Actually, the bacteria that you are talking about (from 2007) is quite different. Those particular microorganisms only metabolize arsenic. There is a huge difference...especially when it comes to understanding the building blocks that could form advanced lfe.

The biggest difference here is speculation. The series "The Universe" only speculates what non-carbon based life forms would be like. In the world of science, speculation is not anywhere as valuable as living proof. It may seem trivial, but actually, an organism that defies everything we know about life on this planet may allow us to go back and look at solar systems that we previously thought had no planets that could harbor life and add some new "maybes" to our list.

Honestly, it is not NASA's fault that many of the largest astrobiological discoveries are not being made in space. The government has cut so much of NASA's funding in the past few years; I am amazed they can even afford the petri dish they used to study these samples.
I am not saying that NASA is perfect, but honestly, they are doing the best they can with what they've got. As a fellow nerd, I urge you to try not to belittle them so. When the news, blogs, and other forms of media discredit them, it turns the public away from these kinds of discoveries...or makes it seem insignificant. The government pays attention to where the public's interests lie. The public, in general, is stupid and rely on news articles and blogs to make their decisions for them.
If we want to see NASA doing bigger and better things, the best thing to do is support them and do your part to increase people's interest in Astronomy and science. Until the government wises up and allows for privatized space programs...we are stuck with a space program that relies entirely on government funding and interest. If we could only get people to love space again, we might be exploring more of it!



PS! I loved those Dr Who costumes....and errr....YES you can pull it off! You are the only person I know who makes a Wall-E costume look hot! hahah

Maybe they just really wanted to get the idea out there that life doesn't have to be carbon based. I'd imagine NASA gets pretty sick of some of the ideas that float around about life/ space/ nature.

I understand your disappointment. I really do. I can see how a discovery like this can seem a bit disheartening when you read headlines like "NASA announces press conference on new life" and find out that they are talking about Earth life. My own interest in Astronomy and some of my current studies and projects that I participate in are much more greatly affected by this discovery than the average space lover's interests. So for me, this is going to cause me (and many of the other members of my Astronomy Club) to go back and take another look at planetary systems we had previously dismissed as not being capable of sustaining life. And! Perhaps take another look at our own system's planets and moons. (Like Titan for example! This discovery means there could well be microbes there.)

It would have been wonderful to even have had this organism be discovered by a Mars rover...or within a meteorite. What an impact that would have made on the public's interest! That sort of announcement is something normal people can understand. This arsenic life form is really quite a discovery but you really have to explain it to people for them to understand why and the average attention span certainly would not stick around for the end result.

I do apologize for scolding you a bit. I did not mean to come off harsh or sound angry with you...I hope you did not feel I was berating you. (I despise the fact that we cannot convey tone properly in text form). I tend to like to debate issues and I am quick to stick up for the space programs.
I know that sarcasm and cynicism are strong characteristics within most nerds. It has taken me years to try to break the habit and shed my need to criticize or find fault within movies, books, news stories, or anything that appeals to my geeky nature.
Amongst other nerds....I feel that a sardonic attitude can be healthy and initiate wonderful debates that often lead to new discoveries and ideas. But when you write for the general public, you must be more mindful about criticizing or acting dismissive toward discoveries such as these. It is sad, but the majority of people will walk away thinking "Bob says NASA is bogus and so I feel that way too." They aren't really reading between the lines like you and I would.....and they are certainly not going to do their own research on the matter at hand!
The media shapes the public's opinions nowadays. It is sad, but true. So if you can get a captive audience, you must try to help them see the brighter side of science and increase their understanding of the importance of space exploration and study.

PS. I love you. Why don't you live here?? I have no one to debate these subjects with aside from my Astronomy club (which is 99.5% men in their 50's and 60's). You would be more fun to debate with in person because we could settle matters via pillow fight! hahahha!

I think part of the problem is that as NASA is struggling for funding and the US governemnt is also refusing to allow private sector exploration they're trying to do anything they can to gain back the love and attention of the general public.

I can understand why an embargo on what seems like old research seems over the top, but for me I think it was really important and necessary for them to do it this way.

No simple press release is going to get any attention from anyone but the scientists (and loyal 'fans') who already follow this type of discovery. Unfortunately NASA relies on public opinion because that is ultimately what can influence the US governemnt's spending (if the opinion is strong enough I try to have faith that the US government will follow through).

I also have hope that this kind of announcement on a published paper will spark enough "glitz" to be picked up by 'foreign' exploration and research teams. It's become quite obvious to me that other countries may need to step up and put strides in alongside the US for us to really get anywhere with astro research. Especially if the US government is still so adamant of having total control over US astro sciences.

Anyway, all I stopped by to say was that while I can see how an embargo might seem heavy handed for this kind of research, to me it's important. I'm hugely excited about this development (not 'discovery' necessarily but a much bigger understanding of the DNA behind the organisms), and I think an embargo, press conference and Q&A is what the general public needs to pull at their excitement systems (;

For me, I'm particularly thrilled about this paper and research being published because it will mean that there's solid evidence and need to explore places that were passed by before. It means there's a solid reason to give to the non-scientists on why these explorations should be funded!

Also, three years really isn't that long to have done this research and written the important paper to be published after the discovery of organisms that can metabolize arsenic to being able to prove that there are organisms that have a totally new and undiscovered DNA sequence!

Edit oops I just read up above me and I'm basically just echoing Squeak, I'm sorry! We need the trio back together! ARGH.