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lcenine t1_j20trrd wrote

Reply to comment by ample_mammal in Ask Anything Wednesday - Economics, Political Science, Linguistics, Anthropology by AutoModerator

Within the solar system, besides Earth, Mars and Venus.

Outside of the solar system, GLIESE 667CC and KEPLER-22B. There are a fair number of other contenders but we just don't know...yet.

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ample_mammal t1_j220x3h wrote

667CC is a lot closer than 22B.. still hard to fathom that kind of distance though. What are your thoughts on other-than-carbon-based lifeforms?

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lcenine t1_j24w8q3 wrote

The distance is really hard for me to really understand. Currently the fastest manned vehicle we have has been capable of about 17,000 mph. At that speed it would take right around a 855600 years to reach 667CC. I'm sure we'll wait for better technology before attempting that kind of trip.

Non-carbon based lifeforms - definitely hypothetically possible. Unfortunately we don't currently have evidence of lifeforms using anything but carbon biochemistry. My personal belief is it is absolutely possible. Silicon has quite a few similarities to carbon and that's just an example of life having an analogous biochemistry. Who knows what's possible with the diversity that could be experienced in different environments?

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