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Early Earth Atmosphere Favourable to Life

Posted by Zonk on from the built-to-breathe dept.

mathinator writes "A study by researchers at the University of Waterloo indicates that Earth in its infancy probably had substantial quantities of hydrogen in its atmosphere, a surprising finding that may alter the way many scientists think about how life began on the planet. The new study indicates that up to 40 percent of the early atmosphere was hydrogen, implying a more favourable climate for the production of pre-biotic organic compounds like amino acids, and ultimately, life. The paper was authored by doctoral student Feng Tian, Prof. Owen Toon and Research Associate Alexander Pavlov of CU-Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, and by Prof. Hans De Sterk of University of Waterloo's Applied Mathematics department. The paper was published in the April 7 issue of Science Express, the online edition of Science Magazine"

20 of 407 comments (clear)

  1. This article contains material on evolution. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered

    1. Re:This article contains material on evolution. by Bullfish · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, duh... it does contain information about evolution, it was published by a university, by scientists and their ilk. It boggles my mind that in the 21rst century, on the internet, in a place where people with a grasp of science come to dialogue, that we have to wade through crap posted by the superstitious defending their mythology. Of course, people try to argue with them from a scientific basis while they just go "no, no, non. blah, blah, blah, with their fingers in their ears.

      You want to believe, fine, believe, you want to hand out tract literature showing how unless everybody follows your beliefs that a disembodied thumb will squish you into the ground, fine, but stick to your own kind. Go on a picnic, it is a beautiful Saturn's Day outside. Bring along some books to burn so you can toast your wafers.

    2. Re:This article contains material on evolution. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Never before has a user name been so appropriate. Now to see if he repeats the behavior. BTW, how's the video of God creating the universe? Kinda grainy?

  2. Uhh REALLY??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    But then again, if it was infavorable, we wouldn't be having this very discussion, would we?

  3. In the post... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In the post 9/11 world, the atmosphere is used by terroists!

    1. Re:In the post... by GreyWolf3000 · · Score: 4, Funny

      While I regret that a new slashdot mad-lib joke has just been created, I think it would be funnier if it read, "In the post 9/11 world, the atmosphere could be used by terrorists!" It fits more with the paranoia.

      --
      Slashdot: Where people pretend to be twice as smart as they really are by behaving like children.
  4. Can you say... by jackb_guppy · · Score: 3, Funny

    DUH!

    Else would we be here.

    1. Re:Can you say... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      So, are you illiterate or just drunk? If it's the latter, how do you think your god likes that?

  5. In a post.. oh no by Eric(b0mb)Dennis · · Score: 3, Funny

    In a post 9/11 world, a study by researchers at the University of Waterloo indicates that Earth in its current condition probably had substantial quantities of hydrogen in its atmosphere, a surprising finding that may alter the way many terrorists think about how to destroy life on the planet. The new study indicates that up to 40 percent of the early atmosphere was hydrogen, implying a more favourable climate for explosive reactions, death compounds, and ultimately, the destruction of life.

    --
    Excuse me, I don't mean to impose, but I am the ocean
  6. Oil Companies by Thakandar2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The oil companies exterminated these early lifeforms because the companies didn't want hydrogen powered cars getting fuel out of the air.

    By killing these early life forms, the companies guaranteed future fossil fuels and thir grip on our present day driving habits.

  7. Who says religion polarizes people? by sqrt(2) · · Score: 5, Funny

    I love articles like this, they help me build up my friend/foe database :D

    --
    If you build it, nerds will come. Soylentnews.org
    1. Re:Who says religion polarizes people? by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Funny

      My friends list contains a couple of real arseholes.

      Hi!

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  8. CHURCH SAYS EVOLUTION IS A FACT. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Catholic church says evolution is a fact. Your "disclaimer" post is blasphemy!

    Read, you blasphemous heretic.

  9. Re:What God made, we might not fully understand by John+Seminal · · Score: 1, Funny
    Ok, I have just a little issue to take with this troll... God's story hasn't changed at all? God used to be in the clouds. Now we know what's in the clouds, so he's moved elsewhere.

    God's story has not changed, our interpretation of it has. And it is sad that you can lable someone a Troll because they believe in God.

    --

    Rosco: "If brains were gunpowder, Enos couldn't blow his nose."

  10. Re:What God made, we might not fully understand by sqrt(2) · · Score: 2, Funny

    So I guess you really weren't trying to be funny.

    --
    If you build it, nerds will come. Soylentnews.org
  11. If that's the case, then I predict... by Aphrika · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...that the atmosphere immediately before the extinction of life on this planet will not be favourable.

    Heck, we live in a window of opportunity on this planet. It started when conditions became favourable and it'll end when they become unfavourable, or we blow ourselves up... which after careful thought is pretty much the same thing.

    All things considered though, I suppose it's nice that they've found out a bit more about conditions then, but maybe the title of their study should've been a more accurate:

    Early Earth atmosphere more favourable to life than we first thought .

  12. Re:Lame troll... but I'll bite by Rams�s+Morales · · Score: 2, Funny

    Are you insane, can't you read? I quoted Einstein saying that he does not believes in god. Or are you trying to tell me that you knew Einstein better than he knew himself?

    That's the problem with creationist, they won't listen to reason, even if facts bite them in the nose.

  13. Atmosphere is a weapon of terrorist U.N. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    What you see here may shock and astound you. "Global warming" is a creation of the New World Order, which controls the weather to serve its occult, anti-civilization ends. When you see that the map of deadly storms of past years conforms greatly with the U.N. map of reserve and corridor system to prtect biodiversity, your eyes should be opened to the fact that our weather is being controlled and utilized to create the social engineering so desired by the Illuminati. The "oil for food" scandal is just the tip of the iceberg.

  14. Who needs stickers? by mattbot+5000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Who needs stickers, just mod it down. The Bible, -1 Overrated since time immemorial.

  15. I'll bet living in the transitionary period... by leonbrooks · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...when the atmosphere had lots of both H2 and O2 would have been, well, a blast.

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing