Are we Carbon based life, proton-proton based life, string based life, or

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the classification of life forms, specifically whether humans are carbon-based or potentially other types such as proton-proton or string-based life. Participants assert that while carbon chemistry is the foundation of life, the discovery of Fullerenes prompts a reevaluation of what "carbon-based" entails. The conversation also highlights the significance of water as a crucial component in living organisms, suggesting that life may be more accurately described as water-based in conjunction with carbon chemistry.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of carbon chemistry and its role in biological systems.
  • Familiarity with Fullerenes and their implications in chemistry.
  • Basic knowledge of life classification systems in astrobiology.
  • Concepts of water's role in biological processes.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and implications of Fullerenes in biological chemistry.
  • Explore the concept of silicon-based life forms and their theoretical frameworks.
  • Study the role of water in cellular processes and its importance in life sustainability.
  • Investigate the distinctions between various allotropes of carbon and their relevance to life forms.
USEFUL FOR

Scientists, astrobiologists, and anyone interested in the fundamental characteristics of life and its potential variations beyond carbon-based definitions.

S = k log w
Messages
65
Reaction score
0
Are we Carbon based life, proton-proton based life, space-time based life, string based life, or what?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Aren't we carbon based life forms? I guess you could say our minds somehow incorporate space-time into thinking process because how else could we have such a unique understanding of how it works. There is also the electricity that runs through our bodies that could suggest a deeper connection between us and the universe other than just some complex configuration of atoms,who knows. I'm not too sure what you exactly mean by that question.
 
Everything is spacetime based. All matter is particle (maybe string) based. But life is specifically based on carbon chemistry.
 
I would say that we are carbon based lifeforms, because that is the norm i suppose. What if there was another type of life-form that wasnt carbon-based (i dunno, for example, aliens that were silicon based), if they were classed as proton-proton based or string based then u are classifying just about everything known into one super-group. Also its easier to understand being carbon based then part of quantum theory or string theory ...well that's what i think anyway!
 
With the discovery of the Fullerene, do we need to qualify what we mean when we say "carbon" based life? Perhaps it may be Non-Buckey-carbon based life.
 
Originally posted by S = k log w
With the discovery of the Fullerene, do we need to qualify what we mean when we say "carbon" based life? Perhaps it may be Non-Buckey-carbon based life.

Just because fullerene is made of carbon doesn't mean carbon is fullerene. We never said non-diamond-carbon-based life, or non-pencil-lead-carbon based life.
 
So we are instead based upon graphite and/or diamond chemistry, then? Those are the only other known allotropes of carbon, last I checked. This of course sounds totally silly to me, but anyway.

You could probably make a significantly better case for us being water-based life, given that the main component in most organisms is water.

ETA: Must have started my reply after CSF replied. Blargh.
 
Last edited:
but water is a given, its what water is in combination with that renders the Earth life trademark.
 

Similar threads

Chemistry Why is HCl an Arrhenius acid but hydrogen carbonate isn't?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School Waves travelling between strings
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Chemistry How does Bronsted-Lowry definition of base apply to NaOH exactly?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Mnemonic for Lewis acids and bases
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
Chemistry How to understand this acidic oxide chemical reaction?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Chemistry Book seems to say that we can have weak acid and weak conjugate base
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Undergrad Decay constant of Different Elements and Isotopes?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Understanding Carbon Dating: Assumptions, Ratios, and Half-Life
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
Carbon-Based Life: Questions & Answers
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
5K
Genetic code other than DNA (moved)
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K