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Article Review
The article chosen for this part of the assignment is titled The Extremely Halophilic Microorganisms, a Possible Model for Life on Other Planets, written by Sergiu Fendrihan, and published in 2017 in Current Trends in Natural Sciences journal. The researchers have analyzed the microscopic life that exists in areas of extreme heat, where water supply exists in the form of salt lakes (Fendrihan 148). Such areas include the Dead Sea, located in the Middle East, as well as various smaller salt lakes found in Africa and Australia.
What these locations have in common is the extremity of conditions in which microorganisms have to exist. According to Fendrihan (148), there is a multitude of halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms inhabiting these areas, up to 159 different subspecies belonging to the Halobacteriaceae family. In addition, these organisms prove to be very resistant to other extremes, such as UV radiation, heat, and lack of nutrients necessary for other bacteria.
Due to the extreme resistance of these bacteria to various hazards, this study provides important data for discovering life on other planets and moons. Mars exhibits signs of water having been present on its surface. In addition, evidence of salty underground oceans has been found on the moons of Saturn and Jupiter (Enceladus and Europa).
Thus, studying halophilic microorganisms supports the possibility of the existence of life on planets previously deemed uninhabitable. Low requirements for water and nutrients as well as high resistance to the elements increases their chances of survival. Investigating these planets would enrich the existing knowledge of space and biology.
Article Discussions
The article titled Life on Mars: Exploration and Evidence by Nola Taylor Redd provides cursory information about the state of research regarding life on Mars. The planet used to have large water deposits that were lost due to irradiation and exposure to harsh temperatures. The article suggests that life on Mars may still exist underneath the surface of the planet (Redd). Question: What exactly happened that altered Marss climate and caused it to lose so much of its water?
The second article titled Aliens May Well Exist in a Parallel Universe, New Studies Find by Brandon Specktor speculates about the existence of life in other dimensions. This article seems more like speculation rather than a contribution to the scientific community, as evidence of the existence of other dimensions is purely theoretical (Specktor). Question: If parallel universes exist, can they influence the events in our universe?
The third article titled The Four Best Places for Life in Our Solar System by Nicole Mortillaro provides a summary of four potential places for finding life. These planets and moons include Mars, Europa, Enceladus, and Titan (Mortillaro). This article outlines the requirements currently used to determine the feasibility of life on other planets. Question: Why did NASA restrict itself to studying Mars instead of sending a drone on one of the moons?
The fourth article written by Mike Wall speaks of the protective gravitational barrier of our solar system, which filters out charged particles coming from outside of the solar system. The existence of this protective field makes life on Earth possible (Wall). Studying it would help determine which systems can potentially harbor life and which could not. Question: Is the gravitational barrier unique to the Solar system alone?
The fifth article written by Lisa Kaspin-Powell explores the potential of non-H2O-based lifeforms existing on Titan. The article informs the readers that the elements found in Titans atmosphere can form cellular membranes similar to phospholipid molecular chains (Kaspin-Powell). Question: What other elements could potentially form cellular membranes?
The last article written by Seth Shostack provides a list of eight planets within the scope of our solar system that has the potential of harboring life. Aside from the 4 candidates mentioned in the article by Mortillaro, the article adds Earth, Venus, Ganymede, and Callisto, which show gravitational signs of possessing underground water (Shostak). Question: How is gravity related to the presence or absence of water?
Works Cited
Fendrihan, Sergiu. The Extremely Halophilic Microorganisms, A Possible Model for Life on Other Planets. Current Trends in Natural Sciences, vol. 6, no. 12, 2017, pp. 147-151.
Kaspin-Powell, Lisa. Does Titans Hydrocarbon Soup Hold a Recipe for Life? Astrobiology Magazine. 2018. Web.
Mortillaro, Nicole. The Four Best Places for Life in Our Solar System. Global News. 2014. Web.
Redd, Nola Taylor. Life on Mars: Exploration and Evidence. Space. 2017. Web.
Shostak, Seth. 8 Worlds Where Life Might Exist. Space. 2006. Web.
Specktor, Brandon. Aliens May Well Exist in a Parallel Universe, New Studies Find. Space. 2018. Web.
Wall, Mike. NASA Will Launch a Probe to Study the Solar Systems Protective Bubble in 2024. Space. 2018. Web.
Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
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