Notice: This is an archived and unmaintained page. For current information, please browse astrobiology.nasa.gov.
NAI
Login
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

nai
You are here:

Sensor Sensibility

Presenter: Seth Shostak, SETI Institute
When: December 19, 2011 1PM PST

Have you lost your senses? You’ll find them everywhere you look. Sensors respond to external stimuli – light, sound, temperature and much else – to help us make sense (ha!) of our universe. And more are on their way. “Ubiquitous sensing” is the term that describes a world blanketed by tiny sensors: on bridges, in paint and medicine bottles, and even in our brains!

Discover where you’ll find sensors next. And, has the world’s largest detection device found the elusive particle that will help explain the universe? Where are you, Higgsy-wiggsy?

Also, out-of-this world sensors have detected a possibly Earth-like planet. What’s next for the Kepler planet-hunters?

Plus, DIY sensor kits, and, if computers can do all that, why can’t we send the odor of, say, freshly-baked bread over the Internet? The case for a smell-o-meter.
Guests:

Frank Close – Physicist at Oxford University, author of The Infinity Puzzle: Quantum Field Theory and the Hunt for an Orderly Universe Jan Rabaey – Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS), University of California, Berkeley Barry Shell – Writer in Vancouver, Canada Andy Huntington – Interaction designer, based in London Sara Seager – Professor of planetary science and physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Planet hunters – Daryll LaCourse and Tom Jacobs, citizen scientists with Planet Hunters

Descripción en español

This episode was tagged with: biology physics cosmology astronomy computers health astrobiology

Viewing Option:

Big Picture Science

  • The Big Picture Science radio show and podcast engages the public with astrobiology through lively and intelligent storytelling. Science radio doesn’t have to be dull. The only dry thing about our program is the humor. Big Picture Science takes on big questions by interviewing leading researchers and weaving together their stories of discovery in a clever and off-kilter narrative style.
  • Subscribe to this series

Other Seminars in this Series