[design219]

NASA - NASA Sets News Conference on Astrobiology Discovery; Science Journal Has Embargoed Details Until 2 p.m. EST On Dec. 2

This could be interesting. I'll predict they've found some sort of evidence on Mars.

... a fossil would be cool.

[osiris]

This should be an interesting conference, I hope for fossils.

But I hope it's not a rehash of the recent Cassini oxygen finding on Rhea:

Rhea's Oxygen Atmosphere

[Doc HM]

Apparently it's the discovery of microbes that can survive in Arsenic. UK press blows through nasa press embargo.

Astrobiology findings: 'Alien' bacteria that lives on arsenic found in Californian lake opens up search for life on other planets | Mail Online

[Doofy]

I always knew that California was a different planet.

[osiris]

Similar microbes have been in use since the late 90's to extract gold. These suckers can handle cyanide.
Poison-Eating Bugs Strike Gold

Unless microbes like these were found on an extraterrestrial body...

[SpaceMonkey]

News conference to be moderated by Morbo.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by osiris 

Similar microbes have been in use since the late 90's to extract gold. These suckers can handle cyanide.
Poison-Eating Bugs Strike Gold

Unless microbes like these were found on an extraterrestrial body...

Not quite the same, I dont think. There are microbes that thrive on arsenic or cyanide, but they don't incorporate it into their body. Here's a cool article on it:

Could the Mono Lake arsenic prove there is a shadow biosphere? - Times Online

[imitchellg5]

ET finally phoned home?

[Laminar]

Will the Apple Store go down for this?

[imitchellg5]

Probably.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

Not quite the same, I dont think. There are microbes that thrive on arsenic or cyanide, but they don't incorporate it into their body. Here's a cool article on it:

Could the Mono Lake arsenic prove there is a shadow biosphere? - Times Online

Yes, now I appreciate the difference. It's interesting that Dr Wolfe-Simon mentioned that the results of her work would be ready at the end of the year. It's now the end of the year - and Dr Wolfe-Simon is listed as one of the participants in today's NASA announcement.

I love her answer to the big question: “I don’t know how there could not be extraterrestrial life”

[Rumor]

Instead of phosphorous in the bacterias DNA, it contains arsenic in its place.

[Warren Pease]

Makes sense, As is in the same column as P in the periodic table. Suitable substitution.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Originally Posted by Warren Pease 

Makes sense, As is in the same column as P in the periodic table. Suitable substitution.

My extensive background in chemistry makes me feel this statement should be true for all possible chemical mixtures

[Warren Pease]

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton 

My extensive background in chemistry makes me feel this statement should be true for all possible chemical mixtures

To some extent it's true. Elements in columns share the same affinity for bonding, but each element gets larger as you go down the column, making the physical fit of larger elements into some molecular structures difficult.

As I understand it.

[olePigeon]

Hehehe.


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According to a new paper published in the journal Science, reporters are unable to thrive in an arsenic-rich environment.

[Spheric Harlot]