(Back to
the menu - click here.)
“Exoplanets
and the Search for Atmospheric Biosignature Gases"
|
Date: |
Download-files: |
Time: |
|
Thursday, 15 April 2021 |
Video-Recording for any system with MP4-support
- Video.mp4 (ca.340 Mb) - Video_with_eng_sub.mp4 (ca. 345 Mb) |
15:15 – 16:25
|
Abstract:
Thousands of exoplanets are known to orbit
nearby stars and small rocky planets
are established to be common. Driving the field is the study of exoplanet
atmospheres, with the goal of detecting a
gas that might be indicative of life.
A suitable “biosignature gas” is not just
one that might be produced by life, but
one that: can accumulate in an atmosphere
against atmospheric radicals and
other sinks; has strong atmospheric
spectral features; and has limited abiological
false positives. Which gases might be
potential biosignature gases in an as yet
unknown range of exoplanetary
environments? New computer simulations and
next-generation telescopes coming online
means the ambitious goal of searching
for “biosignature gases” in a rocky
exoplanet atmosphere is within reach.
Speaker today: Sara Seager (Massachusetts
Institute of Technology)