Welcome to
Science a GoGo's
Discussion Forums
Please keep your postings on-topic or they will be moved to a galaxy far, far away.
Your use of this forum indicates your agreement to our terms of use.
So that we remain spam-free, please note that all posts by new users are moderated.


The Forums
General Science Talk        Not-Quite-Science        Climate Change Discussion        Physics Forum        Science Fiction

Who's Online Now
0 members (), 181 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Latest Posts
Top Posters(30 Days)
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 37
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 37
Since many of the heavy metals are superconductors at extremely low temperatures and life is based on movement of electric charges, currents, is it possible to have life based on these superconductor atoms at a really low temperature?


- Kevat Shah
.
L
leehyori87
Unregistered
leehyori87
Unregistered
L
thank u so much for sharing
simulation taux banque credit immobilier de France - Credit immobilier de France, simulation credit immobilier. Résultat mitigé pour le crédit immobilier de France.simulation taux banque credit immobilier de France

J
julie20099
Unregistered
julie20099
Unregistered
J
The truth is that scientists rarely agree on anything other than very broad assumptions, and often not even on those. Instead, scientists, even those working together on the same project, can heatedly disagree with one another's assumptions or interpretations, making it difficult to agree on the best way data should be released to the public.

An example from the MGS laser altimeter team (specifically the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter or MOLA). This instrument shoots blasts of laser light from the orbiting spacecraft to the surface of Mars, and times their return to the sensor. By doing so, an incredibly accurate topographical relief map of Mars can be created. However, Mars has no absolute altitude marker like Earth (sea-level). Therefore, the scientists have to agree on an altitude reference against which all other measurements are compared. The specific reference chosen is critical because it will be used in all subsequent analyses of MOLA data. Any error could potentially be a spoiler for generations of future reserachers. Bergreen was there when they discussed whether they were ready to commit to an altitude reference and start releasing data (many team members argued "yes!") or whether more data and study were needed before the team published such critical information (other team members said "wait!").

Also typical was the conflict in choosing a landing site for the Mars Polar Lander. Scientists pour over the data from MGS and pick a site that is geologically interesting. Engineers pour over the MGS data and pick a site that is safe. The two goals are often at direct odds with one another. The engineers want stastical rock-counts so that they can ensure their craft won't topple over a boulder. Scientists argue that the sites chosen by the engineers will nullify all the science objectives of the mission. Such discussions can quickly become personal as emotions boil over and passionate beliefs give way to shouting contests.
===============


Last edited by Amaranth Rose II; 05/22/10 01:53 AM. Reason: Spam
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 962
Superstar
Offline
Superstar
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 962
The word you want is "pore", not pour. Pore means to look closely, pour means to cause a liquid to flow as in out of a pitcher or glass.


If you don't care for reality, just wait a while; another will be along shortly. --A Rose

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,840
R
Megastar
Offline
Megastar
R
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,840
KS
I don't have a clue, but I find it easy to imagine that somewhere in those vast and cold nebulae there might exist a self-replicating molecule or a non-replicating, eons old, conscious entity, something like Fred Hoyle's Black Cloud. Maybe superconductors could serve a purpose there. I think I'll just pop back in 10,000 yrs time to see what's been discovered.


"Time is what prevents everything from happening at once" - John Wheeler
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 410
I
Senior Member
Offline
Senior Member
I
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 410
Originally Posted By: Kevat Shah
Since many of the heavy metals are superconductors at extremely low temperatures and life is based on movement of electric charges, currents, is it possible to have life based on these superconductor atoms at a really low temperature?


Doubtful, for one basic reason. The temps at which natural superconductors function is extremely low - usually a few degrees above absolute zero. At these temps most chemical reactions will not occur. Since the formation of life requires the building of metabolic networks, which are nothing more then sequences of chemical reactions, its hard to conceive of a living system that could undergo any form of metabolism (and thus self-organization) at such low temps.

This may seem trivial, but keep in mind that in your hypothesis you do need at a minimum a source of free electrons - where are those going to come from aside from some sort of chemical or photochemical system? Likewise, you are going to need energy to organize the superconducting "tracks"; they won't self-organize without at least a modicum of external energy to mediate the re-organization of the system. Finally, for a biological system to do work (in the physical sense) you need to consume energy - superconductors are great at transporting electrons without expending their energy, but by their very definition do not consume that energy. Ergo, to get movement or biochemical reactions out of those superconducted electrons, you're going to need some non-superconucting chemistry. Its doubtful anything would work at the kinds of temps you're talking about.

But cold (although not superconducting cold) temps are an interesting idea to ponder. At extreme cold many chemicals behave in ways quite different from what we normally see - water, for example, can form numerous unique "ices" that are chemically very different from the ice we normally see. Water is far from unique in this case. Who knows what kind of biochemical bounty may exist at these cold temps? Life of this sort would be slow - chemical reactions proceed painfully slowly at these temps - but it could take on forms beyond our wildest imagination.

Bryan


UAA...CAUGCUAUGAUGGAACGAACAAUUAUGGAA

Link Copied to Clipboard
Newest Members
debbieevans, bkhj, jackk, Johnmattison, RacerGT
865 Registered Users
Sponsor

Science a GoGo's Home Page | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact UsokÂþ»­¾W
Features | News | Books | Physics | Space | Climate Change | Health | Technology | Natural World

Copyright © 1998 - 2016 Science a GoGo and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5