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Phosphorus (P) is the reason why aliens don't exist
Posted on 4/5/18 at 10:50 pm
Posted on 4/5/18 at 10:50 pm
quote:
Oftentimes the debate over whether or not we’re alone in the universe boils down to a simple question: How could we be? I mean, with the incredible vastness of the universe and the countless galaxies, stars, planets and moons out there, it seems like assuming we’re the only ones here would be pretty naive, right?
Unfortunately for those who would use this point to debate in favor of extraterrestrial life, not all worlds are created equal and new research suggests that one of the elements crucial to life as we know it might be incredibly rare.
The element in question is phosphorus (P). It’s a vital part of a compound that allows cells to manage energy and without it, we simply wouldn’t exist. Now, astronomers from Cardiff University are suggesting that a lack of phosphorus might be what ultimately hinders our hopes of finding alien life, leaving even the most ideal planet candidates without the necessary ingredients for life to exist.
“Astronomers have just started to pay attention to the cosmic origins of phosphorus and found quite a few surprises,” Cardiff University’s Dr. Jane Greaves explains. “In particular, P is created in supernovae — the explosions of massive stars — but the amounts seen so far don’t match our computer models. I wondered what the implications were for life on other planets if unpredictable amounts of P are spat out into space and later used in the construction of new planets.”
The astronomers studied the Crab Nebula, which is what remains of a supernova explosion, to determine how much phosphorus and iron was present there. Unfortunately, the amount of phosphorus detected was a lot less than in previous observations of another supernova remnant, meaning that the amount of the crucial element produced by a supernova could vary widely. For a planet to gather enough phosphorus to support life might require even more luck than scientists had already assumed.
The chances of life on other planets just got smaller
Posted on 4/5/18 at 10:53 pm to Street Hawk
quote:
with the incredible vastness of the universe and the countless galaxies, stars, planets and moons out there, it seems like assuming we’re the only ones here would be pretty naive, right?
Wouldn't it be naive to suggest phosphorus doesn't exist when we have limited hands on space experience of everything?
Posted on 4/5/18 at 10:53 pm to Street Hawk
quote:
if unpredictable amounts of P are spat out
Kinky!!
Seriously though... interesting post! Thanks
Posted on 4/5/18 at 10:53 pm to Street Hawk
That assumes other life forms are based on the same biology as ours.
Posted on 4/5/18 at 10:54 pm to Street Hawk
quote:
the chances of life on other planets just got smaller
Nah. We just became better at assessing that chance.
Posted on 4/5/18 at 10:54 pm to Street Hawk
Idk if we'll ever find it, but there is other life out there somewhere. How could we be the only living organisms in the universe (and beyond)?
Posted on 4/5/18 at 10:55 pm to momentoftruth87
Wouldn’t other lifeforms be able to exist without phosphorus? Lifeforms as we know them may not but that’s not really the point. Obviously I cannot be more logical than astronomers so color me lost
Posted on 4/5/18 at 11:10 pm to Jim Rockford
quote:
That assumes other life forms are based on the same biology as ours.
Star Trek silicone-based rock things for the win!
Posted on 4/5/18 at 11:13 pm to Street Hawk
some of us already understand aliens don't exist.
Posted on 4/5/18 at 11:33 pm to Street Hawk
First response of this thread is a great point. I also like the ending quote. Maybe because we didn't just explode out of a supernova and get lucky extra phosphorus .. maybe because of an intelligent creator.
Posted on 4/6/18 at 5:53 am to Tigers0891
It's takes more faith to believe that life and the universe was all by chance than to believe something out there created all this.
This post was edited on 4/6/18 at 5:54 am
Posted on 4/6/18 at 5:59 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
That assumes other life forms are based on the same biology as ours
Right here.
Posted on 4/6/18 at 5:59 am to Street Hawk
Why so many down votes for science?
Posted on 4/6/18 at 6:45 am to Street Hawk
quote:
Cardiff University’s Dr. Jane Greaves
Another educated retard
Posted on 4/6/18 at 6:45 am to Street Hawk
So you are saying the chances of life existing are much smaller? So out of the hundreds of billions of stars and galaxies, in the known universe (they think we can only see about 10% or so) we gonna come up with some reason why aliens don't exists?
Do these dumb arse scientist ever stop to think that Planet Earth is a great example of life thriving in the universe, or are most of the scientist letting their brainwashing of the religions (chrisitians) cloud their judgement? Humans haven't even been the dominate animal of the history of Earth. Dinosaur have ruled this earth longer than you homos have. But it is so far fetched to some of them to think that other life can exists outside of Earth. Sure life isn't going to be on every planet but I"m sure when there is life on a planet, it will be just like on Earth, which is full of extremely diverse and rich history of animals/plants/life.
Also just because we need certain elements for life to survive on earth and water, doesn't mean that life on other planets need the same to survive. We have already seen animals on Earth survive with no exposure to the sunlight at all (bottom of the oceans) and other life surviving in waters 4x as hot as boiling water (shrimps living in geysers).
Do these dumb arse scientist ever stop to think that Planet Earth is a great example of life thriving in the universe, or are most of the scientist letting their brainwashing of the religions (chrisitians) cloud their judgement? Humans haven't even been the dominate animal of the history of Earth. Dinosaur have ruled this earth longer than you homos have. But it is so far fetched to some of them to think that other life can exists outside of Earth. Sure life isn't going to be on every planet but I"m sure when there is life on a planet, it will be just like on Earth, which is full of extremely diverse and rich history of animals/plants/life.
Also just because we need certain elements for life to survive on earth and water, doesn't mean that life on other planets need the same to survive. We have already seen animals on Earth survive with no exposure to the sunlight at all (bottom of the oceans) and other life surviving in waters 4x as hot as boiling water (shrimps living in geysers).
Posted on 4/6/18 at 6:53 am to DawgGONIT
Wait...Are you actually arguing that there is a conspiracy here of religion-brainwashed scientists?...What?
Posted on 4/6/18 at 6:55 am to Street Hawk
Phosphorus is incredibly important for biological energy on our planet. However that’s because everything on our planet evolved from one microorganism species billions of years ago. That organism or its descendants probably used phosphorus in the same way, which is why it survived. It took advantage of the resources around it. But in the same way, organisms on other planets could have evolved to use different chemicals for energy instead of phosphorus
Posted on 4/6/18 at 6:59 am to DawgGONIT
quote:
shrimps living in geysers
Tyrone, is that you?
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