Comments on: Water Water, Everywhere http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/03/02/water-water-everywhere/ Science, Environment, and Nature in the SF Bay Area Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:20:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Ben Burress http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/03/02/water-water-everywhere/comment-page-1/#comment-298 Ben Burress Tue, 06 Mar 2007 23:49:56 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/03/02/water-water-everywhere/#comment-298 I don't think we can't say what life under Europa's icy crust might be like, if it exists at all. It would be life that not only thrives in the absolutely dark, watery environment of Europa's ocean, but would probably have originated and evolved in that alien environment as well. It might be single-celled organisms or more complex, multicellural life forms. Given the vast range of different forms that life has evolved into just on Earth, from a commmon heritage, and the possibly very different and completely separate environments that might exist on Europa, the possibilities are uncountable! Personally, though, I like to think of some kind of jellyfish drifting on Europan ocean currents, and crab- and sea-star-like critters crawling around on the deep ocean floor.... I don't think we can't say what life under Europa's icy crust might be like, if it exists at all. It would be life that not only thrives in the absolutely dark, watery environment of Europa's ocean, but would probably have originated and evolved in that alien environment as well. It might be single-celled organisms or more complex, multicellural life forms. Given the vast range of different forms that life has evolved into just on Earth, from a commmon heritage, and the possibly very different and completely separate environments that might exist on Europa, the possibilities are uncountable! Personally, though, I like to think of some kind of jellyfish drifting on Europan ocean currents, and crab- and sea-star-like critters crawling around on the deep ocean floor….

]]> By: Ben Burress http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/03/02/water-water-everywhere/comment-page-1/#comment-283 Ben Burress Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:33:19 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/03/02/water-water-everywhere/#comment-283 The reasoning behind "following the water" to search for life goes something like, "Start with what you know." We know that life on Earth requires liquid water--so we know that life is possible in environments with liquid water. Also, knowing about the characteristics of water-thriving life on Earth, we have some basis for understanding on what exactly to look for--or a better chance of being able to recognize life in other watery environments. It's not that scientists don't think that life can't arise in fundamentally different environments--but, if you're going to search for a needle in a haystack, it helps a great deal if you know what a needle looks like.... The reasoning behind "following the water" to search for life goes something like, "Start with what you know." We know that life on Earth requires liquid water–so we know that life is possible in environments with liquid water. Also, knowing about the characteristics of water-thriving life on Earth, we have some basis for understanding on what exactly to look for–or a better chance of being able to recognize life in other watery environments. It's not that scientists don't think that life can't arise in fundamentally different environments–but, if you're going to search for a needle in a haystack, it helps a great deal if you know what a needle looks like….

]]> By: Barry Starr http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/03/02/water-water-everywhere/comment-page-1/#comment-282 Barry Starr Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:16:24 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/03/02/water-water-everywhere/#comment-282 Fascinating stuff. I was wondering why the preoccupation on water? Is there no other liquid that would serve to allow for life? What makes water so special and necessary? Also, any thoughts on what Europa life might be like? Fascinating stuff. I was wondering why the preoccupation on water? Is there no other liquid that would serve to allow for life? What makes water so special and necessary?

Also, any thoughts on what Europa life might be like?

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