FARK.com: (7048382) Today's Fark-ready headline: "Intelligent space dinosaurs: How worried should we be?"

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		Today's Fark-ready headline: "Intelligent space dinosaurs: How worried should we be?" (csmonitor.com)		122
		More: Amusing, American Chemical Society, academic journal, National Medal of Science, organic compounds

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Nightsweat		2012-04-13 11:56:05 AM

Call Dr. McNinja!

trivial use of my dark powers		2012-04-13 11:59:12 AM

Abe Vigoda's Ghost: Professor Breslow, it should be noted, is no crackpot. He holds Columbia's highest academic rank, served as president of the American Chemical Society, is a recipient of the National Medal of Science and many other top honors, and is generally regarded as an all-around Eminent Scientist.

All that and still bat-shiat crazy. What a shame.

Thread over

CygnusDarius		2012-04-13 12:02:18 PM

I'd worry more about space demons and their followers...

wanderingamericantravelblog.files.wordpress.com

Then again, the Emperor protects.

Magorn		2012-04-13 12:02:50 PM

A science fiction writer once wrote a short story about an infinitely vast library that not only contained every book that had ever been written, but every book that ever COULD be written; which is to say every possible combination and sequence of letters in every alphabet. Some books therefore were pure gibberish, whiles others were sublime poetry, and of course, many books were exact duplicates of other books save the addition or deletion of single letter or word.

Our universe IS that library, and DNA is the Alphabet in which all of those "books" are written. In an infinitely vast universe there are an infite number of worlds on that can support life, which means that every possible combination of the building blocks of life has already been tried somewhere.

Which is to say the question is not WHETHER there are intelligent space dinosaurs but simply WHERE they are.

grimeystubs		2012-04-13 12:05:12 PM

So there could be plants out there that may have dinosaurs and other life with different handed proteins and amino acids? And we cannot metabolize such organic compounds?

Hmmmm. That means such planets could be harvested as sources as steaks and beer.

I think as a society we must land a person on such a world within the next decade and bring them back home safely (with lots of steak and beer). We should not do this because it is easy, but because we are talking diet steak and beer!

luyseyal		2012-04-13 12:12:01 PM

Headline of the year?

/actual article, not Fark headline

mongbiohazard		2012-04-13 12:15:28 PM

Someone's been playing Mass Effect, because he basically just described Titian's, what with their opposite chirality proteins...

UrCa		2012-04-13 12:16:14 PM

/hot

mongbiohazard		2012-04-13 12:16:33 PM

mongbiohazard: Someone's been playing Mass Effect, because he basically just described ~~Titian's~~, what with their opposite chirality proteins...

Turians, I meant. Damn autocorrect.

germ78		2012-04-13 12:16:36 PM

Sybarite: [www.rubberslug.com image 500x397]

You damn right.

Sofa King Smart		2012-04-13 12:18:34 PM

what about the m.f. pterodactyl (new window)?

obviously not suitable for work language (turn the volume down)... sing along... but not out loud.

/bonus - origins of the Bearodactyl!

darkmayo		2012-04-13 12:19:49 PM

Dr.McNinja will save us.

Latinwolf		2012-04-13 12:21:50 PM

armanox		2012-04-13 12:22:13 PM

No Dr. McNinja?

th0th		2012-04-13 12:22:32 PM

I will not deny twenty million years of history and Doctrine, just because one insignificant simian has a theory...

TheWhoppah		2012-04-13 12:22:34 PM

This was the subject of a terrible cartoon (new window) series:
www.cartoonscrapbook.com

jcb274		2012-04-13 12:22:59 PM

Abe Vigoda's Ghost: anfrind: Abe Vigoda's Ghost: Professor Breslow, it should be noted, is no crackpot. He holds Columbia's highest academic rank, served as president of the American Chemical Society, is a recipient of the National Medal of Science and many other top honors, and is generally regarded as an all-around Eminent Scientist.

All that and still bat-shiat crazy. What a shame.

It's not crazy. He was talking about microbes that could potentially survive in a dormant state while traveling through space. It was scientifically-illiterate journalists who made the jump to "space dinosaurs".

Oh there you go with RTFA. Who has time for that when I can just jump to a conclusion without even reading to the end?

So the journalist is just bat-shiat crazy.

From the original research article:

"Such life forms [other chirality-based life forms] could well be advanced versions of dinosaurs, if mammals did not have the good fortune to have the dinosaurs wiped out by an asteroidal collision, as on Earth. We would be better off not meeting them."

Pretty the professor is crazy. He started with the assumption that organic molecules fundamental for life on earth was seeded from meteorites that have an equal mixture of both chiralities. Reasonable. He showed that one chirality could be selectively decomposed by a certain polarity of UV. Also reasonable. He then proposed that other planets could have life based on a different chirality of organic molecules based on a different polarization of UV. Still reasonable. And that they would be intelligent dinosaurs. WTF?

CygnusDarius		2012-04-13 12:23:31 PM

grimeystubs: So there could be plants out there that may have dinosaurs and other life with different handed proteins and amino acids? And we cannot metabolize such organic compounds?

Hmmmm. That means such planets could be harvested as sources as steaks and beer.

I think as a society we must land a person on such a world within the next decade and bring them back home safely (with lots of steak and beer). We should not do this because it is easy, but because we are talking diet steak and beer!

It's been said that a fabricated (or real) 'alien' enemy threatening to invade Earth could give a massive boost to Space exploration.

jcb274		2012-04-13 12:24:44 PM

jcb274: Abe Vigoda's Ghost: anfrind: Abe Vigoda's Ghost: ...Pretty sure the professor is crazy...

FTFM

FloydA		2012-04-13 12:26:30 PM

Magorn: A science fiction writer once wrote a short story about an infinitely vast library that not only contained every book that had ever been written, but every book that ever COULD be written; which is to say every possible combination and sequence of letters in every alphabet.

[Footnote: The Library of Babel (new window) by Jorge Luis Borges.]

Honest Bender		2012-04-13 12:35:36 PM

Magorn: In an infinitely vast universe there are an infite number of worlds on that can support life, which means that every possible combination of the building blocks of life has already been tried somewhere.

Let's assume we live in an infinitely large universe (we don't). That still wouldn't mean there is an infinite number of planets (there aren't). Even if there were infinite planets, that doesn't necessarily mean that every possible combination of life has already been tried.

You fail at logic. You fail at logic BAD.

jfarkinB		2012-04-13 12:38:30 PM

jcb274: Pretty the professor is crazy. He started with the assumption that organic molecules fundamental for life on earth was seeded from meteorites that have an equal mixture of both chiralities. Reasonable. He showed that one chirality could be selectively decomposed by a certain polarity of UV. Also reasonable. He then proposed that other planets could have life based on a different chirality of organic molecules based on a different polarization of UV. Still reasonable. And that they would be intelligent dinosaurs. WTF?

It's called "joking". It's a rare skill to be able to slip it into a published paper. I think more highly of him for his achievement.

leonel		2012-04-13 12:41:45 PM

We used to be seven dinosaurs-until one day, we met four ordinary teenagers on Earth. They were called...

upload.wikimedia.org

LUNCH

StaleCoffee		2012-04-13 12:43:47 PM

I can't find any pics of Dinosaurs Attack! in here and I'm too lazy and self serving to get a free image hosting account to supply them.

Was there a Cadillacs & Dinosaurs shot up there I saw?

leonel		2012-04-13 12:44:00 PM

Now that I read the article, it sounds like they're describing Turians.

jfarkinB		2012-04-13 12:44:36 PM

Incidentally, dietary fats are mostly achiral, so we Americans would still be boned. (Well, rendered, actually.)

frepnog		2012-04-13 12:45:28 PM

Honest Bender: Magorn: In an infinitely vast universe there are an infite number of worlds on that can support life, which means that every possible combination of the building blocks of life has already been tried somewhere.

Let's assume we live in an infinitely large universe (we don't). That still wouldn't mean there is an infinite number of planets (there aren't). Even if there were infinite planets, that doesn't necessarily mean that every possible combination of life has already been tried.

You fail at logic. You fail at logic BAD.

if the universe is still expanding, how is it not infinitely large?

Honest Bender		2012-04-13 12:47:41 PM

frepnog: if the universe is still expanding, how is it not infinitely large?

If I start blowing up a balloon, is it considered infinitely large until I stop?

frepnog		2012-04-13 12:51:57 PM

Honest Bender: frepnog: if the universe is still expanding, how is it not infinitely large?

If I start blowing up a balloon, is it considered infinitely large until I stop?

the universe has not stopped. bad analogy.

ajt167		2012-04-13 12:55:27 PM

anfrind: Abe Vigoda's Ghost: Professor Breslow, it should be noted, is no crackpot. He holds Columbia's highest academic rank, served as president of the American Chemical Society, is a recipient of the National Medal of Science and many other top honors, and is generally regarded as an all-around Eminent Scientist.

All that and still bat-shiat crazy. What a shame.

It's not crazy. He was talking about microbes that could potentially survive in a dormant state while traveling through space. It was scientifically-illiterate journalists who made the jump to "space dinosaurs".

It was the title that he chose for his own article. After reading it, he was just having a bit of fun with it and decided to give the article a flashy headline.

AQlso, CSM is actually a pretty decent site. Consider that this was an article talking about origin of life and evolution and the journalist made no attempt to refute it, never mentioned God or the Bible, and gave a pretty interesting, entertaining, and well thought out piece. The site has a little crap, but nothing near like one would expect given it's name.

StaleCoffee		2012-04-13 01:00:31 PM

frepnog: Honest Bender: frepnog: if the universe is still expanding, how is it not infinitely large?

If I start blowing up a balloon, is it considered infinitely large until I stop?

the universe has not stopped. bad analogy.

The universe is not infinitely large because it is composed of a finite volume; were it infinitely large, it could not expand.

catchow		2012-04-13 01:01:35 PM

Came for tyrannosaurs in F-14s. Now I can die happy.

MythDragon		2012-04-13 01:04:54 PM

In every war the space dinos have fought, they struck first and without warning. For the space dinos, to know an enemy plans to attack and let it happen is folly; to announce their own plans to attack is insanity. They find the human moral concepts of 'do not fire until fired upon' and 'declare a war before prosecuting it' incredibly naive. In defensive wars, they execute devastating preemptive strikes hours before the enemy's own attacks. On the offense, they have never issued an official declaration of war before attacking.

offmymeds		2012-04-13 01:08:06 PM

CygnusDarius: I'd worry more about space demons and their followers...

[wanderingamericantravelblog.files.wordpress.com image 593x800]

Then again, the Emperor protects.

topwalls.net

FOR THE EMPEROR!!!

Jlop985		2012-04-13 01:11:05 PM

Dextro-chirality space dinosaurs?

He exists!

phatrabt		2012-04-13 01:11:33 PM

CygnusDarius: I'd worry more about space demons and their followers...

[wanderingamericantravelblog.files.wordpress.com image 593x800]

Then again, the Emperor protects.

Yes he does.

i573.photobucket.com

phatrabt		2012-04-13 01:12:45 PM

Oh, and don't forget to:

Balance The Equation

dittybopper		2012-04-13 01:15:43 PM

catchow: Came for tyrannosaurs in F-14s. Now I can die ~~happy~~ screaming, because I am a Chasmosaur.

washington-babylon		2012-04-13 01:19:09 PM

TommyJReed: Duck_of_Doom: Wrex.

Shepard.

Garrus!

enry		2012-04-13 01:22:47 PM

We'll get 'em hooked on ginger and that'll be the end of it.

*cough*

Skr		2012-04-13 01:25:01 PM

No Such Agency		2012-04-13 01:28:09 PM

jcb274:
Pretty [sure] the professor is crazy. He started with the assumption that organic molecules fundamental for life on earth was seeded from meteorites that have an equal mixture of both chiralities. Reasonable. He showed that one chirality could be selectively decomposed by a certain polarity of UV. Also reasonable. He then proposed that other planets could have life based on a different chirality of organic molecules based on a different polarization of UV. Still reasonable. And that they would be intelligent dinosaurs. WTF?

Well, scientists do have a sense of humour from time to time. Even journal editors.

Fano		2012-04-13 01:33:22 PM

Big Man On Campus		2012-04-13 01:35:43 PM

UrCa: [30.media.tumblr.com image 477x460]
/hot

That is fantastic... I want it on a T-shirt.

RepoManTSM		2012-04-13 01:45:20 PM

RepoManTSM		2012-04-13 01:51:57 PM

Latinwolf: anfrind: Abe Vigoda's Ghost: Professor Breslow, it should be noted, is no crackpot. He holds Columbia's highest academic rank, served as president of the American Chemical Society, is a recipient of the National Medal of Science and many other top honors, and is generally regarded as an all-around Eminent Scientist.

All that and still bat-shiat crazy. What a shame.

It's not crazy. He was talking about microbes that could potentially survive in a dormant state while traveling through space. It was scientifically-illiterate journalists who made the jump to "space dinosaurs".

Considering those "journalists" are from The Christian Science Monitor, I would question the use of the term "scientifically-illiterate".

The Christian Science Monitor is some of the best and most respected journalism out their. Know your media:

Despite its name, the Monitor does not claim to be a religious-themed paper, and say they do not promote the doctrine of its patron church. However, at its founder Eddy's request, a daily religious article has appeared in every issue of the Monitor. Eddy also required the inclusion of "Christian Science" in the paper's name, over initial opposition by some of her advisors who thought the religious reference might repel a secular audience.[2]

The paper has been known for avoiding sensationalism, producing a "distinctive brand of nonhysterical journalism".[4][5] In 1997, the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, a publication critical of United States policy in the Middle East, praised the Monitor for its objective and informative coverage of Islam and the Middle East.[6]

Monitor staff have been the recipients of seven Pulitzer Prizes, the most recent in 2002.

Link (new window)

IAMTHEINTARWEBS		2012-04-13 02:15:48 PM

Skr: [troll.me image 304x266]

thank you

PlatypusPuke		2012-04-13 02:29:57 PM

OccamsWhiskers		2012-04-13 02:30:47 PM

StaleCoffee:The universe is not infinitely large because it is composed of a finite volume; were it infinitely large, it could not expand.

Something infinite can expand. The set of integers starting 1, 2, 3, and never ending is infinite. There are other numbers you can add to that set. An infinite number of sets of numbers, in fact.