34 replies to this topic

[Rainie]

it always makes me sad when I hear people call scientific research "a waste of money" *le sigh*

I don't suppose we could scrape a few dollars away from the military budget?

^

For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for 5 years

[Kauvara]

I love hearing about these sorts of things. I have that Exoplanet app downloaded to my iPod so I get a notification when any new planets are discovered, and I can read all about them. Another Earth-like planet is an interesting concept, since that would mean it would contain life like that of our own. It's extremely creepy to think about, but at the same time exhilarating. Another interesting thing to think about - Earth-like conditions are not necessarily necessary (lol) for harboring other life-forms. Certain types of bacteria thrive in extreme conditions (even in zero gravity....I beleive it was the salmonella (or something like that, don't quote me on this lol) virus that grew like 90% bigger and became MUCH more deadly in space), and it just might be possible to have a non Earth-like planet which has life.

The one idea that scares the absolute shit out of me, however, is the spread of disease in space. Asteroids and the like are pretty much the mosquitos of space, they just kinda float around with a bunch of crazy bacteria living on them (not sure if they were dormant or not) and then crash into shit and introduce that bacteria into the new environment. *shudder*

Who knows what could be out there.

Edited by Jabberwock, 06 February 2012 - 01:02 AM.

[redlion]

The one idea that scares the absolute shit out of me, however, is the spread of disease in space. Asteroids and the like are pretty much the mosquitos of space, they just kinda float around with a bunch of crazy bacteria living on them (not sure if they were dormant or not) and then crash into shit and introduce that bacteria into the new environment. *shudder*

Who knows what could be out there.

Err, I don't know what gives you this idea, but it's few light bulbs short of a lamp. Asteroids don't have crazy bacteria on them. At least, not that we know of. It has been hypothesized that life on earth may have started from bacteria introduced from an asteroid impact, but science generally favors the primordial soup theory now.

Besides, germs in space have to overcome the controlled environments that the vacuum of space necessitates.

[willy101]

too bad we'll never of hear of this again. the A&D departments are notoriously secretive

[MsRose]

Err, I don't know what gives you this idea, but it's few light bulbs short of a lamp. Asteroids don't have crazy bacteria on them. At least, not that we know of. It has been hypothesized that life on earth may have started from bacteria introduced from an asteroid impact, but science generally favors the primordial soup theory now.

I think the theory is actually that asteroids provided the first amino acids, lipids and nitrogen bases found in the first protocells. Even that idea, however, isn't very widely accepted because new studies have found early earth's atmosphere wasn't a reducing one. It's much more likely the first cells formed around volcanoes or deep sea vents in which there were small pockets of reducing atmosphere. Or, as you said the "primitive soup" theory.

[Kauvara]

Err, I don't know what gives you this idea, but it's few light bulbs short of a lamp. Asteroids don't have crazy bacteria on them. At least, not that we know of. It has been hypothesized that life on earth may have started from bacteria introduced from an asteroid impact, but science generally favors the primordial soup theory now.

Besides, germs in space have to overcome the controlled environments that the vacuum of space necessitates.

That's why I said "the one idea" And like you said.....not that we know of. It's extremely possible. An overwhelming number of bacteria can survive in what we see as "extreme" conditions, including the vacuum of space.
Here's a bit of light reading for you: http://www.panspermia.org/bacteria.htm

;D

[MsRose]

That's why I said "the one idea" And like you said.....not that we know of. It's extremely possible. An overwhelming number of bacteria can survive in what we see as "extreme" conditions, including the vacuum of space.
Here's a bit of light reading for you: http://www.panspermia.org/bacteria.htm

;D

That article doesn't really prove your original statement. The idea that bacteria can exist in space is one thing (and by "exist" I mean live as endospores) but suggesting that meteorites are outer space mosquitoes harboring pathogenic bacteria is pretty preposterous. Mostly because if a meteorite contained "bacteria", it would have to descend from a common ancestral bacterial that existed here on earth. It's extremely unlikely that two different species from completely different planets would share common DNA. In fact, it would be quite presumptuous to suggest alien life would even use DNA at all.

Basically, if there are "bacteria" up there, it came from earth.

[redlion]

That's why I said "the one idea" And like you said.....not that we know of. It's extremely possible. An overwhelming number of bacteria can survive in what we see as "extreme" conditions, including the vacuum of space.
Here's a bit of light reading for you: http://www.panspermia.org/bacteria.htm

;D

I don't understand you.

It isn't extremely possible. I admit the possibility, but I also admit the possibility that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the supreme ruler of the universe.

"Extreme" conditions on earth are still relatively survivable compared to outer space. Even living in Antarctica ensures a bacterium a good supply of oxygen, water, salt, and sunlight for part of the year. Can you say the same for a desolate rock in the asteroid belt? Not to mention the radiological affects of the wider universe that all life on Earth is protected from by our magnetosphere.

[Waser Lave]

I don't understand you.

It isn't extremely possible. I admit the possibility, but I also admit the possibility that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the supreme ruler of the universe.

"Extreme" conditions on earth are still relatively survivable compared to outer space. Even living in Antarctica ensures a bacterium a good supply of oxygen, water, salt, and sunlight for part of the year. Can you say the same for a desolate rock in the asteroid belt? Not to mention the radiological affects of the wider universe that all life on Earth is protected from by our magnetosphere.

More complex organisms than bacteria have survived being exposed to outer space for a few days (waterbears) so it's certainly possible but so far there's been no evidence found of even bacteria in meteorites apart from one discredited report which was published in a sketchy online journal after being rejected from more reputable scientific journals. That report was subsequently widely picked up by news organisations such as Fox News as evidence that life came from outer space despite the distinct lack of scientific rigour.

[Kauvara]

That article doesn't really prove your original statement. The idea that bacteria can exist in space is one thing (and by "exist" I mean live as endospores) but suggesting that meteorites are outer space mosquitoes harboring pathogenic bacteria is pretty preposterous. Mostly because if a meteorite contained "bacteria", it would have to descend from a common ancestral bacterial that existed here on earth. It's extremely unlikely that two different species from completely different planets would share common DNA. In fact, it would be quite presumptuous to suggest alien life would even use DNA at all.

Basically, if there are "bacteria" up there, it came from earth.

It's not preposterous, lol, I'm not just pulling the idea out of my ass, it's just another interesting theory I thought I'd bring up. I'm not saying it DOES exist, I'm just saying - it's definitely a possibility. Just because an idea seems unfathomable doesn't mean it isn't possible. Who knows what could be out there, or even what "it" is capable of. I was merely bringing up theories that I had heard (more than once, might I add) that interested me.

"Extreme" conditions on earth are still relatively survivable compared to outer space. Even living in Antarctica ensures a bacterium a good supply of oxygen, water, salt, and sunlight for part of the year. Can you say the same for a desolate rock in the asteroid belt? Not to mention the radiological affects of the wider universe that all life on Earth is protected from by our magnetosphere.

Did you read the whole thing? The idea is not that they would thrive on a desolate asteroid, it's that they become dormant when threatening conditions are present (vacuum of space, no water, etc.) and then once they are introduced into a suitible environment, they become active again. Also - not all bacteria require oxygen to live. The only thing they seem to need is water.

Edited by Jabberwock, 06 February 2012 - 08:46 AM.