HNRS 228-003 [Spring 2006]

Astrobiology:

Origin and Evolution of Habitable Worlds

with Dr. Geller

Subject to change and revisions throughout semester

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Synopsis

This course will study the origin and development of life on the planet Earth within the context of an evolving universe. We begin with an overview of the origins of the universe from the "Big Bang" to our own solar system. We then integrate the principles of physics, chemistry, geology and biology to study the origins of life on Earth. We also address the ultimate fate of life in the universe based upon our understanding of thermodynamics and the expansion of the universe. The essential features of all living systems are discussed as they relate to what we might expect in terms of life elsewhere in the universe. The labs for the course include computer simulations and hands-on experiments to demonstrate essential features of the (i) origins of the universe, (ii) life on the planet Earth, (iii) search for life on Earth and elsewhere in the universe, and (iv) extraterrestrial space travel and exploration.

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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

• Week 1

Chapter 1 - A Universe of Life
24 January - Introduction to Class
NO LABS
26 January - Discuss Chapter 1 and give homework assignment

• Week 2

Chapter 2 - The Science of Life in the Universe
31 January - Start Chapter 2 discussion
Lab - The Universe is a Really Big Place
2 February - Finish Chapter 2

• Week 3

Chapter 3 - The Nature of Life
7 February - Start Chapter 3 discussion
Lab - Extreme Environments of Earth and the Creatures that Live There
9 February - Complete Chapter 3

• Week 4

Chapter 4 - The Geological History of Earth
14 February - Begin Chapter 4 discussion
Lab - The Evolving Earth - Geologic and Biologic Time
16 February - Finish Chapter 4

• Week 5

Chapter 5 - The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth
21 February - Begin Chapter 5 discussion
Lab - Designer Genes for a Designer World
23 February - Review Chapter 5

• Week 6

Chapter 6 - The Search for Life in Our Solar System
28 February - Start Chapter 6
Lab - Remote Sensing: What we can see when we can't touch
2 March - Continue Chapter 6

• Week 7

7 March - Finish Chapter 6 and Quick Review for Mid-Term
Lab - NO LAB THIS WEEK

9 March - MID-TERM EXAMINATION

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• SPRING BREAK 12 March - 19 March

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• Week 8

Chapter 7 - Mars
21 March - Discuss Chapter 7 and review exam
Lab - To Terraform or Not to Terraform Mars, That is the Question (Lab 8)
23 March - Finish Chapter 7

• Week 9

Chapter 8 - Life in the Outer Solar System
28 March - Discuss Chapter 8
Lab - No Lab This Week
30 March - Finish Chapter 8 discussion and there is NO homework assignment

• Week 10

Chapter 9 - The Evolution of Habitability
4 April - Discuss Chapter 9
Lab - Interstellar Real Estate: Defining The Habitable Zone
6 April - Finish Chapter 9 discussion

• Week 11

Chapter 10 - Distant Abodes for Life
11 April - Discuss Chapter 10
Lab - Wobbling Stars: How Extrasolar Planets are Discovered
13 April - Finish Chapter 10 discussion

• Week 12

Chapter 11 - The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
18 April - Discuss Chapter 11
Lab - Living on a Space Station
20 April - Finish Chapter 11 discussion

• Week 13

Chapter 12 - Interstellar Travel
25 April - Discuss Chapter 12
Lab - Communicating with Extraterrestrial Intelligence
27 April - Finish Chapter 12 discussion

• Week 14

Chapter 13 - The Fermi Paradox
Chapter 14 - Implications of the Search and Discovery

2 May - Discuss Chapter 13 and Chapter 14
NO MORE LABS
4 May - Review for Final

FINAL Thursday 11 May 10:30 AM - 1:15 PM

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Other Spring 2006 Semester Information

Classes begin January 23
Last day to drop with no tuition liability February 7
Last day to add classes February 7
Last day to drop February 24(full tuition loss)
Spring Recess  March 12-19
Last day of classes May 6
FINAL EXAMINATION for HNRS 228 May 11

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Instructor:

• Professor H. Geller
• Office: Science & Tech 1 Room 363A
• Telephone: 703-993-1276
• E-mail: hgeller@gmu.edu
• Office Hours: T/R 1030-1130 & 1615-1715 & by appointment

• Lecture Meetings: Tuesday/Thursday 10:30-11:45PM (IN 133)
• Lab Meetings(Section 203): Wednesday 4:00PM-6:45PM (Robinson A-410)
• Textbook: Life in the Universe by Jeffrey Bennett, Seth Shostak, and Bruce Jakosky
• Lab Manual: Life in the Universe Activities Manual by Prather, Offerdahl and Slater

Grading Policy
The laboratory exercises will be worth 25% of your final grade. There will be weekly homework assignments worth 25% of your final grade. Class participation will be worth 20% of your final grade. The mid-term examination will be worth 15% of your final grade. The final examination will be worth 15% of your final grade, and will be comprehensive in nature.

 Weekly homework assignments 25 %
 Comprehensive Final 15 %
 Laboratory Exercises 25 %
 Class Participation 20 %
 Mid-Term Examination 15 %
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 100%

Honor Code Adherence
Students are expected to follow the George Mason University rules of student honor. As noted in the catalog:

"George Mason University shares in the tradition of an honor system that has existed in Virginia since 1842. The Honor Code is an integral part of university life. On the application for admission, students sign a statement agreeing to conform to and uphold the Honor Code. Therefore, students are responsible for understanding the provisions of the code. In the spirit of the code, a student's word is a declaration of good faith acceptable as truth in all academic matters. Therefore, cheating and attempted cheating, plagiarism, lying, and stealing of academic work and related materials constitute Honor Code violations. To maintain an academic community according to these standards, students and faculty must report all alleged violations of the Honor Code to the Honor Committee. Any student who has knowledge of, but does not report, an Honor Code violation may be accused of lying under the Honor Code."

[Source: http://www.gmu.edu/catalog/apolicies/index.html ]

Course Format - Lectures
Lectures will consist of various forms of presentation material including videos, computer displays, demonstrations and transparencies. Questions are acceptable at any time during the lecture. Students should be alert during the lecture and prepared to answer queries posed as they arise.

Course Format - Laboratory Sessions
Labs are collaborative effort of two or three students. Each student will hand in her/his own laboratory write-up for each experiment. Laboratory sessions will consist of both computer-based laboratory exercises and hands-on exercises. Laboratory reports will be turned in at the conclusion of each laboratory session.

Entry level Competencies
The course is a conceptual-based course using a minimal amount of algebra and geometry. Prerequisite is HNRS 227. Students should have English composition skills at least comparable to the English 111 level.

Course Objectives

1. Describe the origins of life in the universe and on Earth.
2. Explain the scientific method and the philosophy of science, as related to the study of astrobiology.
3. Describe the physical laws that govern the interaction of matter, energy, time, and space in the cosmos.
4. State how astrobiologists utilize electromagnetic radiation to gain the knowledge of the mechanics of the birth, life, and death of stars from the distant past.
5. Appreciate the magnitude of the scientific problem of the search for extraterrestrial life in the universe.
6. Exploration of biochemical properties of living systems that are essential to all life.
7. The physical, chemical and biological constraints underlying the exploration of the universe and the habitation of other planets.

Major Topics to be Included

1. The origins of the universe.
2. The origins of solar and planetary systems.
3. The physics of light, gravity, matter, energy, magnetism, radioactivity, nuclear energy, and relativity.
4. The geology of volcanism, plate tectonics, and erosion as applied to all planets.
5. The birth and death of stars and galaxies.
6. The H-R diagram for stars including the location of the main sequence, red giants and white dwarfs.
7. The "Big Bang" theory of universal creation, pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes.
8. Stellar and galactic evolution.
9. Cosmology and life in the universe.
10. The biochemical principles of all living systems.
11. The evolution of life on Earth and its biochemical principles.
12. The physical, chemical and biological aspects of space exploration and the habitation of extraterrestrial planets.
13. Laboratory work dealing with measuring instruments of the astrobiologist, and drawing conclusions from astrobiological data.

Additional Topics Regarding Classwork
As deemed appropriate, the course may be supplemented with homework, guest speakers and discussions of new discoveries.