Event 2: "Signs of Life" at Griffith Observatory

Last night, I attended the "Signs of Life" show at Griffith Observatory, a planetarium presentation that takes audiences on an exploratory journey to answer one of humanity's most compelling questions: Are we alone in the universe?

 

Signs of Life Poster

The show starts right here on Earth, described as our base for cosmic exploration. It points out that all known life forms share this single planet, making Earth the perfect starting point to understand life's potential elsewhere in the cosmos. From Earth, the show quickly moves beyond our familiar confines to Mars, where viewers are presented with the latest findings about the planet's past water resources and how they might have supported microbial life.

 

signs of life ticket

The intriguing idea of canals on Mars, which captivated the imagination of the public and the scientific community alike, dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This concept was primarily propagated by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli and later popularized by the American astronomer Percival Lowell ("Inspiring the next Generation through Space Education")

In 1877, during a particularly close opposition of Mars to Earth, Giovanni Schiaparelli used his telescope to observe the surface of Mars and reported seeing canali—Italian for "channels" or "grooves". This term was unfortunately mistranslated into English as "canals," which implies artificially made structures, rather than natural features. The mistranslation fueled widespread speculation about intelligent life on Mars.

Moving beyond our solar system, the presentation reaches into the realms of exoplanets, planets orbiting stars other than the Sun. Here, the show delves into how scientists use advanced technology to detect these distant worlds and assess their potential to host life. Technologies such as telescopes and space observatories are highlighted for their roles in measuring atmospheric signatures that might indicate the presence of life-supporting environments (Worlds without End: Exoplanets, Habitability, and the Future of Humanity).

picture of me and the speaker

 

"Signs of Life" isn't just a visual tour of potential life-hosting sites in the universe; it's an educational journey that emphasizes the technological and scientific strides being made in the search for extraterrestrial life. It underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in space research and how various scientific fields contribute to our understanding of life's potential spread across the cosmos.

In essence, the show serves as both a reminder of our unique position in the universe and an invitation to ponder what lies beyond the celestial bodies we call neighbors. It's a thought-provoking presentation that encourages us to consider the broader universe as a frontier not just of space, but of life itself (Vesna).

 

Works Cited

“Inspiring the next Generation through Space Education.” The Planetary Society, www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-inspiring-the-next-generation. Accessed 8 May 2024.

Vesna, Victoria. “Biotech + Art” DESMA 9: Art, Science, and Technology. 2024. 

“Worlds without End: Exoplanets, Habitability, and the Future of Humanity 0262047667, 9780262047661.” Dokumen.Pub, dokumen.pub/worlds-without-end-exoplanets-habitability-and-the-future-of-humanity-0262047667-9780262047661-s-6727734.html. Accessed 8 May 2024.