwarf planet, may also be a prospect for life! 

    Water Bear Bonus!

    Learn how to find, feed, and propagate some water bears for our classroom!

    Let's see how long they can live in our environment!

    https://aerospace.org/tardigrades