Unusual forms of life (Earth, creation, recall, science)

[Djamila]

Okay, that's done.

Tell me, why do you think that this deep sea could not have developed without the conditions on the earth's surface as they are?

[standing_on_one_foot]

In case you're curious, by the by, our sun is more likely to expand on us and become a red giant and then go the planetary nova route (which has, oddly enough, nothing to do with planets).

[standing_on_one_foot]

Originally Posted by Djamila

Okay, that's done.

Tell me, why do you think that this deep sea could not have developed without the conditions on the earth's surface as they are?

It could have, since conditions on the Earth's surface have doubtless changed since these beasties showed up. But without the sun, I don't think you would have the Earth in the first place, and you wouldn't have liquid oceans. It would just be too cold.

[Djamila]

Originally Posted by standing_on_one_foot

In case you're curious, by the by, our sun is more likely to expand on us and become a red giant and then go the planetary nova route (which has, oddly enough, nothing to do with planets).

Red giant, really? I never knew how they were formed, but I just assumed they were formed that way from their beginning.

Why does our sun have more of a chance of doing that first? Is that the normal route?

An what is the plantary nova route?

[Djamila]

Originally Posted by standing_on_one_foot

It could have, since conditions on the Earth's surface have doubtless changed since these beasties showed up. But without the sun, I don't think you would have the Earth in the first place, and you wouldn't have liquid oceans. It would just be too cold.

But it would have to be liquid around these hot vents, yes? Or would it just form like... a tunnel through the ice all the miles to the surface?

[standing_on_one_foot]

No, red giants are just a part of a sun-like star's life cycle. If a star isn't big enough, it won't be able to supernova. I think you need to be several times bigger than the sun to do that.

Planetary novas involve the star's outer layers going off, eventually leaving what will, if I recall correctly, be a white dwarf.

[standing_on_one_foot]

Originally Posted by Djamila

But it would have to be liquid around these hot vents, yes? Or would it just form like... a tunnel through the ice all the miles to the surface?

It's likely you'd get some liquid near the vents (very unlikely that this would reach the surface, though. I suppose it's possible life could develop there. It just seems fairly unlikely.

[Djamila]

Oh cool. Is a Red Giant created by the same process within the star that would cause a larger one to supernova?

[standing_on_one_foot]

As I recall (and it's been awhile since astronomy), the ones that will supernova get to the red giant phase too, they just take it a step further.

A link on star life cycles: http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/te...ifecycles.html

[Djamila]

That was really interesting. I wonder how common they are?