Nina Amatulli, in the second grade at the American School in Japan, had a question to ask scientists.
Nina Amatulli: Why is Earth the only planet with living things?
Earth scientist Robert Hazen of the Carnegie Institution For Science answered her. Hazen is an expert on the chemistry and origin of life throughout the universe.
Robert Hazen: You know Nina, this is a really great question. A lot of us still hold out hope that there’s life on Mars and other nearby planets and moons. We think that there’s a really good chance that microbes can eke out a living beneath the surface. Life needs water, and there’s a good chance warm and wet environments exist near the surface of Mars.
Hazen agrees though, that at least in our solar system, Earth is likely the only planet with land plants and animals.
Robert Hazen: Animals face the additional challenge of needing lots of energy to hunt for food, to escape predators. And on Earth, animals only appeared after microbes made lots of oxygen, and that allows fast metabolism, and after plants, which provide food. But, that’s just our solar system. And we suspect that there are countless trillions of solar systems out there in the universe. Given that abundance, my guess is that there are lots of other living worlds out there.
Our thanks to the Monsanto Fund, bridging the gap between people and their resources.
Our thanks to:
Robert M. Hazen
Carnegie Institution for Science
Geophysical Laboratory
Washington, DC
hi
If I were a living thing, given the choice between Mars and Earth, I would choose Earth, because I don’t think my iPhone would get service on Mars. Also, I hear the food there is not that good.
I think it’s cool that there might be other planets with living things.
I’m the same opinion like Rubylikeaflame.
I think it would be unbelievalbe if the scientist would find other living things in our galaxi, but i think also that our prejudices are not realistic. i think that other living things will not need water or air for example, my opinion is that they have their own way to live or to exist.
For the first time it would be unbelievable for scientists and other people of the world to understand it, but how the scientist are…the will find it out sooner or later.
I hope it…
WOW! I may use TEXTILE in my comment. Is gaberdine taken? And Gravatars are enabled. WELL! Thats certainly a relief. In addition, I am comforted my email “will not be displayed”. Why on earth would I wish my comments to be displayed to others?
I obtained this URL from National Public Radio. Perhaps THEY will allocate gaberdine as well as gravitars to me for my effort. But if they will stubornly refuse to display my emails, why bother? Have I stumbled upon a new century version of Romper Room.
Geeze. This place gives me the creeps….
Ann Gela wrote: “…i think also that our prejudices are not realistic.” Please list one or two of these prejudices, and why they are not realistic? Thank you for your elaboration!
ejdavid
I think in the seven other planets to live there
This question is always a great leveller when it comes to astro-scientists. It really puts them in their place. It basically asks “SO, how much do you know” and they always reply “Not a lot really”.
Let’s hope that the next 300 years yeilds more ;-)
The universe is so huge it wouldnt be estonishing to discover something. But to be honest, I doubt we’ll see it (us who live in 2010)
Earth science is very interacting subject among another science subject. In everyday life, gravitation is most familiar. Scientist the Newton first discovered the Law of Universal Gravitation. The Earth, the Sun, and other practical of the universe coalesce each other by the gravitation.
universe is huge but i think also the human kind is very clever so we can achieve to know a lot of things.
This question is always a great leveller when it comes to astro-scientists. It really puts them in their place. It basically asks “SO, how much do you know” and they always reply “Not a lot really”.
There is that moon, titan… It is supposed to have entire oceans of water beneath the icy surface. Apparently the moon’s is pulled by the gravity of Jupiter and this tug and release causes friction, and this friction melts the ice near the surface of the moon but beneath the surface of the ice. The ice actually floats on the water much like our glaciers float on a thin film of compressed water… Nothing compared to what happens on Titan, but it is a interesting theory and I can’t wait until some probe sends photos back of giant sea bearing creatures….
Anyway, thanks for the post. Got me thinking…
Paul
I agree with you Mirajini they predict something then if it there turn to explain they just say the word.. It is awkward right?