Space, aliens, gadgets, google, mit, science

Google, MIT Team Up to Search for Planets with Extraterrestrial Life

MIT and Google are teaming up to help find planets that may be suitable for supporting life, getting us closer to getting in touch with some friendly/not friendly aliens. Google is paying for MIT's development of "six high-res, wide-field digital cameras with a 192-megapixel resolution for TESS - the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite." The goal? To find Earth-like planets that are suitable for life, and to do it soon.

The TESS will be designed solely to find smaller planets orbiting close to stars, much like earth. Until now, we've found mostly large planets due to the methods used: checking out the pull their gravity exerts on the stars they orbit. TESS, on the other hand, will measure the amount of starlight planets obscure, making it much easier to find smaller planets.

So the whole thing is due to go up into orbit and start searching in 2012, meaning we could be checking out Earth-like, inhabited planets in like 5 years. Enjoy thinking we're alone in the universe, friends; that notion will soon seem quaint. [MIT News via io9]

2:30 PM on Fri Mar 21 2008
By Adam Frucci
5,564 views
27 comments

Comments

Out2gtcha at 02:41 PM on 03/21/08
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MIT; Google; MEH

What I'm truly interested in is finding out where the f@#k this Halloween party is going to be held next year!!!
jetexas at 02:42 PM on 03/21/08
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Why the rush to find suitable planets? Is there something someone's not telling us about this one?
jetexas at 02:43 PM on 03/21/08
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@Out2gtcha: Just look for all the guys in homemade Master Chief costumes and head the opposite direction.
DustyButt at 02:46 PM on 03/21/08
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Even if we find one who's gonna get us there... NASA?

Pffft. We've been strapping shit to overgrown bottle rockets for 60 YEARS!
787style at 03:04 PM on 03/21/08
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Google is taking search to new heights...
tamoko at 03:09 PM on 03/21/08
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Hot xenomorph and xenomorph action.. coming to late night Cinemax in 2011.
dontforget at 03:13 PM on 03/21/08
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@787style: nice
Slartibartfast at 03:33 PM on 03/21/08
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two words: body paint
GoatMonkey at 03:38 PM on 03/21/08
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Which of the four chicks in the pic is hotter!? Yeah, I'm thinking the one on the right.
mtopper at 04:09 PM on 03/21/08
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how come he gets all the ladies?
mtopper at 04:10 PM on 03/21/08
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@Out2gtcha:

your house
Samifumi at 04:13 PM on 03/21/08
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@GoatMonkey: They're all wearing too much clothing for me to really tell.
duckballs at 04:24 PM on 03/21/08
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@mtopper: Cause he owned Predator.
Out2gtcha at 04:28 PM on 03/21/08
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@mtopper:
If it is you're invited over because I can only handle 2 at a time without loosing concentration......
Amiash is not allowed at 04:31 PM on 03/21/08
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The world is not that overpoplutated yet. We could still read gizmodo, breath clean air, and Lie why would they wanna do that?
FrankenPC at 05:12 PM on 03/21/08
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After seeing The Mist, I'm staying on terra-firma thank you.
tomaartist at 05:18 PM on 03/21/08
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cool alien suit. the ladies like penis head monster.
Stacky Botrus at 05:54 PM on 03/21/08
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Anyone who uses "MEH" is an asshole.
FritzLaurel at 06:11 PM on 03/21/08
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Yes, yes, that's all very nice. Now, who are the chicks?
FritzLaurel at 06:12 PM on 03/21/08
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@Stacky Botrus: Meh
Hardcore1 at 07:34 PM on 03/21/08
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So Google expects world domination to be complete by 2012 and they're doing some long term planning for future growth?
Empire at 08:14 PM on 03/21/08
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Hey that's the same year the world's supposed to end. Wonder if this is what causes it.
strider_mt2k at 09:39 PM on 03/21/08
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Look at the exoskeleton on HER!

Er..uh...I mean...nice tits!
scarbrtj at 10:30 PM on 03/21/08
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@mtopper: you seen that carpet-muncher-on-a-stick that shoots out his mouth?
oper451 at 12:23 PM on 03/22/08
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Please... Isn't is obvious - Google wants nothing to do with this planet that we have ruined. They are looking for the new Planet Google and then leave Earth, thus screwing up our economy.... I just want to know when the ship leaves... I want in.
ReekRend at 04:55 PM on 03/23/08
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What con is that from!? I need to start going.
icelight at 10:10 PM on 03/23/08
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We should start getting results much sooner than that: NASA's Kepler mission is doing the same thing, and should launch Feb '09.