XPost: rec.arts.sf.movies, rec.arts.sf.written   
   From: genew@telus.net   
      
   On Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:48:49 -0400, J. Clarke   
    wrote:   
      
   >On Mon, 30 Apr 2018 11:29:59 -0700, Gene Wirchenko    
   >wrote:   
   >   
   >>On Sun, 29 Apr 2018 18:57:24 -0500, Cryptoengineer   
   >> wrote:   
   >>   
   >>[snip]   
   >>   
   >>>We have limited resources for searching. We do know one type of   
   >>>environment where life can arise, and its not a rare one. Can you   
   >>>present an argument for looking elsewhere, and suggest what we   
   >>>should look for?   
   >>   
   >>     We already know about that one.   
   >>   
   >>     Thinking about how *else* life could arise can help us understand   
   >>our case.  (Just as knowing more than one language helps one   
   >>understand one's own language better.)   
   >>   
   >>     One idea of mine is to look for systems that have chemicals   
   >>converting back and forth.  (As with the oxygen - carbon dioxide cycle   
   >>in Earth's biosphere.)  This is, of course, no guarantee of life, but   
   >>it is a start.   
   >   
   >Do you know of a method that will let us tell that "chemicals are   
   >converting back and forth" at interstellar distances?   
      
        Of course not.  I am no expert in the area.  That I do not know   
   the details does not mean that the approach could not work, but the   
   devil is in the details.  If a scientist makes it work, kudos to the   
   scientist.   
      
   >>     Another is to look at the differences between how life works with   
   >>various organisms on Earth and see what else seems reasonable.  IIRC,   
   >>Earth life has some interesting kludges.  Why are they there?  If the   
   >>kludges were not there, what differences would result?   
   >>   
   >>     I am no expert in the area, and for all I know, these are already   
   >>being done, and those who know more may well be able to suggest other   
   >>ideas.   
      
   Sincerely,   
      
   Gene Wirchenko   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)