Astrobiology Investigation
In this activity, students will test different "alien soil samples" for signs of life.
What You Need
For 1 demo:
- Three plastic containers (1L or smaller will be sufficient)
- Sand (enough for a visible layer in each container)
- Crushed seltzer tablets (1-4, depending on the size of the container)
- Yeast (1 tbsp/15 mL depending on the size of the container)
- Sugar (1 tbsp/15 mL depending on the size of the container)
- Water
Guide:
Safety Notes
Ensure you are familiar with Let's Talk Science's precautions with respect to safe virtual outreach to youth.
What To Do
Students will be testing three different soil samples to test for life. The different soil samples are as follows (do not tell the students what each sample contains):
- Sand only.
- Sand with seltzer tablets crushed into it.
- Sand with yeast in it.
Students will be testing for basic nutrients: sugar and water. Sugar is a carbohydrate that humans and many other organisms use for energy. Add each nutrient to the samples one by one and give the students time to record their observations. Have students discuss their observations and ask them if they know why these observations are happening.
Discovery
In our solar system there are 9 planets and over 150 moons. Of all of these, only Earth is known to have life. Life on earth is the only kind of life that humans know- even though there could be extra terrestrials out there that are extremely different from life as we know it. Consequently, we must base any search for extraterrestrial life on what we know about life here.
When exploring space, astronomers are looking for biosignatures, which are physical characteristics of planets that are difficult to explain through any other means other than the presence of life. These biosignatures can indicate there is life on other planets.
What's Happening?
In our solar system there are 9 planets and over 150 moons. Of all of these, only Earth is known to have life. Life on earth is the only kind of life that humans know- even though there could be extra terrestrials out there that are extremely different from life as we know it. Consequently, we must base any search for extraterrestrial life on what we know about life here.
When exploring space, astronomers are looking for biosignatures, which are physical characteristics of planets that are difficult to explain through any other means other than the presence of life. These biosignatures can indicate there is life on other planets.