To LUGNET HomepageTo LUGNET News HomepageTo LUGNET Guide Homepage
 Help on Searching
 
Post new message to lugnet.spaceOpen lugnet.space in your NNTP NewsreaderTo LUGNET News Traffic PageSign In (Members)
 Space / 24812
24811  |  24813
Subject: 
Re: An interesting Sci-fi idea
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.space
Date: 
Fri, 13 Jun 2003 00:49:10 GMT
Viewed: 
826 times
  
In lugnet.space, Leonard Hoffman wrote:
  
   More than that, we’re assuming the base of any and all life is molecular. As there are an infinite number of possible molecules, logically there are an infinite number of lifeforms. That also assumes all life is molecular. What about energy based lifeforms, or something we have not yet discovered?

This theory only applies to organic lifeforms (ie, carbon based ones).

Are you sure all organic lifeforms are carbon based. That is a pretty big assumption. Sure it holds true on earth (at least as far as we have explored) but what about other planets? Also, you did not comment on my previous statement:
  
   As there are an infinite number of possible molecules, logically there are an infinite number of lifeforms.

   well, you have to accept the limitations of the laws of physics. that certainly lowers the number of possibilities to a finite amount.

I disagree but whatever.
  
-lenny

-Mike Petrucelli





Message has 4 Replies:
  Re: An interesting Sci-fi idea
 
In lugnet.space, Mike Petrucelli wrote: snip (...) snip (...) I believe that there is some decent speculation, if not actual study of the possibilities of silicon and other metalloid elements (boron maybe?) In Star Trek, Vulcans have green blood (...) (21 years ago, 13-Jun-03, to lugnet.space, FTX)
  Re: An interesting Sci-fi idea
 
(...) Seeing how organic can refer to carbon, no it is not a big assumption at all. Also, we have plenty of examples on earth to draw on, and I don't believe there are any which are not organic in nature (IE, carbon based). Even drawing from (...) (21 years ago, 13-Jun-03, to lugnet.space, FTX)
  Re: An interesting Sci-fi idea
 
XFUT to lugnet.off-topic.debate (...) Well, like it was mentioned before: "organic" means "carbon based." And no, I'm not 100% sure that all life is carbon based, but seeing as there is no evidence whatsoever of any other type of life, then, using (...) (21 years ago, 13-Jun-03, to lugnet.space, FTX)
  Re: An interesting Sci-fi idea
 
(...) Yes, why isn't anyone speculating on this? Let's explain Star Trek's Q in these terms- you can't. Life may not always be molecular. Scientists have constrained the definition of life because they (so far) have only needed to explain it in (...) (21 years ago, 13-Jun-03, to lugnet.space, FTX)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: An interesting Sci-fi idea
 
(...) This theory only applies to organic lifeforms (ie, carbon based ones). To expand it into energy based lifeforms, or even non-organic lifeforms requires a philosophical definition of life, which is difficult at best. Either way, they would fall (...) (21 years ago, 13-Jun-03, to lugnet.space, FTX)

24 Messages in This Thread:











Entire Thread on One Page:
Nested:  All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:  All | Brief | Compact

This Message and its Replies on One Page:
Nested:  All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:  All | Brief | Compact
    

Custom Search

©2005 LUGNET. All rights reserved. - hosted by steinbruch.info GbR