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Have we figured out upper and lower bounds for life?

S

spidey07

No Lifer
So the bacteria and what not on oceanic vents isn't supposed to be able to live because of temperature/pressure but yet it does so we had to rethink things. So is there an agreed upon temperature range for life, as we know it on earth of course?
 
True, it's their food/energy. But I thought the temps were so outrageous that it was astounding life could live in such high temperatures.
 
The problem with "agreeing" on such a range is that the goalposts keep moving when we find exceptions.
 
Okay, we'll get this bracketed.

Data point #1: 210F is too hot for puppy number one. 🙁

How long should I leave puppy #2 in the freezer before we can call -5F survivable or not?
 
Originally posted by: ironwing
Okay, we'll get this bracketed.

Data point #1: 210F is too hot for puppy number one. 🙁

How long should I leave puppy #2 in the freezer before we can call -5F survivable or not?
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24hrs seems like a reasonable length of time to me.
 
First we need to know how little an organism needs in the way of biological complexity to survive, given that it's adapted itself to use the most temperature-stable molecules possible to perform its necessary functions. Then I would guess that the threshold would be determined by how low or high a temperature molecules complex enough to serve the needs of organisms can be formed in. Sounds like something it would be impossible to be sure about at any time.
 
I'm sure we have a pretty good idea, but we also have a quite limited amount of possible conditions in which to observe. Liquid Water seems to be absolutely necessary, IIRC.
 
Originally posted by: sandorski
I'm sure we have a pretty good idea, but we also have a quite limited amount of possible conditions in which to observe. Liquid Water seems to be absolutely necessary, IIRC.
Click to expand...

Understood, but given our knowledge as it is now do we have bounds? Or are we pretty much "we don't really know"? That's an acceptable answer to me but the thought just popped into my head.

There was talk at some time of bacteria on asteroids still being viable. And the whole think of mosquito eggs being dried up and essentially dead, but just add water and they pop to life.
 
Originally posted by: mxyzptlk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade

Water bears can survive from -272c to 151c
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"In 2007 the TARDIS (Tardigrades In Space) project exposed 3,000 Water Bear tuns to more than ten days in the vacuum of space. Most were shielded from cosmic rays, but otherwise unprotected, while a few got the radiation as well. They survived the vacuum very well indeed, and even a few of those zapped by cosmic radiation made it back to earth alive."

Nuke them. Nuke them now, before they turn into this :shocked:
Those things look like they stepped off the TARDIS.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: sandorski
I'm sure we have a pretty good idea, but we also have a quite limited amount of possible conditions in which to observe. Liquid Water seems to be absolutely necessary, IIRC.
Click to expand...

Understood, but given our knowledge as it is now do we have bounds? Or are we pretty much "we don't really know"? That's an acceptable answer to me but the thought just popped into my head.

There was talk at some time of bacteria on asteroids still being viable. And the whole think of mosquito eggs being dried up and essentially dead, but just add water and they pop to life.
Click to expand...

I dunno. 😀 Our experience is so limited I doubt we have scratched the surface and suspect that Scientists are not willing to claim Knowing the answer for that reason.
 
Tardigrades are polyextremophiles and are able to survive in extreme environments that would kill almost any other animal. Some can survive temperatures close to absolute zero[4], temperatures as high as 151 °C (303 °F), 1,000 times more radiation than any other animal[5], nearly a decade without water, and even the vacuum of space.[6]
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that ain't right. these things are not to be trusted.
 
Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
Tardigrades are polyextremophiles and are able to survive in extreme environments that would kill almost any other animal. Some can survive temperatures close to absolute zero[4], temperatures as high as 151 °C (303 °F), 1,000 times more radiation than any other animal[5], nearly a decade without water, and even the vacuum of space.[6]
Click to expand...

that ain't right. these things are not to be trusted.
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<colbert>WATER BEAAAAAAARS! *shakes fist* </colbert>
 
I think 60 to 85 are the limits for intelligent life...

you gotta be crazy to live anyplace hotter or colder...😛


(yes, it gets to well over 100 here...I AM nucking futs.) 😀
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: sandorski
I'm sure we have a pretty good idea, but we also have a quite limited amount of possible conditions in which to observe. Liquid Water seems to be absolutely necessary, IIRC.
Click to expand...

Understood, but given our knowledge as it is now do we have bounds? Or are we pretty much "we don't really know"? That's an acceptable answer to me but the thought just popped into my head.

There was talk at some time of bacteria on asteroids still being viable. And the whole think of mosquito eggs being dried up and essentially dead, but just add water and they pop to life.
Click to expand...

The known upper limit upper limit for life on earth is currently about 121 (the ocean vent bacteria already mentioned). The water bears can survive 151, but that's just a brief time, they don't actually live and grow at that temperature. The theoretical upper limit is where C-C and other organic bonds can't form. But then there might be other forms of life based on different chemistries.
 
Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Originally posted by: deftron
Strain 121, only known living organism that can survive a medical autoclave


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strain_121
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Hmm, that contradicts the other article - it says that Strain 121 is the only known life form that can tolerate such high temps, but the water bears article says they can be exposed to up to 150 degrees C.
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Time is a key ingredient, they don't tell you how long the exposure is.
 
Are you asking about an upper and lower bounds for survival or for reproduction? Because living in an extreme environment and surviving short exposures are quite different.
 
Originally posted by: Zaitsev
Are you asking about an upper and lower bounds for survival or for reproduction? Because reproducing in an extreme environment and surviving short exposures are quite different.
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I think I'll skip asking for pics of your girlfriend.
 
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