Question 1

What happened to the dinosaurs? How does that enter into the Drake Equation?

Accepted Answer

Much of the life on Earth died

Question 2

Comets were likely a major agent in bringing both water and organic molecules to the surface of the early Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Some meteorites that survive the plunge to Earth's surface contain organic compounds.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The radio signals from Earth are greater than from the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Large molecules found in meteorites and interstellar clouds is evidence that:

Accepted Answer

A)  life is abundant in the galaxy. 
B)  life has definitely formed in other places than Earth. 
C)  chemical evolution has taken place elsewhere in the Universe. 
D)  organic molecules are extremely rare. 
E)  life originated on Mars before Earth. 
A)  life is abundant in the galaxy. 
B)  life has definitely formed in other places than Earth. 
C)  chemical evolution has taken place elsewhere in the Universe. 
D)  organic molecules are extremely rare. 
E)  life originated on Mars before Earth.

Question 6

Organic molecules can only be made by living things.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Of all the chemical elements,the one most crucial to the complexity of life is:

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen. 
B)  oxygen. 
C)  sulfur. 
D)  carbon. 
E)  nitrogen. 
A)  hydrogen. 
B)  oxygen. 
C)  sulfur. 
D)  carbon. 
E)  nitrogen.

Question 8

How long between the evolution of single versus multicellular organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  4.5 billion years 
B)  2.5 billion years 
C)  one billion years 
D)  600 million years 
E)  63 million years 
A)  4.5 billion years 
B)  2.5 billion years 
C)  one billion years 
D)  600 million years 
E)  63 million years

Question 9

Taking the total number of stars in the Milky Way and dividing by the age of the Milky Way is a way to estimate:

Accepted Answer

A)  the age of the stars in the Milky Way. 
B)  the star formation rate in the Milky Way. 
C)  the average age of a star in the Milky Way. 
D)  the rate of formation of high mass stars in the Milky Way. 
E)  the average age of a low mass main sequence star in the Milky Way. 
A)  the age of the stars in the Milky Way. 
B)  the star formation rate in the Milky Way. 
C)  the average age of a star in the Milky Way. 
D)  the rate of formation of high mass stars in the Milky Way. 
E)  the average age of a low mass main sequence star in the Milky Way.

Question 10

Evidence gathered from observations of exoplanets indicates approximately what percentage of stars have planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 
B)  1 
C)  10 
D)  100 
E)  It is not yet possible to make an estimate. 
A)  0 
B)  1 
C)  10 
D)  100 
E)  It is not yet possible to make an estimate.

Question 11

Due to the first strong commercial radio stations,our radio presence is now known out to over about 70 light years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Life on Earth remained single celled for ________ years,according to the microfossil record.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Life on Earth remained single celled for...

Question 13

Which type of star would have the largest habitable zone?

Accepted Answer

A)  O5V 
B)  F5V 
C)  M5V 
D)  K5II 
E)  White dwarf 
A)  O5V 
B)  F5V 
C)  M5V 
D)  K5II 
E)  White dwarf

Question 14

Which of these technological advances would make it harder for extraterrestrial life to find us?

Accepted Answer

A)  FM radio 
B)  color television 
C)  the Global Positioning Satellite Network 
D)  cable TV 
E)  geosynchronous satellites 
A)  FM radio 
B)  color television 
C)  the Global Positioning Satellite Network 
D)  cable TV 
E)  geosynchronous satellites

Question 15

In addition to the proper chemistry,it is ________ that determines the feasibility of life on a given planet.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In addition to the proper chemistry,it is...

Question 16

If a star system at 30 parsecs distance is found to be broadcasting intelligent radio signals,then their news is already ________ years old.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a star system at 30 parsecs...

Question 17

Considering both longevity and luminosity,which of these stars would be the most likely candidate for seeking extraterrestrial intelligence?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spica, a B3 main sequence star 
B)  61 Cygni, a K2 main sequence star 
C)  Sirius B, a white dwarf 
D)  Antares, a M3 supergiant 
E)  Barnard's star, a M5 dwarf 
A)  Spica, a B3 main sequence star 
B)  61 Cygni, a K2 main sequence star 
C)  Sirius B, a white dwarf 
D)  Antares, a M3 supergiant 
E)  Barnard's star, a M5 dwarf

Question 18

An experiment similar to the Miller-Urey Experiment was more recently done by NASA using an icy mixture of water,methanol,ammonia and carbon monoxide.The mixture was exposed to ultraviolet radiation.The results of this experiment were that no amino acids or DNA were formed,but complex organic molecules were observed.The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether:

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA could form from amino acids. 
B)  DNA could form from ultraviolet radiation. 
C)  ultraviolet radiation could create amino acids. 
D)  amino acids could form in the harsh vacuum of outer space. 
E)  amino acids cold form from water, methanol, ammonia and carbon monoxide. 
A)  DNA could form from amino acids. 
B)  DNA could form from ultraviolet radiation. 
C)  ultraviolet radiation could create amino acids. 
D)  amino acids could form in the harsh vacuum of outer space. 
E)  amino acids cold form from water, methanol, ammonia and carbon monoxide.

Question 19

Recently discovered organisms that create their energy through chemical reactions (chemosynthesis instead of photosynthesis)and live in environments previously thought too alkaline,hot,cold,dark,saline,etc.to sustain life.These organisms are collectively called:

Accepted Answer

A)  viruses. 
B)  huge crabs. 
C)  extremophiles. 
D)  hydrothermal vents. 
E)  giant red tube worms. 
A)  viruses. 
B)  huge crabs. 
C)  extremophiles. 
D)  hydrothermal vents. 
E)  giant red tube worms.

Question 20

What evidence did probes to Mars find that makes it a prime candidate for life?

Accepted Answer

Water ice at the pole,photogra

Exam 28: Life in the Universe: Are We Alone?

What happened to the dinosaurs? How does that enter into the Drake Equation?

Comets were likely a major agent in bringing both water and organic molecules to the surface of the early Earth.

Some meteorites that survive the plunge to Earth's surface contain organic compounds.

The radio signals from Earth are greater than from the Sun.

Large molecules found in meteorites and interstellar clouds is evidence that:

Organic molecules can only be made by living things.

Of all the chemical elements,the one most crucial to the complexity of life is:

How long between the evolution of single versus multicellular organisms?

Taking the total number of stars in the Milky Way and dividing by the age of the Milky Way is a way to estimate:

Evidence gathered from observations of exoplanets indicates approximately what percentage of stars have planets?

Due to the first strong commercial radio stations,our radio presence is now known out to over about 70 light years.

Life on Earth remained single celled for ________ years,according to the microfossil record.

Which type of star would have the largest habitable zone?

Which of these technological advances would make it harder for extraterrestrial life to find us?

In addition to the proper chemistry,it is ________ that determines the feasibility of life on a given planet.

If a star system at 30 parsecs distance is found to be broadcasting intelligent radio signals,then their news is already ________ years old.

Considering both longevity and luminosity,which of these stars would be the most likely candidate for seeking extraterrestrial intelligence?

Recently discovered organisms that create their energy through chemical reactions (chemosynthesis instead of photosynthesis)and live in environments previously thought too alkaline,hot,cold,dark,saline,etc.to sustain life.These organisms are collectively called:

What evidence did probes to Mars find that makes it a prime candidate for life?

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information from the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: The Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earth's Sister Planet

Mars: A Near Miss for Life?

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants,Dwarfs,and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust among the Stars

Star Formation: A Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae,Supernovae,and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: A Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

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