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Super-Earths and Life

Dimitar Sasselov

Are we alone in this universe? What new information and observations on exoplanets have we discovered?

In the past decade, astronomers have made incredible advances in the discovery of planets outside our solar system. Thirty years ago, we knew only of the planets in our own solar system. Now we know of thousands circling nearby stars.

Super-Earths and Life is a course about life on Earth, alien life, how we search for life outside of Earth, and what this teaches us about our place in the universe.

Meanwhile, biologists have gained a strong understanding of how life evolved on our own planet, all the way back to the earliest cells. We can describe how simple molecules can assemble themselves into the building blocks of life, and how those building blocks might have become the cells that make up our bodies today.

Super-Earths and Life is all about how these fields, astronomy and biology, together with geology, can help answer one of our most powerful and primal questions: are we alone?

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What's inside

Learning objectives

How life may have arisen on earth
How we discover planets around other stars

What makes a planet favorable for life
How we search for life in our universe

How life may have arisen on earth
How we discover planets around other stars
What makes a planet favorable for life
How we search for life in our universe

Syllabus

This course consists of seven modules, which investigate questions like:

What is life? How did it arise? How does it change over time?

What is a planet?

How do we find and learn about planets outside our solar system?

How has the Earth changed over time? What do these changes mean for the evolution and survival of living things?

How do geological processes shape planets? How do these processes contribute to life?

How many habitable planets are there?

How can we search for life?

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Dimitar Sasselov, who are recognized for their work in exoplanets and astrobiology

Delves into the cutting-edge field of exoplanet research, making this highly relevant to today's scientific discussions

Explores a wide range of topics, including the origin of life, the characteristics of habitable planets, and the search for extraterrestrial life

Appropriate for learners with a strong interest in astronomy, biology, or astrobiology

Assumes some prior knowledge of astronomy and biology, making it less accessible to complete beginners

Primarily focuses on theoretical concepts, with limited hands-on activities or practical applications

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Reviews summary

Astrobiology course

According to learners, Super-Earths and Life is a solid introductory course to astrobiology. Many learners mentioned enjoying the interactive visualizations and engaging discussions in the forums. There were a few complaints about the course relying too heavily on text and animations rather than video lectures, but overall, learners seemed to find the content good and informative.

Instructors are actively involved in the course forums.

"The major plus is the involvement of the instructors in the forums."

The course includes helpful interactive visualizations.

"The texts were great and informative, with lots of interactive visualizations."

The course is mostly text-based with few video lectures.

"This course was much more text-oriented rather than video oriented, so this is its major flaw."

"Although the course doesn't have many video lectures and relies primarily on text and animations for teaching..."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Super-Earths and Life with these activities:

Review 'Pale Blue Dot' by Carl Sagan

Show steps

Review 'Pale Blue Dot' to gain perspective on the course’s topic, which is the nature of life in our universe.

View Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in... on Amazon

Show steps

Read 'Pale Blue Dot' by Carl Sagan.
Reflect on the book's main arguments and how they relate to the course topic.

Attend a workshop on exoplanet research

Show steps

Attending a workshop on exoplanet research will provide you with the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and get hands-on experience with research techniques.

Browse courses on Exoplanets

Show steps

Find a workshop on exoplanet research.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop.

Follow a tutorial on how to use a specific software for exoplanet research

Show steps

Following a tutorial on how to use a specific software for exoplanet research will equip you with valuable tools and techniques for conducting your own research.

Browse courses on Exoplanets

Show steps

Find a tutorial on how to use a specific software for exoplanet research.
Follow the steps in the tutorial.
Practice using the software.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Start a blog on exoplanets

Show steps

Starting a blog on exoplanets will allow you to synthesize your understanding of the course material and practice communicating scientific concepts in a clear and easy to understand fashion.

Browse courses on Exoplanets

Show steps

Choose a platform for your blog.
Plan out the topics you want to cover in your blog.
Write and publish your first blog post.

Practice solving problems related to exoplanets

Show steps

Practicing solving problems related to exoplanets will help you develop a deeper understanding of the concepts and theories covered in the course.

Browse courses on Exoplanets

Show steps

Find practice problems related to exoplanets online or in textbooks.
Solve the problems and check your answers.
Review the solutions to the problems and identify areas where you need improvement.

Create a podcast episode on a specific exoplanet

Show steps

Creating a podcast episode on a specific exoplanet will help you deep-dive into the fascinating world of exoplanets and share your findings with others.

Browse courses on Exoplanets

Show steps

Choose an exoplanet that you want to focus on.
Research the exoplanet and gather information about its characteristics and significance.
Write a script for your podcast episode.
Record and edit your podcast episode.

Create a presentation on the latest research on exoplanets

Show steps

Creating a presentation on the latest research on exoplanets will help you stay up-to-date with the latest discoveries and advancements in the field, while also developing your presentation skills.

Browse courses on Exoplanets

Show steps

Research the latest research on exoplanets to gather information.
Organize your information into a logical flow.
Create slides for your presentation.
Practice your presentation.

Career center

Learners who complete Super-Earths and Life will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Astrobiologist

Astrobiologists study the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. This course, Super-Earths and Life, can help you build a foundation for a career in astrobiology by providing you with a comprehensive overview of the field. The course covers topics such as the history of life on Earth, the search for life beyond Earth, and the potential for life on other planets. This knowledge will be invaluable to you as you pursue a career in astrobiology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Astrobiologist

Astronomer

Astronomers study the universe and everything in it, from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. This course, Super-Earths and Life, can help you build a foundation for a career in astronomy by providing you with a comprehensive overview of the field. The course covers topics such as the history of astronomy, the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. This knowledge will be invaluable to you as you pursue a career in astronomy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Astronomer

Biologist

Biologists study living organisms and their interactions with each other and their environment. This course, Super-Earths and Life, can help you build a foundation for a career in biology by providing you with a comprehensive overview of the field. The course covers topics such as the history of life on Earth, the diversity of life, and the ecology of life. This knowledge will be invaluable to you as you pursue a career in biology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biologist

Geologist

Geologists study the Earth's history, structure, and composition. This course, Super-Earths and Life, can help you build a foundation for a career in geology by providing you with a comprehensive overview of the field. The course covers topics such as the history of the Earth, the structure of the Earth, and the processes that shape the Earth. This knowledge will be invaluable to you as you pursue a career in geology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geologist

Astrophysicist

Astrophysicists study the physical properties of the universe, including stars, galaxies, and the interstellar medium. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career in astrophysics. The course covers topics such as the history of the universe, the structure of the universe, and the evolution of the universe. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career in astrophysics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Astrophysicist

Biochemist

Biochemists study the chemical processes that occur in living organisms. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career in biochemistry. The course covers topics such as the structure of cells, the function of cells, and the metabolism of cells. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career in biochemistry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biochemist

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers design and build infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and buildings. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career in civil engineering. The course covers topics such as the history of engineering, the principles of engineering, and the design of engineering structures. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career in civil engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Computer Scientist

Computer scientists design and develop computer systems. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career in computer science. The course covers topics such as the history of computer science, the principles of computer science, and the design of computer systems. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career in computer science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Scientist

Data Scientist

Data scientists collect, analyze, and interpret data. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career in data science. The course covers topics such as the history of data science, the principles of data science, and the design of data science systems. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career in data science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineers design and develop electrical systems. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career in electrical engineering. The course covers topics such as the history of electrical engineering, the principles of electrical engineering, and the design of electrical systems. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career in electrical engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Environmental Scientist

Environmental scientists study the environment and its interactions with humans. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career in environmental science. The course covers topics such as the history of environmental science, the principles of environmental science, and the design of environmental science systems. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career in environmental science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Industrial Engineer

Industrial engineers design and improve industrial processes. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career in industrial engineering. The course covers topics such as the history of industrial engineering, the principles of industrial engineering, and the design of industrial engineering systems. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career in industrial engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Engineer

Science Teacher

Science teachers teach science to students. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a science teacher. The course covers topics such as the history of science, the principles of science, and the teaching of science. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career as a science teacher.

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Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers design and develop mechanical systems. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career in mechanical engineering. The course covers topics such as the history of mechanical engineering, the principles of mechanical engineering, and the design of mechanical systems. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career in mechanical engineering.

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Physician

Physicians diagnose and treat diseases. This course, Super-Earths and Life, may be useful to you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a physician. The course covers topics such as the history of medicine, the principles of medicine, and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. This knowledge will be helpful to you as you pursue a career as a physician.

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Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Super-Earths and Life.

Scientific Ocean Drilling

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Discusses the limits of organic life in planetary systems, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic and offering insights into the potential for life beyond Earth.

Scientific Ocean Drilling: Accomplishments and...

Kindle Edition