Cassini Finds Hydrocarbons on Titan..(guess we can throw away our Bibles now)

ap ^ | Mon, Apr 25, 2005 | na

[Flavius]

PASADENA, Calif. - A close flyby of Saturn's big moon Titan by the international Cassini spacecraft revealed an upper atmosphere brimming with complex organic material, a finding that could hold clues to how life arose on Earth, scientists said Monday.

Cassini flew within 638 miles of Titan's frozen surface on April 16 and discovered a hydrocarbon-laced upper atmosphere.

Titan's atmosphere is mainly made up of nitrogen and methane, the simplest type of hydrocarbon. But scientists were surprised to find complex organic material in the latest flyby. Because Titan is extremely cold — about minus 290 degrees — scientists expected the organic material to condense and rain down to the surface.

"We are beginning to appreciate the role of the upper atmosphere in the complex carbon cycle that occurs on Titan," said Hunter Waite, a professor at the University of Michigan.

Scientists believe Titan's atmosphere may be similar to that of the primordial Earth and studying it could provide clues to how life began.

The $3.3 billion Cassini mission, funded by NASA and the European and Italian space agencies, was launched in 1997 and took seven years to reach Saturn. The European Huygens probe carried aboard Cassini was released on Dec. 24 and plunged to the surface of Titan in January.

[Redcloak]

Lemme get this straight... There really is life on Titan, but, at 94°K, said life hasn't worked the slightest detectable change on the atmosphere in over 4.5 billion years; that despite the pristine, primordial atmosphere our lying eyes present to us, we should believe that there's life on Titan.

[AntiGuv]

What change are you looking for? You do realize that methanogen archaea produce methane as their by-product? Maybe you don't. Either way, if that's what we're looking for then the super-detectible change is the methane itself. Others create carbon dioxide. There's carbon dioxide on Titan. In fact, the most tidy explanation for the coexistence of methane and carbon dioxide on Titan would be microbial action.

Our "lying eyes" do not show any kind of "pristine, primordial" atmosphere except in your fervid imagination. Here in reality, the present composition of Titan's atmosphere cannot be any older than a few hundred years. Your lying brain is the problem. Work on it.

[Flavius]

Well, while back millions of years ago when I was in college.

Sagan died from cancer, also bunch of people in his office. Almost a cluster.

The idea was the guys were nuking various primal chemicals such as the ones found on titan. Hence the second article there.

Basically Sagan, was trying to prove that life was a fluke, in the end the theory was that all the organic chemicals that he was exposed to did him in, along with the staff.

That was tin foil/PhD Chemistry type people throwing that out.

So the point was I think that was the old time battle, earth being flat and religious zealots torching the people that said that was round. There is more but to tired to write. ie Bible vs Science which is basically what that article is, they dont come out and say it, but that statement summarizes the authors philosophical bend

In short, the add on would get a lot of people to read the column. Which it did... no other reason, my Bible is still in my house.

Peace

[PatrickHenry]

Thanks for the ping, but the thread's gone so far downhill that I'll spare the list. Interesting topic, however.

[Rebelbase]

""I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.""

Oh, come one now. ~Everyone~ knows he was talking about the American Indians. :-)

[AntiGuv]

The thread went downhill when the title was modified. LOL

[shibumi]

"You're buddies with The Merlyn? "

Actually, I was quoting YOU, quoting him.

[shibumi]

"It's almost time to unveil "The Cheeto Starchild"......:)"

Visions that hint at the true nature of the universe (snack food as a higher life-form) have driven lesser men to madness in the past!

[conservativecorner]

To each his own I always say. They don't call it faith for nothing.

[R. Scott]

It definitely got my attention.

[FormerACLUmember]

Not to my knowledge.

[saminfl]

If we found life on Titan, chacnes are we wouldn't recognize it.

Isn't Titan where the slugs came from in Heinlein's, The Puppet Masters?

[ColoCdn]

Thanks for that quote. I now have something else to put on my reading list.

[Diamond]

Life on Titan would have had to evolve in temperatures near -300 F, while life on Earth is thought to have evolved in temperatures near 1000 C

Why is it said that evolution has nothing to do with abiogenesis?

Cordially

[Quix]

Hmmmmm . . .

So, which words and phrases say that to you?

I see NOTHING in all your posted Scriptures which preclude other galaxies having civilizations etc.

God is Lord over all. Christ created all. There is no need that He died more than once on Calvary here on earth for all Creation.

Scripture is clear about ALL CREATION GROANING EXPECTANTLY . . .

Perhaps you should read it more.

[Redcloak]

Quoting from the original article...

Scientists believe Titan's atmosphere may be similar to that of the primordial Earth and studying it could provide clues to how life began.

Oh, me of little faith, what should I make of this sentence? Sounds like Titan is all dressed up with no place to go; the little moon that couldn't. Must be my lying eyes again.

As to your ad hoc theory: "Here in reality, the present composition of Titan's atmosphere cannot be any older than a few hundred years." What evidence do you offer to support this claim?

[AntiGuv]

Oh, me of little faith, what should I make of this sentence?

Probably something less inane than what's apparently the case.

Must be my lying eyes again.

Bzzzt. Guess again.

What evidence do you offer to support this claim?

The evidence is in the thread. Go back and find it.

[Paloma_55]

Please, explain Pascal's wager and how it has been shot down...

I bet ya can't!

[Dead Dog]

Anyone who rejects religion for science is an idiot who is incapable of recognizing their own leap of faith.

Anyone of Faith who rejects/fears science, doesn't recognize their own lack of faith.

Too many on both sides of the issue can't distinguish the magician from the rabbit.

[Dead Dog]

So...Jesus got into a space ship and went to another planer far, far away?

Which, I would imagine, is easier then turning water into wine. And mush simpler than returning from the dead.