A deep thought regarding life out there

[Atrocities]

It occured to me yestarday, kind out of the blue, that life evolved on this planet because of our ability to adjust and adapt our environment to fit us because of our discovery of Fire. Without this basic element, life as we know it would not be.

No keeping in mind that all things throughout the galaxy are made up of the same elements, what would happen if you lit a match on a Methane world? BOOOOOM

How about on a Hydrogen world? Big BOOOOOM

Get my point? How could life evolve on world with explosive atmospheres? We had to have fire in order to advance our understanding of chemistry, technology, and just about everything else that gave us what we have now. With fire being a basic element throughout the galaxy, one would conclude that in order to evolve, one would have to have fire.

Well, I guess this eleminates the concept of inteligant life evolving on planets that have explosive atomspheres.

[dumbluck]

[quote]Now keeping in mind that all things throughout the galaxy are made up of the same elements, what would happen if you lit a match on a Methane world? BOOOOOM

How about on a Hydrogen world? Big BOOOOOM

ummm, that is incorrect. If you can even get a match to ignite on a methane or hydrogen world, then you are a god. the reason being is that fire is nothing more than a chemical reaction in which a substance is oxidized (albeit somewhat energetically).

Therefore if you light a match on a methane world, nothing happens; there isn't any oxygen for the methane to react with. Same thing on a hydrogen world.

sorry to burst your bubble

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May your Life prosper and your Dreams be sweet.

[Deathstalker]

Now this may not be scientificly correct (don't rightly know) but aren't most atmospheres made up of percentages of different types of gasses?? I seem to remember most trek shows on hostile worlds (ahh, the science of those raised on T.V. ) being hostile because the oxygen was way below par for earthers, and carbon dioxide etc was too high. Now what would happen if a match was lit on a 80% methane world (with 15% oxy and 5% carbon) ?? Would this be a qualified BOOM?
Just thoughts......

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"The Empress took your name away," said Chance.
Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker.

[Kellicus]

Well, I am no chemist, but I think that if there were chemicals in the atmosphere that WOULD react with each other, they would before some hapless alien lifeform lit a match.
Also, I was thinking that fire might not be a requirement for intelligence. But I have to change my son's diaper and can't get into it right now.

[Deathstalker]

Kellicus, speaking of chemicals reacting with the atmosphere.......sounds like you just might be dealing with a methane world yourself right now..

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"The Empress took your name away," said Chance.
Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker.

[Atrocities]

Well there goes my big bang theriory.