06-11-2019, 10:51 PM
Is there any particular physics/chemistry based reason that CO couldn't play a role in an alien biosphere similar to (or even radically different from) the role that CO2 plays on Earth? Meaning that it takes an unlikely amount of energy to deal with its chemical bonds or its structure makes it much harder for it to bond in ways that would support some form of life form or something.
I'm also reminded of an article I read many years ago about - not exactly a chlorine atmosphere world (once a staple of science fiction), but a world with a percentage of chlorine in its atmosphere - that might be capable of supporting life. IIRC water on such a world would be rather like vinegar.
Might something in the same general ballpark apply here? Not a chlorine atmosphere, but some environmental mix that would be 'tougher' than Earth's biosphere, but still operating on biochemistry that seems workable.
On another note - would the increase in UV also result in an increase in ozone in the upper atmosphere that might mitigate the production of CO?
Just some thoughts,
Todd
I'm also reminded of an article I read many years ago about - not exactly a chlorine atmosphere world (once a staple of science fiction), but a world with a percentage of chlorine in its atmosphere - that might be capable of supporting life. IIRC water on such a world would be rather like vinegar.
Might something in the same general ballpark apply here? Not a chlorine atmosphere, but some environmental mix that would be 'tougher' than Earth's biosphere, but still operating on biochemistry that seems workable.
On another note - would the increase in UV also result in an increase in ozone in the upper atmosphere that might mitigate the production of CO?
Just some thoughts,
Todd