SETI spends enormous amounts of money and resources looking for life outside of Earth's realm, but life forms so alien that scientists may simply not have recognized evidence of their existence could inhabit the Earth, according to a leading scientist.
Dr Tom Gold, emeritus professor of astronomy at Cornell University in America, believes that organisms based on silicon - completely unrelated to all the carbon-based life man has encountered so far - may live at great depths.
Read Full Article Here:
Intraterrestrial Aliens
*
Full Version: Intraterrestrial Aliens
Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums > Unexplained Mysteries > Extraterrestrial Life & The UFO Phenomenon
Silicon-based life has been hypothesized for years now. I don't see why it's not plausible, but it would still have to follow some of the basic principles of being "alive." Metabolizing, excreting waste, that sort of thing. Those processes should be detectable, no matter what element the creatures are made up of.
Color me confused.
Your link is dated a few days ago. Thomas Gold died two years ago.
QUOTE
Dr Tom Gold, emeritus professor of astronomy at Cornell University in America, believes that organisms based on silicon - completely unrelated to all the carbon-based life man has encountered so far - may live at great depths.
In a forthcoming book he will suggest that scientists should take the possibility more seriously. Gold, who is a member of the Royal Society, previously predicted that vast amounts of more conventional bacteria live miles down within the Earth's crust. Scientists initially dismissed the idea, but many now agree with him.
"So long as nobody suspects there could be silicon-based life, we may just not be clever enough to identify it,"he said last week.
In a forthcoming book he will suggest that scientists should take the possibility more seriously. Gold, who is a member of the Royal Society, previously predicted that vast amounts of more conventional bacteria live miles down within the Earth's crust. Scientists initially dismissed the idea, but many now agree with him.
"So long as nobody suspects there could be silicon-based life, we may just not be clever enough to identify it,"he said last week.
Your link is dated a few days ago. Thomas Gold died two years ago.
If I recall, he was big on abiogenic oil, too. Wish it were true...
And, another thing. Infrared astronomy has indicated the possibility of large quantities of carbon based chemistry throughout galaxies like ours. The same goes for radio astronomy. And, there is less silicon in the stars and nebulae.
Silicon may settle up to the top of the crust of a young planet, and form compounds which interact with carbon compounds, the backbone of our life. That may happen. But, overall, silicon molecules are puny. Carbon compounds can get very complex and large. The Milky Way seems awash in the stuff. Hydrogen, carbon, and hydrocarbons, especially.
(Do aliens pass a brick when they get upset?
)
And, another thing. Infrared astronomy has indicated the possibility of large quantities of carbon based chemistry throughout galaxies like ours. The same goes for radio astronomy. And, there is less silicon in the stars and nebulae.
Silicon may settle up to the top of the crust of a young planet, and form compounds which interact with carbon compounds, the backbone of our life. That may happen. But, overall, silicon molecules are puny. Carbon compounds can get very complex and large. The Milky Way seems awash in the stuff. Hydrogen, carbon, and hydrocarbons, especially.
(Do aliens pass a brick when they get upset?
)QUOTE(shun @ Aug 28 2006, 12:29 PM) [snapback]1325365[/snapback]
If I recall, he was big on abiogenic oil, too. Wish it were true...
And, another thing. Infrared astronomy has indicated the possibility of large quantities of carbon based chemistry throughout galaxies like ours. The same goes for radio astronomy. And, there is less silicon in the stars and nebulae.
Silicon may settle up to the top of the crust of a young planet, and form compounds which interact with carbon compounds, the backbone of our life. That may happen. But, overall, silicon molecules are puny. Carbon compounds can get very complex and large. The Milky Way seems awash in the stuff. Hydrogen, carbon, and hydrocarbons, especially.
(Do aliens pass a brick when they get upset?
)Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I still like the idea of sentient rocks.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.