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You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Nasa schedules news conference on Astrobiology discovery... hmmm

Nasa schedules news conference on Astrobiology discovery... hmmm
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design219
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Dec 1, 2010, 08:14 AM
 
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.
__________________________________________________

My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
     
osiris
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Dec 1, 2010, 09:47 AM
 
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
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Doc HM
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Dec 1, 2010, 10:18 AM
 
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
This space for Hire! Reasonable rates. Reach an audience of literally dozens!
     
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Dec 1, 2010, 10:28 AM
 
I always knew that California was a different planet.
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
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osiris
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Dec 1, 2010, 10:41 AM
 
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...
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Dec 1, 2010, 10:43 AM
 
News conference to be moderated by Morbo.


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olePigeon
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Dec 1, 2010, 05:14 PM
 
Originally Posted by osiris View Post
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
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imitchellg5
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Dec 1, 2010, 05:17 PM
 
ET finally phoned home?
     
Laminar
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Dec 1, 2010, 06:43 PM
 
Will the Apple Store go down for this?
     
imitchellg5
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Dec 1, 2010, 06:55 PM
 
Probably.
     
osiris
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Dec 2, 2010, 12:10 PM
 
Originally Posted by olePigeon View Post
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”
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Rumor
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Dec 2, 2010, 11:24 PM
 
Instead of phosphorous in the bacterias DNA, it contains arsenic in its place.
I like my water with hops, malt, hops, yeast, and hops.
     
Warren Pease
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Dec 3, 2010, 12:32 AM
 
Makes sense, As is in the same column as P in the periodic table. Suitable substitution.
     
ShortcutToMoncton
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Dec 3, 2010, 09:01 AM
 
Originally Posted by Warren Pease View Post
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
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Warren Pease
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Dec 3, 2010, 10:28 AM
 
Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton View Post
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
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Dec 3, 2010, 12:25 PM
 
Hehehe.


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Spheric Harlot
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Dec 3, 2010, 01:32 PM
 
     
   
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