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Although this is currently a speculative field, the absence of life in the rest of the Universe is a falsifiable hypothesis (though it is yet to be proven false), making xenobiology a valid field for scientific enquiry. Likewise, computer simulations of basic life processes have made it possible to do exploratory engineering of alternate life forms (like left-handed DNA) to determine their characteristics.
For these reasons the search for extraterrestrial life is of great relevance to xenobiologists. Some contend that the number of planets with intelligent extraterrestrial life can be estimated from the Drake equation if and when we ascertain the values of its variables. However uncertainties in the term of the equation make it impossible to predict whether life is rare or common. Another associated topic in xenobiology is the Fermi paradox, which suggests that if intelligent life is common in the universe then there should be obvious signs of it.
Xenobiology also figures in much science fiction as the fictional science of the biology of alien organisms. This use of the term demonstrates the speculative generation of possible models of such life, e.g. silicon-based.
There is no current tangible evidence for intelligent extraterrestrial life ( as of 2004). However examination of meteors from AntarcticaAntarctica (from Greek nu;ταρκτικ&sigmaf opposed to the arctic) is a continent surrounding the Earth's South Pole. It is the coldest place on earth and is almost entirely covered by ice. It is not to be confused with the which are presumed to have originated from the planet MarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system, named after the Roman god of war (the counterpart of the Greek Ares), on account of its blood red color as viewed in the night sky. Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, both small and odd have provided what some scientists believe to be microfossils of extraterrestrial life, although that interpretation of the evidence is still controversial. In 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co, the spectral signature of methaneProperties General Name Methane Lewis Structure: H | H-C-H | H Chemical formula C H Formula weight 16. 04 amu Synonyms Marsh gas; Methyl hydride CAS number 74-82-8 Phase behavior Melting point 90. 5 °C) Boiling point 111 K (-162°C) Triple point 90. 48°C) was detected in the Martian atmosphere by both Earth-based telescopes as well as by the Mars ExpressAn artist's concept of the Mars Express probe orbiting Mars. Mars Express is a Mars exploration mission of the European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency. The spacecraft was launched on June 2 2003 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, using a Soyuz probe. Methane has a relatively short half-life in the Martian atmosphere, so there must be a recent source of it. Since one possible source, active volcanism, has thus far not been detected on Mars, this has led scientists to speculate that the source could be (microbial) life.
Missions to other planets (such as SpiritMER-A ( Spirit ) is the first of the two Mars Exploration Rover Missions. She successfully landed on Mars on January 3, 2004 at 20:35 PST (04:35 UTC on January 4). Her twin, MER-B Opportunity , landed successfully on Mars on January 24, 2004. Naming of Sp and OpportunityMER-B Opportunity is the second of the two rovers of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission. She landed successfully on Mars on January 24, 2004 at 21:05 PST ( January 25 05:05 UTC). Her twin, MER-A Spirit , landed on Mars three weeks earlier on January 3, to Mars, Cassini to Saturn's moon Titan, and a future mission to Jupiter's moon Europa) hope to further explore the possibilities of life on other planets in our solar system.