> What processes give rise to comets. Are they formed
catastrophically and would
> any life survive this? Or are they formed slowly by stuff
attracting other stuff, and why would one expect life on space
stuff?
I think the bottom line is that comets are *old* - they formed by
very slow accretion of material out there in the so-called Oort
Cloud (which, it has to be understood, is probably a less dense
environment than the solar system) - and they are *cold* (being as
there isn't too much sunlight out there). So, yes, why would anyone
expect life out there, let alone life anything like what we know and
sort of understand?
> Finally, a virus as I understand it is not a free living organism.
So to
> postulate space viruses one must presumably postulate "higher"
cells as well, out there.
> I'm very sceptical that a bit of the very simplest amino acids on
a ball of
> cometary ice is evidence for life in even the weakest sense.
Seconded! Amino acids and even nucleotides do not an organism make,
not without a pressure-cooker environment, and far more concentrated
reagents. Just dirty ice, I'm afraid....but making a pretty good
few holes in Jupiter right now (fragment Q1, live, courtesy of the
South African Astronomical Observatory and the SABC:
spectacular...and just in time to commemorate Neil and Buzz).
_________________________________________________________________
| Ed Rybicki, PhD | Well, I tip my hat |
| (ed at micro.uct.ac.za) | To the new constitution |
| Dept Microbiology | Take a bow for the new revolution... |
| University of Cape Town | Then I get on my knees and pray |
| Private Bag, Rondebosch | We don't get get fooled again... |
| 7700, South Africa | |
| fax: xx27-21-650 4023 | - Pete Townshend, 1972 |
| tel: xx27-21-650 3265 | (Won't get fooled again) |
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