concept

silicon-based life

Also known as: silicon-based life forms

Facts (12)

Sources

Carbon may not be the only basis for life. Look for silicon, too bigthink.com Big Think Jul 1, 2022 7 facts

claimSilicon-based life would require an environment without significant free oxygen or liquid water, where organic silicon compounds like silane (SiH4) could potentially replace methane (CH4).

claimSaturn's moon Titan is considered the closest analog in the Solar System for silicon-based life because it is cold and lacks both oxygen and liquid water.

claimIsaac Asimov's short story 'The Talking Stone' features silicon-based life forms.

claimMethanol could serve as a solvent for silicon-based life on worlds with temperatures slightly warmer than those found on Titan.

claimMethanol could potentially serve as a solvent for silicon-based life on worlds with temperatures slightly warmer than Saturn's moon Titan.

claimA prerequisite for silicon-based life on an exoplanet or exomoon is the absence of significant amounts of free oxygen or liquid water.

claimThe Horta is a silicon-based life form depicted in the 1967 Star Trek episode titled 'The Devil in the Dark'.

Hypothetical types of biochemistry - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia 2 facts

claimSilicon-based life forms could potentially exist deep in the Earth's crust or sealed within ancient rocks.

referenceDavid Darling published an article titled 'Silicon-based Life' in 2016, discussing the theoretical possibility of silicon-based organisms.

Alternative Biochemistries: Speculations about Strange Possibilities pressbooks.cuny.edu CUNY Pressbooks 1 fact

perspectiveThe laws of chemistry strongly favor carbon-based life over silicon-based life, particularly in temperature and pressure environments similar to those found on Earth.

Does Life Need to Be Carbon-Based? - Reasons to Believe reasons.org Reasons to Believe Oct 28, 2016 1 fact

claimThe Star Trek franchise depicts silicon-based life forms such as the Crystalline Entity and the Horta.

Are Non-Carbon Based Life Forms Really Possible? - Physics Forums physicsforums.com Physics Forums Mar 20, 2005 1 fact

claimSome participants in the Physics Forums discussion propose that non-carbon based life forms, such as silicon or fluorine-based organisms, could exist, though they express skepticism regarding the potential complexity or advancement of such organisms.