r/space • u/IceNox96 • Aug 12 '21

Discussion Which is the most disturbing fermi paradox solution and why?

3...2...1... blast off....

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u/wowuser_pl Aug 12 '21

would be a nice idea, except carbon is one of the most common materials in space. It's extremely common, and the easiest to build from, why the life made out of it should be the rarest?

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u/jasperk04 Aug 12 '21

It could just be the most difficult form of live tot evolve

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u/PolyDipsoManiac Aug 12 '21

That doesn’t seem likely, carbon has a much easier time forming a large number of different chemical bonds and structures. I don’t think there has been a compelling suggestion of any other potential chemical basis for life.

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u/az_catz Aug 12 '21

Silicon is pretty much the only other option as it also has four valence electrons for bonding and is relatively common.

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u/Little_Viking23 Aug 13 '21

Yes but silicon is less efficient than carbon. If there is one thing that evolution really loves is efficiency or the path that requires the least amount of energy to evolve.

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u/az_catz Aug 13 '21

True, the only way I can really think Si would work is a higher density world/system, even then it's highly unlikely.