The depths of our own oceans on earth support life forms that would explode if brought to the surface due to a lack of pressure per square inch of mass. So why couldn't an alternate life form other than ours here on earth survive extreme pressures, temperatures, oxygen levels and similar conditions and still be able to survive? To think otherwise is uninformed, arrogant and pompous.
2006-09-27 10:02:51 · 6 answers · asked by GLENNLY 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
We are not advanced enough yet to find out how life can exist on other planets. If on our star (sun) has life then think about all those billions upon trillions or stars. One of them has to have some life on them too. Of course we just don't like to think their are others "better" than humans. It all comes down to fear, we fear what we don't know.
2006-09-27 10:15:37 · answer #1 · answered by t_nguyen62791 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When people say "life as we know it", they DON'T mean exactly the same pressures, temperatures, oxygen levels etc. E.g., we know that life doesn't need oxygen ... as life evolved on this planet at a time when there was no oxygen (in fact, oxygen would have been quite toxic to early life forms).
What they mean is more basic. That there are certain things that we believe are necessary to accomplish what we call 'life' (namely metabolism, replication, etc.) E.g., we believe it needs carbon because of certain properties of carbon and the types of chemical bonds it creates ... although other elements, like silicon, have similar properties and might serve the same role. We believe life needs liquid water for certain chemical reactions to take place that would allow organic (carbon-based) compounds to form. We are quite certain that the life form needs an energy source (either a star close enough to deliver light energy, or substantial volcanic activity). Things like that.
That's what we mean by "life as we know it."
It is not uninformed, arrogant, or pompous. That's just based on the bare minimum requirements needed to support the only kind of life form we know. We also are aware that there may be other combinations that work as well, but we've not thought of them.
However, that said ... there are literally billions of planets in the universe ... perhaps a billion or more in our own galaxy alone ... that have these necessary ingredients of carbon, water, energy, and a few other things.
2006-09-27 16:25:46 · answer #2 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Also, people tend to forget plants are a form of life as well. The idea that there may be foliage on some distant planet out there doesn't seem very far fetched.
2006-09-27 10:14:04 · answer #3 · answered by lepninja 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We certainly should not discount other possibilities. I think in some cases the "search" is narrowed to life like our own, because we don't know how to look for something completely different.
2006-09-27 11:49:24 · answer #4 · answered by Ken H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well stated. We evolved to breathe air because air was here..If it were methane..we wouldve evolved to breath methane..its life that adapted to its surroundings..not surroundings perfect to begin life.
2006-09-27 10:05:59 · answer #5 · answered by the man 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is nice.
What is your point??
2006-09-27 10:10:07 · answer #6 · answered by billyandgaby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋