StarTalk Radio Cosmic Queries – Alien Worlds and Extremophiles with Kennda Lynch
Feb 22, 2022
Astrobiologist Kennda Lynch, known for her work on extremophiles and her appearance in Netflix's Alien Worlds, joins the discussion. She dives into the adaptability of life on Earth, emphasizing how extremophiles inform the search for extraterrestrial life. Topics include the challenges of growing food on Mars, resilience of life forms, and ethical considerations in studying extraterrestrial organisms. The conversation also touches on upcoming missions to moons like Europa and Enceladus, exploring the potential for finding life in subsurface oceans.
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Kennda Lynch on Alien Worlds
- Kennda Lynch's work in the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is featured in the Netflix docu-series Alien Worlds.
- This area is a poly-extreme environment, with hot, salty, and acidic conditions, yet still supports life.
Life in the Dead Sea
- The Dead Sea is not truly dead, as it contains microbial life, despite its high salinity.
- It lacks vertebrate fish, but other organisms thrive in the extreme conditions.
Radiation-Resistant Microbe
- Kennda Lynch's favorite extremophile lives on nuclear reactors, showcasing life's surprising resilience.
- It challenges our understanding of life's limits.