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Super-Sensitive Motion Sensor Could Be Used To Hunt For Extraterrestrial Life

Posted by Soulskill on from the it's-life,-jim,-but-not-as-we-know-it dept.

Zothecula writes: People often state that certain planets are too hot, cold or toxic to support life. The catch, however, is that those people are really just talking about life as we know it here on Earth. By that same token, when rovers exploring other planets seek out chemical signatures associated with life forms, they're only able to identify chemicals that we know to look for. That's why Swiss scientists from the EPFL research center have created a device that identifies microscopic life based on nanoscale movements instead of chemistry (abstract).

4 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. We have trouble with defining life on earth. by jellomizer · · Score: 2

    Life: Grow, Reproduce, Consume Energy.

    Virus cannot reproduce on their own.
    Crystals seem to show many properties of life.
    Fire can Grow, Spread and it consumes energy.

    What about individual cells that are part of a larger organism...

    It still kinda comes down to Ill know if it I see it.

     

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    1. Re:We have trouble with defining life on earth. by gatkinso · · Score: 2

      Revisit contemporary definitions of life. Chemical reactions (crystals, fire) comprise only a part of that definition.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...

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      I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
    2. Re:We have trouble with defining life on earth. by Charliemopps · · Score: 2

      I raise you another link: http://www.popsci.com/science/... ;-)

      The point being, we don't know what's out there. There universe is literally infinite. If crystalline life is possible... and it certainly looks like it is... then it has to be out there somewhere. The question is how common is it?

  2. The reason we search for C life is simple by aepervius · · Score: 2

    Barring utterly unknown chemistry, other atoms offer limited chemistry, bonds too strong, bonds too weak, limited atoms to which they can bond. That's why we concentrate on carbon based chemistry, with Oxygen or sulfure. Sure we could be missing something, but is it likely ? We have to concentrate on what we know we CAN find, as we can't send too many intruments out there like on the mars rover.

    If the approach followed here allows for a good detection of KNOWN organic life with p0.05, then it sounds a good approach.

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