Scientists have learned a lot about the universe over the past few centuries because of the
diligent work of thinkers like Nicolaus Copernicus, Albert Einstein and Steven Hawking.
With every new discovery, however, we are reminded how little we actually know about
the mysteries of the cosmos.
10.
Going Rogue For Example
We learn that planets orbit stars just as the Earth orbits our sun, but this isn’t
always the case.
Lurking in the frozen reaches of deep space are planets that have escaped the gravitation
pull of any star.
A potentially vast, but unknown number of these rogue planets are hurtling through the
universe and could potentially enter our solar system or even collide with one of our planets.
It looks like the new TV show “ “ might not be too far off
9.
The Planet X Conspiracy
Speaking of rogue planets, what about the Planet X Conspiracy.
It might sound like a pulp fiction title from the fifties, but many people think the outer
reaches of our solar system may harbor a rogue planet of its own called Planet X.
The idea of a “missing” planet in our solar system goes back to at least the middle
of the 19th century and most mainstream astronomers have tried to debunk it ever since.
However, the idea of a mysterious, rogue planet in such close proximity remaining undiscovered
is apparently too intriguing to completely abandon.
JSo, It looks like the new TV show “ “ might not be too far off
8.
Who’s Calling?
(Can you hear me now?)
So are we alone?
Apparently not, Periodically, observatories on Earth receive unexplained signals emanating
from deep space.
Where are they coming from? and what’s causing them? are two questions the many people are
trying to answer.
These signals, known as Fast Radio Bursts, (FRB) were noticed about ten years ago and
they have since been confirmed to be coming from some very distant and as yet, unknown
source.
Most intriguing of all perhaps, is that they appear to come from one specific spot in the
universe.
This has led some researchers to speculate the signals could be from an extraterrestrial
intelligence.
ET phone earth, we wanna talk.
7.
What No One Has Smelled Before (Space, smell you later!)
We know that there is no sound is space, but what about oder.
Astronauts have described space as smelling similar to a cooking steak, hot metal and
gunpowder.
Mmmm Is someone bbqing in space?
The thinking is that astronauts bring back certain cosmic particles on their suits and
equipment when they reenter their spaceships.
The high-energy vibration of the particles interacts with the air causing the distinct
odor.
6.
Diamonds are a Planet’s Best Friend
What girl doesn’t love diamonds, well ladies you’ve never seen a rock this big.
The diamond is actually a planet.
known as 55 Cancri e that consists entirely of a hard, shiny material.
Diamonds are formed from a crystalline structure of pure carbon and make up as much as a third
of the entire planet, which is twice the size of the Earth and 8 times heavier.
The dazzling 55 Cancri e is only 40 light years away, but we probably won’t be sending
miners there any time soon because its surface temperature is about 4000 degrees Fahrenheit.
That’s hot.
5.
Fast as a Speeding Star
And so is our sun.
We all know that stars, like our own sun, are huge balls of hydrogen that are at the
center of solar systems.
But did you know some stars are racing through deep space all alone at 2 million mph?
These hypervelocity stars have likely been kicked out into deep space by the supermassive
black hole believed to be at the center of the Milky Way.
One theory says these lone stars result when a binary star system gets too close to the
supermassive black hole and one star manages to escape, but the other crosses over the
event horizon.
So look out for Speeding stars.
4.
Proof of Life
While life on other planets has not yet been proven, there is plenty of complicated math
to show that it may in fact be a common occurrence.
According to estimates, there could be 400 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy and
50 billion planets.
If only 1 percent of these planets are in the habitable or Goldilocks zone of their
solar systems, it could mean there are 500 million planets in our galaxy alone with the
potential to support life.
3.
Are we Extraterrestrials
We don’t know how life began on Earth or even if it did begin on Earth at all.
A theory known as panspermia suggests that interstellar bodies like meteors and comets
randomly seeded planets like Earth with microorganisms.
These simple alien life forms eventually evolved into all of the life forms on our planet including
us.
One version of this theory known as directed panspermia goes on to further state that some
advanced civilization intentionally seeded planets with life.
2.
Ever wake up wondering Dude where’s my car?
Did you know that NASA astronauts last visited the moon in December 1972; They left rover
track footprints and assorted pieces of equipment including several landing crafts and the rover
vehicles from the last three Apollo missions.
There is no atmosphere on the moon so there is no erosion and this means that these artifacts
of human exploration could remain undisturbed for as long as 100 million years.
Eventually, however, dust will cover the tracks.
Large pieces of discarded equipment could remain undisturbed indefinitely.
1.
Introducing Ourselves
Speed Dating in Space: The Voyager I spacecraft was launched in 1977
and ever since then has been racing through space at 35,000 mph.
In 2012, it left our solar system and continues into interstellar space.
Along with the many instruments and sensors, Voyager I is carrying a 12 inch gold plated
copper disk referred to as the Golden Record.
This disk contains examples of Earth’s diverse cultures and life including selections of
various languages and music, sounds of waves and wind as well as depictions of humans and
animals.
A committee headed by famed scientist Carl Sagan decided what to include on the record.
Of course, NASA provided a needle and instructions on how to play
the record.