Jan Spacek – The Primordial Scoop

Radiation on Mars is less likely to kill you than sitting on your couch

We have all heard that radiation on the Martian surface is dangerous to humans and that it would limit the extent of life there, both indigenous and transplanted. However, what is rarely mentioned is how dangerous the radiation is exactly. I will attempt to quantify this danger. In short: If you choose to forgo exercise and have a poor diet, you have a higher chance of premature death due to cancer than if you lead an otherwise healthy life but are exposed to Mars-surface radiation levels.

By Jan Spacek February 7, 2024Life on Mars, MarsNo Comments

Astrobiology Life Microscoop Philosophy

Spacek vs. Cleland: is term ‘life’ useful or useless in astrobiology?

We enjoyed a heated, in-person discussion about the usefulness of life during a debate hosted by the University of Florida. Although we both maintained our divergent positions, we discovered that our advice to astrobiologists is identical: look for anomalies.

By Jan Spacek February 5, 2024Astrobiology, Life, Microscoop, Philosophy3 Comments

Microscoop

Microscoop: Aliens have acid blood – a speculation

In the sci-fi series Alien, the Xenomorophs have strong acid in their blood. Our recent research indicates that acid-blooded and Teflon-tissued aliens might be the predominant biochemistry in our galaxy. For these aliens water would be as toxic as sulfuric acid is to us.

By Jan Spacek January 17, 2024Microscoop1 Comment

Life on Mars Mars

Evolution is cleverer than you are

Biology is very difficult to predict but surprisingly easy to bend to fit any observed results. Life on Mars might employ various pathways to generate energy and fix reduced carbon. Contrary to Steven Benner's claims, at least some of the potential pathways do not involve the generation of molecular oxygen.

By Jan Spacek November 17, 2023Life on Mars, MarsNo Comments

Astrobiology Life on Mars

Interplanetary lawn darts to study extant life in Martian subsurface ice

A proposal to search for life on Mars using kinetic penetrators, embedding probes into Martian ice through hard landing. This life-finding mission concept is low-cost and accessible to many private organizations, allowing to seek and study Mars biosphere by multiple entities before we send humans there.

By Jan Spacek October 17, 2023Astrobiology, Life on MarsNo Comments

Astrobiology Life Life on Mars Mars NASA

A way forward for NASA astrobiology

Last week at the Mars Society Convention I had an opportunity to talk to fellow astrobiologists, leaders of NASA Mars Exploration Program, and concerned public. Here are my thoughts.

By Jan Spacek October 12, 2023Astrobiology, Life, Life on Mars, Mars, NASANo Comments

Astrobiology Life on Mars

New project to find existing life on Mars before humans arrive

ALFA Mars (Agnostic Life Finding Association – Mars) is a group of scientists, engineers, science communicators, and volunteers with a goal to determine whether indigenous life is present on Martian surface before the first crewed mission arrives there.

By Jan Spacek August 8, 2022Astrobiology, Life on MarsNo Comments

Astrobiology Life Philosophy Venus

Are Venusians ‘life’?

Apology for beating the dead horse yet again, …but why should we assume that ‘life’ is useful for astrobiologists now, when it was useless for virologists for over a century?

By Jan Spacek June 3, 2022Astrobiology, Life, Philosophy, Venus3 Comments

Astrobiology Life Philosophy

Why the term ‘life’ is useless in astrobiology

A post to make you laugh and then perhaps think about the meaninglessness of ‘life’ as a scientific term.

By Jan Spacek May 26, 2022Astrobiology, Life, PhilosophyNo Comments

Astrobiology Life NASA

2022 State of NASA Address: Astrobiology at NASA no longer looks for life on Mars

NASA gave up on looking for life on Mars, while planning to irreversibly biologically contaminate its surface. It is now up to private philanthropists to support life searching missions, while Mars is still biologically pristine. We know how to do it.

By Jan Spacek April 1, 2022Astrobiology, Life, NASA1 Comment

Life

Null hypothesis: the term ‘life’ is not needed in biology

Before we go any deeper in the Universal Theory of Life debate we need to examine the following null hypothesis: ‘Life’ exists only as a concept. We mistakenly assume that 'life' exists independently of our culture as a natural phenomenon, just like we did with ‘luminiferous aether’, ‘preformationist’s homunculi’, and ‘vital force’. A theory of life is as useful as a theory of ‘phlogiston’.

By Jan Spacek September 16, 2021Life1 Comment

Single Scoops

Mars Is a Hellhole. That is Why I Want to Live There.

Some people say that we should not colonize Mars, because it would be hard. I say, we should colonize Mars, because it would be hard. Challenge is what drives invention and we should not shy away from it.

By Jan Spacek March 17, 2021Single ScoopsNo Comments