How to Explore Earth-like Planets Light Years Away

Source - NASA Science News for March 29, 2012

With NASA's Kepler spacecraft discovering alien worlds at a record pace, it seems to be just a matter of time before an Earth-sized planet is found in the "Goldilocks zone"--that is, in an orbit sized just right for liquid water and life. In today's story from Science@NASA, researchers discuss how they'll explore a cousin of Earth so many light years away.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/29mar_goldilocks/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diz4Q3ALi5k

Are We Alone for 12/27/10 - Seth's Storage Locker

Are We Alone - Seth's Storage Locker

ENCORE It’s always an adventure to go digging in Seth’s storage locker – who knows what we’ll find …

In this imposing pile of paraphernalia, tucked between boxes of socket wrenches and old 45s, we stumble upon the hunt for extrasolar planets, the evidence for water on moons of the solar system, theories of language, a controversial hypothesis for the peopling of the Americas, and a new dinosaur fossil.

Guests:

• Steve Brusatte – Vertebrate paleontologist from the American Museum of Natural History in New York
• Steven Pinker – Psychologist, Harvard University
• Geoff Marcy – Astronomer, University of California, Berkeley
• Adam Showman – Planetary scientist at the University of Arizona
• Mike Collins – Associate Director, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Seth_s_Storage_Locker

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Earth's Dust Tail Points to Alien Planets

Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 12, 2010

Did you know Earth has a long tail of dust? It's real, and it could lead researchers to the discovery of distant alien worlds.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/12nov_dusttail/

Are We Alone for 10/19/09 - Seth's Storage Locker

Are We Alone - Seth's Storage Locker

It’s always an adventure to go digging in Seth’s storage locker – who knows what we’ll find …

In this imposing pile of paraphernalia, tucked between boxes of socket wrenches and old 45s, we stumble upon the hunt for extrasolar planets, the evidence for water on moons of the solar system, theories of language, a controversial hypothesis for the peopling of the Americas, and a new dinosaur fossil.

Guests:

• Steve Brusatte – Vertebrate paleontologist from the American Museum of Natural History in New York
• Steven Pinker – Psychologist, Harvard University
• Geoff Marcy – Astronomer, University of California, Berkeley
• Adam Showman – Planetary scientist at the University of Arizona
• Mike Collins – Associate Director, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.