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

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

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

Single Scoops

If we are related to Martians, how would we know (Part 2)?

How we would know if we were related to Martians if our last our common ancestor had not yet evolved the ability to synthesize proteins

By Steven A. Benner April 19, 2021Single ScoopsNo Comments

Single Scoops

April Link Roundup

Interesting links with lite commentary

By Daniel Benner April 14, 2021Single ScoopsNo Comments

Life on Mars Origin of Life Single Scoops

If we are related to Martians, how would we know (Part 1)?

If life ever existed on Mars, it's possible that it could be related, in some way, to life on Earth. Fortunately, such a relationship would leave signs in Martian biochemistry.

By Steven A. Benner March 29, 2021Life on Mars, Origin of Life, Single Scoops1 Comment

Astrobiology Origin of Life

An Earth-Sized Planet 41 Light Years Away with Hydrogen Cyanide. So What?

Hydrogen cyanide has rare chemical properties that make it an important ingredient for the abiotic creation of nucleic acids, the building blocks of DNA

By Steven A. Benner March 28, 2021Astrobiology, Origin of LifeNo Comments