Carbon chauvinism
Carbon chauvinism is a neologism meant to disparage the assumption that the chemical processes of hypothetical extraterrestrial life must be constructed primarily from carbon (organic compounds) because as far as is known, carbon's chemical and thermodynamic properties render it far superior to all other elements at forming molecules used in living organisms.[1]
The expression "carbon chauvinism" is also used to criticize the idea that artificial intelligence can't in theory be sentient or truly intelligent because the underlying matter isn't biological.[2]
Concept
The term was used as early as 1973, when scientist
Carbon alternatives
Like carbon,
Silicon lacks an important property of carbon: single, double, and triple carbon-carbon bonds are all relatively stable.
Hydrocarbons and organic compounds are abundant in meteorites, comets, and interstellar clouds, while their silicon analogs have never been observed in nature. Silicon does, however, form complex one-, two- and three-dimensional polymers in which oxygen atoms form bridges between silicon atoms. These are termed
The black cloud
Fred Hoyle (1915-2001), a prominent astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge, is most well known for his theory of how chemical elements heavier than helium in our universe are manufactured within stars. However, he is also remembered for his scientifically plausible fiction novels, the first of which “The Black Cloud” was published in 1957. This novel describes the interaction of Earth scientists with an intelligent life form, an immense black cloud of gas that moves directly towards the solar system and temporarily obscures the sun. When the black cloud detects radio signals from earth, it is surprised to discover that intelligent life can also exist on the surface of planets. Although Fred Hoyle characterizes this novel as a “frolic,” he also notes that there is little in the novel that could not conceivably happen. This novel is notable for raising, and providing a scientific rationale for the concept that the existence of “life” may not be constrained by the conditions that are ordinarily considered to be essential based on the singular example of life on earth.
See also
References
- ^ Darling, David. "Carbon-based life". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 14 September 2007.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ISBN 9780385004572.
- ^ "Target: Titan & Silicon-based life". Astrowright. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2011.