Interstellar Dust Could Be "Alive" 332
reezle writes "An international team has discovered that, under the right conditions, particles of inorganic dust can become organized into helical structures. These structures can interact with one another in ways that are usually associated with organic compounds and with life. Not only do these helical strands interact in a counterintuitive way in which like can attract like, but they also undergo changes that are normally associated with biological molecules, such as DNA and proteins, say the researchers. For example, they can divide to form two copies of the original structure. These new structures can also interact to induce changes in their neighbors. And they can even evolve into yet more structures as less stable ones break down, leaving behind only the fittest structures in the plasma. 'These complex, self-organized plasma structures exhibit all the necessary properties to qualify them as candidates for inorganic living matter,' said the lead researcher. 'They are autonomous, they reproduce and they evolve.'" The research, published in the New Journal of Physics, was carried out using a computer model of molecular dynamics.
Mostly Water (Score:5, Funny)
I can't believe... (Score:2, Funny)
Well if no one else does, I, for one, will.
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My god man, do they want tea?
Okay, which Star Trek episodes are relevant here? (Score:3, Funny)
Peaceful dust? (Score:5, Funny)
panspermia (Score:4, Funny)
Or maybe... (Score:5, Funny)
Obligatory HK-47 (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Simulated inorganic life .... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Or maybe... (Score:5, Funny)
Look at my sig. What do you think?
The Ultimate Test (Score:3, Funny)
Life is anything that dies when you stomp on it.
Re:The Ultimate Test (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Simulated inorganic life .... (Score:5, Funny)
Depends on whose brain it was simulating, I suppose.
Re:Hmm, life in the suns (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Gay Space Dust? (Score:5, Funny)
Intergallactic schools started requiring the reading of "Dusty Has Two Like Progenitor Strands"?
God Did It... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Mostly Water (Score:4, Funny)
Day 1
Dusty: "Ugly..."
Scientist: "Yes, yes?"
Day 2
Dusty: "...bags..."
Scientist: "Okay."
Day 3
Dusty: "...of..."
Scientist: "For the love of God, somebody shoot me!"
etc...
Turtles (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hmm, life in the suns (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Simulated inorganic life .... (Score:5, Funny)
So mind's younger than that are still at a pudding-like consistency?
Re:Simulated inorganic life .... (Score:5, Funny)
"That's hot."
COMPUTER! You need to stop saying that if you want to be accepted as a member of society!
"I know.. that's so hot."
Re:You hit the nail on the head. (Score:3, Funny)
In any case, I for one welcome our new interstellar dust being overlords/
Re:Simulated inorganic life .... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Simulated inorganic life .... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Evil (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah! Blast it into bits of dust!
Oh, wait...
IT IS A POWER SO GREAT... (Score:3, Funny)
or EVIL!!!
RS
Re:Simulated inorganic life .... (Score:2, Funny)
Uh yeah, just as much as my PC running Microsoft Flight Simulator X qualifies my computer as a Boeing 747.
Re:Simulated inorganic life .... (Score:5, Funny)
Oh my God, I just realised that Paris Hilton would fail the Turing Test, therefore, she is a robot.
Mommy! I want a Paris Hilton Fembot for my birthday!
Dust (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Simulated inorganic life .... (Score:4, Funny)