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life found outside earth?

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Deutha
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13 Dec 2006, 8:34 am

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 212855.htm

says organic material....as in pertaining to or having derived from living organisms wouldnt that be?



Prof_Pretorius
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13 Dec 2006, 9:30 am

Most probably they mean some sort of algae or bacteria that could exist in these conditions. Yes, it's technically "life", but it's akin to the stuff we see deep in the ocean that's more muck than life.


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13 Dec 2006, 10:26 am

This gets a little confusing, because the technical meaning of the term "organic" is different from it's ordinary, everyday meaning. When a chemist uses the term "organic," it refers to carbon based molecules. Living things are built around carbon compounds, but they also occur in non-living systems, like the methane mentioned in the article.

Unfortunately, I don't think reality will be able to top Kurt Vonnegut. That book was great.


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