[meteorite-list] Astrobiologists Find Stuff

[Richard Montgomery]

Michael M and List,

First, apologies to be so Sci-Fi...not the intention.  If I had a better 
rocker I'd probably be knocked off of it for remotely, even slightltly 
suggesting this, especially to this credentialed List; best a slap 
upside-the-head to get me back to reality...

Meanwhile, here goes....it falls into the X-curiousity factor of all 
equations: how can we rule out everything that hasn't already been ruled in? 
To wit: given what we know about Life-to-develop-needs-100%-water, what 
don't we know?  Is our silly-human insignificance bound only by what we 
currently know and entertain as possibilities?

This is NOT an endoresment for rice-paddy science; nor a support for the 
previous thread.  I've just always wondered why we assume that all elemental 
progressions are known.

Big stew out there! I really would like to hear from you 
heavy-weights...it'll rest better when I read.

Sincerely, and good thing I'm not a B-movie producer,
Richard Montgomery


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Mulgrew" <mikestang at gmail.com>
To: "Mark Ford" <mark.ford at southernscientific.co.uk>; "Meteorite List" 
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 9:28 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Astrobiologists Find Ancient 
FossilsinFireballFragments


> Considering our current understanding of what it takes for life to
> develop, i.e. water is 100% absolutely necessary, I would say the
> recent evidence of Mars' wet past increases the chances of
> extraterrestrial life discovery by much, much more than "a tiny tiny
> amount".
>
> Michael in so. Cal.
>
> On Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 9:03 AM, Mark Ford
> <mark.ford at southernscientific.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> Sure and I don't deny finding water or evidence of it is very exciting, 
>> but what I question, is 'the building blocks of life claim'. This is pure 
>> hype. Sure water and amino acids are essential for life, but I would 
>> question exactly how certain life is to evolve when water alone is 
>> present. The answer is it's massively more complex than just having 
>> flowing water. So finding water does not immediately mean there is any 
>> life. From some of the recent press and Nasa coverage, you would get the 
>> impression that finding water on Mars automatically means the hunt for 
>> extraterrestrial life is nearly over, but the truth is very far from it! 
>> It just makes it a tiny tiny amount more likely..
>>
>> Mark
> ______________________________________________
>
> Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>