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Technically yes, but I think many people would say it seems likely that all life would have some sort of "exterior layer" like a cell membrane. Realistically t
by dekhn 3y ago
Technically yes, but I think many people would say it seems likely that all life would have some sort of "exterior layer" like a cell membrane. Realistically this falls into the "unknown unknown" category of knowledge, where we have to speculate with very little concrete evidence.
- andix 3y agoIt makes sense to think about an organisms like that. But it would be really interesting, if there were other possibilities too we could think of. A hundred years ago nobody thought something like quantum entanglement could be possible. Maybe there will be a similar eye opening surprise in extra terrestrial life. But off course it’s reasonable to start looking for all the things we can already imagine, and make observations in a way we already know of.
- dekhn 3y agoSure, I'd love to learn that some sort of inscrutable aliens on the surface of a neutron star (https://gwern.net/doc/science/1973-drake.pdf https://gwern.net/doc/science/1973-drake.pdf) or gasbags on Jupiter (1. Sagan, C., and Salpeter, E. E. "Particles, Environments and Possible Ecologies in the Jovian Atmosphere," Astrophysical Journal Supplement, 32, 737 (1976).) to creatures that leave in witch space. We simply don't have a framework other than basic physics and chemistry to speculate in this area. The possibility space is too large and we don't know the fitness function.
- notaurus 3y agoAlso Dragons Egg by Robert L. Forward