This Week in Space 236

When we think of extraterrestrials, our minds generally go from the latex-suited bipedal aliens seen in Star Trek and Star Wars to more exotic critters in sci-fi movies. Scientists think in terms of carbon-based microbial life and other lower life forms. But some researchers, such as Mikhail Tikhonov from Washington University, suggest that life can take more unusual forms, ones we might not even recognize. He further suggests a new definition of life: something that takes in and transforms energy and replicates. His ideas radically expand our notions of alien life and how it might be recognized.

Headlines:

• Space Shuttle Endeavour’s New Launch Configuration Exhibit Debuts
• SpaceX Prepares for Starship Flight 15’s First Attempted Double Landing
• Risks and Stakes for SpaceX’s Reusable Starship Program

Main Topic: Searching for Alien Life—Redefining the Approach

• Origins and motivations for thinking differently about our definition of life
• Traditional “follow the water” strategy versus seeking energy as life’s marker
• Challenges in recognizing non-Earth-like life forms
• Signature of life through energy use and ecological patterns
• Implications for planetary exploration and sampling, including Mars, Europa, and Venus
• Theoretical examples and sci-fi inspirations for nontraditional life
• Current research intersections between physics and microbial ecology
• Limits, opportunities, and philosophical implications of agnostic biosignature searches

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Links

• Watch SpaceX attempt a historic Starship launch and double-catch landing today
• Double-catch drama: Why Starship's Flight 15 is so important to SpaceX
• SpaceX's Starship megarocket will launch to orbit on Nov. 13. Will you be able to spot it in the night sky?
• 'Don't panic': SpaceX pens familiar message on Starship ahead of historic double-catch test flight
• Mikhail Tikhonov
• How to (theoretically) spot an alien