TIME science article written by Michael Lemonick, a science writer who previously wrote for Discovery as well as Science Digest
The article is about different ways of categorizing life on other planets. Since the Kepler telescope has recently discovered more than 2000 other planets in the universe, there must be a way to somehow anticipate what kinds of life can be found. The first standard is EMI, which is Earth-based and used to find life similar to that on Earth. The second is PHI, which is much looser in its restrictions. It is very open with how different types of life can sustain different conditions.
The context includes the theory that there may be other forms of life in the universe. Earth is perhaps not the only planet lucky enough to possess such livable circumstances. Context also includes recent findings and breakthroughs in space research.
The author uses a conversational type of writing. It is as if he is casually yet professionally talking to us. This is evident through such elements as humor, rhetorical questions, and speculation. Other rhetorical elements include scientific terms such as EMI and PHI.
The author's purpose is to update readers and those interested about the search for alien life. Being someone who has always been interested in mysteries and aliens yet knows little about them, I thought this article was very interesting. The simple discovery of water on Mars (which I did not know about) made me consider a whole new range of possibilities.
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