Questions you'd like answering, regardless of how trivial they may seem

[markemark]

So, can someone tell me... Why do scientists like Brian Cox always smugly tell us that no matter where you are in the Universe, you need water for life?

How do they know? Have they met an alien? They could drink battery acid for all we know! 🤷
It's surely only life as we know it?

I don't get how they are so certain.

They don't say it is an absolute requirement, but it is highly likely to. So in the search, a dry environment is very unlikely to host life. Life needs a fluid for chemical reactions to take place and water is the most benign and has other properties that make it a likely candidate for life supporting environments. Complex life absorbs energy and pushes out waste and a fluid makes that far easier. There are billions of species on our planet in many different environments and none can operate without water.

So, we don't know if it is 100% essential but it is extremely likely. Therefor, when searching for alien life out of billions of possible systems, searching those with water maximises the chance of success.

 

[Punkawallah]

Why does Indiana Jones carry bullwhip but not a trowel?

Obviously, as the ‘Professor’, he does not soil his knees like the hoi poloi grubbing around in the dirt. Rather, he uses the whip, driving them to greater efforts with their trowel and brush!

 

[Jameshow]

You wouldn't make much progress on a world tour if all you did was hover.

30mph is about slower than 200 in typical usage. Police chopper's hover for periods to though.

In Southampton they had a plane that circled in large loops instead. I'm guessing it was used for drug running surveillance at sea too....

 

[DaveReading]

30mph is about slower than 200 in typical usage.

Can't argue with that.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

if your asking with regards to my post it was a pun on words , like most politicians wind bags with a stench of personal gain

I wasn't

 

[Chris S]

Why does Indiana Jones carry bullwhip but not a trowel?

Because he's not a Mason.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Why does Indiana Jones carry bullwhip but not a trowel?

Because when the bull 'goes', he gets someone else to bury it?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

They don't say it is an absolute requirement, but it is highly likely to. So in the search, a dry environment is very unlikely to host life. Life needs a fluid for chemical reactions to take place and water is the most benign and has other properties that make it a likely candidate for life supporting environments. Complex life absorbs energy and pushes out waste and a fluid makes that far easier. There are billions of species on our planet in many different environments and none can operate without water.

So, we don't know if it is 100% essential but it is extremely likely. Therefor, when searching for alien life out of billions of possible systems, searching those with water maximises the chance of success.

Thanks, that makes sense... Some sort of liquid or similar, either water or something else we don't yet know about/haven't sensibly considered yet, given what we know... But probably water? 🤔

I also got a similar answer in 'The Space Thread', so thanks to the both of you and @newfhouse

 

[lazybloke]

Thanks, that makes sense... Some sort of liquid or similar, either water or something else we don't yet know about/haven't sensibly considered yet, given what we know... But probably water? 🤔

I also got a similar answer in 'The Space Thread', so thanks to the both of you and @newfhouse

Hence the concept of the Goldilocks zone, where Earth-like conditions exist elsewhere - and hence we know the sort of life that can be supported there, and can look for traces of that life in spectroscopic analysis from here on Earth.

To put that another way, it's easier to find something if you know what it looks like.

If we looked outside the goldilocks zone we'd have to make some guesses about what sort of chemistry the life there might produce.

Anyway... no way to directly observe life outside our solar system, but there is the possibility of finding life closer to home, eg in the oceans of Europa & Enceledus, or under some rocks on Mars. Any of those findings would be stunning.

 

[markemark]

Hence the concept of the Goldilocks zone, where Earth-like conditions exist elsewhere - and hence we know the sort of life that can be supported there, and can look for traces of that life in spectroscopic analysis from here on Earth.

To put that another way, it's easier to find something if you know what it looks like.

If we looked outside the goldilocks zone we'd have to make some guesses about what sort of chemistry the life there might produce.

Anyway... no way to directly observe life outside our solar system, but there is the possibility of finding life closer to home, eg in the oceans of Europa & Enceledus, or under some rocks on Mars. Any of those findings would be stunning.

My guess is that hopefully in my lifetime they'll find a planet with an atmosphere that is a strong indicator of organic life. It'll be know as a planet where alien life is most likely present. The chances of it being intelligent life is vanishingly small.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Hence the concept of the Goldilocks zone, where Earth-like conditions exist elsewhere - and hence we know the sort of life that can be supported there, and can look for traces of that life in spectroscopic analysis from here on Earth.

To put that another way, it's easier to find something if you know what it looks like.

If we looked outside the goldilocks zone we'd have to make some guesses about what sort of chemistry the life there might produce.

Anyway... no way to directly observe life outside our solar system, but there is the possibility of finding life closer to home, eg in the oceans of Europa & Enceledus, or under some rocks on Mars. Any of those findings would be stunning.

My guess is that hopefully in my lifetime they'll find a planet with an atmosphere that is a strong indicator of organic life. It'll be know as a planet where alien life is most likely present. The chances of it being intelligent life is vanishingly small.

With all this talk of life from under a rock and not very intelligent life... Are we not sure we have already found it in the shape of 'White Van Man'?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

... And talking of which, why are the contestants on 'Tipping Point' usually as thick as mince?

I watched a repeat episode earlier and it was so painful I had to turn over to something else.

 

[Electric_Andy]

... And talking of which, why are the contestants on 'Tipping Point' usually as thick as mince?

I watched a repeat episode earlier and it was so painful I had to turn over to something else.

I often wonder if the application/vetting process is geared towards people with a lower IQ, as it makes better telly. There must be a reason why all the quiz champions are not on every TV show waltzing through the questions and winning all the time!

 

[Chris S]

Why is Keir Starmmer claiming that the country is being run by cowboys? A lot of the cabinet seem to be Indians.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

So, can someone tell me... Why do scientists like Brian Cox always smugly tell us that no matter where you are in the Universe, you need water for life?

How do they know? Have they met an alien? They could drink battery acid for all we know! 🤷
It's surely only life as we know it?

I don't get how they are so certain.

Have a read of

https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/uncate...les-of-water-why-is-water-necessary-for-life/