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Ammonia-Based Lifeforms

Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur

00:00

The Four Powers of Life

A planet like Earth could have seas of liquid ammonia while still being close enough to its sun for us to imagine photosynthesis or some other solar powered pump for life operating in Permani A robust ecology. Clouds of ammonia and ice of ammonia are both white, like water, making them more reflective to incoming light. The ultimate medium for stable life temperatures would be very reflective when it's hot as cloud vapor and opaque and absorptive as an ice.

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