Voyager 1′s climate snapshot for the heavens
A photograph on the Voyager 1 space probe explains why Earth's climate allowed life to take hold.
By David Wogan
This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
How would explain humanity to another race? What would you include? Would you use pictures? Sound? Math?
What does it mean to live on Earth? To be human?
When we launched the Voyager 1 space probe we included all of these things with the hope that some other lifeforms would discover them and learn about us. You can view all of them on this web page.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
This photograph stood out to me about how we explain what Earth is and why life has been able to take hold: how our atmosphere keeps us just warm enough to survive. Notice that the fraction of carbon dioxide is 3/10000. If we sent a space probe out to interstellar space it would need to say 4/10000 too before long.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
