If a non-carbon based life form could form why wouldn’t it form here, as well?

Because if carbon based life formed here first, it would outcompete any up-and-coming non-carbon life into nonexistence. Even primitive life of one form (carbon based here) is a superior competitor for resources than proto-life chemistry. It all has to do with who was here first. The reason all life on Earth now is carbon based is because it all descended from the first kind of life to form here.

Though I totally agree with the sentiment that we should concentrate on looking for what we know how to look for. And carbon based complex molecules are more likely than silicon because carbon can bond with other carbon directly while silicon uses a silicon-oxygen-silicon alternating sequence.

A Holy War is what you get when someone manages to convince people it’s not an oxymoron.

To the best of my knowledge, Enceladus does not have an intrinsic magnetic field. And I don’t think we’ve detected an induced field, yet, either. But it may have one and we just need to get closer to detect it, too.

Okay so its more data needed but not yet so far as we know. Thanks.

@ 52. brntoki Says:

Did I say “underwater ocean”? Repeatedly?

Yes you did – twice – so technically repeated once NOT repeat~edly.

Wow! Sleep first, post later, I guess.

Well I’m NOT going to say anything; half of my posts are typed while I’m more asleep than awake anyway.

Seriously, I’ve seen a lot worse posts than your one above here … a lot. Don’t sweat it.

But of course it is always good to find conditions amenable for life, such as nutrient-rich subsurface oceans!

@ brntoki, thanks for making a plausible (and promising!) synthesis.

Did I say “underwater ocean”?

No worries, it sounds like a rather poetic term for oceans under a water ice cover.

Maybe somebody cleverer than me should do a comparison of science and religion based on George Carlin’s comparison of baseball and football…

In religion, when people disagree, they get to burn each other at stakes. In science, when people disagree, they get to find out who (if anyone) is right. Then they can all agree and if they had any bets on the matter, the losers and feed the winners steaks (and beer.)

We can all do much better than this…