Confirmation of NASA findings of “life, but not as we know it” on Earth
http://www.dearastronomer.com/
NASA has announced during a press conference today an organism that incorporates arsenic instead of phosphorus in it’s bio-chemistry.
What makes this interesting, is due to the fact that Arsenic is chemically similar to phosphorus, yet extremely toxic to life on Earth. This microbe not only tolerates arsenic, but thrives. The microbe essentially uses arsenic in the same manner all other life on earth uses phosphorus.
According to NASA researcher Felisa Wolfe-Simon, the discovery makes a profound change in how we view life, and the possibility of life in other environments, even other worlds. Wolf-Simon also stated :
“We’ve cracked open the door to what’s possible for life elsewhere in the universe”
You can read more about this discovery at: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/articles/thriving-on-arsenic/
Ray Sanders is a Sci-Fi geek, astronomer and blogger. Currently researching variable stars at Arizona State University, he writes for Universe Today, The Planetary Society blog, and his own blog, Dear Astronomer
2012-12-04 08:05:13
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