Much of the search for extraterrestrial life on Mars and in other parts of the universe has thus far centered around the hunt for water – mostly because all life as we know it needs water to live. But what if we’re ignoring other types of life?
That fascinating possibility is examined by the authors of a study published in a recent edition of the journal Astrobiology, who according to Space.com examine whether a liquid other than good old-fashioned H2O could support life in a place such as Saturn’s icy moon Titan.
Titan, they explained, is rich in the hydrocarbon methane, which would keep water-based RNA and DNA molecules from carrying a genetic blueprint. Other molecules would have to step up and fill this role. The study proposes ethers, a type of molecule not used in any Earth-based genetics, could support alien life.
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