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They are not expecting large-headed, lanky humanoids with oval-shaped black eyes hiding behind a crater on mars; instead they fully expect to find microbial life very soon for a number of reasons. Mainly, we finally are starting to "know where to look, we know how to look, and in most cases we have the technology."
From the article:
[Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA] also described another recent study that used measurements of aurora on Jupiter's moon Ganymede to prove it has a large liquid ocean beneath its icy crust. The findings suggest that previous ideas about where to find "habitable zones" may have been too limited. "We now recognize that habitable zones are not just around stars, they can be around giant planets too," Green said. "We are finding out the solar system is really a soggy place." He also talked NASA's plans for a mission to Europa, another moon of Jupiter with an icy ocean. "I don't know what we are going to find there," he said.
NASA associate administrator John Grunsfeld, said part of what excites him most about the search for life beyond our planet is to see what that life looks like. "Once we get beyond Mars, which formed from the same stuff as Earth, the likelihood that life is similar to what we find on this planet is very low," he said.Grunsfeld said he believes that life beyond Earth will be found by the next generation of scientists and space explorers, but Green said he hopes it is sooner than that.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday April 09 2015, @02:38PM
Finding exoplanet atmospheric evidence of biology would count. Any discovery of microbes would be count. It can happen within 20 years.
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(Score: 2) by morgauxo on Thursday April 09 2015, @02:53PM
"Finding exoplanet atmospheric evidence of biology would count."
No it wouldn't. That would just mean they found a ratio of gasses that is normally produced by biology. Or.. maybe gases they can't explain in any natural way, maybe it's pollution from a society of intelligent life. That's the only evidence of life we have any hope of finding over interstellar distances given curently forseeable technology and especially within 20 years.
The problem is that that is only circumstancial at best. A huge claim (like alien life) requires huge evidence. There would be all sorts of speculation that different non-biological processes may be the actual cause. Or.. maybe even non-biological processes we have never seen before given our limited experience in a single solar system.
For example.. just look at the discussion around methane plumes on Mars. It has scientists excited because microbes MIGHT be the cause. But then it could also just be volcanos! Don't get me wrong. Such a discovery would be exciting. It would also help motivate scientists to come up with more definitive tests for life and politicians to pay for it. It wouldnt actually prove anything though. IE no "discovery of life".
"Any discovery of microbes would be count. It can happen within 20 years."
Of course that would count! I think I explained why I think exactly that will not happen within 20 years. Feel free to disagree but it would be more interesting if you responded with specific reasons why you disagree or rebuttals to my reasons why I think it will not happen. You are just stating the opposite with no supporting evidence!