Oh, the human fascination with conquering Mars and creating artificial intelligence. We seem to be obsessed with two grand goals: colonizing a distant planet and constructing machines that can think and reason like us. Both endeavors take us beyond the bounds of the known, but at what cost?
It is astounding how some dream of establishing colonies on Mars, as if our own home on Earth is not enough. We overlook the vast oceans and majestic mountains of our own planet, captivated by the idea of treading on reddish and arid soil. Meanwhile, we embark on the creation of an artificial intelligence that can surpass us, enthralled by the promise of machines that can match or even exceed our intellectual capabilities
Wouldn't finding life on other worlds be easier if we knew exactly where to look? It seems that researchers are facing quite a challenge when it comes to hunting for life beyond Earth. With limited opportunities to collect samples on Mars or elsewhere, and restricted access to remote sensing instruments, the search for extraterrestrial existence becomes all the more elusive. But fear not, because in a recent study published in Nature Astronomy, a group of scientists led by Kim Warren-Rhodes from the SETI Institute has made some fascinating discoveries at Salar de Pajonales, located on the border of the Chilean Atacama Desert and Altiplano.
Salar de Atacama with the Licancabur Volcano in the background. Photo Credit:
To begin their investigation, the team conducted a meticulous mapping of photosynthetic microorganism distribution. Employing techniques such as gene sequencing and infrared spectroscopy, they successfully uncovered distinctive markers referred to as 'biosignatures.' These biosignatures serve as definitive indicators of life, providing crucial insights into the presence and characteristics of living organisms in the studied environment. These data were then combined with aerial images captured by drones to train a machine learning model to predict which macro- and microhabitat types would be associated with biosignatures that could indicate life
Investigation Workflow: Mapping Biosignatures and Discovering Hidden Life in Harsh Environments
The scientists found some hidden life in salt domes, rocks, and crystals at this remote location. It turns out that even in the harshest environments, life finds a way to survive. By training a machine learning model to recognize patterns, they could predict where to find these life forms with an impressive success rate of up to 87.5%, way better than just randomly searching around.
The biosignature probability maps, derived from CNN models and statistical ecology data, serve as a valuable tool. In Figure (a), the color scheme represents the likelihood of detecting biosignatures. Figure (b) showcases a visible image of a gypsum dome geological feature on the left, accompanied by biosignature probability maps that provide insights into different microhabitats within the dome, such as sand and alabaster. Photo Credit by M. Phillips, F. Kalaitzis, and K. Warren-Rhodes. [Source]
Now, you might be wondering why this is such a big deal. Well, imagine if we could use these techniques to search for life on other planets too. That's the exciting part! By combining statistical ecology with AI/ML, we could create specialized maps and algorithms to guide rovers to the most promising areas where life may exist. It's like having a treasure map leading us to hidden life forms in the universe.
The frames zoom in from a global view to an orbital image of Salar de Pajonales. The salar is then overlain with an interpretation of its compositional variability derived from ASTER multispectral data.
But the journey doesn't end there. The researchers are now testing the machine learning models to see if they can predict the location of ancient fossils and other microbial communities. They want to know if the same rules apply to different environments. It's like solving more puzzles and discovering new ecosystems, from hot springs to permafrost soils. The more they learn, the better equipped we become to explore and understand the possibilities of life beyond Earth.
It seems that today we are closer than ever to discovering where life is more likely to be found in other places. So, if it were possible, Would you like to live on Mars? Or perhaps it's better to stay here and use AI to tackle more earthly issues like finding solutions for poverty, hunger, and inequality, instead of launching ourselves into space in search of new adventures?
Let me know!
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