[twitchyzero]

NASA-funded astrobiology research has changed the fundamental knowledge about what comprises all known life on Earth.

Researchers conducting tests in the harsh environment of Mono Lake in California have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in its cell components.

"The definition of life has just expanded," said Ed Weiler, NASA's associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at the agency's Headquarters in Washington. "As we pursue our efforts to seek signs of life in the solar system, we have to think more broadly, more diversely and consider life as we do not know it."

This finding of an alternative biochemistry makeup will alter biology textbooks and expand the scope of the search for life beyond Earth. The research is published in this week's edition of Science Express.

Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur are the six basic building blocks of all known forms of life on Earth. Phosphorus is part of the chemical backbone of DNA and RNA, the structures that carry genetic instructions for life, and is considered an essential element for all living cells.

Phosphorus is a central component of the energy-carrying molecule in all cells (adenosine triphosphate) and also the phospholipids that form all cell membranes. Arsenic, which is chemically similar to phosphorus, is poisonous for most life on Earth. Arsenic disrupts metabolic pathways because chemically it behaves similarly to phosphate.

"We know that some microbes can breathe arsenic, but what we've found is a microbe doing something new -- building parts of itself out of arsenic," said Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a NASA Astrobiology Research Fellow in residence at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, Calif., and the research team's lead scientist. "If something here on Earth can do something so unexpected, what else can life do that we haven't seen yet?"

The newly discovered microbe, strain GFAJ-1, is a member of a common group of bacteria, the Gammaproteobacteria. In the laboratory, the researchers successfully grew microbes from the lake on a diet that was very lean on phosphorus, but included generous helpings of arsenic. When researchers removed the phosphorus and replaced it with arsenic the microbes continued to grow. Subsequent analyses indicated that the arsenic was being used to produce the building blocks of new GFAJ-1 cells.

The key issue the researchers investigated was when the microbe was grown on arsenic did the arsenic actually became incorporated into the organisms' vital biochemical machinery, such as DNA, proteins and the cell membranes. A variety of sophisticated laboratory techniques was used to determine where the arsenic was incorporated.

The team chose to explore Mono Lake because of its unusual chemistry, especially its high salinity, high alkalinity, and high levels of arsenic. This chemistry is in part a result of Mono Lake's isolation from its sources of fresh water for 50 years.

The results of this study will inform ongoing research in many areas, including the study of Earth's evolution, organic chemistry, biogeochemical cycles, disease mitigation and Earth system research. These findings also will open up new frontiers in microbiology and other areas of research.

"The idea of alternative biochemistries for life is common in science fiction," said Carl Pilcher, director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute at the agency's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. "Until now a life form using arsenic as a building block was only theoretical, but now we know such life exists in Mono Lake."

The research team included scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Penn., and the Stanford Synchroton Radiation Lightsource in Menlo Park, Calif.

NASA's Astrobiology Program in Washington contributed funding for the research through its Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology program and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. NASA's Astrobiology Program supports research into the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life on Earth.

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/503440main1_226_M_LAKE.jpg
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/503459main1_arsenic_226.jpg
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/503460main1_phosphorus_226.jpg
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/astrobiology_toxic_chemical.html

[LiquidTurbo]

I'll wait to hear what they have to say, till then I reserve judgment. Douchebag skeptics all over it without even know what exact finding they are going to release.

[The_AK]

this should be interesting

[MindBomber]

Lets be realistic, out of billions upon billions of satellites in our universe and others what are the chances Earth is the only one with something other rocks on it.

We're special and rare, but I doubt we're unique.

Looking forward to hearing the announcement.

[twitchyzero]

im surprised no news outlet has caught it yet...i guess they just wanna wait for more information.

[El Bastardo]

The truth is out there, Scully.

[ToneCapone]

for those who are truly interested: http://grasptheuniverse.com/

[Eatman]

wow, i'm actually anxious to see what they reveal

[tegz]

Definitely exciting stuff. I want to believe that this "evidence" of new life isn't actually alien species or anything, perhaps the beginnings of a possibility of life, like earth was 3.5 billion years ago.. filled with certain gases that could promote the spontaneous formation of an extra and intra environment...

Otherwise we have a big problem on our hands... alien invasion!!!

[rsx]

I bet it's an equipment they're launching into space...I sure hope it's an alien life though.

[Jsunu]

New life on a moon in our solar system hopefully, but probably just bacteria growth in space or something :(

[vitaminG]

New life on a moon in our solar system hopefully, but probably just bacteria growth in space or something :(

bacteria would be new life

[twitchyzero]

even if it's amoeba-like critters it will be very interesting..anything that can model how life was formed on earth would be great.

[LiquidTurbo]

I believe I had read somewhere that based on the worst case scenarios for running simulations on randomized planets, there would one over 25,000 planets in the known universe that have the exact same life sustaining conditions as earth. Using the worst possible cases.
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[fsy82]

interesting

[murd0c]

Here is NASA TV where the press conference will be streamed on

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

and the actual link from NASA

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-167_Astrobiology.html

[tegz]

New life on a moon in our solar system hopefully, but probably just bacteria growth in space or something :(

Bacteria would be a pretty big deal LOL

[TomBox_N]

On the other hand , given how big the universe is, what r the chances of the aliens finding us.
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[murd0c]

I wonder if it's because a super secret robotic spaceship is landing this weekend...It could of been launched 7 months ago which was built by Phantom Works a part of Boeing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37 :rofl:

and I can promise it's not what they say it is for :troll:

[CanadaGoose]

On the other hand , given how big the universe is, what r the chances of the aliens finding us.
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Or maybe they've already found us... but looked down on us for being so feeble, unorganized, and primitive they just kept driving by - just like how you might glance down at an ant hill, but keep on walking? Ever think about that? Dun dun duuun!!! hahah

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/1232550297_Dramatic%20chipmunk.gif

[Nightwalker]

I believe I had read somewhere that based on the worst case scenarios for running simulations on randomized planets, there would one over 25,000 planets in the known universe that have the exact same life sustaining conditions as earth. Using the worst possible cases.
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That number might now be trillions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11888362

[MindBomber]

The aliens are monitoring our progress as a society, and waiting until we can interact peacefully amongst ourselves before introducing another variable. Seriously, if you were a member of an advanced civilization would you want a part of this shit?

[twitchyzero]

Here is NASA TV where the press conference will be streamed on

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

and the actual link from NASA

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-167_Astrobiology.htmladded to intial post.

[StylinRed]

wasnt there talk of an asteroid or something with the potential for life on it or something... or was that a dream oO

and didnt they supposedly find specimens before but they weren't sure if it was the result of contamination on Earth

[Ch28]

I for one welcome our new alien overlords.

[rJZx]

The chances of US (human beings) being the ONLY lifeform in all of space is highly unlikely... think about it scientists are finding new and newer stars that they haven't known of before.
as for aliens coming here, so be it what is RS gonna do? sacrifice arash :troll:
just like if 2012 happens we cannot do anything or anyone else.

[Ch28]

Hopefully they'll announce that this ship has shown up in images

http://bowjamesbow.ca/images/galactica-ship.jpg

and not this ship

http://www.bigbtv.com/Images/Television/Shows/BattleStarGalactic/Ships/BaseShip.jpg

[CP.AR]

I say they probably found bacteria or something...

[StaxBundlez]

I think they're gonna announce registration for Star Fleet Academy


http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:JR7m8rjRMgxIMM:http://www.nessima.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/newtrekpostersblack.jpg&t=1

[BNR32_Coupe]

no one ever thinks of the possibility that our species could be the most sophisticated organism in the whole universe. could it be that people like to think that there's some greater species out there that would come to earth and, hopefully, share their technology with us?

[RacePace]

Leaked? http://gizmodo.com/5704158/

[MindBomber]

no one ever thinks of the possibility that our species could be the most sophisticated organism in the whole universe. could it be that people like to think that there's some greater species out there that would come to earth and, hopefully, share their technology with us?

People don't think that we're the most sophisticated organism in the universe, because the likelihood of that being the case is negligible. Also, we're not that sophisticated, we just have over inflated egos as humans.

[CP.AR]

I think they're gonna announce registration for Star Fleet Academy


http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:JR7m8rjRMgxIMM:http://www.nessima.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/newtrekpostersblack.jpg&t=1
What are you talking about im in it already
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[CP.AR]

fox news fail lol

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4444633/life-found-near-saturn

to start off... "experts calculating and speculating" .....? WTF
then scroll to 2:24.... "the martian moon of Titan"....

Michael Kaku better be paid to be on faux news...

[The_AK]

Bacteria

http://m.gizmodo.com/5704158/
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[TOS'd]

http://theboxpress.com/wp-content/uploads/tin-foil-hat-625p.jpg

[tegz]

Retardedly out of context. They didn't find anything out in space.

They found a bacteria in CALIFORNIA which uses an arsenic backbone instead of the phosphodiester links in DNA.

This is however pretty cool how a new form of DNA structure was discovered... Proved my textbooks all wrong :D

[CP.AR]

official conference in 2 minutes! gonna watch it in class and scream out loud (its the last class anyways)

[FishTaco]

that would be sweet if someone ate the bacteria and then there was a zombie era. i think were due for one of one!

always wanted zombie invasion to happen :D

[Nightwalker]

Not really out of context. It absolutely is "an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life."

[twitchyzero]

i'm not watching the live stream but from what i'm reading it can use arsenic as nutrient..so not as impressive as what gizmodo is saying that it's DNA make up consists of arsenic.

[Ikkaku]

based on national geographics

"A new species of bacteria found in California's Mono Lake is the first known life-form that uses arsenic to make its DNA and proteins, scientists announced today"

The chemistry guy was pretty interesting, mentioning how unstable arsenic would be in terms of chaining up on Earth, as opposed to phosphorus. He also mentions that arsenic might be beneficial in colder places like Saturn's moon Titan.

[twitchyzero]

updated the intial post.

[yoghurtfarmer]

i'm not watching the live stream but from what i'm reading it can use arsenic as nutrient..so not as impressive as what gizmodo is saying that it's DNA make up consists of arsenic.

Nope. It is indeed what gizmodo leaked, they were just horribly undetailed about it.

The paper was released shortly after the press conference started: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2010/12/01/science.1197258.abstract

[CanadaGoose]

no one ever thinks of the possibility that our species could be the most sophisticated organism in the whole universe. could it be that people like to think that there's some greater species out there that would come to earth and, hopefully, share their technology with us?

If you look at the bigger picture, humans are still extremely primitive. On a scale of 1 to 10, if 1 was caveman and 10 was everything we could probably amount to....we're probably a 2 at this point in time.

Anyone who thinks we are the pinnacle of intelligent lifeforms is kidding themselves. Right now, we can barely get over the fact we all have different skin colours... or have the unity to not send out scam donation emails during world disasters...

And look at the time it takes for us to think a thought, to actually communicating it through text, or speech, or how we can barely control the simplest lifeforms, like bacteria, or even fruit flies lol. Our main weaponry, firearms, since being invented like 700 or 800 years ago, really hasn't changed that much yet; from medieval cannon, to lead ball musket to a magazine fed assault rifle; it still relies on the same basic principles. We have a long way to go.

Modern looking humans appeared about 200,000 years ago. This whole time, 200,000 years, we've been learning, building, inventing stuff, we've progressed to where we are today. So I wonder what we'll be like in another 200,000 years from now...maybe then we can call ourselves a supreme lifeform.

[StaxBundlez]

What are you talking about im in it already
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I just gained acceptance into the Vulcan Science Academy.

First human ...EVER

[CP.AR]

Nice congrats. good luck with them trying to invoke your emotions. Heard its pretty bad in your first year
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[TheKingdom2000]

The chances of US (human beings) being the ONLY lifeform in all of space is highly unlikely... think about it scientists are finding new and newer stars that they haven't known of before.
as for aliens coming here, so be it what is RS gonna do? sacrifice arash :troll:
just like if 2012 happens we cannot do anything or anyone else.

you do know that one of the reasons astronomers find new stars they've never seen before is because the light from the star hasn't traveled to earth yet?

[twitchyzero]

i guess we will be poisoned if we ingest these bacteria then :troll:

[corollagtSr5]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxEvOCIROGo

[BNR32_Coupe]

If you look at the bigger picture, humans are still extremely primitive. On a scale of 1 to 10, if 1 was caveman and 10 was everything we could probably amount to....we're probably a 2 at this point in time.

Anyone who thinks we are the pinnacle of intelligent lifeforms is kidding themselves. Right now, we can barely get over the fact we all have different skin colours... or have the unity to not send out scam donation emails during world disasters...

And look at the time it takes for us to think a thought, to actually communicating it through text, or speech, or how we can barely control the simplest lifeforms, like bacteria, or even fruit flies lol. Our main weaponry, firearms, since being invented like 700 or 800 years ago, really hasn't changed that much yet; from medieval cannon, to lead ball musket to a magazine fed assault rifle; it still relies on the same basic principles. We have a long way to go.

Modern looking humans appeared about 200,000 years ago. This whole time, 200,000 years, we've been learning, building, inventing stuff, we've progressed to where we are today. So I wonder what we'll be like in another 200,000 years from now...maybe then we can call ourselves a supreme lifeform.

i think we're missing the point here. lets say, hypothetically, there is a more advanced species in existence somewhere in the universe as we speak. don't you think, at some point in time, they wondered if there were species that were greater than themselves? or do you think they automatically knew they were the most advanced in the universe? basically, what im trying to say is (ego aside), we could be that species in its early stages. but most people, like yourself, automatically rule it out based on variables like the universe's size and age.

like you say, in 200k years, we could be advanced enough to travel to different planets, and be the ones to discover "primitive" life forms with their own civilizations, wars, politics, etc.

[tegz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxEvOCIROGo

Is that Hugh Grant?
:troll:

[Nightwalker]

i think we're missing the point here. lets say, hypothetically, there is a more advanced species in existence somewhere in the universe as we speak. don't you think, at some point in time, they wondered if there were species that were greater than themselves? or do you think they automatically knew they were the most advanced in the universe? basically, what im trying to say is (ego aside), we could be that species in its early stages. but most people, like yourself, automatically rule it out based on variables like the universe's size and age.

like you say, in 200k years, we could be advanced enough to travel to different planets, and be the ones to discover "primitive" life forms with their own civilizations, wars, politics, etc.

You're bang on, there's no evidence either way yet. We might find out one day, but until then all we have is fantasies.

For all we know, we're the LAST place left with life. In the future, we may be exploring dead worlds.

I find it amusing how people make assumptions just as wild as those they are opposing, or make up things about theoretical other advanced civilizations (for example being peaceful or wanting our resources, etc).

[iwantaskyline]

i think we're missing the point here. lets say, hypothetically, there is a more advanced species in existence somewhere in the universe as we speak. don't you think, at some point in time, they wondered if there were species that were greater than themselves? or do you think they automatically knew they were the most advanced in the universe? basically, what im trying to say is (ego aside), we could be that species in its early stages. but most people, like yourself, automatically rule it out based on variables like the universe's size and age.

like you say, in 200k years, we could be advanced enough to travel to different planets, and be the ones to discover "primitive" life forms with their own civilizations, wars, politics, etc.

If you were that advanced to travel from galaxy to galaxy, why would you be concerned with primitive species?

An advanced species flying past earth is like a human being walking past an ant hill. Would the human try to communicate with the ants? No. Same with them, we're too inferior to waste their time.

[Nightwalker]

If you were that advanced to travel from galaxy to galaxy, why would you be concerned with primitive species?

An advanced species flying past earth is like a human being walking past an ant hill. Would the human try to communicate with the ants? No. Same with them, we're too inferior to waste their time.

More assumptions with no data.

Regarding the ant scenario though... Humans fuck with everything we walk by. If it were a new species of ant, you bet we'd be all over it. Hell, we fuck with ants we already know. We put them between glass and call it an ant farm. We stick that shit in our kids bedrooms. We're so curious about other forms of life that we have scientists looking for microscopic life in the mud at the bottom of a toxic lake.

[Vinny G]

If you were that advanced to travel from galaxy to galaxy, why would you be concerned with primitive species?

An advanced species flying past earth is like a human being walking past an ant hill. Would the human try to communicate with the ants? No. Same with them, we're too inferior to waste their time.

How does that make any sense?

1. Do you know how much work scientists have put in just to study how animals on EARTH communicate with one another?

2. So you're saying that if we were ever able to travel long distances in space with ease, and we spotted another civilization that were able to build buildings, take over almost every resource on the planet, develop nuclear weapons, etc., you would not bother to communicate with it because they're too primitive?

[rsx]

Anyone can speculate, leave it at that.

[iwantaskyline]

How does that make any sense?

1. Do you know how much work scientists have put in just to study how animals on EARTH communicate with one another?

2. So you're saying that if we were ever able to travel long distances in space with ease, and we spotted another civilization that were able to build buildings, take over almost every resource on the planet, develop nuclear weapons, etc., you would not bother to communicate with it because they're too primitive?

It doesn't make sense because you don't understand the analogy. A normal human being walking by an ant hill would not care about those ants, most likely walking right by the ant hill with no care at all.

An alien race that is advanced enough to travel from galaxy to galaxy would be so advanced they wouldn't care about a primitive species like ours. If they are able to travel to our solar system from another galaxy they have most likely explored their entire galaxy already and humans would be nothing unique or new to them.

It's speculation of course with no facts to base on. I didn't think of this myself, I heard it from one of Dr. Kaku's interviews. He's quite a famous scientist, a lot of his videos are on youtube discussing civilizations and aliens. Look him up if you're interested.

[rsx]

What scientifically advanced being would pass up on amassing knowledge about the universe in its entirety (even studying us, puny, humans)?

You do realize that this thread is about a press release from NASA about a microbe, right?

[moomooCow]

It doesn't make sense because you don't understand the analogy. A normal human being walking by an ant hill would not care about those ants, most likely walking right by the ant hill with no care at all.

An alien race that is advanced enough to travel from galaxy to galaxy would be so advanced they wouldn't care about a primitive species like ours. If they are able to travel to our solar system from another galaxy they have most likely explored their entire galaxy already and humans would be nothing unique or new to them.

It's speculation of course with no facts to base on. I didn't think of this myself, I heard it from one of Dr. Kaku's interviews. He's quite a famous scientist, a lot of his videos are on youtube discussing civilizations and aliens. Look him up if you're interested.

A "normal human being" as in a person like you and I, walking to work / school, would not care at all about ants. But a human being that is out in unchartered areas of the world would definitely be interested in the distinct lifeforms found there.

Translated to intergalactic travel: a "normal alien being" whizzing by in his spacecraft, won't stop to look at us only if it already knows what we are and their scientists have already studied us.

Your analogy only make sense if we and our Earth have already been studied and are identical to another planet somewhere else.

[iwantaskyline]

A "normal human being" as in a person like you and I, walking to work / school, would not care at all about ants. But a human being that is out in unchartered areas of the world would definitely be interested in the distinct lifeforms found there.

Translated to intergalactic travel: a "normal alien being" whizzing by in his spacecraft, won't stop to look at us because it already knows what we are and their scientists have already studied us.

Your analogy only make sense if we and our Earth have already been studied and are identical to another planet somewhere else.

That is exactly what I am implying. If an alien species is capable of traveling here from another galaxy they have most likely seen a planet like ours in their own galaxy and we would be nothing unique or interesting to them. The analogy does have flaws but the point of it is that most alien species would not bother communicating with humans.

[MERXUS]

wow.. based on planetary and universe staristics how can you NOT believe in extraterrestial life?...
I'm not denying God or anything but hey there must be something else out there
how much more evidence do you need? abductions, speculations, area51, UFO hunters lol? I mean do you really think any goverment will actually admit to anything? Think what would happen to your/mine/anyones religion? Chaos!

Anyways, I used to live on the south east coast of USA and I knew this dude that was "supposely" abducted by "àliens". At some point "unknown" object was pulled out of his back by local surgeon. THAT object was emmiting some sort of radio waves...im not shitting you this is crazy real stuff. Believe what you want; Aliens/ETs do exist. oh btw this guy was a local baker; best jewish bread in Miami yumm hehehe...

[moky]

with regards to aliens and non-planetary extra-terrestrial biological existence, here's an interesting take: ancient alien/astronaut theory. it talks about other "beings" visiting earth in antiquity and challenges modern day knowledge on how earth's civilizations began and why people of 5000 years ago all suddenly had the urge to build these huge megalithic structures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZYYmOgdVdI&hd=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz_C6d6jbhc&hd=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I5BYcI0DPw&hd=1