Julian Chela-Flores The Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste, Italia and

Julian Chela-FloresThe Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste, Italiaand Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas, Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela

The Origins: how, when and where it all started, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. Centro Linceo Interdisciplinare “Beniamino Segre”, Roma, 22 May 2006

Evolution of the universe: From Astrophysics to Astrobiology

Julian Chela-Flores

The Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste, Italia and Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas,

Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela

Astrophysics and Astrobiology:Astrophysics and Astrobiology:A common search for our originsA common search for our origins

SISSA

Highlight Colloquium

Plan of the talk

The OriginsThe Origins:: the universe (how, when and where). the universe (how, when and where).

The new science of astrobiology.The new science of astrobiology.

The OriginsThe Origins:: life in the universe (how, when and where). life in the universe (how, when and where).

The search for The search for an independent origin of life in the an independent origin of life in the universe.universe.

Can a human-level of intelligence evolve in an exoplanet?Can a human-level of intelligence evolve in an exoplanet?

The Origins:The Origins:1. The universe1. The universe

How?How?

When?When?

Where? Where? Not relevant in a Friedmann universe, given the Not relevant in a Friedmann universe, given the

geometric interpretation of classical General geometric interpretation of classical General Relativity.Relativity.

Part IPart I

Julian Chela-FloresJulian Chela-FloresThe Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste, ItaliaThe Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste, Italiaandand Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas, Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas, Republica Bolivariana de VenezuelaRepublica Bolivariana de Venezuela

TThe Origins: how, when and where it all startedhe Origins: how, when and where it all started , , Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. Centro Linceo Interdisciplinare “Beniamino Segre”, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. Centro Linceo Interdisciplinare “Beniamino Segre”, Roma, 22 May 2006Roma, 22 May 2006

Evolution of the universe: From Astrophysics to Astrobiology

How did the universe start?How did the universe start?

What is needed to What is needed to understand how the understand how the

universe started?universe started? 1. We are at a point where 1. We are at a point where

experiments must guide us as to experiments must guide us as to how the universe started and what how the universe started and what will be its ultimate destiny.will be its ultimate destiny.

We cannot make progress without We cannot make progress without these experiments.these experiments.

2. The theories of the space 2. The theories of the space sciences that need to be tested sciences that need to be tested are:are:

The equations of General The equations of General RelativityRelativity

GG

General Relativity and theGeneral Relativity and the

Standard Model.Standard Model.

++gg







GG



++gg







GG



++gg

A new source of insights into A new source of insights into how the universe started: how the universe started:

the Large Hadron Colliderthe Large Hadron Collider

With the LHC we will be able to With the LHC we will be able to search for new forms of matter search for new forms of matter with energies up to with energies up to 14 TeV14 TeV..

Models of quantized Models of quantized

General Relativity General Relativity

andandThe Standard Model.The Standard Model.

At some of the LHC detectorsAt some of the LHC detectors

we will be able to test the validity of:we will be able to test the validity of:

The contribution of space The contribution of space missionsmissions

New experimental facilities such as LHC will New experimental facilities such as LHC will help, but especially relevant are a few of manyhelp, but especially relevant are a few of manyspace missions to come:space missions to come:

PlanckPlanck

CMBpolCMBpol

LISALISA

The Planck and CMBpol missionsThe Planck and CMBpol missions(2007, >2014)(2007, >2014)

These missions aim to:These missions aim to:

test gravitational test gravitational waves produced after waves produced after the Big Bang, by the Big Bang, by careful consideration careful consideration of the ripples in the of the ripples in the early universe.early universe.

The Laser Interferometer The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)Space Antenna (LISA)

LISA is jointly sponsored LISA is jointly sponsored by ESA and NASA.by ESA and NASA.

LISA LISA will test the Theory will test the Theory ofof General Relativity General Relativity, , probe the early Universe, probe the early Universe, and will search for and will search for

gravitational wavesgravitational waves..



Evolution of the universe: From Astrophysics to AstrobiologyWhen did the universe start?When did the universe start?

The anthropic approachThe anthropic approach Explaining the values of Explaining the values of

the observables of the the observables of the universe in terms of the universe in terms of the possibility of favoring life possibility of favoring life is called ‘is called ‘anthropicanthropic’.’.

These arguments are These arguments are

analogous to those analogous to those originally used by Sir originally used by Sir Fred Hoyle in the Fred Hoyle in the synthesis of chemical synthesis of chemical elements in stars.elements in stars.

The intelligibility of the accelerating universeThe intelligibility of the accelerating universe

If our universe is part of an ensemble of If our universe is part of an ensemble of universes - universes - a multiversea multiverse, each with different , each with different physical constants, it is conceivable that a physical constants, it is conceivable that a fraction of them offer conditions favorable for fraction of them offer conditions favorable for life.life.

We may assume that we are living in a We may assume that we are living in a universe in which the physical constants, universe in which the physical constants, favor the existence of life for a few billion favor the existence of life for a few billion years.years.

New insights with the anthropic principleNew insights with the anthropic principle

The density of dark matterThe density of dark matter

The density of dark energyThe density of dark energy..

One example where these new One example where these new insights are needed is in the discussion of:insights are needed is in the discussion of:

WMAP: The Wilkinson Microwave WMAP: The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy ProbeAnisotropy Probe

has demonstrated that the has demonstrated that the universe is compatible with universe is compatible with an age of 13.7 Gyrs.an age of 13.7 Gyrs.

is composed of 73 percent is composed of 73 percent dark energy, 23 percent cold dark energy, 23 percent cold dark matter, and only 4 dark matter, and only 4 percent atoms, andpercent atoms, and

will expand forever.will expand forever.A detailed picture of the infant universe. A detailed picture of the infant universe. Colors indicate "warmer" (red) and Colors indicate "warmer" (red) and "cooler" (blue) spots. The white bars "cooler" (blue) spots. The white bars show the "polarization" direction of the show the "polarization" direction of the oldest lightoldest light..

The new science of The new science of astrobiologyastrobiology

• It is a space science that emphasizes the life sciences. It is a space science that emphasizes the life sciences. • It is a life science that emphasizes the space sciences.It is a life science that emphasizes the space sciences.

The main areas of interest are:The main areas of interest are:

The destiny of life in the universe.The destiny of life in the universe.The distribution of life in the universe,The distribution of life in the universe,

The evolution of life in the universe.The evolution of life in the universe.The origin of life in the universe,The origin of life in the universe,

In common withIn common withthe space the space sciencessciences

In common withIn common withthe life sciencesthe life sciences

Part IIPart II

Lockmans HoleLockmans Hole The Chandra X-Ray The Chandra X-Ray

Observatory (NASA, 1999) Observatory (NASA, 1999) produced an image produced an image ‘Lockman Hole’ that is ‘Lockman Hole’ that is almost free of absorption by almost free of absorption by neutral hydrogen gas).neutral hydrogen gas).

It shows hundreds of X-ray It shows hundreds of X-ray sources.sources.

High Resolution Stereo High Resolution Stereo Camera of Mars ExpressCamera of Mars Express

Rafaello al VaticanoRafaello al Vaticano

L’astrobiologia del L’astrobiologia del futurofuturo

Destiny of life in the universe,Destiny of life in the universe,related with the origin and destiny of the universerelated with the origin and destiny of the universe

The first area of astrobiologyThe first area of astrobiology

Is the universe intelligible?

Distribution of life in the universeDistribution of life in the universe The second area of astrobiologyThe second area of astrobiology

A red dwarfA red dwarf9,000 light-years9,000 light-years

awayaway

An icy "super-Earth" (x13)An icy "super-Earth" (x13)and hypothetical moonand hypothetical moon

Are there biosignatures Are there biosignatures in the exoplanetsin the exoplanets??

The search for biosignatures in The search for biosignatures in exoplanetsexoplanets

The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) will consist of space telescopes.will consist of space telescopes.

Darwin will use three space Darwin will use three space telescopes (3 m in diameter) and telescopes (3 m in diameter) and a fourth spacecraft to serve as a fourth spacecraft to serve as communications hub.communications hub.

TPF and Darwin will go beyond the TPF and Darwin will go beyond the three previous techniques for three previous techniques for exoplanet hunting: wobbling stars, exoplanet hunting: wobbling stars, transits and microlensing.transits and microlensing.

TPF, 2014 and 2020TPF, 2014 and 2020

Darwin, 2015Darwin, 2015



Evolution of the universe: From Astrophysics to AstrobiologyThe last two aspects of astrobiologyThe last two aspects of astrobiology: :

evolution and evolution and the origin of life in the universethe origin of life in the universe

International Journal of Astrobiology (in press)International Journal of Astrobiology (in press)

The evolution of life in the universe,The evolution of life in the universe,universal darwinismuniversal darwinism:: The third area of astrobiologyThe third area of astrobiology

The implications of The implications of human human evolutionevolution in astrobiology in astrobiology will be discussed in Part V.will be discussed in Part V.

(i) contingency, (i) contingency, (ii) gradual action of natural selection.(ii) gradual action of natural selection.

The theory of evolution discussesThe theory of evolution discusses the relative importance of:the relative importance of:

Can the outcome of evolutionary Can the outcome of evolutionary processes be predictable?processes be predictable?

To a certain extent and in certain conditions, natural To a certain extent and in certain conditions, natural selection may be stronger than chance (Conway-Morris).selection may be stronger than chance (Conway-Morris).

The ubiquity of evolutionary convergence argues against The ubiquity of evolutionary convergence argues against the view that biological diversity on Earth is unique.the view that biological diversity on Earth is unique.

Independent of historical contingency, natural selection isIndependent of historical contingency, natural selection is powerful enough for organisms living in similar environments powerful enough for organisms living in similar environments (in the universe) to be shaped to similar ends (De Duve).(in the universe) to be shaped to similar ends (De Duve).

The Origins:The Origins:2. Life in the universe2. Life in the universe::

((The fourth area of astrobiology)The fourth area of astrobiology) How?How?

Where?Where?

When?When?

Part IIIPart III

How did life begin on How did life begin on Earth?Earth?

Volcanic emission of gas ( )Volcanic emission of gas ( )

Where did life begin on Earth?Where did life begin on Earth?

Fumarole Fumarole ( )( )

When did life begin?When did life begin?The question is still undecided because of The question is still undecided because of difficulties of interpretation of difficulties of interpretation of micropaleontologymicropaleontology

The search for The search for an independent an independent origin of life in the universeorigin of life in the universe

International Journal of

Astrobiology (2006)

Part IVPart IV

The images of Voyayers and The images of Voyayers and GalileoGalileo

The Solar System Family

NASA, 1977-1989NASA, 1977-1989

The icy surface of EuropaThe icy surface of Europa

VoyagerVoyager GalileoGalileo

Udaeus-Minosintersection

Internal heat may provideInternal heat may provideecosystems driven by hydrothermal ecosystems driven by hydrothermal

ventsvents

(a ‘tidal effect’)

A hydrobotA hydrobot

gategate

meltermeltersubmersiblesubmersible

black smokerblack smoker

Horvath et al, 1997

The Europa icy surfaceThe Europa icy surface (Spectrometer data from near IR) (Spectrometer data from near IR)

and ‘patchy’and ‘patchy’

albedo per pixelalbedo per pixel

High resolutionHigh resolution albedo imagealbedo image

Distribution of Distribution of non-ice componentnon-ice component

4 km/pixel4 km/pixel McCord McCord et al,et al, Science 280 (1998), 1242Science 280 (1998), 1242

Where is the ‘S-belt’ region of highest Where is the ‘S-belt’ region of highest concentration of non-ice elements?concentration of non-ice elements?

Conamara

S-belt

Udaeus-Minosintersection

Pywill

Conceivable sources of sulphur Conceivable sources of sulphur stains on the icy and patchy stains on the icy and patchy

surface of Europasurface of Europa

External:External: Ions may be implanted from the Ions may be implanted from the

Jovian plasma, or alternatively the Jovian plasma, or alternatively the source issource is

Internal:Internal: Sulphur may be due to Sulphur may be due to

cryovolcanism, or we can ask:cryovolcanism, or we can ask:

Could the sulphur be Could the sulphur be biogenic?biogenic?

The Europa Microprobe The Europa Microprobe in-situin-situ Explorer Explorer (The EMPIE study)

One way to decide on the One way to decide on the sulphur source is to land on the sulphur source is to land on the icy surface of Europa.icy surface of Europa.

The lander would have a set of The lander would have a set of 4 miniprobes (350 gm each). 4 miniprobes (350 gm each). Expected penetration in ice is Expected penetration in ice is 72.5 cm.72.5 cm.

Mass constraint for the Mass constraint for the microprobes would be 1.7 kg.microprobes would be 1.7 kg.

Tirso Velasco and colleagues

Can an exoplanet support Can an exoplanet support a human-level of a human-level of

intelligence?intelligence?

Part VPart V

International Journal of Astrobiology (2003)

Microorganism physiologyMicroorganism physiology

ParameciumParamecium(protozoa)(protozoa)

Calcium channels are involved Calcium channels are involved in protozoan movements.in protozoan movements.

In archaeaIn archaea (Haloferax volcanii), (Haloferax volcanii), voltage-dependent and mechano-voltage-dependent and mechano-sensitive ion channels are known.sensitive ion channels are known.

Invertebrate physiologyInvertebrate physiology

Aglantha digitaleAglantha digitale(cnidarian)(cnidarian)

Cnidarians, such as medusa Cnidarians, such as medusa (a jellyfish) have a ring of (a jellyfish) have a ring of tentacles with stinging cells tentacles with stinging cells called cnidocytes.called cnidocytes.

In the Adriatico (Grignano) jellyfish In the Adriatico (Grignano) jellyfish AglanthaAglantha action potentials (nerve nets) are known.action potentials (nerve nets) are known.

The tentacles are made up of two The tentacles are made up of two layers of tissue that include muscle layers of tissue that include muscle cells and cells and nervesnerves, which, allowed , which, allowed them to have been the first animals to them to have been the first animals to show animated behavior.show animated behavior.

In sponges Ca- and Na-dependent channels In sponges Ca- and Na-dependent channels are also knownare also known

Tube spongeTube sponge

Propagation of action potentialsPropagation of action potentials is a topic of research (Raimundois a topic of research (Raimundo Villegas, IDEA, Caracas privateVillegas, IDEA, Caracas private communication, 2007)communication, 2007)

A sponge is an animal that can A sponge is an animal that can grow on a sand flat. It is made of grow on a sand flat. It is made of a layer of cells that pump water a layer of cells that pump water through their wall, allowing them through their wall, allowing them to capture microscopic plankton to capture microscopic plankton for food.for food.

Cerebral ganglionsCerebral ganglions

Notoplana acticolaNotoplana acticola(flatworm; platyhelminths(flatworm; platyhelminths))

receive inputs from receive inputs from sensory organs and sensory organs and deliver outputs to deliver outputs to muscles, via nerve muscles, via nerve filaments.filaments.

The probability of a human level of intelligence The probability of a human level of intelligence arising in an independent evolutionary linearising in an independent evolutionary line

The evolution of the simple The evolution of the simple nervous systems of nervous systems of invertebrates is information invertebrates is information relevant to the study of the relevant to the study of the evolution of brain, as a evolution of brain, as a correlate of intelligence. correlate of intelligence.

New discoveries about the New discoveries about the spread of the spread of the early humans early humans may may add further constraints on what we add further constraints on what we can expect from other intelligences can expect from other intelligences ((Homo floresiensisHomo floresiensis?)?)

The search of intelligent behaviorThe search of intelligent behavior

The Drake equation assumes that The Drake equation assumes that evolution of intelligence, as known to evolution of intelligence, as known to us through human evolution, is a us through human evolution, is a cosmic phenomenon.cosmic phenomenon.

Evolutionary convergence in the Evolutionary convergence in the universe militates in favor of intelligent universe militates in favor of intelligent behavior being independent of human behavior being independent of human evolutionevolution..

Comparisons with other species may Comparisons with other species may be fruitful. (Lori Marino has gone be fruitful. (Lori Marino has gone some way in this direction.)some way in this direction.)

What if life started outside the Solar System?What if life started outside the Solar System?

Brain evolution may offer hints of the probability that a human level of intelligence may arise in an independent evolutionary line.

The SETI project is an observational tool currently available to bioastronomers.

Discussion: the frontier between Discussion: the frontier between

cosmological astrophysics and astrobiologycosmological astrophysics and astrobiology

A fleet of space missions will extend the frontier in a joint search for its common objectives.

With an independent origin of life in our solar system the doors to progress will inevitably open.

Part VIPart VI

Beyond astrobiology:Beyond astrobiology:Relation between science and the humanitiesRelation between science and the humanities

A philosophical question: What is the place of humans A philosophical question: What is the place of humans in the universe? in the universe?

Ongoing collaboration with the Spanish philosopher Roberto Aretxaga.

A theological question (‘why’):A theological question (‘why’): Is there purpose for life Is there purpose for life in the universe?in the universe?

The anthropic principle has stimulated a dialogue at the frontier between

science and the humanities (JCF in John Barrow et al, 2007 and Sci&Christian Belief 2005).

Beyond astrobiology:Beyond astrobiology:Relation between science and the humanitiesRelation between science and the humanities

All references to the previous research can be downloaded All references to the previous research can be downloaded from the Academic Page:from the Academic Page:

http://www.ictp.it/~chelaf

Documents

Julian Chela-Flores The Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste, Italia and