Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Neil on 05/07/2008 13:11:11

Title: What makes a planet unable to sustain life?
Post by: Neil on 05/07/2008 13:11:11

Neil asked the Naked Scientists:

Hi,

I was looking in your forums and saw a discussion on UFOs, over life in the universe etc.

It got me thinking. Why do you often hear 'experts' saying that a planet is unable to sustain life? What are they basing that on?

Are they saying that all life forms must be carbon based and assuming that, for instance, gaseous life forms simply couldn't exist somewhere?

Thanks

Neil

What do you think?

Title: What makes a planet unable to sustain life?
Post by: LeeE on 05/07/2008 15:12:30

I think it can only be assumed on the basis of "not as we know it (Jim) and there has been a lot of speculation about lifeforms based upon other elemants.  Gaseous lifeforms have been hypothesed quite plausibly in a couple of Sci-fi novels, one of the best being in Iain M. Banks 'The Algebraist'

Title: What makes a planet unable to sustain life?
Post by: RD on 05/07/2008 15:53:47

The presence liquid water seems essential for life,
so areas of the universe too hot or too cold for liquid water to exist are considered uninhabitable.

Title: What makes a planet unable to sustain life?
Post by: syhprum on 05/07/2008 17:25:48

So why are they wasting time and money searching on Mars?.

Title: What makes a planet unable to sustain life?
Post by: RD on 05/07/2008 23:44:58

Quote from: syhprum on 05/07/2008 17:25:48

So why are they wasting time and money searching on Mars?.

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/why.html

Title: What makes a planet unable to sustain life?
Post by: Alan McDougall on 06/07/2008 08:53:42

Silica based life is a far off possibilty. Maybe plasma based life living on the Sun?

Title: What makes a planet unable to sustain life?
Post by: Alan McDougall on 07/07/2008 23:50:26

 Lack of Water the stuff of life