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Are there examples of non-life formations like this on Earth? What are they called (how can I see some)?

by tocs3 1y ago

Lichtso 1y ago
Could be formed by viscous fingering. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdwSMytC7y4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdwSMytC7y4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffman%E2%80%93Taylor_instability https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffman%E2%80%93Taylor_instabi...
- tocs3 1y ago
  I certainly see the dendritic nature of the rock but I am wondering if there are rocks found on Earth that look he same. Most of the examples of that sort of thing are more 2D patterns. Just some images of what I am talking about: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=dindrite+rock&t=ffab&ia=images&iax=images https://duckduckgo.com/?q=dindrite+rock&t=ffab&ia=images&iax...
- metalman 1y ago
  could be formed by something like a stromatilite(s), which are presumed to be the most ancient life forms to 1 leave macro fosils, and 2 are an existing species today or just some blobby rock's in any case, it's one more reason to go to mars, other than of course we dont realy have anywhere else to go, and with 9 billion people side eyeing each other, were going
andrewflnr 1y ago
I think I've seen similar textures on cave walls. But it's basically a diffusion-limited aggregation shape. A good few examples here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion-limited_aggregation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion-limited_aggregation
mathgradthrow 1y ago
Clickbait, there is no life on earth!
lutusp 1y ago
> Are there examples of non-life formations like this on Earth? What are they called (how can I see some)? The technical term is "dendritic." No suggestion of life. The next time you see a lithium-ion battery fire, you can impress your friends by saying, "Another dendritic disaster!" This link: https://www.electronicproducts.com/what-are-dendrites-and-why-do-they-cause-fires-in-lithium-batteries/ https://www.electronicproducts.com/what-are-dendrites-and-wh... includes a picture of dendrites in a lithium-ion battery. Not at all biological.
general1726 1y ago
Lighting hitting into sand will create similar elongated and branching stones https://tucson.com/news/science/this-is-what-happens-when-lightning-strikes-sand/video_0ceedb62-a30c-55c2-870d-0f94ae35fd43.html https://tucson.com/news/science/this-is-what-happens-when-li...
tim333 1y ago
I found this thing - Coral-like tafoni panel along Kaleidoscope Traverse, Wollemi National Park. https://www.instagram.com/p/DMgNKByBRkD/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DMgNKByBRkD/ not quite as coral like as the Mars stuff though
- tocs3 1y ago
  This is what I was looking for.

Are there examples of non-life formations like this on Earth? What are they called (how can I see some)?

by tocs3 1y ago

Are there examples of non-life formations like this on Earth? What are they called (how can I see some)?

Could be formed by viscous fingering. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdwSMytC7y4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdwSMytC7y4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffman%E2%80%93Taylor_instability https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffman%E2%80%93Taylor_instabi...

tocs3 1y ago
I certainly see the dendritic nature of the rock but I am wondering if there are rocks found on Earth that look he same. Most of the examples of that sort of thing are more 2D patterns. Just some images of what I am talking about: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=dindrite+rock&t=ffab&ia=images&iax=images https://duckduckgo.com/?q=dindrite+rock&t=ffab&ia=images&iax...
metalman 1y ago
could be formed by something like a stromatilite(s), which are presumed to be the most ancient life forms to 1 leave macro fosils, and 2 are an existing species today or just some blobby rock's in any case, it's one more reason to go to mars, other than of course we dont realy have anywhere else to go, and with 9 billion people side eyeing each other, were going

andrewflnr 1y ago

I think I've seen similar textures on cave walls. But it's basically a diffusion-limited aggregation shape. A good few examples here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion-limited_aggregation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion-limited_aggregation

mathgradthrow 1y ago

Clickbait, there is no life on earth!

lutusp 1y ago

> Are there examples of non-life formations like this on Earth? What are they called (how can I see some)? The technical term is "dendritic." No suggestion of life. The next time you see a lithium-ion battery fire, you can impress your friends by saying, "Another dendritic disaster!" This link: https://www.electronicproducts.com/what-are-dendrites-and-why-do-they-cause-fires-in-lithium-batteries/ https://www.electronicproducts.com/what-are-dendrites-and-wh... includes a picture of dendrites in a lithium-ion battery. Not at all biological.

general1726 1y ago

Lighting hitting into sand will create similar elongated and branching stones https://tucson.com/news/science/this-is-what-happens-when-lightning-strikes-sand/video_0ceedb62-a30c-55c2-870d-0f94ae35fd43.html https://tucson.com/news/science/this-is-what-happens-when-li...

tim333 1y ago

I found this thing - Coral-like tafoni panel along Kaleidoscope Traverse, Wollemi National Park. https://www.instagram.com/p/DMgNKByBRkD/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DMgNKByBRkD/ not quite as coral like as the Mars stuff though

tocs3 1y ago
This is what I was looking for.