Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

[Garbad_the_Weak]

Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090318094642.htm

Ok, so its not as momentous as it sounds. But its still interesting news. It seems life finds a way to exist in any imaginable circumstance -- from the deep sea to the arctic cold to the dry desert and now to the destructive air, without ever touching down.

Do you think that we will discover truly extraterrestrial life within your lifetime? If so, do you expect it to be chemically and genetically similar to earth life?

 

[moo-cow]

Re: Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

2010 (or was it 2061) had large cloud shaped organisms the size of cities in Jupiter's atmosphere before the planet was turned into a sun. Whether we'll find intelligent extraterrestrial life is still the main question, but finding bacteria like this on other planets would show its more likely.

 

[The Sandcat]

Re: Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

I'm quite sure there is single cell life on Mars.The moons of Saturn and Jupiter have a few good candidates.I think life there will be based on the same chemistry as here.
If mankind has the will to send probes there that really can find something is questionable.A probe on Mars would have to dig several metres deep in an area where there is groundwater.And preferably send samples back here.

 

[jmervyn]

Re: Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

Did anyone else think of The Andromeda Strain after reading this?

 

[TheOgreMan]

Re: Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

There is evidence that microorganisms on Mars are spewing out tons of methane and other gases. I have a paper on that somewhere, I'll try to find it.

It's likely that there is other life in our system and beyond. We just need to find it and then find a way to abuse it. We always do.

 

[lAmebAdger]

Re: Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

by evidence do you mean 'concrete proof' or just 'supporting material'?

it may also be likely that there is intelligent life somewhere...

 

[TheOgreMan]

Re: Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

It's evidence. Getting samples from Mars, culturing them, and being sure there are no contaminations is a tough chore.

I believe it has something to do with methane emissions and the fact that they typically require some kind of organism to create. I'll look for the source.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/01/15/mars.methane/index.html

It's CNN but it's something.

 

[Garbad_the_Weak]

Re: Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

http://www.usnews.com/articles/science/space-and-time/2009/01/15/mars-methane-geology-or-biology.html

Its not conclusive evidence by any stretch.

 

[Ash Housewares]

Re: Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

Did anyone else think of The Andromeda Strain after reading this?

yes .

 

[The Sandcat]

Re: Indian Space Research Organization discovers life that doesn't exist on Earth!

Did anyone else think of The Andromeda Strain after reading this?

Well, no.A lethal virus from space is too far fetched. We have worse things here already.Imagine Ebola hitting a major city,Smallpox escaping from some secret lab, or just a virulent Flu strain like the one that killed a few million 80 years ago.And all those superbugs that are resistant against all antibiotics.

And no, I don't think we are going to mess up another planet anytime soon. It is just too difficult and expensive to go there.Maybe a small station on Mars in 50 years time.If we haven't killed ouselves by then.

As far as methane goes, The gas planets all have methane in their atmosphere, and it was not made by any life forms there.So methane is not a good indicator for life .