Astronomy Aspects: Extremophiles - Essay Example

Astronomy What is an extremophile and what is your favorite one? What is interesting about it? Anextremophile is a life form or an organism that flourish in extreme environments. The extreme environment, in this case, includes high temperatures and high-pressure regions. Extremophile has unusual characteristics that are extraordinarily acidic; hot that would be entirely uncongenial to the complex organism. Ultimately, there are various categories of extremophile that are found on planet Earth. These include; Psychrophiles, Thermophiles, Radioresistant microbes, Alkaliphiles, Acidophiles, Halophiles as well as Endoliths (NASA). The favorite among this extremophile is Thermophiles. Thermophiles are capable of surviving in extreme hot condition; approximately 140-degree centigrade or even higher. Just like the Psychrophiles do, Thermophiles have a special layer of protein that assists them in tolerating high temperatures. Most Thermophiles can tolerate temperatures that are above the boiling point of water. A good illustration of a Thermophile is cyanidium. A cyanidium is an algae that thrive in the hot water springs in the National Park of Yellowstone. In most cases, Thermophiles are found in peat bogs, crater lakes, superheated hydrothermal vents that are located in deep on the floor of the ocean (NASA). Why was the discovery of life around hydrothermal vents interesting? Does it say anything about the emergence of life or the possibility of extraterrestrial life? Are there conditions similar to Earth’s hydrothermal vents anywhere else in the solar system? If so, where? A hydrothermal vent can be referred to as a fissure that is located on the surface of the planet. Hydrothermal vents are formed when sea water percolate down through fissures in the crust of the ocean. After the discovery of hydrothermal vents, it was discovered that the vents are surrounded by biological organisms that had not been seen before. These organisms depended on the chemical reactions between the interaction of the hot magma that is linked to the underwater volcanoes and sea water. Examples of organism that thrive in hydrothermal vents include the deep sea Pompeii worm, eelpout fish, crabs, giant tubeworm, squat lobsters among others. Most of these organisms can thrive in very extreme conditions. For instance, the Pompeii worm can tolerate extreme temperatures enough to boil water. These organisms are mostly found in the chimneys of hydrothermal vents (NASA). Based on these microbiological observations, scientists believe that there may be an emergence of life or the possibility of extraterrestrial life beneath these active hydrothermal vents. This idea is mainly supported by the recognition of in one of the black smokers vent water. There are various locations on Earth that are associated with these activities. These places include Juan de Fuca, Hawaii and Explorer ridges, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Okinawa Trough among others. The depth of some of the hydrothermal vents varies. If astronomy is not your passion, what does interest you? If your interest is in chemistry, how would you incorporate chemistry into astronomy? Astronomy is considered to be a very complex discipline. For that reason, it is not a favorite discipline to the majority of people. Nevertheless, most people substitute astronomy with other disciplines such as chemistry. There is a very close relationship between astronomy and chemistry. Chemistry skills are very critical in measuring the reaction and abundance of chemical molecules and elements in the universe. An Astrochemistry study offers adequate skills in measuring the element and molecules and then identifying their interaction with radiation. Ultimately, astronomy draws its knowledge from the science of chemistry, biology, mathematic as well as physics. Despite this information, chemistry basics are the most widely used skills. In fact, all branches of science involve one another and are related (NASA). How important is it to have people in space? Why or why not? Having people in the space is paramount. Over the last years, space exploration had been criticized because of its enormous cost. NASA spends roughly $ 16 billion each year. To some people, this is too expensive. Nevertheless, this value cannot be compared to the benefits that are achieved through space exploration. A list of products and equipment that have been discovered because of space exploration is endless. Almost every gadget that is being used in the modern world is directly or indirectly related to space exploration. These devices include, satellite TV, Ultrasound, personal computers, laser surgery, cell phones, calculators, pacemaker batteries, GPS finders among other high-tech gadgets are as a result of space exploration (NASA). Space exploration creates new products, technologies, businesses as well as jobs. Although, human have that natural desire to learn and explore new things, exploration is very critical. Considering the various benefits that are associated with space exploration, no one has to compare these benefits the amount of expenditures every year. Space exploration promotes science education. For instance, the Apollo mission played a vital role in encouraging kids who were aspiring to be astronauts, engineers, as well as rocket scientists. What is technology spinoff? Name two technology spinoffs from NASA’s space program and why did NASA develop the technology in the first place? Space technologies started to be applied to domestic needs after the Apollo mission. The Apollo mission led to the development of a considerable number of technologies. Technology spin-off is a technology that was developed by NASA to meet the needs of NASA missions. Some of these spinoff technologies are used to locate underground waters in various places on the surface of the Earth. For the last years, NASA has developed various spin-off technologies from space exploration. These technologies have played a significant role in changing people’s lives by making living healthier (NASA). Recently, NASA developed a light emitting diode for the plant growth experiment. This technology can also be used in the treatment of Cancer as well as the promotion of wound healing. Infrared is another powerful spin-off technology that was developed by NASA. This technology was developed to notice the birth of stars. This technology has been extensively used by doctors in thermometers when measuring temperatures through the ear canal These are just few examples of technology spin-off, there are others including technologies that are used in the detection of cancer in particular breast cancer. NASA has developed improved mammography systems that reduce need to perform biopsies (NASA). Why might Venus and Mars lack Plate tectonics? What does Earth have that the other two planets do not and how might these qualities help the motion of continents? Plate tectonic is considered to be a scientific theory describing the large-scale movement of the Lithosphere of the Earth. This conceptual model is based on the continental drift that was developed in the early 20th century. The Earth’s Lithosphere is a rigid outermost shell that is located between the upper mantle and the crust. In Planet Earth, the Lithosphere is broken down into tectonic plates. Plate tectonic is immensely an imperative process in Planet Earth in terms of recycling the Earth crust, moderating the atmosphere, as well as processing rocks. Mars is considered to be the similar to earth in various ways in terms of chemical composition, geographical features among others. Although Mars is considered to lack Plate tectonics, a recent research conducted by NASA indicated that Mars is tectonically active. One of the prevalent actions in the history of Mars was the formation of Tharsis rise. Tharsis rise is a huge region with a high topography that is capped by four massive volcanoes (NASA). Mars is no longer geologically active; this conclusion is given because of the various features that are seen on its surface. Nevertheless, it has characteristics that were very Earth-like in terms of their geological processes. The surface of Mars is a significant host to one of the largest volcano in the solar system, rift valleys, and the Olympus moon. This rift valley gives all the evidence that Mars have tectonic plates. Nevertheless, they are not as paramount as in planet Earth. However, Mars cools down more rapidly than Earth. Therefore, the molten rock that is located beneath the plates solidifies faster halting the process of tectonic plate formation. On the other hand, Venus crust cannot support Plate tectonic. The crust of Venus heals faster to support plate tectonics. In fact, many researchers have associated plates tectonic to life. If a planet does not have plate tectonics, it will allow buildup of a large percentage of carbon into the atmosphere; approximately 96 percent carbon dioxide which is considerably toxic. Venus, Mars, and Earth are approximately at a similar distance from the sun meaning they were formed out of a similar material and same temperatures. Despite similar materials and almost similar distance from the sun, they significantly differ in terms of geological features, chemical composition among others (NASA). Name one question about our solar system (Excluding Earth) which one has the answer to what is one possible solution that astronomers have formulated, and how is it supposed to answer the question? One example: why is Venus spinning the opposite direction compared to every other planet? One possible solution: a giant! A large object smacks into the north pole of Venus, tipping it over. (Sorry you can’t talk about plate tectonics on Venus or Mars, either!) Which another planet apart from Venus spin in the opposite direction? Uranus also tilts in an opposite direction. A tilt of a planet is a measure of whether a planet is in prograde or retrograde. A Prograde is the natural or the normal direction of the rotation of members of the solar system. A retrograde is the opposite of a prograde, tilting start from East to West. A tilt is measured in relation to the orbital plane of a planet. A prograde is considered to be a tilt of 1 to 90 degrees. Planet earth tilts at 23 degrees in a prograde direction. On the other hand, a 90 degrees tilt is considered to be perpendicular. This means that the tilt is neither retrograde nor prograde. A tilt that is greater than 90 degree is considered to be retrograde. Venus tilts at an angle of 177 degrees while Uranus tilts at 97 degrees. Scientist argues that these retrograde rotations may have been due to a collision of a large heavenly body that got absorbed into Venus. Although there are critics of this assumption, it is the closest scientist has in finding the actual reason these two planets tilts in an opposite direction (NASA). Critics argue that, if the large object that altered the rotation of the planet could manage to alter the rotation of the planets, it is beyond reasonable doubts that the object could have destroyed the most of their shapes. Nevertheless, none of the planet’s shape was destroyed. Uranus has ever since retained a spherical property; Venus as well has retained its terrains meaning there are no cases of the volcano. Work Cited NASA. Space Exploration. 2015. 15 May 2015 . Read More