SETI Institute Presence at Earth and Planetary Science Meeting

The fall meeting of the AGU – the American Geophysical Union – is being held from December 14 though 18 in San Francisco. Among its 24,000 attendees are many SETI Institute scientists, giving talks and presenting posters.

REU: Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates

Applications are now open for the Summer 2016 Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. Life in the Universe – Astronomy and Planetary Science at the SETI Institute. Work on projects spanning the field of astrobiology from microbiology to planetary geology to observational astronomy. Apply now!

Big Picture Science Radio Show - Cosmic Conundra

We examine some of the most recent, perplexing questions about the cosmos. Could massive asteroid impacts be as predictable as phases of the moon? Speaking of moons – why are some of Pluto’s spinning like turbine-powered pinwheels? Is there now persuasive evidence of parallel universes, as one scientist claims? And, could a distant star be surrounded by alien mega-structures?

Newborn Planet Being Kicked Out of the Nest

Using the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) as well as the Hubble Space Telescope, Kalas and his colleagues examined a star known as HD 106906 ... the remarkable thing about this stellar system is the discovery that a planet in its outer regions (16 times as far from the star as Pluto is from the Sun) may have been expelled from its birthplace.

Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey -- One Year Into The Survey

“This very large survey is observing 600 young stars to look for two things: giant planets orbiting them and debris disks. In our first year, we have already found what GPI was designed to discover -- a young Jupiter in orbit around a nearby star,”

Pluto’s Moons Spinning Wildly

Most of the familiar moons in the solar system orbit their planets deferentially, with one side always facing their host worlds. This situation is akin to horses on a carousel, with one flank perpetually facing the central axis. But these tranquil conditions don’t apply to Pluto’s small moons.

Carl Sagan 1934 – 1996

Today is Carl Sagan’s 81st birthday; he died too young, at age 62. But his formidable legacy continues to wield influence: anyone who has talked to students of astronomy has heard claims that they were attracted to the field thanks to Carl Sagan.

Allen Telescope Array Checks Out Star KIC 8462852

The SETI Institute has trained its Allen Telescope Array on KIC 8462852 for more than two weeks. Finding a signal would be a strong indication for the presence of intelligence.

Animal Communications, Information Theory, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)

The idea that we can learn about possible extraterrestrial (ETI) communication systems by studying non-human communications on Earth is similar to the astrobiological idea that one might learn more about exobiology by studying the extremes of life on Earth.

SETI Institute to Lead New STEM Project with Girl Scouts: “Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts”

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate selected “Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts” as a new, 5-year space science education program that will bring together Girl Scouts with scientists, engineers and educators at NASA and beyond.