- Jan 29, 2007
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The problem I have with panspermia is that, with the same elements being abundant on Mars and Earth (and other rocky planets), in the same proportions as throughout the universe and within Earth lifeforms, and the same laws of the universe and complexity conditions & outcomes applying in both locales, Ockham's razor favours life evolving independently in both places as a simpler solution than life evolving in one place and seeding the other after surviving a bolide impact, reaching escape velocity, wandering into the other planet's gravity field where the ejectum is caught, then surviving fiery entry into the atmosphere and another impact on the other planet's surface. Not saying it can't happen but I'm saying it's less probable as it needs more conditions to be fulfilled. My opinion is that, if the conditions are right, life will appear as a direct consequence of increasing chemical complexity and such increase is itself a normal outcome from the laws that govern how elements are formed and behave/combine in our universe. Nothing else is needed.
To me, panspermia is akin to saying ancient aliens built some structure on Earth (like the Gizeh pyramids for example) when the simpler solution is that humans did it.
He raises some really good points. He also makes me feel stupid. He is so much smarter and so much of a better person than I am. It makes me feel like a waste of life and really admire him.
The problem I have with panspermia is that, with the same elements being abundant on Mars and Earth (and other rocky planets), in the same proportions as throughout the universe and within Earth lifeforms, and the same laws of the universe and complexity conditions & outcomes applying in both locales, Ockham's razor favours life evolving independently in both places as a simpler solution than life evolving in one place and seeding the other after surviving a bolide impact, reaching escape velocity, wandering into the other planet's gravity field where the ejectum is caught, then surviving fiery entry into the atmosphere and another impact on the other planet's surface. Not saying it can't happen but I'm saying it's less probable as it needs more conditions to be fulfilled. My opinion is that, if the conditions are right, life will appear as a direct consequence of increasing chemical complexity and such increase is itself a normal outcome from the laws that govern how elements are formed and behave/combine in our universe. Nothing else is needed.
To me, panspermia is akin to saying ancient aliens built some structure on Earth (like the Gizeh pyramids for example) when the simpler solution is that humans did it.