top | item 38659011

(no title)

foruhar | 2 years ago

Please say more. What was this expected and how does it support the carbon-based hypothesis?

discuss

order

bluGill|2 years ago

This supports the hypothesis that the early molecules we think are needed to get to life happen elsewhere in the universe.

There are only a few chemistries that could even support life. Carbon is the one we know the most about, and also one that we find the most evidence for getting to that complex of chemistry in the real universe. Nobody knows of course, but odds seem good if there is other life out there is it carbon based. (nobody really can know either - the universe is so far away we can't really detect details very well)

psadri|2 years ago

Hydrogen, carbon and oxygen are amongst the most common elements in the universe. So probabilistically life will be carbon based. And it will probably be first formed in water. But it would develop tools on land once opposing thumbs are formed (from climbing trees). So I think there is a high chance aliens with technology will look a lot like us.

somat|2 years ago

The trace chemicals are even more interesting. Phosphorus while only needed in small amounts has a critical role in life as we know it. Phosphorus also turns out to be extremely rare in the known universe. to the point it is noteworthy to find a star that has it.

https://www.sciencealert.com/lack-of-phosphorus-in-universe-...