[Platt] Many thanks for this summary. Much better than the Wikipedia article on carbon for the great unwashed like me. Makes me wonder what the probability is that such a versatile element exists at all. :-) In any case, I appreciate your taking the time to answer. Always a quality experience to learn something new.
[Krimel] I suspect the probability is fairly high given that the Periodic table is rather like a spectrum of possibly configurations of subatomic particles. The real issue is that given conditions like those we find here, what is the probability of carbon forming into similarly complex configurations elsewhere in the universe? Or given radically different condition might not so other element play a similar role. Silicon is given as a possible candidate because it occupies a similar position on the periodic table only with more electrons than carbon. It is impossible to say without finding another example just how likely this is but answering this question is one of the reasons for supporting further research and space exploration. Even asking the question shows a certain commitment to looking for likelihood and a desire to sharpen our estimates of probability. (To find The Way, if you will) It also points to the marvelous effects of probability and complexity. It is the shear number and complexity of Static carbon patterns that give it its Dynamic Quality. Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
