Modern humans evolutionarily split from our chimpanzee ancestors nearly 7 million years ago, yet we are continuing to evolve.
Science Fiction
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Science Fiction
The Earliest TV Mention Of "Astrobiology"?
Was this the earliest TV mention of “astrobiology”? A scene from the original Star Trek episode “Return To Tomorrow” which first aired on 9 February 1968:
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Astronomy & Telescopes, Science Fiction, SETI & Technosignatures, Societal Issues
Going Off Source: Time Away With SETI In West Virginia
Keith Cowing: 27 years ago I made a trip to West Virginia to hang out with SETI researcher Jill Tarter and see how she searched the skies for evidence of […]
Posted inArctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Missions & Hardware, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Science Fiction, Tricorders & Sensors
Keith Cowing: My Star Trek Episode at Everest
As we approach the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, I thought I’d write about how many experiences in my life have intersected with- and have been affected by its legacy. […]
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Book, Film, Video Reviews, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mars, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Plant Biology, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Science Fiction
Film Review: “The Martian”
The Martian is a really good movie. It would be a good movie even if it was not set in outer space. But it does happen in space and does […]
Posted inAlpha Centauri, Education and Outreach, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Science Fiction, Societal Issues
Avatar: A Stunning New World That NASA Is Ignoring
Editor’s note: “Avatar“, a film by former NASA Advisory Committee member James Cameron, will debut across the planet on 18 December. Widely hailed as “ground breaking” the film may well […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology
What Is Life – and How Do We Search for It in Other Worlds?
I need a “tricorder”—the convenient, hand-held device featured on Star Trek that can detect life forms even from orbit. Unfortunately, we don’t have a clue how a tricorder might work, since life […]