How come it appears when astronomers talk of life on other planets they seem to use Earth as the only template?
Just out of curiosity of inhabiting other planets possible spoiler alert after watching ”Martian” a week ago, it seems there is a theme going that for life to be possible on other worlds that planet has to be similar to Earth, in distance from its sun, water, if not an abundance of it, etc.
An international team of astronomers has discovered an exoplanet in the star Gliese 832’s “habitable zone” — the just-right range of distances that could allow liquid water to exist on a world’s surface. [space.com]
Eight new planets have been discovered in the ‘Goldilocks’ zone of their stars, orbiting at a distance where oceans and life could exist.
The discovery doubles the number of small planets less than twice the diameter of Earth which are believed to be in the habitable zone of their parent stars.
Among these eight, astronomers say there are two that are the most similar to Earth of any known exoplanets to date.
[http://www.dailymail.co.uk]
Who is to say that life, that if life existed on another planet they would not breathe c02, or methane, what about having a normal living temp range of 130–170 deg. F.? What makes astronomers believe life ”out there” has to adhere to the perimeters of here, being Earth?
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“What makes astronomers believe life ”out there” has to adhere to the perimeters of here, being Earth?”
Nothing. In fact, many people have hypothesized just that.
However, we know that the conditions on Earth have produced life, and in fact intelligent life, so it gives us something to begin looking for.
There are scientists that specialize in the study of extremophiles, which are microorganisms that thrive in environments that heretofore have been recognized as “unliveable” – the insides of volcanoes, or extreme pressure environments many miles underwater, or even in liquid asphalt.
The study of these extremophiles may inform the search for extraterrestrial microorganisms, as well.
It’s just a matter of time until we find life all over. We just don’t really know how to look yet. Like SEEK mentioned, we __know__ what works here so it makes sense to look for these conditions elsewhere. The fact that we have found critters living in deep oil wells tells me there are few limits to how and where life can exist. If we can design a machine to work in certain conditions the chances are good that nature can too.
To limit to only planets that are habitable for humans. To save money and trouble.
What other template is there?
Because it’s our only frame of reference. When we speak of “life as we know it”, it pretty much depends on “a planet as we know it”, too.
It is the only standard (measuring stick) they know of to compare other possibilities to. Like @stanleybmanly said: “What other template is there?”
@stanleybmanly What other template is there?
Because there may be no other template, to pigeon hole oneself into that and not explore what might seem fantastic is falling short if not borderline arrogant. If no one ever thought you could get fuel other than from the head of a whale, it might have taken whales down to the last dozen dozens before people got concerned enough to explore other ways and discovered oil.
Same same reason that SETI only looks for alien radio transmissions.
It is all they have to go on.
@Hypocrisy_Central As Seek says there are plenty of speculations on exotic life forms. There’s no need to worry about people’s failure to use their imagination. But it makes perfect sense to search out places that resemble this one if for no other reason than that things worked out here. There is the additional thought that our destruction of this place may well necessitate the need to migrate elsewhere. Of course it’s arrogant, but perfectly natural to look for places that look like home as well as creatures who look like us. Thousands of planets are going to be cataloged and investigated, and to deny priority to “earth like” planets, would seem to me rather stupid. And of course it’s going to be the earth like planets that keep interest alive and pry open the coffers for egghead funding.
It is based on the chemistry and physics we know. We know how compounds form in chemistry and how life evolved here. It is why they get excited when they find phosphate compounds in Mars soil. (I’ll try to find a link) They are looking for conditions, even extreme ones, where we currently know life- forms can exist or even remnants of conditions in the geology. There is always room for speculation, though. One of the really interesting theories is of life that has formed in crystalline form. I’ll see if I can find the link when I get home.
You get a huge Great Question from me on this one.
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