Mars rover is frozen in place following software error

Post by aaronblohowiak » Sat, Jan 25, 2020, 12:58 AM UTC

Brave-Steak wrote: post #48

mnemonicsloth wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're right that fossil fuels are contingent. They exist because of a big evolutionary coincidence that might not be repeated on other worlds. It's possible, though, that aliens might not need fossil fuels to get to space. If they had more efficient photosynthesis, for example (ours is Or it's possible that we're the most advanced because fossil fuels are necessary and nobody else got them.

Wait, can you elaborate on that? Cursory glance at google suggests there can be sufficient other sources of hydrocarbons aside from dinosaurs being wiped out by a meteor.

Post by aaronblohowiak » Sat, Jan 25, 2020, 1:00 AM UTC

mnemonicsloth wrote: post #41

nickthemagicman wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Finding life on other planets means life was probably seeded on earth instead of the 'Spontanous Generation' theory of biology where RNA just happened on earth at some point. It also opens up the possibilities of life existing outside of earth. I don't know whats not mind blowing about that.

As a biologist, it's pretty cool, although not quite as cool because it's the same life. Different life, evolved on different planets, would be cooler. It would use some of the same tools, like phosphates as signaling/energy molecules, because nothing else can do the job. But alien life could use different amino acids from the ones we use, or something different from amino acids instead. They would probably be linear…

Post by craftinator » Sat, Jan 25, 2020, 1:08 AM UTC

SeekingMeaning wrote: post #12

mqzkehfbazkebf wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having worked on autonomous robot hardware i beg to differ

Ah yes, the programmers blame the engineers, and the engineers blame the programmers

Post by WalterBright » Sat, Jan 25, 2020, 2:11 AM UTC

pstuart wrote: post #16

SeekingMeaning wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah yes, the programmers blame the engineers, and the engineers blame the programmers

Let's not forget the compilers. They're always messing stuff up!

Post by mnemonicsloth » Sat, Jan 25, 2020, 2:42 AM UTC

aaronblohowiak wrote: post #53

mnemonicsloth wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a biologist, it's pretty cool, although not quite as cool because it's the same life. Different life, evolved on different planets, would be cooler. It would use some of the same tools, like phosphates as signaling/energy molecules, because nothing else can do the job. But alien life could use different amino acids from the ones we use, or something different from amino acids instead. They would probably be linear…

Don’t pressures and temperatures impact which chemical classes can do which job?