StarTalk Radio Extraterrestrial Oceans – StarTalk Live!
Jun 7, 2022
Join planetary scientist Kevin Hand from NASA, who specializes in extraterrestrial ocean worlds, and oceanographer Julie Huber from Woods Hole, as they dive into the mysteries of oceanic life beyond Earth. They discuss the fascinating parallels between deep-sea organisms and potential alien life, explore how life may have originated in Earth's oceans, and examine the prospects of NASA's Europa Clipper mission. With a mix of humor and science, they tackle the challenges of exploring these extreme environments, both on our planet and in outer space.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Extremophiles as Analogs for Alien Life
- Study extremophiles on Earth to understand potential alien life.
- Microbes at the bottom of the ocean eat rocks for energy, similar to how alien life might survive.
NYC Subway as Extreme Environment
- The New York City subway system is an extreme environment.
- Life forms there have adapted to its conditions.
Deep Sea Inaccessibility
- The deep sea is inaccessible due to water obstructing mapping efforts.
- Unlike the moon, which we can observe with telescopes, the ocean's water makes it hard to study.