Exploring Exoplanets & the Origins of Life with an Astrophysicist:

Ted Bergin on SayoStudio Science Podcast

Green aliens, exoplanets, and the origins of life… how can you not be intrigued? We pinch ourselves for getting to illustrate Dr. (Edwin) Ted Bergin’s planetary research. Unsurprisingly, we were over the moon when the University of Michigan astrophysicist agreed to join our SayoStudio Science podcast. On our podcast we talk about everything from art trends’ impact on science communication (sigh, ai generated art) to celebrating the excitement of scientific discovery. Join us as we learn more about how Bergin conducts his research on the birth of planets, why he needs illustration to communicate his astronomical research, and his thoughts on the probability of alien life. You can listen to the full episode on your favorite app, and read for Bergin’s insights from a career exploring the origins of life.

Not only are we excited to bring Ted’s fascinating research to all of you, but also his enthusiasm for collaboration and communicating science. Bergin is driven to push the boundaries of human knowledge and share that excitement.

When you get a new image from ALMA or a JWST spectrum, that’s the first time in human history we’ve seen that object in this way. Sharing that with the public is crucial—they fund the science, after all! ~Ted Bergin

Bergin is an advocate for larger science literacy and works to make science more accessible. He views teaching as a two-way exchange, where students challenge assumptions and spark new ideas. These interactions drive innovation and ultimately advance the field of astrochemistry. One of the key ways to help make science more accessible is with accurate graphics.

Introducing Dr. Bergin’s Quest to Understand the Birth of Solar Systems

Science illustration showing exoplanet atmospheric carbon compositions by Ari Gea © SayoStudio — Dr. Bergin and colleagues look at other early solar systems to learn more about how ours may have formed. They’ve reported that there are critical zones where ‘sooty worlds’ will exist that are high in carbon, and beyond that zones where water planets survive. We created this illustration of his research on habitable exoplanets reported in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. © Ari Gea, SayoStudio

An astronomer who taught himself chemistry, Ted uses spectroscopy tools to analyze the molecular makeup of planet-forming systems. His work focuses on tracing the origins and evolution of life’s essential ingredients, such as water and carbon. With observatories like the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Ted and his team study planet-forming regions and the birthplaces of Earth-like planets with unprecedented clarity. These tools enable researchers to examine the chemistry of planet formation across different systems, marking an exciting time for astrochemistry.

Why use Illustrations for Space, Stars and Expolanets?

At SayoStudio, we’re often asked why space illustrations are necessary when the Hubble and now the James Webb telescope produce such incredible photographs of galaxies far away. We asked Ted to talk us through what kind of data he relies on, and why he can’t rely on beautiful photographs to tell his scientific story.

Unlike the beautiful, visible-light images, ALMA and JWST capture data in radio and mid-infrared wavelengths. In other words, invisible to our eyes. By tuning into specific frequencies where molecules like water and carbon dioxide emit light, scientists can map the distribution of these molecules and measure their temperatures and concentrations. For trained scientists like Dr. Bergin, there is so much to be learned from these graphs, but they’re not an easily interpretable photograph.

Ted notes,“Many of our observations are not spatially resolved. Illustrations help bridge the gap, visualizing processes that aren’t immediately intuitive to the public.”

A view of a planetary disc, otherwise known as an early solar system. Planets are just forming from the swirly dust clouds and asteroids are held tightly around the star.

What are the Three Places that Need Illustrations to Visualize in Astronomy?

photons bent around blakc hole — You may know that anything that comes too close to a black hole will be sucked into the gravity well. But did you know, that just outside that point of no return, the trajectory of matter, including photons is bent? This is how cosmologists find black holes, by the signature light bending. This is also a fantastic example of how illustrations can depict a complicated concept. Created for NSF, by Nicolle R. Fuller of SayoStudio

Ted emphasizes that evolution is a unifying theme in science, including astronomy. Solar systems evolve over millions of years, but astronomers can’t observe this directly. Instead, they study systems at various stages of development, piecing together a timeline of cosmic evolution. Illustrations are invaluable for communicating these dynamic processes, both to fellow scientists or the public.

The unphotographable concept – large-scale cosmological concepts, from dark energy and the expansion of our universe, to dark matter and collapsing blackholes, encompass ideas and processes that are unseeable with our human ideas. Illustration can
Scale Differences – Space is vast. Molecules are nanoscale. How do you bridge that gap? With expertly designed science illustrations of course.
Time and changes over time are always challenging to depict, and something a well designed graphic or even simple animation can convey.

How to Study Life on Other Planets

Astrochemists look at spectroscopy signals to identify the abundance of different molecules. by Nicolle R. Fuller SayoStudio

One of science’s most profound questions is: how did life begin? This transition from abiotic chemistry—non-living molecules—to biochemistry remains a central mystery. Astronomers study this process by tracing the path of life’s building blocks, such as carbon and water, from their formation in interstellar space to their eventual incorporation into planets.

Meteorites, for instance, provide clues. Primitive meteorites contain amino acids, the molecules life might have used as a starting point. But where did this material come from, and how did it get embedded in the rocks that formed our planet?

In the quest to understand the origins of life, astrochemistry offers an exciting perspective: tracing the journey of essential ingredients like water and carbon through the cosmos to planets where life might emerge. But what makes this journey so fascinating, and how do astronomers contribute to unraveling this mystery?

From Abiotic Chemistry to Biology, Life’s Building Blocks

Search for life on expolanets, chemical signatures illustrated by Nicolle R. Fuller SayoStudio for Sky and Telescope

Bergin’s research centers on understanding how life’s building blocks—like carbon and water—move through space to become part of planets. By studying solar systems at various stages of development, Ted and his team piece together the timeline of solar system evolution. They investigate how molecules transition from gas to solid in star-forming regions, a critical step in forming planets like Earth. Meteorite observations, which reveal amino acids and other potential precursors to life, provide additional insights. Together, these studies help illuminate how life-supporting ingredients arrived in planets.

Collaboration in Planetary Research

One of the things that was most striking talking to Ted, is his respect for the work from other scientists, both before him and current collaborators. Time and time again he emphasized that his work would not be possible without the expertise and work of others. Collaboration is at the core of Ted’s work. His work bridges astronomy, chemistry, and geophysics, requiring expertise from multiple disciplines. Chemists recreate interstellar conditions to identify molecular signatures, geophysicists study planetary formation, and astronomers provide critical observational data. This teamwork enables researchers to understand the complex processes that drive star and planet formation.

This artwork shows the early solar system and how the gas giants–Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus–were able to so quickly attain their size. This current theory postulates that 3-4.5 billion years ago the planets were much closer together, and they lacked the standard orbits they have today leading to a lot of jostling. As the early gas giants moved, they were able to collect the debris that were thickly distributed in the younger solar system, with Jupiter even stealing some that would otherwise have allowed Mars to become larger. © Nicolle Fuller, SayoStudio

So… is There Alien Life Out There?

The final art for the Martian Life Illustration, used on the cover of Sky & Telescope. © Nicolle Fuller, SayoStudio

Searching for Life Among the Stars

The search for extraterrestrial life has shifted from speculation to systematic exploration. Soon, advanced telescopes will analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets for signs of life, such as oxygen or methane. These gases, when found together, indicate a state of chemical disequilibrium often driven by biological activity.

While these signatures might point to microbial life—Earth’s most abundant form of life—they offer a stepping stone for future discoveries. As we continue to explore, the possibility of finding even simple life forms on other planets keeps the scientific community abuzz with excitement.

Conclusion to our Expolanets Podcast Blog

Whether life exists on other planets remains one of the most compelling mysteries of our time. Dr. Ted Bergin’s work in astrochemistry contributes to unravelling this puzzle, tracing the journey of life’s building blocks from star-forming regions to planetary systems. His approach highlights the importance of collaboration, visual communication, and teaching in exploring these profound questions.

In the words of Dr. Bergin, “It’s an amazing time to be doing this science,”

And from our perspective, it’s an amazing time to visualize these discoveries. We’re so grateful for Ted’s time talking to us and for your time listening. Please join the conversation to tell us what you find fascinating in or comments or on our Youtube channel. Forward this to an interested friend, and don’t forget to subscribe and follow us on social media for more content at the intersection of science, art, and communication.

Chemical Engineering Journal ArtDecember 2, 2022

Why You Need to Visually Communicate ResearchFebruary 22, 2024

Human Cell Atlas Science CoverMay 13, 2022

Cell Science ArtDecember 9, 2022