Life on Mars?: I have a book (~ "Bacterial Metabolism") originally published in the 1930s, that details an amazing range of (Earth) bacterial energy sources. Bacteria can get by with a gamut of electron donors and acceptors: nitrate, ammonia, sulfides, sulfates, sulfites, hydrogen, ferrous -> ferric and back, and some other metal ions. There was even one disproportionation reaction, where the energy was derived from changing two atoms in an intermediate oxidation state into one higher and one lower. This was mainly soil bacteria; the book predates the discovery of black smokers on the ocean bottom. The human immune system apparently generates Br2 molecules to attack invaders, so its possible that bacteria exist that do similar amazing stunts. For Martian rocket fuel, maybe CO + O2? At least the ingredient CO2 is readily available. Re Matching: I think medical student internships are handled with a matching program where students and hospitals indicate preferences, and a computer does the assignments. This has been around for years, so there might be a body of experience to draw upon. Rich -------- Quoting Hilarie Orman <ho@alum.mit.edu>:
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 10:14:31 -0800 From: Bill Gosper <billgosper@gmail.com> Subject: [math-fun] Life on Mars? Latest grist ...
It's looking really glum for life on Mars.
--rwg
Earth, too.
Hilarie
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