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Did Life Come from Another World?(Long Read)
Scientific American ^ | October 24, 2005 | By David Warmflash and Benjamin Weiss

Posted on 11/04/2005 11:15:37 PM PST by tbird5

Most scientists have long assumed that life on Earth is a homegrown phenomenon. According to the conventional hypothesis, the earliest living cells emerged as a result of chemical evolution on our planet billions of years ago in a process called abiogenesis. The alternative possibility--that living cells or their precursors arrived from space--strikes many people as science fiction. Developments over the past decade, however, have given new credibility to the idea that Earth's biosphere could have arisen from an extraterrestrial seed.

Planetary scientists have learned that early in its history our solar system could have included many worlds with liquid water, the essential ingredient for life as we know it. Recent data from NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers corroborate previous suspicions that water has at least intermittently flowed on the Red Planet in the past. It is not unreasonable to hypothesize that life existed on Mars long ago and perhaps continues there. Life may have also evolved on Europa, Jupiter's fourth-largest moon, which appears to possess liquid water under its icy surface. Saturn's biggest satellite, Titan, is rich in organic compounds; given the moon's frigid temperatures, it would be highly surprising to find living forms there, but they cannot be ruled out. Life may have even gained a toehold on torrid Venus. The Venusian surface is probably too hot and under too much atmospheric pressure to be habitable, but the planet could conceivably support microbial life high in its atmosphere. And, most likely, the surface conditions on Venus were not always so harsh. Venus may have once been similar to early Earth.

(Excerpt) Read more at sciam.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: abiogenesis; biogenesis; earlyearth; originoflife; origins
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1 posted on 11/04/2005 11:15:38 PM PST by tbird5
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To: tbird5
Some of those aliens are tough. The creature in Alien was quite hard to kill, IIRC.
2 posted on 11/04/2005 11:34:59 PM PST by Neanderthal
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To: tbird5
Hey. Wait a minute. I thought evolution from primordial ooze was "proven by science" and "an indisputable fact". Now "science" is saying we're from heaven????
This post is Darwinist blasphemy!!! Off with your head, infidel!
3 posted on 11/04/2005 11:37:04 PM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal.")
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To: concerned about politics

We aren't from Heaven. We are from L. Ron Hubbard's alien planet.

Not of this Earth but not "holy".


4 posted on 11/04/2005 11:40:34 PM PST by weegee (To understand the left is to rationalize how abortion can be a birthright.)
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To: tbird5

Can't wait for this leap of faith to be taught as "evolution" in schools.


5 posted on 11/04/2005 11:41:33 PM PST by weegee (To understand the left is to rationalize how abortion can be a birthright.)
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To: concerned about politics

Francis Crick, nobel prize winner and co-discover of DNA figured DNA was too complex to have "just happened". He thought it could be from aliens - engineered and sent out to "seed" the Universe ("Panspermia").


6 posted on 11/04/2005 11:43:12 PM PST by geopyg (I BELIEVE CONGRESSMAN WELDON! (Ever Vigilant, Never Fearful))
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To: geopyg

Ancient mythology suggests that the 'aliens' sent themselves out and seeded homo erectus with their dna, considerably shortening the millions of years that it would have otherwise taken for homo sapiens to evolve. (Sitchin -- "Earth Chronicles).


7 posted on 11/04/2005 11:51:09 PM PST by Eastbound
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To: geopyg
Francis Crick, nobel prize winner and co-discover of DNA figured DNA was too complex to have "just happened". He thought it could be from aliens - engineered and sent out to "seed" the Universe ("Panspermia").

Actually, the Bible never says what type of life form God is or what the angels or demons are. They just are, and they're from the heavens. They created us, but the Bible doesn't give us in depth details about how they did that either. All we know about our creator is what he and his angles want of us and what they can do.
In the book of Ezekiel, the angles are seen standing around a wheel within a wheel, and that "flaming chariot" didn't know which way it went (It had no face or eyes like a horse and chariot). It was also a silver color, burl (sp).

8 posted on 11/04/2005 11:58:56 PM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal.")
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To: tbird5

Life was intelligently designed.


9 posted on 11/05/2005 12:00:11 AM PST by 1stMarylandRegiment (Conserve Liberty)
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To: Eastbound
Ancient mythology suggests that the 'aliens' sent themselves out and seeded homo erectus with their dna, considerably shortening the millions of years that it would have otherwise taken for homo sapiens to evolve.

That would explain the quantum leap from an animal DNA to man DNA. Also, the sudden change of the spinal column/skull between "cave man" and modern man from that of an ape to something closer to a bear.
I believe in the Bible because of the eternal wisdom found in it. Humans aren't that wise, but as far as the creation details, I guess that's suppose to be a human curiosity.

10 posted on 11/05/2005 12:12:03 AM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal.")
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To: 1stMarylandRegiment
Life was intelligently designed.

I agree.

11 posted on 11/05/2005 12:12:59 AM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal.")
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To: concerned about politics

John 4:24 "God is spirit,..."

Agreed on some of the visions of angels and demons though! Sounds a lot like UFOs. Although their are some today that claim that UFOs aren't aliens - but angels and demons!

Can't say as I've never seen one - yet. Although I spent two weeks of nights working alone outside on an abandoned Air Force base in the Mohave Desert. Lots of quiet down time to stare and the stars. I kind of figured if I was ever going to see one - that would have been it!


12 posted on 11/05/2005 12:18:27 AM PST by geopyg (I BELIEVE CONGRESSMAN WELDON! (Ever Vigilant, Never Fearful))
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To: concerned about politics

It would also suggest why the mental/emotional state of modern man seems to be far removed from his rational/logical side. It would also explain why the democrats are still behind the curve, still trying to catch up. I suppose it would be akin to be suffering from jet-lag. ;)


13 posted on 11/05/2005 12:28:14 AM PST by Eastbound
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To: geopyg

Do you really believe in angels and demons? Just curious cause 10 years of sunday catholic school and they weren't ever brought up. 99.9 percent of it was about how much jesus loves you, and you should love him and everyone else. I guess they really avoid the polytheistic roots of Catholism, no doubt dating back to the conversion of Rome.


14 posted on 11/05/2005 12:31:04 AM PST by RHINO369
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To: RHINO369

"...99.9 percent of it was about how much Jesus loves you, and you should love Him and everyone else...."

I think that percentage is a BIT high - but not too far off!! (And yes I do believe in angels and demons, heaven and hell, etc.)


15 posted on 11/05/2005 12:40:56 AM PST by geopyg (I BELIEVE CONGRESSMAN WELDON! (Ever Vigilant, Never Fearful))
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To: concerned about politics
Hey. Wait a minute. I thought evolution from primordial ooze was "proven by science" and "an indisputable fact". Now "science" is saying we're from heaven???? This post is Darwinist blasphemy!!! Off with your head, infidel!

Nice straw man argument. Love the sarcasm too. /sarcasm off
16 posted on 11/05/2005 12:43:32 AM PST by Mongeaux
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To: tbird5

Where did the alien life come from?


17 posted on 11/05/2005 12:48:57 AM PST by TASMANIANRED (Conservatives are from earth. Liberals are from Uranus.)
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To: PatrickHenry

ping


18 posted on 11/05/2005 12:52:16 AM PST by Drammach (Freedom; not just a job, it's an adventure..)
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To: tbird5

What about Kolob?


19 posted on 11/05/2005 1:07:56 AM PST by anthraciterabbit
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To: geopyg
Francis Crick, nobel prize winner and co-discover of DNA figured DNA was too complex to have "just happened".

Yes he did. But if DNA was too complex to have "just happened on earth over 1 billion years, should it not also be to complex to happen somewhere else and be shipped here over trillions of miles too ?

Before the ID/creationist start celebrating. If DNA was too complex to have just happened, then is an intelligent/all knowing/ omnipresent god too complex to have just happened.

Any way you slice it, Dr. Crick's hypothesis will lead you into trouble.

20 posted on 11/05/2005 1:10:28 AM PST by staytrue
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