![[Search]](/static/images/search.gif){kind=small}
![[A-Z Index]](/static/images/az.gif){kind=small}
![[Contact]](/static/images/contact.gif){kind=small}
![[University of Cambridge]](/static/images/identifier2.gif){kind=small}
![[Talks.cam]](/static/images/talkslogosmall.gif)
Peter Vickers (Durham University)
Wednesday 09 February 2022, 16:20-16:40
Quantifying Uncertainty in Assessment of Possible Exoplanet Biosignatures
- đ¤ Speaker: Peter Vickers (Durham University)
- đ Date & Time: Wednesday 09 February 2022, 16:20 - 16:40
- đ Venue: Seminar Room 1, Newton Institute
Abstract
Suppose the latest generation of telescopes detect oxygen in the atmosphere of an exoplanet. Is that a ‘biosignature’? At one time it would have been called a biosignature (by some, at least), but not now. Now we have plausible abiotic stories to tell about the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere of a planet. But what about a case – such as an oxygen-methane disequilibrium – where we currently do not have a plausible abiotic story to tell? Should we call this a biosignature? Or should we expect that in due course we will develop a plausible abiotic story? In this talk I argue that quantifying the uncertainty requires us to quantify the extent to which we have explored the relevant possibility space, a very difficult thing to do. A Bayesian approach to quantifying the relevant uncertainty seems unhelpful.
Series This talk is part of the Isaac Newton Institute Seminar Series series.
Included in Lists
- All CMS events
- bld31
- dh539
- Featured lists
- INI info aggregator
- Isaac Newton Institute Seminar Series
- School of Physical Sciences
- Seminar Room 1, Newton Institute
Note: Ex-directory lists are not shown.