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Recently, I attended a priests' conference where one of the professors spoke to us of some interesting scientific findings concerning the possibility of life on other planets.
I have always enjoyed speculating on the science fiction theories of multiple life forms on many distant worlds. Here is part of what I learned was missing in my knowledge of life. Some of you may be well ahead of me in this field. Please, forgive my layman's presentation.
Any form of life requires a complex strand of DNA. Carbon is the only known element which can form that long a strand of molecules. Hence only carbon-based life forms are possible.
To transform carbon into a living organism requires, among other things, a specific amount of water and heat which we have not been able to artificially create in a lab. Water, although necessary, being a universal solvent, tends to dissolve the carbon molecules prohibiting the development of a sufficiently long strand of DNA. And only a narrow range of temperature can foster life. Heat in too great or too small a quantity would be unsatisfactory for developing life. Although life, once established, might spread and evolve to survive hostile climates as we find it has in places on earth, it could not begin in such harsh regions, much less the extreme temperatures on every known planet or moon in space.
Photosynthesis is the basis of all life. It requires radiation within a very limited bandwidth. Our atmosphere must be thick enough to block out the damaging rays of the sun while thin enough to let through the vital life-giving rays.
Oxygen, a gas, is necessary for sustaining life. Planets with less mass cannot hold oxygen, and planets with greater mass would blanket the surface with gases destructive of all life.
Even though I still hope that life exists elsewhere, with all these very limiting conditions, reputable scientists conclude that it is likely that Earth is the only planet in the universe capable of sustaining life and it is amazing that the extremely specific conditions for the birth of life exist even here. Unless you believe that life really is a miracle. A gift from God.
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Rev. Fr. Joseph Orr of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Lock Haven.