Using AI to Predict Probability of Life on Other Planets

We are living in a digital age where “disrupt or be disrupted” has evolved into “think big or go home.” Everything has changed, and there is an increasing feeling that anything is now possible and that we desperately need to expand our horizons and think bigger. 

For example, space travel looked like it was going nowhere fast, but Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson brought it back from the brink and are currently in a race to send us to Mars. However, some would argue that we need to expand our minds even further and explore beyond our solar system to investigate the likelihood of life outside of our tiny, overcrowded planet.

The reality is that some things are beyond our capabilities. But we are finding that artificial intelligence (AI) can already identify patterns that are too complex for a biological brain to process. Once again, it’s time to leverage the power of technology and work alongside machines, rather than fear them, on a quest for higher knowledge.

Plymouth University recently revealed in new research that AI could help astronomers predict the probability of life on other planets. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were fed atmospheric observations, known as spectra, from present-day earth, Mars, Venus, Titan (Saturn’s largest moon), and early earth.

The system was then able to classify each of the worlds using a "probability of life" measurement based on atmospheric and orbital properties. All of the five areas mentioned have rocky bodies, have similar atmospheres, and are considered to be potentially habitable objects in the solar system. "We're currently interested in these ANNs for prioritizing exploration for a hypothetical, intelligent, interstellar spacecraft scanning an exoplanet system at the range," said Christopher Bishop, Center for Robotics.

Essentially, ANNs attempt to replicate the way the human brain learns and also represent one of the essential ingredients of machine learning.

Given the results so far, this method may prove to be extremely useful for categorizing different types of exoplanets using results from ground-based and near-Earth observatories." - Angelo Cangelosi - Center for Robotics

The technique could quickly become invaluable to future observations and space missions such the European Space Agency's Ariel Space Mission or NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. Despite the fear that surrounds AI, could this technology help us progress and think beyond planet earth?

History has taught us that the industrial revolution set the U.S. free from the manual labor-based industry to a more technical and machine-based manufacturing age. But it’s easy to see why the so-called digital transformation is often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution.

We are about to witness workers stepping away from robotic and mundane tasks. These changes will not only allow us to get back to being human, but they could also help broaden our horizons. I like to think that people will begin to look beyond cities, countries, flags, and traditional geographical borders. Only then can we move forward together as one human race and explore the art of the possible.

Sure, on the surface it seems like an idealistic notion, but our history reveals so much about how technology has transformed society. However, we do need to ensure that everyone comes along for the ride. Labeling anyone who fears, or refuses to understand technology a Luddite is hugely unhelpful and counter-productive. We need to invest heavily in education and providing workers with new skills to thrive and survive in a digital age.

I don't want to exaggerate the current capabilities of AI or the chances of discovering life on another planet in the immediate future. However, the fact we are beginning to develop a thirst for learning how to search for new planets or new life and using technology to speed up the process is a mouthwatering prospect.

Each person who is reading this will have many stories to share of how technology has changed everything since their childhood. We are now the seeds for a fascinating future for our children and future grandchildren where we both think and explore beyond our current planet. How inspiring is that?

It's time to retire the lazy predictions of a dystopian future where robot overlords rule the earth after watching one too many sci-fi movies. It's not AI that is offering a glimpse of the greatest technological development of our time, but the combination of human and artificial intelligence. Both offer little on their own, but together they can change the future of humanity.