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Icehouse Planet; Life on an ammonia world...
Topic Started: Mar 16 2009, 09:56 PM (580 Views)
Viridian
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Amateur Xenobiologist
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I've been thinking about how life could arise on an Earth-mass world with Titan-like characteristics.

These are my thoughts about the planet:



Atmospheric Composition:

More than 85% nitrogen. Also contains a plethora of organic compounds that cause an “icehouse” effect.

Surface Conditions:

38% of the surface is covered by ocean-lakes of liquid ammonia. Water ice forms “rocky” islands and continents, while a sticky organic tar is smeared across any exposed surfaces. Geysers of cold organic chemicals are common; they form the basis of chemical cycles on the planet.

Interior Composition:

The crust of the planet is a thick, constantly shifting mass of water ice containing pockets of liquid ammonia and organic deposits. Below this is a warmer mantle of semi-molten ice slush, some silicates and iron. This is followed by a metal-rich core.

Stellar Information:

The star which this planet orbits is an F class star with a smaller M class companion. The lifespan of the primary star is likely to be considerably shorter than that of Earth’s Sun.

Life-forms:

Life begins in warm pockets of liquid ammonia beneath the surface. Its solvent is ammonia and it is largely based on nitrogen and carbon compounds. Genetic information is stored in molecules similar in function and structure to RNA/DNA.

Due to the thick, clouded atmosphere, photosynthesis is not possible on this world, so forms of “chemosynthesis” have arisen to take advantage of the large concentrations of organic compounds in the oceans and atmosphere.



So, let me know what you all think. I'm not too sure about what the planetary interior would actually be like... What I've written is just my best guess.

Also, due to the low density of this planet it would be a lot larger than Earth, which could have some interesting effects on any life that were to evolve there.

Perhaps I could turn this into an evolution game or project if people are interested?

Edited by Viridian, Mar 16 2009, 10:53 PM.
Out of nowhere, you are attacked by a snarling, biting mass of felt shaped like a raccoon! This is the single angriest puppet you’ve ever seen, and it’s not cookies that it wants to eat…
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Terrence of Chance
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Energy, almost any form of energy, produces heat. Wheither the amount of heat made is enough to warm an enviroment or not, is dependant upon the circumstances.
With your 'Chemosynthesis' idea, I can see a clade of fungal-like organisms. Mushrooms that don't need the light, but are capable of breathing/absorbing the nutrients that they need, creating some kind of byproduct. What this byproduct would be, would probably require a table of the elements to deduce.
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ATEK Azul
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this is a very intersting idea and hope you continue.

as for the planet it self i think that the planet would eather need a thin rock crust inbetween the ice and lava or have the ice be mixed with lots of minerals that absorb the heat well and keep the ice from melting.
I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's!
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Viridian
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Having done some further research, I now imagine the planet would have a thin icy crust followed by a deep ocean of water and ammonia. Pools of ammonia would precipitate on the surface and the only mixing between the internal ocean and the surface pools would be eruptions of liquid oceanic material through the crust.

Due to the higher mass of this planet, volcanic forces would be more active for longer, producing bubbles of hydrogen sulfide which would rise to the surface and cause eruptions. The gas could also form the basis of a chemosynthetic reaction.

I'm not sure whether the ammonia and hydrogen sulfide would react at all... I guess I should look it up.
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ATEK Azul
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i think amonia sulfate and hydrate are chemicals but i do not know anything about them so....

anyway i think those new aditions from your last post are pretty good and up the quality.
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Xenophile
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Formerly known as alienboy.
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This is a really great idea, but it disapoints me that you have given the parent star a rather short lifetime. If it had a longer life time, strange multicellular lifeforms could develop.
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