Does Kepler-226 have life on? Charlie - child at Brighton Science Festival Gross Show, Feb 15

2/22/2015

Ivan

3/10/2015 04:21:08 am

Maybe! This planet was discovered in 2011 and was very exciting to scientists as it was found outside of our own solar system, and orbits round another star a bit like our sun. Kepler 22b orbits around its sun from exactly the right distance to be in the ‘habitable zone’. This means the temperature on the planet might be similar to our planet Earth, which means it could have life on it similar to ours.

It is important to understand that we can’t tell if it has life on it or not. It is extremely far away, about 600 light years (if a space shuttle was able to go there, which isn’t really possible, it would take millions of years), and we can’t really see it properly. We can only just detect it exists at all using the most powerful telescopes, by waiting for it to move in front of its own star.

Kepler 22b is only one of many planets scientists have now found in the ‘habitable zone’. There may be as many as 50 now that we have found, but of course there will be many more out there we haven’t seen yet. Kepler 22b is important because it was the first of its kind to be found, but that doesn’t mean it is any more likely to contain life.

So – is there life on Kepler 22b? Maybe, but if it does would it be life like our life? Would it be intelligent enough to try and communicate with us? And of course if life on Kepler 22b tried to communicate with us today, it would take 600 years for us to get the signal…

There are many theories about the likelihood of life on other planets and there are many projects set-up around the work to look for extra-terrestrial life. If we found life on other planets it would radically change our view of our place in the universe. A discovery could happen any day... maybe on Kepler 22b? Maybe somewhere else?

VID 1: Do you love your job?

VID 2: Can you come to my party?

VID 3: What is your favourite experiment?

Our team of Scientists...

Lydia Samuel
As Director of Blast Science and a Primary Science Teacher for more than 15 years, Lydia has answered unending questions about Science from hundreds of children for over a decade and has a wealth of Primary Science classroom experience. She has a particular passion for Wizard Science, Chocolate Science and all things Gross!

Tom Holloway
is a Primary Science Teacher and Space Enthusiast. Alongside being a full time teacher he runs Star Gazing evenings, is a Science Advisor, has established a Darwin Garden in his school in Caterham and won Primary Science Teacher of the Year in 2013/14. Watch the video here!

Steve Evans
has recently joined Blast Science as a performer after working for several years at Herstmonceux Observatory. He knows a huge amount about physics, chemistry, space and.... Star Wars! So can answer all your intergalactic questions..

Keita Lynch
has helped Sussex 'stay curious' by coordinating the Brighton Science Festival for three years. She's passionate about sharing science in simple
and engaging ways; without all the big words.
Keita's also a keen supporter of campaigns
like Let Toys Be Toys that encourage toy makers and retailers to stop limiting children's imagination by branding things for 'girls' or 'boys'. Astronaut suits and dinosaurs for all!

Dr Sarah Newnham
I am 26 and have a degree and PhD in biochemistry. I enjoy learning new things and have spent 7 years at university studying and experimenting with molecules and microorganisms. I mainly like to play with bacteria and get them to do new things and produce different chemicals. I also enjoy helping with Science projects in schools and enthusing children about my subject.

Dr Matt Edwards
Dr Matt decided to become a doctor when he ran out of his own scabs to pick. He used to work in Accident and Emergency in Brighton, pulling broken bones back into place and sewing up cuts. He now works in Brisbane, Australia as a Family doctor. This involves cutting out lots of funny lumps and sticking his fingers in every hole that people have. In his time he has been covered in every body juice you can think of, and once juggled with three hearts. Ask him anything about bodies and Gross Science.

Jonathan Brown
(Engineer at Ricardo) Had a strange fascination with all things mechanical from an early age and would often spend time 'fixing' his Dad's car without telling his Dad first. Rarely did it end happily, so of course he decided to continue this into a career than now spans almost 2 decades of designing engines for big names the world over. Having studied Mechanical Engineering at university he has been working since at a world leading technology consultancy, principally creating models and simulations of engines big and small for everyone from McLaren to Volvo. These days you're as likely to find him on a ship or looking at a tidal turbine, but it's still engines that keep him running.

Ivan Teage
Ivan is a experienced all-round scientist. He studied astrophysics after a childhood of being obsessed with going to the moon, and now works at the Natural History Museum in London using technology to explain Science to young and old audiences. Ivan is interested in the science of music and is keen to help people understand the natural world, how it works, and what it has to offer. He is looking forward to your questions about nature, space, music, sound & the meaning of life.

Alex Nicholls
With A-levels in Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Physics and Chemistry he went to Uni to read Nuclear Physics, but in the end switched to Law. He nevertheless retained a great interest in Science and has an encyclopedic general knowledge about nearly everything. Alex is also the linchpin of the Blast Science props dept but helps out answering complicated questions about Science for light relief from complicated carpentry.