The Primordial Scoop – Page 4 – Critical thinking about life in the cosmos, how it started, how to find it, and how to re-create it

Why searching for extraterrestrial life with a universal biosignature detection framework is a mistake.

A couple of weeks ago a group affiliated with NASA released a “white paper” claiming that scientists need a universal biosignature detection framework for searching for extraterrestrial life. Unfortunately, there is a serious problem with the first part of their proposal.

By Carol Cleland November 22, 2021Astrobiology, Life, Origin of Life5 Comments

Astrobiology Life on Mars Single Scoops

Benzoic acid on Mars. A 20 year old prediction come true?

Millan et al. just reported the discovery of benzoic acid in the dunes on Mars. Remarkably, benzoic acid was predicted 20 years ago to be on Mars as a product of organics falling to Mars via meteorite. And possibly ... life. Simply by understanding basic organic chemistry.

By Steven A. Benner November 4, 2021Astrobiology, Life on Mars, Single ScoopsNo Comments

Single Scoops

The Importance of Chemistry in Astrobiology. Sandra Pizzarello

Cite as: Benner, S. A. (2021) "The Importance of Chemistry in Astrobiology. Sandra Pizzarello". Primordial Scoop, 2021, e1102. https://doi.org/10.52400/YQUF9286 Sandra Pizzarello passed away a few days ago, and we have…

By Steven A. Benner November 2, 2021Single Scoops1 Comment

Astrobiology NASA Single Scoops

Culture, Consensus, and Why NASA Committees Write Things That Are Not True

Science begins when individuals challenges the consensus. Unfortunately, NASA committees are likely to throw such individuals to the sharks.

By Steven A. Benner November 2, 2021Astrobiology, NASA, Single Scoops4 Comments

Single Scoops

Gilbert Levin and Life on Mars

Gil Levin met the 1976 burden of proof for Mars life detection. Unfortunately, the community forgot that he did so.

By Steven A. Benner October 30, 2021Single Scoops2 Comments

Single Scoops

NASA: The Gatekeeper of “Consensus Science”?

Discoveries, even discoveries that later prove to be data misinterpretations, can advance thinking about the existence of life throughout the cosmos.

By Steven A. Benner October 29, 2021Single Scoops1 Comment

Life

Null hypothesis: the term ‘life’ is not needed in biology

Before we go any deeper in the Universal Theory of Life debate we need to examine the following null hypothesis: ‘Life’ exists only as a concept. We mistakenly assume that 'life' exists independently of our culture as a natural phenomenon, just like we did with ‘luminiferous aether’, ‘preformationist’s homunculi’, and ‘vital force’. A theory of life is as useful as a theory of ‘phlogiston’.

By Jan Spacek September 16, 2021Life1 Comment

Life

Universal Theory of Life, a debate

A useful definition-theory of life drives research into origins and synthetic biology.

By Steven A. Benner September 11, 2021Life1 Comment

Origin of Life

We Need not a Crusade for the Origins of Life

Did life originate in hydrothermal vents? On dry land undergoing wet-dry cycles under a hazy post-impact atmosphere? Or on dry land bathed in harsh UV? No reason to go to war.

By Guest Author June 6, 2021Origin of LifeNo Comments

Single Scoops

The Shadow Biosphere

Three papers published today in Science point to the possibility of a "shadow biosphere": a domain of life invisible to conventional scientific detection methods because its DNA contains different building blocks.

By Steven A. Benner April 29, 2021Single Scoops4 Comments