Why Silicon-Based Life Might Not Be Possible
The question of whether life exists beyond our little watery rock has fascinated people for centuries. Thousands of books and movies, both fiction and non-fiction, have been devoted to this topic. They ask us to imagine what alien life would look like, where we could find it, and what motivations they might have.
However, we rarely consider whether we can recognize life when we see it. What if alien life was so different that we barely recognized them as alive?
How fundamentally different can this life be from us Earth-dwellers? Could it be silicon-based?
Carbon Creatures
Human beings and all other living beings that share our planet are known as carbon-based life forms. Carbon is unique in that it allows for vast molecular complexity. Carbon fosters intricate chemical bonds that allow for DNA, RNA, and complex functions like breathing, digestion, excretion, and, critically, reproduction. Without carbon, none of these life-sustaining activities would be possible.
However, it’s not just carbon’s ability to form complex bonds that make it a superior ingredient in the recipe for creating…
