The search for intelligent life beyond our planet, and even our own Solar System, is stepping up. What might it find? And what could any discoveries mean for humankind?
COME WITH ME, FOR A MOMENT, to one of South America’s most desolate places. Tucked under snow-capped Andean peaks 90km from San Pedro de Atacama, in north-eastern Chile, it’s a shallow basin of desert soil and rock covering about 1000ha. The impression of a low-lying landscape is illusory, because this place is more than 4300m above sea level, where breathing becomes laboured with minimal exertion. What makes the scene truly remarkable are steam plumes punctuating the barren landscape and bubbling hot springs foaming white in high-altitude sunshine. Welcome to the El Tatio geothermal field, home to the world’s highest geysers.
El Tatio has recently become a touchstone in astrobiology – the study of the origin and possible distribution of life in the Universe. Opaline silica rock structures found on Mars by the NASA rover Spirit have been identified as uncannily similar to El Tatio formations, which are known to have had a biological origin in nutrient-rich water flows, rather than arising simply due to chemistry. It’s not only in their appearance that the rock structures are similar, report the Arizona State University researchers behind the discovery. The rainbow spectrum of their reflected light is almost identical – a signature of much greater significance. The researchers stop short of claiming to have found ancient microbial life on Mars, but are quietly gleeful about the discovery’s significance.
THE RISE AND RISE OF ASTROBIOLOGY Not so long ago, research of this kind would have been deemed highly speculative and more akin to science fiction. But astrobiology’s persuasive force is such that conclusive proof of extraterrestrial life now seems very close. The world awaits the news, with more than a modest elevation of its collective heart-rate.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March -April 2018-Ausgabe von Australian Geographic Magazine.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March -April 2018-Ausgabe von Australian Geographic Magazine.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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Loveday Internment Camp, SA A
DURING WORLD WAR II, civilians n Australia deemed \"enemy aliens\" - mostly those of German, Italian and Japanese descent were housed in internment camps.
THE STORYTELLERS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
More than 100 dedicated Master Reef Guides are sharing the GBR's most important stories with visitors in a bid to inspire its greater protection.
A BEAUTIFUL DISASTER
Does last summer's mass coral bleaching event sound a death knell for Australia's beloved Great Barrier Reef? \"Not on my watch!\" is the message coming from he army of heartbroken, but resolute, marine scientists who've responded to the crisis by doubling down on their research.
AROUND AUSTRALIA IN 44 DAYS
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first aerial circumnavigation of Australia. Aviator Michael Smith retraces the flight in his unique amphibious flying boat, Southern Sun, starting and finishing at RAAF Base Point Cook, on Melbourne's Port Phillip, taking in 15,000km of vast, diverse and stunning coastline in between.
CLEAR-CUTTING KOALA COUNTRY
More than 3000sq.km of forests on NSW's Mid North Coast have been earmarked for the Great Koala National Park. But there's still work to be done before this proposed reserve becomes the safe haven koalas desperately need.
MORE THAN QUOKKAS
Sure, you can't avoid those cute little marsupials that made Rottnest Island world-famous, but there's so much more to life on this ocean-ringed jewel off the Western Australian coast.
A WILD POLO TUSSLE
It's an event reminiscent of a Banjo Paterson poem. For 35 years, in the High Country 200km east of Melbourne, city polo players have gathered annually at Cobungra, Victoria's largest cattle station, to vie with a rural team for the Dinner Plain Polo Cup.
Ancient know-how meets a modern challenge
Contemporary marine park management is infused with traditional knowledge to tackle new threats on the Great Barrier Reef.
LOOKING FOR TJAKURA
The search is on across Australia's deserts for a culturally important vulnerable lizard.
RESCUING THE CHUDITCH
After intensive planning, recovery for this endangered marsupial species is being stepped up to secure its future.