A recent discovery made by NASA questioned the way scientists have been searching for new organisms. They discovered a new bacteria called GFAJ-1 which is unlike any other type of anything that is currently living on Earth. It is a substance that uses arsenic, unlike the normal components of life: carbon, sulfur, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorous, which is normally a deadly chemical to any other organism that is not specially modified for it. It is able to use arsenic to build up its DNA, RNA, proteins, and cell membranes. What's more is that this new bacteria was discovered in Mono Lake in California. The discovery of this bacteria made scientists question their methods and the places they're looking in for new forms of life. New life could be closer than we think.
Diaz, Jesus. "NASA Finds New Life (Updated)." Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide. Web. 09 Jan. 2012. <http://gizmodo.com/5704158/nasa-finds-new-life>.
Since 1957, space programs around the world have been sending technological satellites up into space in order to explore the universe that surrounds human beings on Earth. History changed for space programs around the world when Russia launched Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite. After this event Russia and the U.S. began competing with one another in order to boost off their satellites into space. One of the U.S.'s satellites, the Explorer I, was launched into space, it discovered magnetic radiation belts that surrounded Earth. The Sputnik launch also became the cause for the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) known for their urge to discover new life beyond our planet.
"Sputnik and The Dawn of the Space Age." NASA History. 10 Oct. 2007. Web. 09 Jan. 2012. <http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/>.
Telescopes have always been the main source of discovering new planets. Using a simple lens that can be zoomed in or out has been used since the Protestant Reformation when astronomers such as Galileo and Copernicus and many others had discovered that other planets besides the one that humans reside on exist out there. Since our planet was able to host life, it is not far from the realm of possibility that another planet out there is able to host life forms that need to breathe, metabolize, maintain homeostasis, and many other factors exist, just as we do. In La Silla a group of European astronomers discovered a planet that surrounds a sun-like star that is able to maintain water on its surface. This is just one of the proofs that other Earth-like planets exist out there and many be able to host life-forms.
Diaz, Jesus. "NASA Finds New Life (Updated)." Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide. Web. 09 Jan. 2012. <http://gizmodo.com/5704158/nasa-finds-new-life>.
Since 1957, space programs around the world have been sending technological satellites up into space in order to explore the universe that surrounds human beings on Earth. History changed for space programs around the world when Russia launched Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite. After this event Russia and the U.S. began competing with one another in order to boost off their satellites into space. One of the U.S.'s satellites, the Explorer I, was launched into space, it discovered magnetic radiation belts that surrounded Earth. The Sputnik launch also became the cause for the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) known for their urge to discover new life beyond our planet.
"Sputnik and The Dawn of the Space Age." NASA History. 10 Oct. 2007. Web. 09 Jan. 2012. <http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/>.
Telescopes have always been the main source of discovering new planets. Using a simple lens that can be zoomed in or out has been used since the Protestant Reformation when astronomers such as Galileo and Copernicus and many others had discovered that other planets besides the one that humans reside on exist out there. Since our planet was able to host life, it is not far from the realm of possibility that another planet out there is able to host life forms that need to breathe, metabolize, maintain homeostasis, and many other factors exist, just as we do. In La Silla a group of European astronomers discovered a planet that surrounds a sun-like star that is able to maintain water on its surface. This is just one of the proofs that other Earth-like planets exist out there and many be able to host life-forms.
Hanlon, Michael By. "Life-supporting Planet a New Earth". The Telegraph. Web. 09 Jan. 2012. <http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/life-supporting-planet-a-new-earth/story-e6frev00-1111113408408>.
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