A deep thought regarding life out there

dumbluck · #1 April 1st, 2001, 12:04 AM

[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 · #2 April 1st, 2001, 01:08 AM

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 · #3 April 1st, 2001, 01:56 AM

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 · #4 April 1st, 2001, 02:00 AM

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 · #5 April 1st, 2001, 02:04 AM

Well there goes my big bang theriory.

Husky65 · #6 April 1st, 2001, 02:55 AM

You seem to be ignoring the fact that we were intelligent before we started using fire.

Alpha Kodiak · #7 April 1st, 2001, 03:53 AM

It seems to me that on a methane or hydrogen atmosphere world, an oxygen source would essentially be the "fuel" for the fire, so your cigarette lighter would contain some sort of oxygen producer to allow a flame. As to percentages of gasses in the atmosphere, remember that the largest component of our atmosphere is actually nitrogen, which is inert. On a methane world, chances are that any quantity of oxygen, or any other reactive gas would already have been "burned" into a non-reactive compound. I realize that I am using terms loosely from a pure chemistry standpoint, but you get the idea.