Nanobes too small to be living organism

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the nature of nanobes, their classification as living organisms, and their potential implications for understanding life on Mars. Participants explore the evidence for nanobes, their presence in ancient geological formations, and the possibility of panspermia. The conversation also touches on ongoing research related to nanobes and their detection by Martian rovers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that nanobes were initially considered too small to be living organisms, but later research suggested they exhibit life-like behavior.
  • There is mention of nanobes being found in ancient rocks and deep-sea corings, raising questions about their origins and classification.
  • One participant questions whether the Martian rovers are conducting experiments to identify nanobes in Martian rocks.
  • Concerns are raised about the lack of conclusive evidence for nanobes being living organisms, specifically regarding the presence of RNA/DNA or self-replication.
  • Another participant suggests that findings in Martian meteorites may have been misidentified as salt crystals rather than nanobes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of interest and knowledge about nanobes, with some questioning their classification and others suggesting they may have life-like characteristics. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the definitive nature of nanobes and their implications for life on Mars.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in confirming the evidence for nanobes, including the need for further research and clarification on definitions of life. The discussion also highlights the uncertainty surrounding the identification of nanobes in meteorites.

jnorman
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i did a search, but found no threads on this topic. i am sure all of you are aware of nanobes, but i have some confusion. when i first read about nanobes, they were a minor mystery, and while there was some debate over their nature, it was generally agreed upon that they were too small to be living organisms. a few years later, it turns out that some research indicated that they do exhibit life-like behavior. and they show up in the oldest rocks on the planet, as well as from deep sea corings. then later again, it was shown that nanobes were present in a martian meteorite - possible evidence of panspermia, yes?

my question - are the martian rovers doing any experiements that would identify nanobes in the martian rocks? is there solid scientific support for the idea that nanobes are living organisms (ie, is there conclusive evidence of RNA/DNA, or self-replication?? if so, why didnt the evidence of nanobes in the martian meteorite demonstrate that panspermia was a real occurrence? other thoughts? thanks.
 
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my goodness - nobody here is interested in, nor knows anything about nanobes? i would think this would be an intriguing topic for biologists and evolutionists.
 
Nanobes, did they really find hard evidence on those? I thought the ones found in the martian meteorites were in fact salt crystals.
 
hi monique - that is a good question. i googled "nanobes meteorite" and got lots of solid hits, but could not confirm with a few minutes browsing. but that is sort of why i brought this question to this forum. thanks for responding. it seems to be a pretty fascinating little subject.
 

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