Summary:
Planetary interactions are key to shaping our life on Earth, and we all have a deep understanding of it—even if the connection isn’t obvious! The rotation of Earth directs winds, hurricanes, and weather; the pull of the Moon drives tides in the oceans; and changes in the angle of the Sun in the sky throughout the year create the seasons. But Earth is not the only place in the Solar System that runs on cycles. Weather, tides, and seasons are at work throughout the Solar System on distant planets and moons that may have once, or may now, host life of their own. By studying the effects of tidal forces and seasonal variations on other worlds, we learn about the planetary environmental conditions that may enable (or prevent) life from arising. Drawing on current research by Dr. Cangi and colleagues, this non-technical talk will explore how natural planetary cycles on other worlds create environments either hostile or hospitable for life. By exploring the red planet Mars, the explosive Jovian moon Io, and the icy Saturnian moon Enceladus—host of a global subsurface ocean—we will consider what life is, what it needs, and where we might find it. Coming back down to Earth, we will wrap up with a meditation on why we search for life out there, and what it means for life down here.
Bio:
Dr. Eryn Cangi is a research scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), with expertise in planetary atmospheres and astrobiology. Using a mix of computational modeling and data analysis from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission, she studies the atmospheres of Mars and Venus and their loss to space. She is especially interested in rocky worlds, planetary evolution, and surface-atmosphere interactions, especially sedimentary geology. A career-switcher, Eryn holds a Ph.D. in astrophysics and planetary science from CU Boulder, as well as bachelor’s degrees from the University of Oregon in physics and theatre arts, in which her focus areas were stage management and costume design. Her scientific work has been published in Astrobiology, the Planetary Science Journal, Journal of Geophysical Research, and Nature, and her stage credits include Around the World in 80 Days, Metamorphoses, and her favorite, Oklahoma!. When not engaged in research, you can find her leading public observing nights at the Sommers-Bausch Observatory on the CU Boulder campus and exploring the Rockies. Eryn spent many happy summer vacation hours on Shaw as a child and is ecstatic to be visiting again.
No registration required
