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Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Five

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Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Five

Following the theme of our Astrobiology edition, we asked our readers to share their views on man’s search for life. Here is the latest part!

Questions on Astrobiology

  • 1.     How do you view astrobiology? What will be your definition of it?
  • 2.     How many chances are there for the existence of ExtraTerrestrial life and has it made any contact with us yet?
  • 3.     What do you think about the “WOW Signal” and other theories about aliens?
  • 4.     What can life look like on other planets? Can it be like what we see in popular culture or not?
  • 5.     Should we able to unravel the mysteries about our origin on this planet after learning about ExtraTerrestrial life? How can it be so?

Also Read: Syed Muneeb Ali on Astrobiology

Shahzaib Siddique

Shahzaib Siddique is a science writer based in Islamabad, who frequently contributes to various websites and is an avid blogger. He is also a YouTuber and presents science documentaries in Urdu on his channel. Here is what he had to say:

1. Astrobiology is one of the mysterious subjects for me (like quantum physics), and I think in the future, if we find any kind of life in the universe, then Astrobiology will gain a key position in Astronomy. Astrobiology introduces us with new dimensions, to understand the mechanism of universe.

2. I personally believe that there is a 99% chance of any extraterrestrial life because on earth life is composed of some basic elements, which are scattered throughout the universe.

Astrobiology hopes to unravel the mysteries of the universe

3. As we have already explored the source of “Wow Signal” and mystery of Tabby’s Star has also been resolved, therefore, I don’t believe these signals/signs were associated with some kind of aliens.

4. It’s very difficult to imagine even the glimpse of what the extraterrestrial life would be like, but one thing is for sure that “Aliens will not look like the Humans” because evolution is a random process, and even if we rewind all the history, and start evolutionary journey from the Bacteria, then there will be 99% chance that evolution will fall on some other track, and after 4.5 Billion years we’ll be able to witness life, which can be totally different as compared to humans.

5. I think we’ll be trapped in some more complications, whether if we find extraterrestrial life or not… Both have different complications because the universe is not easy to understand. Therefore, J. B. S. Haldane said, “the universe is not only queerer than we suppose but queerer than we can suppose.”

Naeem Ahmed

Naeem Ahmed is an informal student of astronomy working as a government employee in Lahore and has a desire to see Pakistan among the leaders of space science. He shared his thoughts as follows:

  1. Apparently it means the study and search of life on planets and places in the universe other than the earth. But the question is what does really mean by life? Unless and until Science defines life explicitly, the quest for extraterrestrial life may be directionless. Water and oxygen may not necessarily be the vital elements for life. Some microorganisms on this earth can live without oxygen. Anaerobes are the classification of bacteria that can survive without oxygen. According to Quranic verses, angels and jinns are allowed to visit anywhere in the universe. These creatures are not supposed to rely on water and oxygen. How would science define their existence on other planets? Astrobiology, in my opinion, is a branch of science that is looking for signs of life dependent on water and oxygen and the hosting place of such life can be a habitat for humans.
  2. Keeping in mind the definition of life mentioned above, there are fifty percent chances that such life may exist in the universe other than the earth because we don’t have evidence in favor or against the extraterrestrial life. So far no evidence is found that aliens ever tried to contact us. Although certain claims by individuals exist on the internet that aliens or UFOs were seen at various places around the world but these claims are not acceptable by experts.
  3. These signals received by Professor of Astronomy in St. Petersburg College Florida, Mr. Antonio Paris and his team firstly on Aug. 15, 1977, when they were working on radio observatory in Ohio and secondly after 40 years around 2017 while observing the star Sagittarius with a radio telescope of 10 meters. Interestingly on both occasions, a comet (266P/Christensen) was found in that area covered with clouds of hydrogen. So Mr. Antonio opined that the signals were reflected when radio waves of the telescopes touched those hydrogen clouds. All other theories regarding WOW signals cannot be entertained after Mr. Paris’s opinion about those signals. So we can say that aliens are still fiction.
  4. In my opinion, the chances of finding the life exacting as we find on earth are very rare because of a combination of mass, gravity, climate, magnetic field and proportion of water and land as it is found on earth, very impossible to find anywhere else in the universe. Even it is very difficult to find life as is described in various religions and cultures except for Islam. As a Muslim, I believe that angels, jinns or any other immaterial creatures may be found in the universe other than earth.
  5. I am sure that man cannot solve this mystery depending on his wisdom only, even if he finds trails of extraterrestrial life in this universe because science does not accommodate the sayings found in divine books. We believe that man was sent from heaven (Jannat) to earth but science is not able to access Jannat tracing that mystery. Furthermore, there are scientific theories supporting that religious explanation of our origin on this planet that the evolution of mankind was not completely terrestrial. Although these theories are yet to be approved.

World Space Week 2019, Celebration

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World Space Week 2019, Celebration
World Space Week 2019, celebration by are organizing SUPARCO

World Space Week (WSW) globally celebrated each year as a tribute to space science and technology, and to their role, they played for the betterment of the human life on Earth. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate following two events

October 4, 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus, opening the way for space exploration.

October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

The major goals of these celebrations are to educate people around the world about the facts they are benefitting from space exploration and to encourage greater use of space for sustainable economic development worldwide. Likewise past in 2019, globally space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetarium, museums, and astronomy clubs in a common timeframe will celebrate interesting activities to motivate youth for space sciences and foster economic coordination in space outreaches.

The theme of World Space Week 2019, “The Moon: Gateway to the Stars,” in memorial of the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing.

Poster of World space week 2019 celebration

In Pakistan, the Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is organizing a Space Fair, with the theme, “THE MOON: GATEWAY TO THE STARS!”

and invites young learners, school/university students, and the general public to commemorate the event of World Space Week by not only witnessing numerous activities but also participating in different competitions. The initiative of organizing Space Fair at Karachi is to create awareness among the schools about space science and its applications and encourage the schools across Karachi to become a part of this mega event

Following competitions along with several different activities will be arranged at the venue:

Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Four

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Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Four

Following the theme of our Astrobiology edition, we asked some renowned personalities of Pakistan to share their views on man’s search for life. In this part, we have Syed Muneeb Ali, science writer and blogger, answer our questions.

Questions on Astrobiology

  • 1.     How do you view astrobiology? What will be your definition of it?
  • 2.     How many chances are there for the existence of ExtraTerrestrial life and has it made any contact with us yet?
  • 3.     What do you think about the “WOW Signal” and other theories about regarding aliens?
  • 4.     What can life look like on other planets? Can it be like what we see in popular culture or not?
  • 5.     Should we able to unravel the mysteries about our origin on this planet after learning about ExtraTerrestrial life? How can it be so?

Also Read: Dr. Farrukh Shahzad on Astrobiology

Syed Muneeb Ali is an award-winning science writer, blogger and science communicator. He’s the general secretary of Astrobiology Network of Pakistan (ABNP) and is very much interested in spreading awareness regarding Astronomy and Science in Pakistan. Here is what he had to say:

1. To me, Astrobiology is the name of the process to analyze your favorite candy in the jar full of different types of candies. We don’t know which candy is up next to be discovered but currently, the main focus of Astrobiologists is to find the carbon-based candy in the jar because their home is the most accessible laboratory to test it.

2. I think there is extraterrestrial life exist everywhere in the Universe but why they haven’t made contact us? There are two reasons for it:

– First, we have vast cosmic distances due to which we can’t view that “real-time picture” of the Universe and if there are some humans on some habitable planet of a Star orbiting in the galactic habitable zone around the black hole of the galaxy “CLASS B1152+199” (A galaxy 5 billion light-years away from the Earth) watching the region where our solar system lies, they’ll have no idea of our G2V Star (Sun) and our home planet – The Earth! They’ll only be seeing some gas cloud in its condensing phase. So, due to the limit which nature has put on us – “speed of light”, we’ll or they’ll not be able to contact each other.

Alpha Centauri is the nearest star and can help us in unlocking the mysteries of Astrobiology
Alpha Centauri

– Second, there is a possibility that we might have life on the planets around the nearest star “Alpha Centauri” BUT based on some element other than carbon. So, there will be a difference in their contact-making and our contact-making ability.

3. When I read about the WOW signal for the very first time, it surprised me really! But after some time, I was also started to think that it might not be from some alien source instead it can be a reflected signal from space of some Earth-based source. If that radio telescope was placed in the vastness of space, then we can think of some alien thing in that unaltered environment.

4. We often hear the life “extraterrestrial life” on the web but I think it should be Extraterrestrial “microbial” life because, although we haven’t discovered in our solar system, life signatures which we’ve found give us the direction of simpler life form which was the case with our planet about 4.3 billion years ago. So, yes, if there are earth conditions on some planet and that planet has spent about 4 billion years, then we might think of some complex multicellular life forms like us.

5. To me, the answer is yes. The Universe is the laboratory for testing everything to the limit of violation of laws which are made by the Universe, with time, to stabilize itself. For example, take Enceladus, the moon of planet Saturn. We can suspect what would be happening on Earth about 4.3 billion years ago. On Venus, we can see what will happen to the planet earth due to extreme global warming conditions in the future. So, can study Origin (on Enceladus, Europa or in similar condition today on Earth), development (on Earth), and future of life on this planet! I’d like to share the quote by Carl Sagan which inspires me a lot: “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting for you to be known”.

Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Three

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Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Three

Following the theme of our Astrobiology edition, we asked some renowned personalities of Pakistan to share their views on man’s search for life. In this part, we have Dr. Farrukh Shahzad, Founder of Pakistan Astronomers, answer our questions.

Questions on Astrobiology

  • 1.     How do you view astrobiology? What will be your definition of it?
  • 2.     How many chances are there for the existence of ExtraTerrestrial life and has it made any contact with us yet?
  • 3.     What do you think about the “WOW Signal” and other theories about regarding aliens?
  • 4.     What can life look like on other planets? Can it be like what we see in popular culture or not?
  • 5.     Should we able to unravel the mysteries about our origin on this planet after learning about ExtraTerrestrial life? How can it be so?

Also Read: Mansoor Ahmed on Astrobiology

A medical doctor by profession, Dr. Shahzad had a passion for Astronomy since childhood and now he is the President of PakAstronomers, Islamabad. He is also an astrophotographer and regularly holds Astronomy events in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in public places and different institutions like Comsats, NUST, and IST. Here is what he had to say:

1. Astrobiology is a branch of science that probes into the origin of life, its evolution and spread in the universe and its future. It is specifically concerned with extra-terrestrial life and the factors responsible for its development. But to answer these questions we must first know how life developed on Earth. 

2. In my opinion, there is a high likelihood of finding Extraterrestrial life, but there is less chance that it would be intelligent life. Billions of years are required for life to reach the stage of technically advanced civilization, for which a very stable and safe star system is required. For example, a simple Gamma-Ray Burst from a nearby Neutron Star can wipe out life on an entire planet. Detection of Carbon dioxide in a planet’s atmosphere is a sign that life may exist on it. Earliest signs of life on Earth date back to 3.7 to 4.1 billion years. Likewise, I don’t think that any Extraterrestrial life has made contact with us.

'WOW' Signal is a mystery in astrobiology
‘WOW’ Signal

3. The “WOW Signal” is a mystery. Received on August 15, 1977, by the Big Ear Radio Telescope in Ohio and later on discovered by Astronomer Jerry R. Ehman. It was a narrow band signal (10 kHz) that lasted only 72 seconds, corresponding to a natural oscillation of Hydrogen at 1420 MHz, coming from the region around constellation Sagittarius. The most probable explanation is that it came from hydrogen clouds surrounding two comets, 266P/Christensen and 335P/Gibbs that were roughly at the same spot the signal seemed to emanate.  Due to lack of its repetition despite several attempts and the fact that it was an unmodulated wave-like signal with no encoded information, it is unlikely that it was sent by aliens.

4. Life can take any form from simple unicellular organism to advanced species capable of changing its environment. Likewise, life on other planets may range from a simple organism to advanced civilization. Yes, it can look like what we see in popular culture or it can be completely different. But one thing the scientists agree that the basic building blocks of all life forms must be based on six main elements: Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur. The carbon atom is unique as it can make four strong bonds with other elements and is building block for all the organic compounds and all living things on Earth. It is therefore presumed that Extraterrestrial life would also be carbon-based.

5. Origin of life on Earth, the mysteries are just unraveling, and we may never know all the answers, but there are a few basic things the scientists agree upon:

  • Our Sun, medium-sized yellow star with a stable lifespan of 8 to 9 billion years.
  • Our position in the Solar system, the habitable zone or the Goldilocks zone, where liquid water can exist.
  • The Outer Giant planets Jupiter and Saturn protect Earth by deflecting giant objects and asteroids, thus helping life take hold on our planet.
  • Our Moon, formed around 4.5 billion years ago when a Mars-sized object hit Earth. Face-locked Moon helped stabilize Earth’s rotation, thus 24 hours day-night cycle, a stable climate and ocean tides that bring nutrients from deep in the oceans to the land and helped life getting a hold on dry land.
  • Plate Tectonics that helped form Volcanoes and giant mountain ranges and emission of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere.
  • Active Outer Core made of liquid Iron and Nickel that rotates to from Giant Magnetic field around Earth protecting life on Earth from deadly Cosmic radiation and Solar wind.
  • The volume of Oceans or Water on Earth which constitute 71% of the surface of Earth.
  • Earth’s Atmosphere and its composition, about 480 km thick; 78% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen. But the early Earth atmosphere consisted mainly of Nitrogen and Carbon dioxide.
  • Diversity of species and Ecosystem ensure the sustainability of life on Earth. Plants are vital for converting carbon dioxide to oxygen. Bacteria and carnivores regulate the carbon cycle. All the living things on Earth are dependent on each other for survival.

The Historic Mission of India to the Moon ended up?

Muhammad Abdullah Khan
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The Historic Mission of India to the Moon ended up?

Indian space agency ISRO lost its lunar moment, earlier today when the ground communications with the Vikram lander were lost just 2.1 km above the lunar surface. ISRO was looking forward to this moment with anticipation since 22nd July when it had launched its Chandrayaan 2, aiming to do a soft landing on the lunar South Pole. The live launch was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd of around 7000, apart from millions of online viewers, at the Sriharikota Space Station, an island at the eastern coast of India.

From the mission control center, ISRO India.
Live courage of Chndrayaan landing on Moon

The ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) said: “The Vikram Lander followed the planned descent trajectory from its orbit of 35 km to just below 2 km above the surface. All the systems and sensors of the Lander functioned excellently until this point and proved many new technologies such as variable thrust propulsion technology used in the Lander.”

Kailasavadivoo Sivan, Chairman ISRO had repeatedly referred to the last, long-awaited crucial moments as the “15 minutes of terror”. Sivan also said that the “Data is being analyzed”

The landing was observed live by millions of science enthusiasts across the globe. ISRO also invited 87 students, who had won ISRO Space quiz competition, to observe the historic moment live from Mission Control center at Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota. 

Sivan said that they should “hope for the best” and that this is just a temporary setback and that “Our journey will carry on”.

The United States, Russia, and China are the only nations to have successfully carried out soft landings on the moon. India’s maiden attempt got failed but it made history.

Read Chdrayaan Launch details: https://scientiamag.org/indias-giant-leap-chndryan-2/

Chandrayaan 2: A Historic Attempt of India for Lunar Landing

Scientia
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Chandrayaan 2: A Historic Attempt of India for Lunar Landing

At the advent of our NewSpace Age or commercialization of Space, the final frontier has become the new frontier for peace and diplomacy on Earth.

India's lunar mission Chandrayaan
Chndrayaan 2 launching

“I congratulate India and ISRO on its historic attempt to make a successful soft landing of the Vikram Lander at the South Pole of the Moon,” said Namira Salim, who is renowned as the First Pakistani to go to space aboard Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, the First Space-line of the world.  “The Chandaryaan 2 lunar mission is indeed a giant leap for South Asia which not only makes the region but the entire global space industry proud.” Vikram Lander exhibited normal performance up to an altitude of 2.1 kilometers from the moon until ISRO lost signals. 

“Regional developments in the Space sector in South Asia are remarkable and no matter which nation leads—in space, all political boundaries dissolve and in space—what unites us, overrides, what divides us on Earth,” said Namira Salim.


Namira Salim greets India for attempting lunar landing
Namira Salim

What was once the club of a select few elite space nations, is now open to all nations at the dawn of our NewSpace age.  India is the first country to attempt a historic landing on the South Pole of the Moon and would have been the fourth nation to touch down on the lunar surface after space agencies of the USSR, the USA‎ ‎and China, and the third country to have operated a rover on the Moon.

Namira is a thought leader in making Space the New Frontier for Peace on Earth via her non-profit, Space Trust and advocates world leaders and governments to utilize space as a sustainable tool for peace on Earth toward Space 2030, in support of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda of 2030.  This role has carved her into a thought leader for a novel form of Space Diplomacy on Earth. 

“As Spacefaring and new space nations come to play an equally integral part in contributing to and bringing space and peaceful uses of space technologies on Earth, world leaders must join hands to understand that Space can actually help craft a novel form of Diplomacy on Earth and for which, they don’t need to be rocket scientists.  Accordingly, the best place to begin is in our very own sub-region to foster peace,” said Namira Salim.  ‎

With this year marking the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, China’s Change 4 achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon, on 3 January 2019. Moreover, through NASA’s newly announced Artemis program, it will create a base on the moon by 2024 with a coalition of nations, to not only return the next man but also, to land the first woman on the moon. India was the first nation in the world to successfully launch a mission to Mars, the Mangalyaan or Mars Orbiter Mission, in a maiden attempt, a Space probe orbiting Mars since 24 September 2014. 

Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Two

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Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Two
Mansoor Ahmad of NASA speaks about astrobiology
Mansoor Ahmad

Following the theme of our Astrobiology edition, we asked some renowned personalities of Pakistan to share their views on man’s search for life. In this part, we have Mr. Mansoor Ahmad, who is an astrophysicist at NASA, answer our questions.

Questions

  • 1.     How do you view astrobiology? What will be your definition of it?
  • 2.     How many chances are there for the existence of ExtraTerrestrial life and has it made any contact with us yet?
  • 3.     What do you think about the “WOW Signal” and other theories about regarding aliens?
  • 4.     What can life look like on other planets? Can it be like what we see in popular culture or not?
  • 5.     Should we able to unravel the mysteries about our origin on this planet after learning about ExtraTerrestrial life? How can it be so?

Part One: Namira Salim on Astrobiology

Mansoor Ahmad

Mansoor Ahmed is a Pakistani astrophysicist, who has been associated with NASA for almost 35 years and is currently serving as the associate director of the Astrophysics Projects Division, as well as the program manager for the Physics of the Cosmos program and the Cosmic Origins program at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland. Here is what he had to say.

1.Astrobiology is the science of understanding the creation of organic molecules from the primordial elements/conditions that existed on earth before life began. It is also the search for such organics in exoplanets.

2. The famous Drake’s equation predicts that there should be millions of intelligent life forms just within our own galaxy, even with the most conservative assumptions of probability for the parameters necessary to evolve intelligent life. These parameters include:

  • The rate of formation of stars suitable for the development of intelligent life.
  • The fraction of those stars with planetary systems.
  • The number of planets, per solar system, with an environment suitable for life.
  • The fraction of suitable planets on which life actually appears.
  • The fraction of life-bearing planets on which intelligent life emerges.
  • The fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space.
  • The length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
  • Even if we assume 0.01-0.02 % probability of each of the parameters above, with the sheer numbers of stars in our galaxy, the Drake equation predicts millions of intelligent civilizations.
  • Unfortunately, we have been unable to detect any of them so far with our limited technological capabilities. And there has been no contact made by them, as far as I know. The fact that they haven’t made any contact with us either, says a lot about the restrictions imposed by the laws of nature, such as huge distance between us and any other possible civilization as well as the limit of traveling speed to the speed of light.  It will take thousands of years for someone to visit us. They either have to be able to live for thousands of years or have discovered how to travel faster than light.

3. I’m not too familiar with the “WOW” signal so I cannot comment.

4. Just by looking at so many life forms existing on earth, under extremely hostile environments, it is easy to assume that life forms completely different than what we can imagine might exist elsewhere. Detecting this different lifeform is however another matter. Unless such lifeform physically visits us and introduces themselves to us, we can only detect them remotely. If we are to detect an extraterrestrial lifeform with remote sensing, then we can only look for the signature of life as we understand it. Let’s say there is a lifeform that is entirely Hydrogen based. We will have no idea what their biological signature will look like and what gaseous emission will be present in their atmosphere. Therefore, we can only search for life as we understand it to exist on earth because those signatures we can detect through remote sensing.

5. I believe that will be the case. So far, we have only one example of the evolution of life. The earth. Having more data points will by definition increase our knowledge base and increase the probability of solving the mystery of the origin of life. NASA is planning a mission to visit Titan, one of Saturn’s moons that has a high probability of the processes that convert chemistry into biology. The mission is named “Dragonfly”, consisting of a drone capable of flying around Titan’s surface, landing at different locations and study the organic material underneath the surface. We hope this mission will help our understanding of how life could have evolved on earth.

For the lovers of Astronomy: https://scientiamag.org/mansoor-ahmad-a-peek-into-the-life-and-work-of-pakistani-astrophysicists-working-at-nasa/

NASA’s James Webb Telescope is slated to be launched by 2021

Aniqa Mazhar
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NASA’s James Webb Telescope is slated to be launched by 2021

This splendid piece of apparatus took almost 20 years to be designed and completed now ready for use to observe space. It was built to overthrow NASA’s Hubble and promises to elevate the level of space exploration steeply with its powerful resolution.

An aerial view of James webb telescope.
The magnificent James Webb Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope is all set to receive the stardom of being the most magnificent and multifarious orbital observatory to be launched into space. It has seven times the capability of collecting light as Hubble, along with modern infrared imaging technology. With it, scientists mean to find out about distant celestial masses from an unmarred perspective.

The idea of placing such an advanced setup was first proposed in the mid-1990s. There followed a lengthy trial-and-error journey, by the end of which the launch was supposed to be in 2007.

Due to so many staggering years of uncertainty, the final launch is a moment of celebration for all the engineers and staff members who toiled around the clock for this moment. The team worked cleverly, combining two halves of the telescope with a crane in California, adjusting and amending here and there all the while.

“ The assembly of the telescope and its scientific instruments, sun shield and the spacecraft into one observatory represents an incredible achievement by the entire Webb team,” says Bill Ochs, Webb project manager for NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland.”This milestone symbolizes the efforts of over more than 20 years across NASA, the European Space Agency, Northrop Grumman, and the rest of our industrial and academic partners.”

There is still a lot of work to do before the final launch, though. Continuous testing hasn’t ceased yet, so as to avoid technical issues 930000 miles away from Earth. The definitive launch is slated for 2021.

For Astrophotography Lovers:

visit: https://scientiamag.org/steve-a-new-wonder-in-the-night-skies/

Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk

Scientia
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Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk

Following the theme of our Astrobiology edition, we asked some renowned personalities of Pakistan to share their views on man’s search for life.

Questions

  • 1.     How do you view astrobiology? What will be your definition of it?
  • 2.     How many chances are there for the existence of ExtraTerrestrial life and has it made any contact with us yet?
  • 3.     What do you think about the “WOW Signal” and other theories about regarding aliens?
  • 4.     What can life look like on other planets? Can it be like what we see in popular culture or not?
  • 5.     Should we able to unravel the mysteries about our origin on this planet after learning about ExtraTerrestrial life? How can it be so?

Namira Salim

Namira Salim is the first Pakistani to have traveled to the North and South poles and the first Asian to skydive (in tandem) from Mount Everest. She hoisted a peace flag on behalf of the nation at the two poles of the world. She is also one of the founder astronaut of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, the first private space-line of the world.

Namira Salim
  1. Astrobiology is an interdisciplinary scientific field that explores the origins, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. I view it as important research into the origin and evolution of planetary systems, the origins of organic compounds in space, life processes and habitability.  This scientific field is exciting, not only in terms of what may be discovered about the potential for life on other planets – for example, through the exploratory work of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission carrying the Curiosity rover to probe for past and present planetary habitability of microbial life on Mars – but also for its potential to bring us greater insight into life processes on Earth.
  2. In our own solar system alone, there are many places that life might exist, not to mention the rest of the expansive universe that is yet to be explored. We simply have not evidenced it with our limited vision or when seeking ingredients for life – such as water, oxygen, chemicals, and energy – which may not even be important for other forms of life in the universe. So, we are limited but–by our six senses and have perhaps, totally missed all evidence of life out there!! 
  3. The Wow! signal has been a source for great speculation since it was picked up in August 1977. However, the Center of Planetary Science (CPS) has suggested that the 72-second Wow! signal might have come from a hydrogen cloud accompanying a comet which had not yet been discovered when the signal was heard. Two comets had been in the same part of the sky at the time and the movement of the comets would explain why the signal was not seen again during subsequent monitoring. The CPS team recently got a chance to test their idea as the two comets, P/2008 Y2 (Gibbs) and 266/P Christensen, appeared once again in the night sky from November 2016 to February 2017. Radio signals from 266/P Christensen matched those from the Wow! signal 40 years ago. To verify their results, they tested readings from three other comets, as well, and found similar results so I am convinced by their findings. However, the universe is so vast, and we know so little about it in relative terms so we should remain humble and accept that someone somewhere may be trying to reach out to us in other ways we do not currently comprehend.
  4. There are so many planets, all with their particular characteristics and which may or may not be capable of supporting life, as we comprehend it.  In my view, one only has to look at our own planet Earth and observe the variety of life forms supported by diverse environments to be able to conceive of a very multiform life existing on another planet somewhere in the universe at some time or another. In my view, however, it is unlikely to exist as it has been portrayed in popular culture and we should keep an open mind about the form it may take. And most importantly it doesn’t have to be like the one on Earth and based on the limitation of our minds.
  5. Scientific research always provides us with new insight, whatever the field of study. Whatever we learn about the planets and life forms beyond our own planet will undoubtedly help us to deepen our understanding of the Earth’s evolution and, hence, our own beginnings as its inhabitants. Let us not forget that space exploration to date and the experiments conducted there have brought us a significant number of inventions and technological progress that we take for granted today. The astrobiology will most definitely contribute greatly to unraveling some of the mysteries related to our origin on this planet.

Volumetric bioprinting: A quantum leap in the field of Tissue engineering.

Sabeeka Zafar
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Volumetric bioprinting: A quantum leap in the field of Tissue engineering.

In a study, published in a journal Advanced Materials, researchers from the École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Utrecht University developed a new technique, known as volumetric bioprinting, to create artificial organs and tissues. The technique allowed the researchers to sculpt complex tissue in a matter of seconds using biocompatible hydrogel containing stem cells.

bioprinting 1
Bioprinting complex living tissue in just a few seconds

  Volumetric Bioprinting

To create tissue construct, the scientists used a laser and projected it down a spinning tube containing stem cell-rich hydrogel. They then sculpt the tissue by using the energy of light, directing it to the specific locations, and have it solidify. In a matter of seconds, the complex-three-dimensional shape appears in a stem-cell-laden hydrogel. Despite the use of laser, the stem cell did not get affected. The team then vascularized the tissue by introducing endothelial cells.

Volumetric bioprinting is a major breakthrough in the field of tissue engineering, allowing the researchers to create customized and functional tissue constructs several millimeters thick and could prove a boon for clinical research.

“The characteristics of human tissue depend to a large extent on a highly sophisticated extracellular structure, and the ability to replicate this complexity could lead to a number of real clinical applications,” says Paul Delrot, another coauthor

 Tissue engineers can use this technique to develop and test new drugs, repair damaged tissue and even replace entire organs in the human body. The technique is used to build a meniscus, a heart valve-like material, and a complex-shaped part of a human femur. The process is also used to develop interlocking structures.

The technique is very fast as compared to other similar procedures and it does not damage the viability of the cell.

“Unlike conventional bioprinting — a slow, layer-by-layer process — our technique is fast and offers greater design freedom without jeopardizing the cells’ viability,” says Damien Loterie, an LAPD researcher and one of the study’s co-authors.

According to the researchers, their groundbreaking technique has the potential to fabricate artificial organs on a large scale and on a faster rate. The technique could prove beneficial not only in testing new drugs in vitro but also to wipe out the need for animal testing; hence lowering testing costs.

“This is just the beginning. We believe that our method is inherently scalable towards mass fabrication and could be used to produce a wide range of cellular tissue models, not to mention medical devices and personalized implants,” says Christophe Moser, the head of the LAPD.

Hence, the new research is certainly a quantum leap in the field of tissue engineering.

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