Life outside Earth: will this be the end of human exceptionalism?

This discovery would challenge our conceptions about the origin of life and the enigma of human existence.

The search for life beyond Earth is, without a doubt, one of the most intriguing areas of modern science. Scientists from various fields, such as astronomy, astrobiology, physics and chemistry, are dedicated to unraveling this mystery that has haunted humanity for centuries.

With the advancement of space technology, we have been able to explore the universe in a depth never seen before. In fact, a young scientist from Brazil is convinced that we are getting closer to discovering life forms outside of Earth. Find out more below!

Laysa Peixoto: young Brazilian astronaut

Laysa Peixoto's involvement with astronomy and astrophysics began in 2020, motivated by a class taught by Andrea Ghez, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics that same year for her research on black holes.

Therefore, Laysa realized that there was also room for her own story, after learning about Andrea's journey.

With the intention of increase women's participation In these fields, which are basically made up of men, Laysa thinks it is important to promote a change in the representation of these scientists in film and television productions.

For Laysa, there should be greater representation of women in science fiction films, but in the main roles of scientists and navigators.

Furthermore, it is important to promote programs and initiatives that promote understanding of history of women scientists who left a mark on science, regardless of their field of activity. This is because, as we well know, many women have been silenced over the years.

Is there life outside Earth?

In her speech at CCXP23 Unlock, Laysa discussed her work at NASA L'SPACE Academy. As the astronaut highlighted, the identification of life beyond Earth is getting closer and closer and will happen soon.

At just 19 years old, she was the first woman from Brazil to lead a NASA team. She currently performs several functions and is dedicated to developing technologies for space exploration, driven by her passion for 'Star Trek'.

At the same time, she is in the process of training to be the first woman from Brazil to embark on a space journey. In fact, she suggests that we are getting closer to revealing types of life, including even those that we do not yet know how to identify.

According to Laysa, there are several manifestations of life in space. However, they are different from the concept of intelligent life commonly portrayed in science fiction films that explore the theme of aliens.

Especially because the identification of planets has been happening at a very fast pace, in addition to the detection of water on these celestial bodies. Therefore, Laysa believes that during the next expeditions, we may find signs of life on Mars.

Asteroid LPS0003

Laysa Peixoto dedicated herself to space-related research during the pandemic. By exploring the use of various software, she acquired skills to analyze various astronomical topics.

Thus, was part of a NASA initiative with the aim of identifying space objects through a program. At the age of 18, in the middle of the second semester of her physics degree at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), she identified an asteroid.

The asteroid was named LPS0003, using the first letters of the promising astronaut's name. Thus, she says that, when she received some images, it was necessary to add the initials of the name. However, the final name will be analyzed later.

Furthermore, according to Laysa, it is not easy to identify celestial bodies. This is because there are several images from huge telescopes on the planet. Therefore, it took the astronaut about eight months to identify the asteroid.

In fact, it was because of this discovery that she joined NASA. She had support from the University of Manhattan and was thus able to join a US government agency, thus boosting her career. career in the field of astronomy, while still in college.

Machine learning in the search for extraterrestrial life

Since the dawn of humanity, one of the biggest questions that has permeated our minds is: are we alone? In this journey, machine learning emerges as an ally, boosting our ability to explore the cosmos and unravel its mysteries.

Machine learning processes and interprets large volumes of data collected by telescopes and radio telescopes. It then detects patterns and anomalies that may indicate the presence of life on other worlds.

Additionally, advanced algorithms scour the cosmos for exoplanets, planets that orbit other stars. After finding them, they classify them according to their characteristics, such as size, temperature and potential to harbor life. Certainly, a technology with great potential to help us in the search for extraterrestrial life.

There you go! Do you believe in life outside of Earth? With advances in technology, we will find out soon. If you liked this post, share it with your friends on social media and see you next time.