NASA sets news conference on astrobiology finding related to extraterrestrial life - Polidicks

Subtitle: Another news conference letdown by NASA incoming [quote]Nov. 29, 2010 The details are being kept under wraps until NASA’s 2 p.m. EST news conference on Thursday, but a brief press release from the government agency via PRNewswire reveals that the topic will be “an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life.” The NASA release defines astrobiology as “the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe.” The news release goes on to inform us that participants in the astrobiology news conference, to be held in Washington, will include the individuals listed below. Mary Voytek, director, Astrobiology Program, NASA Headquarters, Washington Felisa Wolfe-Simon, NASA astrobiology research fellow, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, Calif. Pamela Conrad, astrobiologist, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Steven Benner, distinguished fellow, Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Gainesville, Fla. James Elser, professor, Arizona State University, Tempe The news conference will be broadcast live on NASA TV and the agency website, [url]http://www.nasa.gov[/url].[/quote] [url]http://bit.ly/e1vZgi[/url]

A finding that will impact the search. That means they didn't find any life, but instead they'll just search in a different way I guess.

It will probably be "Hey guys look at the distribution of aromatics in this nebula right here" so don't get excited or imagine it being something more foundations-shaking.

probably some lame ass bacteria strain collected from a fallen object that may or may not be extraterrestrial

You people expect way too much out of these conferences, no wonder you are always let down.

Carbon based comet. I'm calling it now.

"We are ready to announce a new, exciting probe that will scout for more extrasolar planets, and look for life! Sure, odds are there won't be any results and we'll hype it up to hell and back, but it's all good!"

I remember being told that this conference will be regarding a discovery made by the Kepler spacecraft. In addition, that this conference is a precursor to an already planned conference scheduled early next year. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler_Mission[/url] Kepler looks for planets, and in particular planets that orbit at the right distance to allow for liquid water.

Heres to Hoping It's Actual Extraterrestrial Discovery

I still agree with Hawkings in that we should stop trying to call cosmic attention to ourselves until we're a bit stronger, wiser, and more advanced, so we'd be capable of standing up to any potential galactic douchebags. Would be a real suck-fest if we encountered alien life only to be immediately exploited by it.

[QUOTE=DanRatherman;26397848]I still agree with Hawkings in that we should stop trying to call cosmic attention to ourselves until we're a bit stronger, wiser, and more advanced, so we'd be capable of standing up to any potential galactic douchebags. Would be a real suck-fest if we encountered alien life only to be immediately exploited by it.[/QUOTE] I'm sure that at some point with in a hypothetical, alien civilization's timeline, one group of aliens exploited another group similar to what the European Empires did to the Natives in North and South America. Chances are, those colonies that the alien civilization once conquered long ago are now sovereign nations and are pursuing a (hopefully) similar road to Humanity's, i.e. the United Nations.

Snip.

Hopefully this press conference might mean something.

I'm expecting they found some prothean ruins on mars, with hints to a Mass Relay farther out in the galaxy. I will not be disappointed I think! :v:

Well they've found something big, because it's going to be broadcast all over on national television. [url]http://www.thatsfamous.com/6698-nasa-to-have-news-conference-on-extraterrestrial-life-discovery/[/url] Apparently, one of the chaps in attendance is an expert on Saturn's moon Titan. This is proving to be more and more interesting by the minute.

[QUOTE=LunchboxOfDoom;26402773]Well they've found something big, because it's going to be broadcast all over on national television. [url]http://www.thatsfamous.com/6698-nasa-to-have-news-conference-on-extraterrestrial-life-discovery/[/url] Apparently, one of the chaps in attendance is an expert on Saturn's moon Titan. This is proving to be more and more interesting by the minute.[/QUOTE] Can't wait.

[QUOTE=LunchboxOfDoom;26402773]Well they've found something big, because it's going to be broadcast all over on national television. [url]http://www.thatsfamous.com/6698-nasa-to-have-news-conference-on-extraterrestrial-life-discovery/[/url] Apparently, one of the chaps in attendance is an expert on Saturn's moon Titan. This is proving to be more and more interesting by the minute.[/QUOTE] Bet they found a component in an atmosphere that's a bit odd and that could come from living organisms. I'd kill for this to be awesome, but I don't see it sadly.

It's going to be another letdown. Remember the last conference with the earth shattering discovery of a black hole?

What everybody expects: [img]http://www.celluloid-dreams.de/content/images/kritiken-filmbilder/alien-vs-predator/alien-vs-predator-2.jpg[/img] What's it going to be if we are extremly lucky: [img]http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum_modules/Properties/module_1/images/bacteria.jpg[/img] Even if they just found a bacteria or even a trace of them, that would be a major breakthrough.

Haven't they already found some kind of single celled organism on some planet or moon or something?

Reminds me of Deception Point by Dan Brown. They find a meteor in the arctic with fossils from another planet in it then announce a press conference similar to this.

[QUOTE=faze;26405078]Haven't they already found some kind of single celled organism on some planet or moon or something?[/QUOTE] I thought they found something on a meteorite that could be traces of life, but there exist also non-biological explanations for it. So it's not sure if that was an alien form of life.

[QUOTE=rosthouse;26405159]I thought they found something on a meteorite that could be traces of life, but there exist also non-biological explanations for it. So it's not sure if that was an alien form of life.[/QUOTE] That might have been it...I can't find a source, so I have no clue.

[QUOTE=faze;26405261]That might have been it...I can't find a source, so I have no clue.[/QUOTE] I think it was that thing: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALH84001[/url]

[QUOTE=rosthouse;26405285]I think it was that thing: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALH84001[/url][/QUOTE] That might be it... I remember something more definate though.

Thanks to the disappointing nature of that whole "life-changing discovery of incredible nearby structure" announcement they made a few weeks back, I will remain skeptical of every announcement they announce until they start being less dramatic. For instance, a black hole in our galaxy I would not call an "incredible nearby structure which affects the future of scientific progress," but rather, "a vaguely interesting factoid, good for small talk at social events with people you don't really care about." I would like to see headlines reflect the true nature of their discoveries, please.

[QUOTE=DanRatherman;26397848]I still agree with Hawkings in that we should stop trying to call cosmic attention to ourselves until we're a bit stronger, wiser, and more advanced, so we'd be capable of standing up to any potential galactic douchebags. Would be a real suck-fest if we encountered alien life only to be immediately exploited by it.[/QUOTE] If one is to believe there is alien life sufficiently advanced to beat the crap out of us let alone even get here... They're already here.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;26405471]Thanks to the disappointing nature of that whole "life-changing discovery of incredible nearby structure" announcement they made a few weeks back, I will remain skeptical of every announcement they announce until they start being less dramatic. For instance, a black hole in our galaxy I would not call an "incredible nearby structure which affects the future of scientific progress," but rather, "a vaguely interesting factoid, good for small talk at social events with people you don't really care about." I would like to see headlines reflect the true nature of their discoveries, please.[/QUOTE] You're not a scientist so why do you think you should be able to decide upon the importance of scientific discoveries?

[QUOTE=rosthouse;26405040]What's it going to be if we are extremly lucky: [img_thumb]http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum_modules/Properties/module_1/images/bacteria.jpg[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] Chances are that the structure would be completely different too, Coming from another planet would mean it would probably share very few characteristics of earth bacteria.

As long as it's not a find that would actually reduce the proportion of habitable planets, I won't be disappointed.