Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Science
  4. / Physical Sciences
  5. / Space And Astronomy
  6. / Cosmology

by Terminatorex on May 1st, 2008

Terminatorex

Question

Help answer this question below.

Why is life on other worlds always presumed to be carbon based--maybe silicon? Why is H2O and oxygen seemingly must haves for any life form? In all the Billions of places life could have emerged-why must it be sosimilar in biological function as Earthlife

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. 3 helpful answers below.

  • by SuperNova on May 1st, 2008

    SuperNova

    I have wondered the same thing but i do think that people tend to stick closer to things they are familiar and comfortable. For example, we assume that the life out there must be carbon based because we are, even though we say we're not the center of the universe, we think we are. Now i'm not saying it's a bad thing, but it does limit our imagination no?

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Eaoden on August 28th, 2009

    Eaoden

    I tend to lean more towards the Idea of Carbon-based lifeforms because Silicon has been found to currently be unable to bond and become complex cells as of yet I think that we should consider silicon life as possible however since according to what I've read up the cosmic abundance of Carbon to silicon is roughly 10-1 but thats still 1/10 of a chance for Silicon based life so theres still a chance of even primitive or microbial life.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Steel Fire on March 27th, 2009

    Steel Fire

    My thinking is just on stats and knowledge. The fact that carbon bonds so well with other elements makes it the likely choice. Silicon, while better then most other elements at bonding with other elements is still not as broad as carbon. This bends chance in the favor of carbon. And as far as H2O and oxygen being part of life, I think its because every thing (to my knowledge) on earth needs oxygen and water, or carbon dioxide to live. We just don't have any other examples to look at. So we just stick with that instead of trying to come up with something new.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Why is life on other worlds always presumed to be carbon based--maybe silicon? Why is H2O and oxygen seemingly must haves for any life form? In all the Billions of places life could have emerged-why must it be sosimilar in biological function as Earthlife

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Balanced chemical equation carbon based life
How carbon based becomes life
In biological cells that have a plentiful supply of o2 glucose is oxidized
In biological cells that have a plentiful
Carbon h2o based life

Answerbag

a Demand Media company