DailyDirt: What Is This Thing Called Life?

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Finding life elsewhere in the universe would be a remarkable event. But obviously, we haven't had much luck so far. Still, there are plenty of folks trying to look at the universe as half-full (instead of mostly empty?). Here are just a few quick links that support the optimistic view that we're not alone.

• Astrophysicists have run some simulations that indicate that Earth-like planets without a moon might still harbor conditions suitable for life as we know it. Previously, astrobiologists assumed that ETs would need to live on a planet that had a moon like ours... but what do astrobiologists know, eh? [url]
• Other computer models suggest that life might exist on moons of gas giant planets. Simulations like these should probably include an enormous grain of salt, though... [url]
• The tardigrade, aka the water bear, is an interesting little creature and one of the few animals proven to be able to survive exposure to the vacuum of space. Tardigrades are called the "hardiest animal on earth" because they can exist for months in an anhydrobiotic state. [url]
• To discover more interesting biological curiosities, check out what's currently floating around the StumbleUpon universe. [url]  

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

Filed Under: astrobiologists, biology, extraterrestrial life, physicists, tardigrade