Top Document: [sci.astro] ET Life (Astronomy Frequently Asked Questions) (6/9) Previous Document: F.09 Why search for extraterrestrial intelligence using radio? Why not Next Document: F.11 Could life occur on an interstellar planet? See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge Author: Joseph Lazio <jlazio@patriot.net> [A portion of this entry is based on a lecture by Alain Leger (IAS) at the SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 2000 Conference.] As far as SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, is concerned, we do not assume that other being must be based on carbon. In fact, SETI is a bit of a misnomer. We are searching for extraterrestrial *technological* intelligences, technological intelligences capable of broadcasting their existence over interstellar distances. Whether the technological civilizations is based on carbon or some other substance is largely irrelevant. (Of course, one might worry that intelligences based on some substance other than carbon might have such different perspectives on the Universe that, even if they broadcast electromagnetic radiation, they would do so in a fashion that we would never consider.) However, when one moves to finding life on other bodies in the solar system or traces of life on extrasolar planets, there is a definite carbon chauvinism in our thinking. The most commonly mentioned alternate to carbon (C) is silicon (Si). It has similar chemical properties as C, lying just below C in the periodic table of the elements. Carbon chauvinism has arisen because C is able to form quite complicated molecules, in part because its atomic structure is such that C can bond with up to four other elements. Not only can it bond with up to four other elements, but C can form multiple bonds with other elements, particularly itself. (Atoms bond by sharing electrons, when two atoms share more than one electron they have a multiple bond. For instance, water is formed by an oxygen atom sharing the two electrons from two hydrogen atoms. In contrast, there are many C compounds in which a single C atom shares multiple electrons with other atom.) A clear indication of the versatility of C is found in interstellar chemistry. Interstellar chemistry typically occurs on the surface of microscopic dust grains contained with large clouds of gas between the stars. The physical conditions are much different than anything on the surface of a habitable planet. Nonetheless, of the molecules identified in interstellar space as of 1998, 84 are based on C and 8 are based on Si. Moreover of the eight Si-based compounds, 4 also include C. Thus, while there is definitely a C bias in our thinking, there is at least some evidence from Nature supporting this bias. User Contributions:Top Document: [sci.astro] ET Life (Astronomy Frequently Asked Questions) (6/9) Previous Document: F.09 Why search for extraterrestrial intelligence using radio? Why not Next Document: F.11 Could life occur on an interstellar planet? Part0 - Part1 - Part2 - Part3 - Part4 - Part5 - Part6 - Part7 - Part8 - Single Page [ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ] Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: jlazio@patriot.net
Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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