two methods brought up in class. Which method has been used to discover 
the most extra-Solar planets?
<li>How many extraterrestrial civilizations are there in our Galaxy based on 
the Drake Equation? Give your assumptions (assumed values for the individual 
terms)? Why are the results so uncertain? What is the Kepler satelllite? 
Has Kepler discovered any planets in the Habitable Zone?
<li>Venus, Earth, and Mars were likely quite similar at birth and yet, 
today, they have grossly different atmospheres and surface conditions. 
Briefly sketch the atmospheric evolution of the Earth and then point out 
why Venus, Earth, and Mars turned out so differently.
<li>What evidence is that there Mars once had a much more lush environment 
in the past than today (that is, what is the evidence for water on Mars?
<li>Describe the Viking biology experiments. Describe the outcome of the 
Viking biology experiments. What is the current take on the results of 
the Viking life experiments? Be sure to mention how the Phoenix and Curiosity 
results have changed our views of the Viking results. 
<li>What is LAWKI? 
How did the idea of LAWKI influence the design of the Viking experiments?
<li.Describe ALH84001 and the results based on the study of ALH84001. 
Describe the outcome of the study of ALH84001. What is the current take 
on the results of the study of ALH84001?
<li>What is the Gaia Hypothesis?
<li> CETI and SETI. For what do the acronyms CETI and SETI stand?
Are we engaged in CETI? In what ways? Are attempts inadvertent?
Describe the Arecibo message to M13? 
How was it sent and
how was it to be interpreted? What are the problems
in formulating our attempts to communicate with extraterrestrials? Do we want
to communicate with extraterrestrials? Do you think the Voyager plaques (and
the earlier Pioneer plaques) are useful? Why or why not?
<li>What is the Fermi Paradox? Describe the Fermi Paradox. Are there 
resolutions for the Fermi Paradox? What are Neumann machines? 
<li>What is the major difficuty when considering interstellar travel? 
Cite examples of how difficult it will be. Describe the Twin Paradox.
Describe the concept of a black hole? What is a wormohole? How would
wormholes help up to explore the galaxy (or Universe)? What is a major
problem with traversing a wormhole? How could the problem be overcome?
Are clocks affected by whether a person is still or moving? Are clocks 
affected by the strenth of gravity about them? In both, if yes, what
kind of effects are seen?
<li>We earlier defined Habitable Zone of a system as where the energy
a planet receives from its pair is just so in the sense that it allows
the planet to sustain large amounts of water in its liquid state. We
now recognize that habitable zone concepts need modifiction. 
How do Europa and
Enceladus suggest we expand our thinking on Habitable Zones? What is
tidal forcing? Why are Europa and Enceladus now thought to be further
interesting objects for studies of extraterrestrial life? What are
the recent observations of Enceladus that suggest conditions for life
exist on Enceladus? What is methanogenesis?
<li>Venus, Earth, and Mars were likely quite similar at birth and yet, 
today, they have grossly different atmospheres and surface conditions. 
Briefly sketch the atmospheric evolution of the Earth and then 
point out why Venus, Earth, and Mars turned out so differently.
<li>What evidence is that there Mars once had a much more lush environment
in the past than today (that is, what is the evidence for water on Mars?
<li> Describe the Greenhouse Effect. 
<li> What is the Faint Young Sun Problem? What is the likely solution to 
the Faint Young Sun Problem? What is meant by equilibrium temperature?
<li> What is the water trap?
</ul>