Sara Seager
Encyclopedia
Sara Seager is a Canadian-American astronomer
who is currently a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and known for her work on extrasolar planets. She was born in Toronto
, Canada
. In 1994, she earned the degree of Bachelor of Science
in Mathematics
and Physics
from the University of Toronto
. In 1999, Seager was granted a Ph.D. in astronomy
from Harvard University
. Her doctoral thesis explored atmospheres
on extrasolar planets.
Sara Seager used the term "Gas Dwarf" for a high mass super earth type planet composed mainly of Hydrogen
and Helium
in an animation of one model of the exoplanet Gliese 581 c
. The term "gas dwarf" has also been used to refer to planets smaller than gas giant
s, with thick hydrogen and helium atmospheres.
NASA
's PlanetQuest
referred to her as "an astronomical Indiana Jones".
Sara has appeared extensively on the pseudo-scientific
Discovery Channel
program, Ancient Aliens
.
On Sara's blog she claims these cameo appearances "aim to set the record straight". Whilst her pieces to camera do not explicitly endorse the hypothesis of the program (that civilization has been shaped by visitations by extraterrestrials
in ancient times), her contributions provide support for many fringe science
concepts by implying connections between the fringe idea and legitimate scientific concepts. For example, her cameo explaining maglev trains is juxtaposed with suggestions that megalithic monuments were constructed in prehistory using magnetic anti-gravity.
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
who is currently a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
and known for her work on extrasolar planets. She was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 1994, she earned the degree of Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. In 1999, Seager was granted a Ph.D. in astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Her doctoral thesis explored atmospheres
Atmosphères
Atmosphères is a piece for full orchestra, composed by György Ligeti in 1961. It is noted for eschewing conventional melody and metre in favor of dense sound textures...
on extrasolar planets.
Sara Seager used the term "Gas Dwarf" for a high mass super earth type planet composed mainly of Hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
and Helium
Helium
Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...
in an animation of one model of the exoplanet Gliese 581 c
Gliese 581 c
Gliese 581 c or Gl 581 c is a planet orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581. It is the second planet discovered in the system and the third in order from the star. With a mass at least 5.6 times that of the Earth, it is classified as a super-Earth...
. The term "gas dwarf" has also been used to refer to planets smaller than gas giant
Gas giant
A gas giant is a large planet that is not primarily composed of rock or other solid matter. There are four gas giants in the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune...
s, with thick hydrogen and helium atmospheres.
NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's PlanetQuest
PlanetQuest
PlanetQuest is a grid computing project for discovering new planets and classifying stars from Earth-based observatories' images.-Overview:The PlanetQuest project is currently still under development, and will utilize the BOINC platform.To search for new planets, PlanetQuest developed the Transit...
referred to her as "an astronomical Indiana Jones".
Academic positions
- Ellen Swallow Richards Associate Professor of Planetary Science, MIT, January 2007–
- Senior Research Staff Member, Carnegie Institution of Washington, August 2002–December 2006
- Long-term Member, Institute For Advanced Study, March 2001–August 2002
- Member, Institute For Advanced Study, September 1999–March 2001
Accomplishments
- Helen B. Warner Prize from the American Astronomical SocietyAmerican Astronomical SocietyThe American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
(2007) for developing "fundamental techniques for understanding, analyzing, and finding the atmospheres of extrasolar planets - The Fifth Annual Brilliant 10 by Popular SciencePopular SciencePopular Science is an American monthly magazine founded in 1872 carrying articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. Popular Science has won over 58 awards, including the ASME awards for its journalistic excellence in both 2003 and 2004...
(2006) for her work in developing simulations has given scientists new tools for helping visualize what foreign planets may look like. - The Harvard Bok Prize in Astronomy (2004)
Books and media
- Deming, D., & Seager, S. eds. 2003, "Scientific Frontiers in Research on Extrasolar Planets", ASP Conf. Ser. 294 (San Francisco: ASP)
Sara has appeared extensively on the pseudo-scientific
Fringe science
Fringe science is scientific inquiry in an established field of study that departs significantly from mainstream or orthodox theories, and is classified in the "fringes" of a credible mainstream academic discipline....
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
program, Ancient Aliens
Ancient Aliens
Ancient Aliens is an American television series that premiered on April 20, 2010 on the History channel. Produced by Prometheus Entertainment, the program presents theories of ancient astronauts and proposes that historical texts, archaeology and legends contain evidence of past...
.
On Sara's blog she claims these cameo appearances "aim to set the record straight". Whilst her pieces to camera do not explicitly endorse the hypothesis of the program (that civilization has been shaped by visitations by extraterrestrials
Ancient astronauts
Some writers have proposed that intelligent extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth in antiquity or prehistory and made contact with humans. Such visitors are called ancient astronauts or ancient aliens. Proponents suggest that this contact influenced the development of human cultures,...
in ancient times), her contributions provide support for many fringe science
Fringe science
Fringe science is scientific inquiry in an established field of study that departs significantly from mainstream or orthodox theories, and is classified in the "fringes" of a credible mainstream academic discipline....
concepts by implying connections between the fringe idea and legitimate scientific concepts. For example, her cameo explaining maglev trains is juxtaposed with suggestions that megalithic monuments were constructed in prehistory using magnetic anti-gravity.