Aliens among us? ASU prof aims to find out

Aliens among us? ASU prof aims to find out

www.eastvalleytribune.com

Lurking in nuclear waste pools. Breeding in acidic lakes. Or creeping underground devoid of oxygen and light.

This may sound like a teaser for a science-fiction movie, but it is the subject of a scientific paper written by Arizona State University Professor Paul Davies that is appearing in next month's Astrobiology journal.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Why we so sure life has to be based on DNA? What if alien life does not have DNA at all. It could therefore inhabit toxic lakes, scorching deserts, or the freezing plains of the Arctic. Here is an attempt (actually the first I ever seen) to look at the problem from scientific point of view. Pay attention, it didn't came from a kind of mad professor. Respect scientific journal is going to publish his paper next month

www.eastvalleytribune.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

While I applaud any thinking outside of the box, Prof Paul Davies is looking for signs of Alien life in places we know already contain life; i.e. extremophiles.

Also, I think the good professor will be trumped by the confirmation of microbial life on Mars long before he even gets close to finding abstract life on Earth.

If the ultimate goal is to prove that Earth wasn't a fluke (as they put it), then I can't help but feel that it may turn out to be a waste of money in light of Mars.

I can only see worth in this study if they can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that life on Earth was spawned from more than one source - and that runs under the presupposition that this abstract life form wont carry DNA, thus an observable distinction.

The study will fall flat on it's face if DNA is a consistent building block or prerequisite of life throughout the galaxy/universe unless they can find an indisputable way of proving origin.

IRM

[edit on 12/3/09 by InfaRedMan]

reply to post by kirils


Do extremophiles not have DNA ?

I thought microbes have already been found in Nuclear reactors / around hot vents etc etc.

I would`nt rule out Panspermia , didn`t some microbes from Earth survive on the last mission to Mars , causing great alarm as well i might add.

There is a very interesting documentary , about extreme conditions on Earth where (early) life survived and thrived , but it is hosted on the Chinese site Sina.... so i`ll just post a link to it (as i`m not sure if i`m allowed post the video here).

These are some remarkable caves , Guadalupe Mts. New Mexico U.S.A , which would of afforded life a little protection from the tumultuous activity on the surface .
Some of the stunning photos from the caves were posted on ATS a few months back -

BBC Horizon - The Secret Life of Caves

Originally posted by InfaRedMan

The study will fall flat on it's face if DNA is a consistent building block or prerequisite of life throughout the galaxy/universe unless they can find an indisputable way of proving origin.

Yup.

It is quite worrying to know that even if the discovery of DNA on Mars is discovered, there will be a large segment of the population who will use it to substantiate an earth-origin hypothesis.

(As we would, they will use this information to further corroborate their earth origins theory and the church will likely make further alterations to the Noah's Arc story, or possibly start incorporating asteroids strikes into doctrine.)

reply to post by Exuberant1


Very true indeed! I can see it exactly as you describe it.

Some will definitely try to prove that a chunk of Earth rock seeded life on Mars. It seems logical to run such tests in order to understand how life may proliferate throughout the galaxy and to prove panspermia as a valid method.

They may also search for a common ancestry/geneology. That's all fine if there isn't an underlying agenda, religious or otherwise. Unfortunately, there's always going to be some group distorting/manipulating the facts to support an ideology.

IRM

[edit on 12/3/09 by InfaRedMan]

Scientists have long been intrigued by the possibility of finding alien life. Just last week, NASA launched the telescope, Kepler, into outer space. Kepler's mission is to find out if there are other worlds like Earth in the universe. The hope is to find life on other planets. It will last more than three years and cost about $600 million.

How is it that $600m is being spent on something that NASA and other govt agencies have been trying for years to deny or cover-up?? Especially in this economic environment. Not to mention, just 3 YEARS?? I may not be a rocket scientist, so help me if I'm wrong, but doesn't it take that long just to get to another planet in our own solar system, much less find life in others.....can someone clue me in here??