Comments on: The Biology of Astronomy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:04:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Antonio http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27672 Antonio Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:13:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27672 I have just read the primer and found it very interesting since it can be seen as a kind of science divulgation. Best regards I have just read the primer and found it very interesting since it can be seen as a kind of science divulgation.

Best regards

]]> By: Moose http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27671 Moose Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:17:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27671 PeteM beat me to it, but yeah, even your ordinary lakes and streams are chock full of those pesky "air-breathing" trout out there. Really, it may be enough to have "complex chemistry". PeteM beat me to it, but yeah, even your ordinary lakes and streams are chock full of those pesky “air-breathing” trout out there.

Really, it may be enough to have “complex chemistry”.

]]> By: PeteM http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27670 PeteM Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:17:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27670 "“life needs air…”etc. I’d change that to “life as we know it needs air, ” etc. I would not rule out the Cheela of Robert Forward yet. " Actually even that is wrong, there are life forms at the bottom of the ocean that do not use Oxygen or Energy from the sun as the basis of thier life cycle instead taking energy from geothermal heat, methane and sulphides. Do a search for "Black Smoker" for more details ““life needs air…”etc. I’d change that to “life as we know it needs air, ” etc. I would not rule out the Cheela of Robert Forward yet. ”

Actually even that is wrong, there are life forms at the bottom of the ocean that do not use Oxygen or Energy from the sun as the basis of thier life cycle instead taking energy from geothermal heat, methane and sulphides. Do a search for “Black Smoker” for more details

]]> By: Todd http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27669 Todd Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:41:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27669 "life needs air..."etc. I'd change that to "life as we know it needs air, " etc. I would not rule out the Cheela of Robert Forward yet. “life needs air…”etc. I’d change that to “life as we know it needs air, ” etc. I would not rule out the Cheela of Robert Forward yet.

]]> By: DCB http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27668 DCB Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:42:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27668 Because I became a great-grandmother yesterday and because I love our wondrous universe and the amazing things we learn about it every day, I stole your picture on this blog entry! I hope I have not committed some felonious intellectual theft but I sent it to the new mom and baby because it described my fascination with learning so well! Since it went by e-mail it will probably go everywhere because it seems that anything committed to the electronic airwaves proliferates exponentially. Sorry about that but thank you!! Regards!! Because I became a great-grandmother yesterday and because I love our wondrous universe and the amazing things we learn about it every day, I stole your picture on this blog entry! I hope I have not committed some felonious intellectual theft but I sent it to the new mom and baby because it described my fascination with learning so well! Since it went by e-mail it will probably go everywhere because it seems that anything committed to the electronic airwaves proliferates exponentially. Sorry about that but thank you!! Regards!!

]]> By: Halcyon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27667 Halcyon Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:24:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27667 Given that we know there's a shrinking cake, wouldn't it make sense to give the resources to the fields of study that will be useful in going out and acquiring another cake? Because, if astronomy and astrobiology are going to bring us a cake-planet, I don't think any expense should be spared. Given that we know there’s a shrinking cake, wouldn’t it make sense to give the resources to the fields of study that will be useful in going out and acquiring another cake? Because, if astronomy and astrobiology are going to bring us a cake-planet, I don’t think any expense should be spared.

]]> By: Sticks http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27666 Sticks Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:14:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27666 But what if Earth is the only place that life is? Look at the probability figures given for life starting, even from Carl Sagen. I will have to hunt for them if you really want them, but they are very very small, plus there is also a small matter of Fred Hoyle's Boeing That given, how can tax dollars / pounds / euros be justified here, when there is a shrinking cake and we need to pick winners? But what if Earth is the only place that life is?

Look at the probability figures given for life starting, even from Carl Sagen. I will have to hunt for them if you really want them, but they are very very small, plus there is also a small matter of Fred Hoyle’s Boeing

That given, how can tax dollars / pounds / euros be justified here, when there is a shrinking cake and we need to pick winners?

]]> By: MaDeR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27665 MaDeR Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:58:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27665 For me, astrobiology is protoscience. With great potential and significance, but still proto. Reason is simple - for now, we can only theorize. Like rocketry in times of Tsiolkovsky. For me, astrobiology is protoscience. With great potential and significance, but still proto. Reason is simple – for now, we can only theorize. Like rocketry in times of Tsiolkovsky.

]]> By: SMEaton http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27664 SMEaton Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:27:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27664 "Little intrinsic subject matter".....!!? How about "no intrinsic subject matter"! What is there to study? We're talking about a science, right? “Little intrinsic subject matter”…..!!? How about “no intrinsic subject matter”! What is there to study? We’re talking about a science, right?

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27663 Nigel Depledge Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:15:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27663 As far as I know, astrobiology is as rigorous as any other branch of science. Using life on Earth as a yardstick, astrobiologists can work out where life is most likely to be found elsewhere, and what it might look like. Of course, if it is "life, Jim, but not as we know it", we might not even recognise it. So another avenue of exploration for astrobiologists is to try and work out what signs life would exhibit, even if it isn't something we can easily recognise. As far as I know, astrobiology is as rigorous as any other branch of science. Using life on Earth as a yardstick, astrobiologists can work out where life is most likely to be found elsewhere, and what it might look like. Of course, if it is “life, Jim, but not as we know it”, we might not even recognise it. So another avenue of exploration for astrobiologists is to try and work out what signs life would exhibit, even if it isn’t something we can easily recognise.

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27662 The Bad Astronomer Tue, 16 Jan 2007 05:31:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27662 thaumaturge-- fixed. Thanks! thaumaturge– fixed. Thanks!

]]> By: sparc http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27661 sparc Tue, 16 Jan 2007 04:50:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27661 BTW, I hope the astronomy in astrobiology is better then its biology. Or is astrobiology a safe haven for weird ideas that allows scientist to publish anything that would have not passed peer reviewing in pure biological or astronomical journals? BTW, I hope the astronomy in astrobiology is better then its biology. Or is astrobiology a safe haven for weird ideas that allows scientist to publish anything that would have not passed peer reviewing in pure biological or astronomical journals?

]]> By: sparc http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27660 sparc Tue, 16 Jan 2007 04:40:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27660 I guess much of astrobiology is just bad biology. E.g.: Schwabe C (2002): Genomic Potential Hypothesis of Evolution: A Concept of Biogenesis in Habitable Spaces of the Universe. Anat Rec. 268(3):171-179 For critical review see: Hafner M and Korthof G. (2006): Does a "500 million-year-old hormone" disprove Darwin? FASEB J. 20(9):1290-1292 and: A Chemist's View of Life: Ultimate Reductionism & Dissent (http://home.planet.nl/~gkorthof/korthof56.htm) I guess much of astrobiology is just bad biology. E.g.: Schwabe C (2002): Genomic Potential Hypothesis of Evolution: A Concept of Biogenesis in Habitable Spaces of the Universe. Anat Rec. 268(3):171-179
For critical review see:
Hafner M and Korthof G. (2006): Does a “500 million-year-old hormone” disprove Darwin?
FASEB J. 20(9):1290-1292
and:
A Chemist’s View of Life: Ultimate Reductionism & Dissent (http://home.planet.nl/~gkorthof/korthof56.htm)

]]> By: thaumaturge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27659 thaumaturge Tue, 16 Jan 2007 04:02:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27659 The Amaz!ng Meeting link needs a .com! The Amaz!ng Meeting link needs a .com!

]]> By: spacewriter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27658 spacewriter Tue, 16 Jan 2007 02:21:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27658 Mike, Beats me. Someone sent it to me in email today and I thought it was a hoax, but it appears not to be. What annoys me is that it appears in a self-styled "progressive" newspaper... ranks right up there with matched male and female crystals... Mike,

Beats me. Someone sent it to me in email today and I thought it was a hoax, but it appears not to be.

What annoys me is that it appears in a self-styled “progressive” newspaper… ranks right up there with matched male and female crystals…

]]> By: Mike Haubrich http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27657 Mike Haubrich Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:52:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27657 Okay, Spacewriter, that article was a bit too much work for a parody. Is it intended to be a serious article by a woo? Okay, Spacewriter, that article was a bit too much work for a parody. Is it intended to be a serious article by a woo?

]]> By: Gary Ansorge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27656 Gary Ansorge Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:42:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27656 So, Phil how many e-mails will it take to get NASA to reconsider? GAry 7 So, Phil how many e-mails will it take to get NASA to reconsider?

GAry 7

]]> By: Cathy in Seattle http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27650 Cathy in Seattle Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:44:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27650 sooooo... when can we expect the Cthulhu Kittys to take over, now that Pharyngula's won? sooooo… when can we expect the Cthulhu Kittys to take over, now that Pharyngula’s won?

]]> By: spacewriter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27655 spacewriter Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:13:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27655 Okay, Phil and Pharyngula -- I got your astrobiology, right <a href="http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/home/Frontpage/2007/01/08/01288.html" rel="nofollow">here.</a> how's them junk dna apples fer ya? (this link goes to an excellent article for the skeptically minded to hone their talents on, by the way... ) Okay, Phil and Pharyngula — I got your astrobiology, right here.

how’s them junk dna apples fer ya?

(this link goes to an excellent article for the skeptically minded to hone their talents on, by the way… )

]]> By: Pharyngula http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27654 Pharyngula Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:08:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27654 <strong>Victory is sweet...</strong> You may recall a ferociously hardfought battle between myself and the Bad Astronomer over the Weblog Awards a while back—a battle I won easily, of course, by the overwhelming majority of approximately 1%—and that we had bet each other vario... Victory is sweet…

You may recall a ferociously hardfought battle between myself and the Bad Astronomer over the Weblog Awards a while back—a battle I won easily, of course, by the overwhelming majority of approximately 1%—and that we had bet each other vario…

]]> By: spacewriter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27653 spacewriter Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:34:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27653 Phil, Nicely done. And thanks for the link to the primer. It's now saved on my computer for reference. Did you read about the appointment of another Bush/Cheney supporter as an "advisor" to Griffin? Phil,

Nicely done. And thanks for the link to the primer. It’s now saved on my computer for reference.

Did you read about the appointment of another Bush/Cheney supporter as an “advisor” to Griffin?

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27652 Nigel Depledge Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:15:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27652 Oops, just spotted the typo. That's meant to be "working" not "wotking". Oops, just spotted the typo. That’s meant to be “working” not “wotking”.

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/comment-page-1/#comment-27651 Nigel Depledge Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:14:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/01/15/the-biology-of-astronomy/#comment-27651 Another very nicely written piece, Phil. You know, you could be accused of copping out - rather than writing about biology <i>per se</i> you've chosen to write about the crossover between space science and biology. But, hey, that's cool. I'm a biochemist, wotking in the crossover between biology and chemistry. Just remember that a portion of your devoted readership comprises biologists (or other biological scientists). Another very nicely written piece, Phil.

You know, you could be accused of copping out – rather than writing about biology per se you’ve chosen to write about the crossover between space science and biology. But, hey, that’s cool. I’m a biochemist, wotking in the crossover between biology and chemistry.

Just remember that a portion of your devoted readership comprises biologists (or other biological scientists).

]]>