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Weekly Topic Overview |
Monday |
Wednesday
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Friday |
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Motivation and overview |
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8/29 Course expectations Definition of Astrobiology Why study now? Chapter 1, p 1-32 |
8/31 In the BeginningÉ From the Big Bang to the detection of extrasolar worlds
today. Estimate the number of
technological civilizations. |
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Basic physics of forces and
particles: Forces of nature, quantum
mechanics, conservation laws. |
9/3 No Class – Labor Day |
9/5 Forces Chapter 2, p33 – 50 |
9/7 Quantum Mechanics Ch 2, p 50 - 65 |
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The physics of chemistry: Periodic table, bonding
mechanisms, properties of carbon, spectroscopic signatures of atomic and
molecular structure. |
9/10
Atomic structure, particle and wave nature of light,
WienÕs Law, Doppler Effect Ch 3, p 66 – 86 QUIZ |
9/12 Chemical bonds, the Periodic Table, Chemical
equilibrium Ch 3, p 86 - 102 |
9/14 Properties of Carbon and Silicon, spectroscopy,
molecular transitions, isotopes and stability of the atom |
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The Cosmos: Temporal and spatial
scales, primordial Hydrogen and chemical synthesis in stars. |
9/17 Cosmic Scales – The Game Voyager Spacecraft Ch 5, p 141 - 154 QUIZ |
9/19 Star formation, Nucleosynthesis Ch 5, p 154 - 170 |
9/21 Stellar evolution and lifetimes, Stellar census, binary
stars |
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Planet formation, delivery
of water, radioisotopic decay and delivery of oceans |
9/24 Planet formation Ch 6, p174 – 208 Hmwk breakÉ QUIZ Last day to drop or add
classes |
9/26 Radioisotopic decay, isotopic dating, meteorites,
differentiation of Earth |
9/28 Journal discussion: READER: Snowball Earth Evolution of Earth A Cool Early Earth |
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Origin of the Moon and
habitable zones of nearby stars. |
10/1 Origin of EarthÕs water, origin of the moon QUIZ:
In-class Journal Articles presented last Friday |
10/3 Summary: From the Big Bang to planet formation. In-class project: calculating the distance to the
Habitable Zone for different spectral types. Sign-up: your Science Research
Topic |
10/5 Biomolecules Ch 4, p 103 – 116 Production of Amino Acids |
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The chemistry of life:
prokaryotes, eukaryotes, glycolysis, respiration, photosynthesis, chemical
synthesis, genetic code and synthesis of proteins. |
10/8 Cell Structure, Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes Ch 4 p 117 – 138 Are Viruses Alive? QUIZ:
name that biomolecule |
10/10 Respiration and Energy transport. Genetic code and protein synthesis READER: Watson & Crick Stanley Miller |
10/12 Journal Discussion: READER: 1) Orgel: Origin of Life on Earth 2) Shapiro: Simpler Origin for
Life 3) Gibson: RNA World and Lewis:
PNA World |
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Thermodynamics of Life: Temperature, Energy, Heat,
Work, Entropy, Thermodynamics of Living Systems, Chemical disequilibrium as a
signature of Life. |
10/15 Thermodynamics of Life Ch 7, p 211 – 225 QUIZ:
Journal Articles discussed on 10/12 |
10/17 Thermodynamics of Life Ch 7, p 225 – 240
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10/19 Thermodynamics
of Life. The Red Edge of Vegetation READER: SEARCH –
VegetationÕs Red Edge |
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Origin of Life: Biological
foundations in the pre-biotic world |
10/22 Precursors to Cells, sizes of
Protocells and the RNA world.
Viruses First? READER: BIOLOGY – Are
Viruses Alive? Ch 8, p 258 - 261 QUIZ:
Red Edge of Vegetation |
10/24 The prebiotic world. Evolutionary
Diversification. READER: BIOLOGY – The Cells
That Rule The Sea Ch 9, p 290 – 301 |
10/26
Movie: Planet Earth ÒJunglesÓ |
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Titan: Reading the surface
morphology. Extremophiles and the span
of Terrestrial environments: Implications for life
elsewhere. EarthÕs evolution as a
habitable planet. |
10/29 Dr. Leonard Sklar:
Titan Hmwk
9 – due 11/5
NO
QUIZ |
10/31 Planet Habitability: Atmospheres READER: SOLAR-SYSTEM – What
Heated the Asteroids? The Origins of Water on Earth (in
Òsolar_system.pdfÓ) Ch 11, p 329 - 361 |
11/2 Planet Habitability. |
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Earliest evidence for life,
stellar evolution, CO2 greenhouse, the rise of oxygen The History of Mars: Mars today, and evidence of
past epochs with liquid water, the drying and freezing of Mars, future
exploration of Mars |
11/5 Mars, Europa, Titan Ch 12, p 365 – 398 Ch 13, p 401-432 Hmwk 10 – due 11/14
QUIZ:
Journal articles discussed on 11/2 |
11/7 Student
Presentations (10 min each): 1) Kathleen OÕSullivan
2) Martin Juanez
1) Kathleen OÕSullivan
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11/9 Europa and Titan
Ch 13, p 401-432 |
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Student
presentations are here! Search for Life in the
solar system: Basic characteristics that
define what weÕre looking for, case studies: Mars, ALH84001, Europa, Titan. |
11/12 No Class – Veterans Day |
11/14 Student Presentations (10 min each): 1) Mark Mewhinney 2) Matt Giguere 3) Kim Mjaseth |
11/16 Journal
Discussion. 1) Mystery of Methane on Mars
& Titan 2) Global Climate Change on Venus 3) The Hidden Oceans of Europa 4) The UnEarthly Landscape of Mars (last 3 are in Òsolar_system.pdfÓ) |
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Thanksgiving Break |
11/19 No Class - Thanksgiving
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11/21 No Class - Thanksgiving
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11/23 No Class - Thanksgiving
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Techniques for Detection of
Life Elsewhere. Discovery of Extrasolar Planetary Systems. Special Colloquium: 4pm, TH411
Climate of Ancient Earth |
11/26 Life
in Extreme Environments READER: BIOLOGY –
Stromatolites Ch 10, p 305 – 327 |
11/28 Dr. Lynn Rothschild Life in Extreme Environments |
11/30 Student
Presentations (10 min each):
1) Abby Reiss 2) Mackenzie Greene-Powell 3) Kristina Johnson |
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External and Internal
influences in the Evolution of Life: Mechanisms of evolution, impacts,
volcanism, and major extinctions, orbital and spin axis forcing of climate
change. |
12/3 Detection Techniques: Searching for Life READER: SEARCH – The Search
for Extraterrestrial Life Ch 14, p 435 - 470 |
12/5 Student Presentations (10 min each): 1) Sheree Rodriquez 2) Michael Schisler 3) Anna Serebryanaya |
12/7 Extrasolar Planets Ch 15, p474 – 510 |
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Searches for
extraterrestrial intelligence: SETI, the Allen array, evolution of
intelligence and the persistence of civilization. |
12/10 Extrasolar Planets Ch 15, p474 – 510 NO
QUIZ |
12/12 Dr. Yvonne Pendelton Cosmochemistry |
12/14 Prof. Frank Drake
The Drake
Equation The Probability of Life, Revisited Due: Probability of Life Essay |
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12/17
FINAL
EXAM : in class |
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