Ammonia-Based Lifeforms
Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur
00:00
Ammonia and the Future of Life
Many alternatives to water have been proposed, but ammonia has remained the strongest candidate since JBS Howdane first suggested as symposium back in 1954. Unlike water wards like earth, plants on ammonia wards may not need to deprotonate water or ammonia molecules to get an electron for photosynthesis. The dissolved alkaline earth metals release salvated electrons that can be used directly. This could free up photosynthetic plants to use a wider range of the spectrum. But we're not really expecting dense life like we see in rainforests.
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