Villanova University Astrobiology Syllabus for Fall 2021 PDF

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Syllabus outlining homeworks and due dates for the Villanova Astrobiology course...

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SYLLABUS V.1 [08/23/2021] WORKING VERSION [to be updated over time] Astrobiology, Planets and Life Alternate Name: Astrobiology Fall 2021 AST-3143-001 CRN: 22410 Important- Due to the emergence of the very contagious B.1.617.2 (delta) variant Covid virus, at least to start, masks will be required to be worn in class. If the Villanova community achieves low positivity numbers, the mask requirement will be relaxed/ eliminated. Even though the class and I are vaccinated, a few students and me are in the high-risk group. Breakthrough Covid cases will be very dangerous to these people. If Covid cases occur in our class, the classes will be given via ZOOM until the risk is over. I will setup a link for the class.

Dr. Edward Guinan (Office Mendel 464) he, his Born and Living in the ancestral lands of the Leni-Lenape Number of Credits: 3 Class Room 351? Class Times- Tues /Thurs. 4:00 - 5:15 PM e-mail Address: [email protected] Telephone: 610-519-4820 / 4823 ZOOM Address to be sent. Office hours: Tues/Thurs: 1:30 – 3:30 PM. Contact by e-mail for an appointment or see me immediately before/after the class. Available at other times by appointment or via ZOOM. Text: Introduction to Astrobiology (2nd Edition or later) - Edited by Iain Gilmore and Mark A. Sephton ; Cambridge Univ. Press (2004). There are many web links in the text that are very useful. Additional texts on Planetary Atmospheres, Exoplanets, “Life in the Universe” and Mars will made available for use by the class. PowerPoint presentations will also be made

available -i.e. sent to the class as pdf attachments. Additional supplementary textbooks will be available.

Requirements: 1.There will be two tests: mid-term and a final. These exams consists of a combination of multiple-choice (20-25 questions) and 3 – 4 discussion questions/problems. (~60% of final grade) 2.PowerPoint (15+5 Q&A min) presentation based on a very, relevant topic on Planetary Atmospheres, Environments Exoplanets / Astrobiology is required. These count about ~20 % of the final grade. 3. Pending on the availability of the Villanova Greenhouse, group projects focused on investigating what is required for continuous human presence on Mars [or the Moon]. The special project is “Mars Gardens”: testing growing plants and vegetables in Martian simulant soil (~90% similar composition to Mars surface regolith). Participating students will experiment with growing plants in the simulant Martian soil under controlled but varying conditions. Different vegetables, nutrients, light conditions will be tested. For example, via inverse sq. law (flux~ 1/d2) Mars at 1.52 AU receives ~38% of the incident solar light than Earth . Further information about this project will be discussed in class. The Mars Project will count ~20% of the final grade. Recently available – Experiment with growing plants in Lunar highlands and Lunar Mare simulant soils. We have about 5 kg of each type. The incident solar radiation received on the Lunar surface is similar to that of Earth (but 10-15% higher due to no clouds/ no atmosphere) 10% of grade

4. Special Assignments—e.g. reading and summarizing a chapter in the textbook (on life) and/or science papers sent to you. Roughly counts 10% of total grade. 5. Extra-credit (2-5 pts. added to exam grades) will be given for attending approved colloquia and seminars on topics of Astrobiology /Planetary Astronomy. (2 pts for attending / up to 3 additional pts. for a 1–2page summary of the talk)

Grading: Final grade = 0.2 PPT+ 0.2 Assign-Project(s) + 0.6 (T1 + T2) 2 T1, 2 = tests; PPT = power-point presentation; AP=Assign. research projects. Extra-credits (up to 10 pts) for attending extra-class colloquia and seminars added to the tests.

SEMESTER TIMELINE Classes start Tues, Aug. 24 Exam-1 Week prior to Mid-term Break Oct 5 / or Oct 7 Mid-term break: Oct 9-17 Grades submitted by me on/before Wed Oct 20 (noon) Thanksgiving Break: November 24th-28th Last Class: 09 Dec. (No class on Tues. Dec 07th) Reading Day Friday Dec. 10th Final Exam- Tues Dec 14th, 8:30- 11:00 AM (probably will start at 9AM)

Synopsis and Goals AST 3143 Astrobiology, Planets and Life was created in response to the recent, exciting developments in planet exploration, the discovery of thousands of new planets outside the solar system and the searches for extraterrestrial life. This course focuses on the origin and evolution of life on Earth and in the universe, the potential existence of life beyond the Earth and how to discover it, and the prospects for the future of life on Earth and beyond. Also covered are the formation of the elements for life, the biological and geological history of the Earth and the prospects of colonies on Mars, interstellar travel and SETI programs. More details provided in class.

Example Topics Not in exact order of presentation and some topics may be changed or substituted /Also some topics repeat/ overlap.

 PowerPoint “Origins” Overview of where we came from and where we are going: From the Big Bang to the emergence of complex life on Earth (humans on Earth ~2 Myr ago).  Intro to Astrobiology --a new Science [also Exobiology] Search for the second Genesis (i.e. life that did not originate /organize on Earth) 2 PPTs  Review of Chapters 1 & 2 : The Meaning is Life? RNA/DNA pdf/ twp PPTs Drake Equation/ Miller Experiment (to create life) You outline Chap 1 and 2.  Extremophiles—Analogs for life in apparent inhospitable environments (i.e. on other planets and moons) PPT  Black Smokers/ Thermal Vents—analogs for Life on early Earth  Overview of Solar System Terrestrial Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars (Terrestrial planet atmospheres PPT)  Sun in Time: Effect of Sun on Hosted Planets over Time  Determining Temperatures of Earth and Planets/ Stellar Liquid Water Habitable Zones/ Other Habitable Zones PPT /pdf  Exoplanets -planets outside the Solar Systems. >4600 confirmed so far. Statistically there should be as many (or more ) exoplanets than stars. Most exoplanetary systems are

multiple like our own). Methods for detecting exoplanetstransits, radial velocity measures, astrometry…  Methods for studying atmospheres of exoplanets. For example, finding the compositions of atmospheres via high signal-to-noise spectroscopy/ photometry.  Search for bio-signatures/ chemical make-up of atmosphere (water, O2, CO2, methane etc. Discuss current state of the art and future plans.  Life in Antarctic Sub-glacial Lakes PPT -Analog for Europa/ Enceladus  Asphalt Lakes—PPT Analogs for possible life on Titan///extremophile /methanophiles  Mars Gardens (PPT)---overview testing growing plants in Mars like soil. Why go to Mars—plans. The Mars environment. Water on Mars  Sun in Time: Effect of Sun on Hosted Planets over Time  Formation and Evolution of Earth’s Atmosphere, Planetary Dynamics (Meteorology), Climate, Life  Mars---searches life on Mars?  Giant gas planets -Jovian Planets and their moons  Europa, Enceladus, Titan —Searching for Life on Moons and exomoons/ The Europa Clipper Mission  Comets/ Asteroids –Early Bombardment / dangers to the Earth/ transport of water and organics to Earth.  Exoplanets—Methods of discovery/ Census

 The Kepler Mission –results; Initial results from TESS  Search of Evidence of Life on Habitable Zone Exoplanets  Future Missions to find evidence of life on Exoplanets  Discovery of Exomoons  Determining possibility of Life / Habitable Planets  Living with a Red Dwarf (LivReD)Program—Habitats for life on hosted planets  The Nearest Exoplanet- Proxima Cen b-suitable for life? What about life on the nearby cold super-Earth planet Barnard b?  SETI : Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence --Methods of Searching for Intelligent Life in the Universe –radio communication/signals (direct / accidental), laser radiation, analyses of planetary atmospheres for signs of life / intelligent life.  Moon base –the Artemis project / Mars base / Interstellar Travel (note nearest star Proxima Centauri is 4.25 light year away). Interstellar space craft.  Searching for Aliens past and present: UFOs (now called Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)-150+ incidents logged, ancient aliens, Alien artifacts (crashed spacecraft)…space probes from extraterrestrials (e.g. Oma  Fermi’s Paradox –From Kepler Mission there are 100’s of millions of Earth-like planets in the liquid habitable zone of their host stars. Yet –no evidence of complex life (or even simple life). Why? Is Anyone out there?  ‘First Contact’- Effects on human society, social order, religion…

 Meteorites from Mars---The Case of ALH 84001—could we be Martians?  Interstellar Travel: Travel to planets orbiting by nearby stars—limiting factors.  Lunar and Mars Bases and Colonies  New discovery topics to be added.

Time permitting--Possible Debate / Discussion / Extra credit Topics: (Carried out-time permitting) Are we Alone? Yes? / No? Maybe? Why/ Evidence pros/cons The Drake Equation: Estimating the number of communicative civilizations in the Galaxy. What are UFOs ??? Do you believe? What is life and how did life originate on Earth? Origin of Life –Debate currents ideas –how, why, Are we alone? Future of Humanity---Can Humans Survive? Is the Singularity Real? The End of the World: Asteroid / Comet collisions, Supernovae, GRB, Solar Super Flares, Self-destruction, disease, nuclear /biological war… very distant future—the Big Rip

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