Question 1

An extraterrestrial alien spacecraft crashed near Roswell,New Mexico,in 1947.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. military reported that the object recovered near Roswell was a high-altitude surveillance balloon from Project Mogul, not an extraterrestrial spacecraft.

Question 2

One-third to one-half of Americans believes that UFOs continue to visit Earth from distant,alien worlds.

Accepted Answer

According to various polls and surveys, including a 2019 Gallup poll, one-third to one-half of Americans believe in the existence of UFOs and the possibility that they could be visiting Earth from faraway planets or galaxies.

Question 3

The tidal forces from Jupiter cause flexing in the interior of Europa that generates enough heat to keep subsurface water from freezing.

Accepted Answer

The tidal forces from Jupiter cause flexing in the interior of Europa which generates enough heat to keep subsurface water from freezing. This is believed to create an environment in which life could potentially exist on Europa.

Question 4

Scientists used a radioactive age-dating technique to determine that the SNC meteorites are much younger than the age of the solar system.

Accepted Answer

The SNC meteorites have been determined to be around 4.4 billion years old, while the solar system itself is about 4.6 billion years old. The radioactive age-dating technique confirmed that these meteorites are, in fact, much younger than the solar system.

Question 5

The Miller and Urey experiment used molten metal to simulate volcanic lava on the primordial Earth.

Accepted Answer

The Miller and Urey experiment used a closed system of gases to simulate the conditions of the early Earth's atmosphere, not molten metal.

Question 6

A carbon atom can bond to four other atoms and can form complex molecules.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Carbon has four valence electrons, which means it can form four covalent bonds with other atoms. This ability to form multiple bonds is what allows carbon to form complex molecules, including many important biological molecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.

Question 7

The Miller-Urey experiment demonstrated that extrasolar planets exist.

Accepted Answer

The Miller-Urey experiment was conducted to simulate the conditions of early Earth and test the hypothesis that organic compounds, the building blocks of life, could arise spontaneously from non-living matter. It did not demonstrate the existence of extrasolar planets.

Question 8

Besides Earth,the planet most likely to have had the right conditions for the origin of life is Mercury.

Accepted Answer

Mercury is too close to the sun and has extreme temperature fluctuations, making it an unlikely candidate for the origin of life.

Question 9

Evidence suggests that planetary formation around stars like the Sun are very uncommon.

Accepted Answer

While planetary formation around stars like the Sun may not be guaranteed, there is evidence that it is not uncommon. In fact, recent studies have shown that there may be billions of Earth-like planets in our galaxy alone.

Question 10

The Viking Landers spacecraft carried out three different tests looking for evidence of Martian microorganisms.

Accepted Answer

The Viking Landers spacecraft carried out three different tests to look for evidence of microbial life on Mars. These tests were called the Labeled Release (LR), Gas Exchange (GEx), and Pyrolytic Release (PR) experiments.

Question 11

Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe.

Accepted Answer

Astrobiology is a multidisciplinary scientific field that aims to study the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe.

Question 12

Humans are the most common form of life on Earth.

Accepted Answer

The most common form of life on Earth is actually bacteria. Humans are one of the most advanced forms of life, but not the most common.

Question 13

The Viking Landers found definitive proof of life on the surface of Mars.

Accepted Answer

The Viking Landers did not find definitive proof of life on the surface of Mars. While there were some initial indications of possible biological activity, subsequent analysis has suggested that these findings can also be explained by non-biological processes. To date, no conclusive evidence of life on Mars has been found.

Question 14

Astronomers have carried out a number of searches for signals from other stars in the X-ray band of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Astronomers have carried out a number of...

Question 15

A large part of NASA's funding currently goes toward the SETI program.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. NASA's funding for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program is very minimal compared to their overall budget. In fact, in 1993, Congress terminated NASA's direct involvement in SETI, leading to the privatization of the program. NASA continues to support astrobiology research, which includes the study of the origins, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe, but this does not make up a large portion of their budget.

Question 16

Surveys show that 3% to 5% of Americans believe UFOs visit Earth from alien worlds.

Accepted Answer

Surveys indicate that a much higher percentage of Americans believe in UFOs visiting Earth from alien worlds, with some surveys suggesting that around half of Americans think alien spacecraft have visited Earth.

Question 17

ALH 84001 is the only known specimen of a rock that was on Mars during the era when liquid water most likely existed on the planet's surface.

Accepted Answer

ALH 84001 is a meteorite that is believed to have originated from Mars and is estimated to be about 4.5 billion years old. It contains features that suggest it formed in the presence of liquid water, indicating that Mars may have once had conditions suitable for life.

Question 18

On Earth,gray hematite is found in places where water exists or has exited in the past.

Accepted Answer

Gray hematite, also known as specular hematite, is commonly found in areas with water or where water has existed in the past, such as lake beds, riverbeds, and ocean floors. This is because hematite is produced through the oxidation of iron in the presence of water.

Question 19

A project called SETI@home uses a data analysis program that acts as a screensaver so volunteers can have their personal computers analyze data when they are not using them.

Accepted Answer

SETI@home is a real project that uses a screensaver program to analyze data from radio telescopes in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Volunteers can download the program and contribute their computer's processing power to the project while they are not actively using their computer.

Question 20

The most uncertain variable in the Drake equation is the rate at which solar-type stars form in the Galaxy.

Accepted Answer

The most uncertain variable in the Drake equation is actually the longevity of civilizations capable of interstellar communication, as it involves numerous unpredictable factors related to technology, sociology, and potential self-destruction.

Quiz 8: Looking for Life Beyond Earth