http://truthufo.blogspot.com/: Analysis: does it look "strange life forms?

Friday, 22 August 2008

Analysis: does it look "strange life forms?

The search for extraterrestrial life in the Solar System but also beyond, it was fascinating that it leaves no one indifferent. Whether scientists, theologians or amateurs, all have a good reason why this research to succeed. We would like as life on Earth was not the result of a fantastic chance but on the contrary, a process common in the universe.

Scientists see it is the only way to trace our origins. All indices of the primitive terrestrial life beyond 3.5 - 3.8 billion years have been erased by plate tectonics and convulsions multiples of the earth's crust. On Earth, the information contained in fossils do not go beyond this period which is a hindrance to our knowledge.

Where does the constituent molecules of life? What forms do they have?

While there is no doubt that the search for extraterrestrial life must be based first and foremost on earthly life based on the chemistry of carbon in a solvent, water, do not put aside the fact that life has been take a different path. Recent advances in biology and biochemistry show that it is possible that life appears in different forms from ours. This means that biochemistry and molecular biology land are certainly not the only process to foster the emergence of a form of life. Indeed, the process at the molecular origin of life on other planets might well be different from what the Earth has experienced very soon after its formation. We know that the versatility of organic chemistry has it remarkable that it offers multiple solutions fundamental to the emergence of life.

From there, scientists should broaden their search for the lives of strange life forms, ie that would not require the same characteristics as the earthly life, namely water as a solvent, metabolism based on carbon, a system capable of molecular evolution and a capacity of consumption, processing and storage of energy or mass with its environment.

Another way to explore the detection of organisms with a biochemistry alternative to ours. Today, we know that the bricks of earthly life are not the only elements capable of supporting phenomena identified as living organisms These discoveries make possible the existence of life forms different than those that thrive on Earth

The example of water

Today, everyone knows that water is the element without which life is not possible. This limit is our research in the Solar System the only places where you think it has been sinking in liquid form, as for example on Mars or in large reservoirs, as is certainly the case in surface of some moons of Jupiter or Saturn. But other liquids such as ammonia or Formamide are able to have the same role solvent but by a different biochemistry. If we go after this reasoning, we can classify Titan as a priority target for discovering a strange form of life because of the likely presence of a mixture of water and ammonia.

Extreme terrestrial environments

The search for a strange form of life could be facilitated by a better understanding of extreme environments on Earth. It is natural environments deemed sterile but known to harbour complex organisms. By understanding better life on Earth and its ability to adapt to these regions, scientists will have a clearer picture to find on other objects in the Solar System where living organisms necessary conditions have been met or may l ' be still as is the case in March.

Before considering the potential of an extrasolar planet to develop a form of life, we should first explore the limits of life on our own planet. The tolerances in extreme conditions on Earth where life continues much broader than what we thought before. Recent research has shown that micro-organisms were remarkably flexible in the choice of their surroundings. These micro-organisms thrive in environments so extreme that nuclear reactors to surfaces completely frozen. The hot springs hidden oceans of the funds have often been regarded as the origin of life on Earth. Most of these extreme conditions can be found on the planet Mars or on certain moons of Jupiter and Callisto as Europe.

It is also interesting to ask ourselves why some terrestrial environments have apparently not enough for the emergence and development in a peaceful way of life. This study could inform us about the chemical and morphological signatures of environments that differ significantly from those on Earth and in particular on the part of planets much more massive.

The earthly life

Life is defined as a complex and coded information that can replicate this replication to be done with some errors to allow evolution. But we did not find any better support a complex information that the carbon chain of organic chemistry. One can think of several other media (crystals, for example) but none of the richness of carbon chains that allow combinations to infinity. The chemistry of silicon, for example, is very far from being as rich. Indeed, there are as large molecules in the interstellar medium of our Galaxy or very distant galaxies, that carbon chains.

According to NASA, is living any system delineated on the plan space by a semi-permeable membrane of its own manufacture and capable of self-perpetuating, and to reproduce by producing its own constituents from energy and / or from outsiders. The earthly life requires the presence of four factors combined. In energy, usually in the form of stellar radiation, carbon, usually in the form of CO, water in liquid form, which is the basis of life, and a number of chemical elements, mainly of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur.

Based on these definitions on 2 keep in mind that if extraterrestrial life exists, there is a great probability that it is also based on water chemistry and carbon. On the one hand water is a very common molecule in the universe like this chemistry. The most recent observations of the universe revealed that the ingredients of life are everywhere in the universe so that we can reasonably assum.