What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
The surface of Venus is a scary place--it's toxic, the air is crushing, and it's hot enough to melt lead. But Venus's atmosphere might be a different story. Scientists recently made an exciting discovery: possible signs of microscopic life in the clouds of Venus! In this one-time class, we'll take a close look at these findings and discuss what discovering life on Venus might mean for us here on Earth. First, we'll discuss what we know about the surface of Venus, and why it's highly unlikely that anything lives there. Next we'll learn how Venus might have been a much more Earthlike planet in the past, with oceans and a thinner, cooler atmosphere. Then we'll explore newly-discovered hints that there might be microscopic life in Venus's atmosphere, including the detection of phosphine--a gas produced by bacteria on Earth! Finally, we'll talk about planned future missions to Venus, and what discovering life in Venus's clouds might mean for us here on our planet. We'll use a combination of slides, animations, lecture, and discussion. I encourage students to ask and answer questions and to think like scientists. No prior knowledge is required--just curiosity and the eagerness to learn! Learners who enjoy this class might also like "Is There Life on Mars?", another of my classes exploring life beyond Earth.
Learning Goals
Students will learn about the possibility that Venus might have microbial life in its upper atmosphere. They will learn about the clues scientists have discovered, as well as future planned observations.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a teacher, creative writer, and sci-fi fan who has always been fascinated by astronomy--so much so that I named my son Mars! I have ghostwritten children's books about the solar system, and keeping up with the latest scientific findings about our universe is a passion of mine that I can't wait to share.
Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$10
per classMeets once
45 min
Completed by 28 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
1-8 learners per class