Ologies with Alie Ward Smologies #14: ALIENS with Kevin Peter Hand
Jul 13, 2022
Join Dr. Kevin Peter Hand, Deputy Chief Scientist for Solar System Exploration at NASA, as he uncovers the secrets of extraterrestrial life. He discusses the potential habitability of moons like Europa and Enceladus, emphasizing their icy oceans. The conversation dives into the significance of the James Webb Space Telescope findings and explores intriguing possibilities on Titan and Mars. With insights into astrobiology and how discovering alien microbes could transform our view of life on Earth, this is a thrilling journey into the cosmos!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
New Goldilocks
- Moons like Europa and Enceladus get energy from tidal forces, not just sunlight.
- This tidal energy makes them potential homes for life, offering a "new Goldilocks" scenario.
Europa's Deep Ocean
- Europa's ocean is ten times deeper than Earth's, with comparable pressure.
- Studying Earth's deep-sea life informs our understanding of potential Europan life.
Weird Life on Titan
- Besides Europa, Titan is another potential location for life, possibly "weird life."
- This life could be carbon-based but use methane and ethane instead of water.
