"Life As We Know It", Redefined
Keith’s note: Multiple, reliable sources within the Astrobiology community tell me that NASA’s Astrobiology announcement tomorrow concerns Arsenic-based biochemistry and the implications for the origin of life on Earth, how it may have happened more than once on our planet, and the implications for life arising elsewhere in the universe. NASA has not found life on any other world.
That said, as a biologist, I have to say that this is exciting stuff. It shows that other biochemistries are possible – more than just “life as we know it” and that the possible places where “life” could exist in the universe are now much more numerous as a result. What other biochemistries are possible? I am certain we’ll be hearing much more about this.