Here and Now--or Never?

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  • Author(s): Scharf, Caleb
  • Source:
    Natural History. Sep2014, Vol. 122 Issue 7, p34-38. 5p.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      ORIGIN of life; EXTRATERRESTRIAL beings; PROKARYOTES; ARCHAEBACTERIA; BACTERIA; EUKARYOTES; GEOMAGNETISM
    • Abstract:
      The article discusses hypotheses on the relative rarity of life on Earth, focusing on the "rare Earth" hypothesis. Topics include the difference between simple life such as bacteria and archaea and complex life like eukarya; planetary phenomenon such as Earth's magnetic field, the water cycle, and terrestrial plate tectonics; and the difficulties of theorizing about alien life that could be substantially different from life on Earth.