• Philae detects organic molecules on comet surface
    46 replies, posted
Carbon is the 4th most abundant element in the universe. To me this isn't really a huge find
Is it bad that I was expecting the Badage Boys?
[QUOTE=kidwithsword;46522079]Is it bad that I was expecting the Badage Boys?[/QUOTE] Yes, badage boys hasn't been posted in years.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;46521220]That's an ion.[/QUOTE] Ions are still molecules
We'll just have to wait until what type of organic molecule it is, like people have said if its something as complex as amino acids. That's huge.
[QUOTE=Bradyns;46521215]This is an amazing find. Panspermia advocates would be going nuts over this news.[/QUOTE] Not really that much though. Molecules are a long way from spores or unicellular organisms.
[QUOTE=Instant Mix;46521051]going to remain skeptical as it could be contamination from the lander itself[/QUOTE][QUOTE=SebiWarrior;46521099]I believe the scientists would be able to tell.[/QUOTE] No, not really. Contamination is a huge problem that we haven't really solved yet, we've reduced it down to what is best summed up as, "well it probably won't be an issue but if you happen to find amoebas on the surface of the moon don't be surprised, they're actually from our bolt factory in Alabama." This is a little different though, an amoeba is an actual organism with little inside bits and it wiggles around and eats other single-cell organisms. They're describing what is most likely the simple molecules that are required for organic life to even happen, example being certain nitrides, versus... I don't know, feldspar or some random fucking mineral. [editline]18th November 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=MatheusMCardoso;46523359]Not really that much though. Molecules are a long way from spores or unicellular organisms.[/QUOTE]Normally I'd agree with you, but this is all limited to what we can see which is basically limited to our own street. We're not even in the whole "neighborhood" aspect yet, we've barely left the house. Conditions for life could be unbelievably rare in the greater galaxy, which is but a speck in the entire universe. We might be so goddamn lucky, and we think "oh, life could happen anywhere," when we're inspecting the shit that's around our life-filled house and the shit that's fallen off of it over the past couple billion years of violent comet and asteroid impacts. Life may not be able to happen anywhere, it might not be able to happen anywhere [i]but[/i] here.
Panspermia; Galactic jizz.
[QUOTE=Instant Mix;46521051]What is defined as a molecule? going to remain skeptical as it could be contamination from the lander itself[/QUOTE] Ever see them assembling these things? It's surgical.
[QUOTE=Kyle902;46521604]No. We just found "organic" molecules which, if I'm understanding this correctly simply means they have carbon in them[/QUOTE] Depends what they reveal. An amino acid would be pretty amazing.
[QUOTE=Trebgarta;46521208]Isnt NH4+ a molecule though? Or does it have another name?[/QUOTE] Yes it is a molecule, but it's an ion which covers the fact it isn't electrically neutral. An ion is an atom or molecule where there are more or less electrons than protons, causing it to either be positively or negatively charged.
[QUOTE=Kyle902;46523239]Yes, badage boys hasn't been posted in years.[/QUOTE] More like 3 weeks ago
They could have found CO2 for all we know. This isn't a major find.
[QUOTE=Pantz Master;46529881]They could have found CO2 for all we know. This isn't a major find.[/QUOTE] Except CO2 is considered inorganic.
[QUOTE=Instant Mix;46521051]What is defined as a molecule? going to remain skeptical as it could be contamination from the lander itself[/QUOTE] an organic molecule in general terms, is any group of chemically bonded atoms bonded to a carbon atom or carbon-carbon chain, specifically they have to be covalently bonded [editline]19th November 2014[/editline] if they found simple organic molecules like ethanes and such, its not a big deal, just shows that organic chemistry CAN occur in even the very low-energy coldness of space, if they find amino acids however, itd be a big check for the panspermia theory
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