tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434853.post443604667789250266..comments2024-03-12T04:01:42.702-07:00Comments on A Voice in the Crowd: Thoughts on: Superior Super EarthsMarc Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820799803522442975noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434853.post-34883265212732703282009-12-01T15:20:23.157-08:002009-12-01T15:20:23.157-08:00They're already doing all kinds of awesome stu...They're already doing all kinds of awesome stuff for finding smaller planets. They used to detect them by looking for wobble on a star, but now some of them are looking for dimming as a potential planet passes in front, stuff like that. Check out the Kepler mission - probably the best shot of finding another earth yet. I am blown away by how far planetary science has come in my lifetime. There are some really great things happening in astronomy these days. I just heard about a new idea somebody had to look for exo-life by looking at the polarization of light coming from the planet. It turns out that light reflecting off of a plant leaf is polarized a special way by the chlorophyll, so a densely vegetated planet should be easy to spot cheaply (assuming of course similar chlorophyll-based plants). That's a cool way, since all our existing searches for exo-life are limited to either intelligent life like us, or planets we can visit. Anyway, cool post. You should read Contact (if you haven't already).mattghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519650781675341139noreply@blogger.com