Discovery of the First Earth-Size Planets and Prospects for Life in the Universe

Science fiction taught us that our Milky Way Galaxy abounds with habitable planets populated by advanced civilizations engaged in interstellar commerce and conflict. Back in our real universe, Earth-like planets and alien life have proved elusive. Has science fiction led us astray? NASA recently launched a new space-borne telescope, Kepler, dedicated to discovering the first Earth-like worlds around other stars. We announced a truly rocky planet and the discovery of over 1200 planets having sizes less than twice that of Earth. These discoveries offer clues about the prevalence of worlds suitable for life. But what properties make a planet livable? How common is life in the universe, especially intelligent life? New telescopic and biological observations are providing the first answers to these questions.

Speaker: Geoffrey Marcy, University of California, Berkeley