Welcome!
Note: Updating and modernization of this web site is in progress.
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Is our existence the result of a series of improbable events and circumstances?
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Are there other planets similar to Earth?
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Can we travel to another star?
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Are we alone in the universe – and if so, why?
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Or can we communicate with an extraterrestrial civilisation – and do we want to?
These are exciting questions that are discussed – and to some extent answered – in my book "The Hunt For Alien LIfe – A Wider Perspective", which was published by Springer, New York in Jan 2016. See some reviews here.
The site contains background material in the form of links, news streams, literature recommendations and other relevant material.
Several of the fields discussed are developing very rapidly – especially the one concerning exoplanet research. Almost daily new discoveries are made, some of those findings are presented and discussed here.
Every chapter in the book has a counterpart on this web site. Each has a small introduction and news items. You are most welcome to enter comments in the commentary fields. Additionally, there are a set of issues presented where you may express your own opinion by entering your votes in polls.
Exoplanet discoverers win Nobel prize
In 1995 the historic discovery of the first planet orbiting another solar-type star was made. The Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz have now been awarded half of the 2019 Nobel prize in physics.
The dwarf and the 7 planets
A small and faint star in the constellation of Aquarius has been proven to have seven planets. The initial discovery was made by a team led by the Belgian astronomer Michaël Gillon, who used a small 60 cm telescope at ESO, La Silla. Continued observations have now exposed further details.
Churchill on exoplanets
In a recently discovered essay by Winston Churchill his thoughts on extraterrestrial life are revealed. In view of today's knowledge of the existence of exoplanets, they stand out as surprisingly correct and in line with current thinking.
A Ninth Planet?
Researchers have found indirect evidence of a ninth planet belonging to the solar system. Gravitional interactions in the Kuiper belt indicate the presence of a Neptune-sized body, located far away from the Sun. Currently based on mathematical simulations the planet can only be acknowledged if corroborated by direct observations.
Exoplanet With Volcanism?
For the first time heavy temperature variations have been observed for an exoplanet, possibly interpreted as powerful volcanic activity on the surface of the planet. The Spitzer space telescope has been taking a closer look at 55 Cancri e, a super-Earth part of a planetary system so far containing five discovered planets.
Exoplanets get names
The International Astronomical Union has for the first approved official names for a few exoplanets. Suitable names have been chosen from suggestions made by astronomy organisations all over the world. Among the new names are Dimidium, Orbitar and Taphao Thong.
