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[Sowelu]

First off:  It is ON EARTH.  But they are made of stuff we have NEVER seen in life before, and it completely redefines what we are looking for elsewhere.

All previously known life on earth is primarily made up of:   
Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur
 
This new stuff is made up of:
Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, ARSENIC, sulfur
 
...Phosphorous is used in the DNA of all known life forms.  These guys' DNA is different.  Oh yeah, and arsenic is toxic, so don't eat it.

http://gizmodo.com/5704158/nasa-finds-new-life

[Criptfeind]

I really don't see what is so exciting. We knew out DNA was only one set of a possible configuration.

[Sowelu]

I really don't see what is so exciting. We knew out DNA was only one set of a possible configuration.

Yes, but it's the only one we've ever seen in the entire history of biology everywhere in the world to date.  This is a new one.  So...Yeah.

[Javarock]

This is intresting, Perhaps there could be things on mars that use a diffrent building blocks. Also on a side note, There immune to arsenic, One would assume.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I know that the existance of arsenic-using life has been suspected for at least the past two years, so this isn't all that suprising. I wonder if religious groups will have a bad reaction to this? (Get it? It's a pun on chemical rea-Oh, never mind.)

[Criptfeind]

I thought we knew of some dead things that used a C in place of something.

There immune to arsenic, One would assume.

We are not immune to phosphorus, so not a given.

[Aqizzar]

Sweet, I saw this mentioned on the news today, but I couldn't stick around to hear the story.  Fascinating stuff, I've always been interested in the idea of lifeforms that operate on a completely different kind of chemistry.

http://gizmodo.com/5704158/nasa-finds-new-life

NASA's geobiologist Pamela Conrad thinks that the discovery is huge and "phenomenal," comparing it to the Star Trek episode in which the Enterprise crew finds Horta, a silicon-based alien life form that can't be detected with tricorders because it wasn't carbon-based.

Wait... "Pamela"?

[smigenboger]

I know that the existance of arsenic-using life has been suspected for at least the past two years, so this isn't all that suprising. I wonder if religious groups will have a bad reaction to this? (Get it? It's a pun on chemical rea-Oh, never mind.)

God's one step ahead of us. He's throwing us a curveball to keep the truth hidden.

[Criptfeind]

Also: Phosphorus and Arsenic are really quite close. If this was a bigger change (Outside of a group) I would be more surprised.

[smigenboger]

Also: Phosphorus and Arsenic are really quite close. If this was a bigger change (Outside of a group) I would be more surprised.

How about those tube worms living off the heat and gas from the oceanic faults? You probably know more about it than I.

[nenjin]

Wasn't there a big todo about the theory of silica based lifeforms, and the scientific community rejecting it since silica wasn't one of the building blocks?

I mean, if arsenic can be incorporated into DNA, then it stands to reason almost any configuration is possible.

[inteuniso]

Wooo! Let's start looking for any sort of planet with an atmosphere now.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I mean, if arsenic can be incorporated into DNA, then it stands to reason almost any configuration is possible.

Perhaps, but don't get caught up in the "Big Scary Arsenic Poison" aspect of this. It's a valid chemical, just not for humans.

[Criptfeind]

Also: Phosphorus and Arsenic are really quite close. If this was a bigger change (Outside of a group) I would be more surprised.

How about those tube worms living off the heat and gas from the oceanic faults? You probably know more about it than I.

First: Lies, any knowledge I seem to have is just a well made fake on my part. Second, I don't think they are radical different. Hell, they don't even eat the (what ever comes out, maybe sulfur?) it is their gut flora. I don't think they are as remarkable as this new thing they found here.

I mean, if arsenic can be incorporated into DNA, then it stands to reason almost any configuration is possible.

Ahhh... Phosphorus and Arsenic are really quite close.

[Itnetlolor]

Dammit Black Mesa! We already have enough troubles with the creatures in this dimension. Stop summoning more bizzare things over here. Where's my crowbar, or where the hell is XCOM?