Toby Rollin Ault
Associate Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS, Physics
Atmospheric Spectral Signals and Biosignatures
We focus on modeling planets and moons orbiting other stars than the Sun, for future atmosphere follow-up, focussing on Super-Earths and potentially habitable worlds (rocky terrestrial planets of 0.5-2 Earth radii) including objects orbiting in the “Habitable Zones” around their host stars.
Affiliated Team Members
Jonathan Lunine
David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences Emeritus
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Lisa Kaltenegger
Professor, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Alice Nadeau
NSF Postdoctoral Associate (Visiting Assistant Professor)
Carl Sagan Institute, Mathematics
Planets in the Habitable Zone
We model the Habitable Zone for a wide range of stars and atmospheric compositions and identify the known planets in it as priority targets to search for life.
Affiliated Team Members
Jonathan Lunine
David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences Emeritus
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Lisa Kaltenegger
Professor, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Life on Earth as our Rosetta Stone
We use Earth biota as a Rosetta Stone for the search for life on other worlds, including creating a catalog of biopigment to be observed with missions that can collect reflected planetary light like the Habitable World Observatory. We also include life forms that are called “extreme” on our own planet, but could be dominant on other worlds. We develop observing strategies and mission concepts for future searches.
Affiliated Team Members
Rosa Santomartino
Visiting Assistant Professor, CALS Biological and Environmental Engineering
Carl Sagan Institute
Lisa Kaltenegger
Professor, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Alexander Hayes
Jennifer and Albert Sohn Professor, Director, Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Director of the Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Britney Schmidt
Professor of Astronomy & Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Planetary System Formation, Migration and Evolution
We use Earth and Solar System input of evolution of solid planets and moons, including features that shape their surfaces (e.g., volcanism), to model and study a wide range of possible planets and moons inside and outside our own Solar System.
Affiliated Team Members
Dong Lai
Benson Jay Simon ’59 MBA ’62 and Mary Ellen Simon MA ’63 Professor - On Leave AY 25-26
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Jonathan Lunine
David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences Emeritus
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Lisa Kaltenegger
Professor, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Technological Development, Missions and their Influence on Humanity
We look at new approaches to space exploration, including technologies that may enable robotic missions to another solar system, cube sats, and robotic eels, and their influence on humanity.
Affiliated Team Members
John Carruthers
Director of Graduate Studies, Regional Science; Associate Professor, AAP-City and Regional Planning
Carl Sagan Institute
Dmitry Savransky
Associate Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engr and Astronomy
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Greg Pass
Professor of Practice of Operations, Technology, & Information Management
Carl Sagan Institute
Elaine Petro
Assistant Professor, Sibley School of Mechanical Aerospace Engineering
Carl Sagan Institute
Britney Schmidt
Professor of Astronomy & Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Lisa Kaltenegger
Professor, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Search for Habitable Environments in our Solar System
We explore the Solar System to understand how giant planets and their moons form and evolve, to search for habitable environments on and within moons (like Enceladus, Europa and Titan), and to examine the farthest bodies in the solar system for clues to the early history of the solar system. We also examine Earth and Solar System input of geophysical fluid dynamics and thermal evolution of solid planets, and the tectonic, glacial, and volcanic features that shape their surfaces to model and study a wide range of possible planets and moons inside and outside our own Solar System.
Affiliated Team Members
Alexander Hayes
Jennifer and Albert Sohn Professor, Director, Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Director of the Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Jonathan Lunine
David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences Emeritus
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Philip D. Nicholson
Professor
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Britney Schmidt
Professor of Astronomy & Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Lisa Kaltenegger
Professor, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Technosignatures as Signs of Life
We explore the idea of technosignatures and how to find advanced, technological life in the cosmos, including SETI but also alternative observation strategies.
Affiliated Team Members
James M. Cordes
George Feldstein Professor of Astronomy
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS, Physics
Lisa Kaltenegger
Professor, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Using Machine Learning to Search for Signs of Life
We explore how to best use Machine Learning to search for Life in the Cosmos.
Affiliated Team Members
Lisa Kaltenegger
Professor, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Share and Communicate the Excitement of the Search for Life
We explore how to share the excitement of the search for life in the universe with everyone, including schools, the public, music concerts, dance, pub astro events, etc. Come share your ideas with us to reach as many people as we can to share the excitement.
Affiliated Team Members
Mark Akos Sarvary
Stephen H. Weiss Provost's Teaching Fellow, Director of the Investigative Biology Teaching Laboratories
Carl Sagan Institute, Neurobiology and Behavior
Bruce V. Lewenstein
Professor and University Ombuds
Carl Sagan Institute, Science and Technology Studies
Andrew Hicks
Associate Professor
Interim Department Chair
Carl Sagan Institute, Classics, Medieval Studies Program, Music, Religious Studies Program
Steven Strogatz
Susan and Barton Winokur Distinguished Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Mathematics, Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow
Carl Sagan Institute, Mathematics, Physics
Lisa Kaltenegger
Professor, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
Zoe Learner Ponterio
SPIF Manager, GIS Specialist, Outreach Coordinator CCAPS
Astronomy, Carl Sagan Institute, CCAPS
