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Titan Occupies A Solar System Sweet Spot

Posted by Zonk on from the i-had-dibs dept.

SocietyoftheFist writes "From an article on the BBC website, scientists have determined that Titan occupies a 'sweet spot' much like Earth. Venus is the same size as Earth but too hot so water boiled off long ago ending most geologic processes. Mars is too small to generate enough heat to keep water from freezing so it too slowed down geologically. Titan is much like the Earth with winds, rains and tectonic forces but instead of water it has an abundance of methane. Methane is liquid at the temperatures found in Titan's atmosphere and replaces water in the equation."

14 of 243 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm, methane by Saven+Marek · · Score: 4, Funny

    Methane hey. that could be spelled "oil"

    I say we go get rid of the terrorist on Titan.

    1. Re:Hmm, methane by ShineyMcShine · · Score: 1, Funny

      this has got to be the best first post ever...

  2. methane? by TheAdventurer · · Score: 1, Funny

    omg it's the fart planet!

    The 14 year old cherry-bomb-in-mailbox type of rascal in me demands that we light a match and drop it on Titan. BOOM. That would be neat.

    1. Re:methane? by thrillseeker · · Score: 2, Funny

      There are theoretical models which postulate that life 'not quite as we know it' could evolve in a methane based ecosystem. Ahhh - so that's where slashdot began.

    2. Re:methane? by suitepotato · · Score: 2, Funny

      Cue umpteen posts noting that there's no oxygen for the methane to combust with. Follow with posts noting the redundancy and anal nature of the preceeding posts. Follows those with posts arguing the relatively humorous nature of the posts preceeding the preceeding posts. Mix thoroughly, bake at brainstorm temperature, serves as many /.ers as bother reading.

      --
      If my grammar and spelling are off, I am [distracted/tired/careless] (take your pick)
    3. Re:methane? by e_xworm · · Score: 3, Funny

      Isn't methane a little bit too flammable? Imagine that poor titanian that first discoveres fire:
      "Hey look i have created..."
      KA-BOOM

      --
      X~
  3. Now we know... by DrEldarion · · Score: 5, Funny

    Methane? Ah ha, I've got it!

    Cows are really aliens from Titan sent to observe us. The methane they, uh, "give off" is just a little air leak in their otherwise-perfect disguises.

  4. Re:Methane! by dot.solipsist · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, no. I think the Font of Life is Comic Sans.

    --
    Sig Sig Sputnik
  5. Great! by Baloo+Ursidae · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now we have a lifeless planet full of transit bus fuel. Just have to get it here...

    --
    Help us build a better map!
  6. Re:Methane ice worms living on Earth by MichaelSmith · · Score: 3, Funny
    Image here.

    I hope that is an electron micrograph you have there. Otherwise I am going to cut down on my enthusiasm for Titan exploration.

    Cue James Cameron.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  7. Re:What about Uranus? by JebusIsLord · · Score: 2, Funny

    Rectum? Damn near killed 'em!

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    Jeremy
  8. Captin, I fail to see the logic of this... by Spoing · · Score: 2, Funny

    While you do have a propensity towards green women, the smell captin...how do you get past the smell?

    --
    A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.
  9. subject here by baudbarf · · Score: 2, Funny

    So... our early Titan colonies will be plastered with "ABSOLUTELY No Smoking" signs.

    --
    You can run but you can't hide, except, apparently, along the Afghan-Pakistani border.
  10. Life from 4 elements? by Sky+Cry · · Score: 2, Funny
    Titan is much like the Earth with winds, rains and tectonic forces but instead of water it has an abundance of methane.

    So to get life you need 4 elements?
    Wind = Air;
    Tectonic Forces = Earth;
    Liquid Methane = Water;
    And Fire would be... Required temperature or lightning?

    Storm. In an ocean or just on a coast lightning striking something? Perhaps that's how life is born?

    Not that I have any idea what I'm talking about... :)