I have always wondered this: Whenever NASA talks about looking for life on other planets [like Mars], they always say that in order for life to exist, you need water, sunlight, air, etc. Well, what if we are wrong. What if there is life out there that doesn't need those things. In my opinion, we are going about all of this the wrong way. What if the life that is out there is so advanced, that they live on other substances. So maybe the reason why we aren't finding any life out there is because we are looking in the wrong places. Maybe there is life on Mars, but maybe that life isn't near where we think there is water. Can someone tell NASA that they need to take new theories into consideration! What do you think?

Yeah, that's very possible. But how do we know. We can only work with and be certain of what we've got and all. Anything could be possible. Where do you beginning on creating theories about other lifeforms. I think I remember an older post like this, too, actually.

P.S. this might be more relevant in science actually. Don't sweat it though.

You remember well, Jusork. I mentioned in another thread that we seem to look for only carbon-based life possibilities; that is all we know. I hope that the probes and research done allow for the possibility of other-based, or non-carbon-based life. To assume that what we know is all that could exist is foolish. Recent discoveries on earth have found life existing under conditions that were thought impossible. Our ignorance is greater than our knowledge.

I can assure you, they've considered the possibility of non-carbon-based life that doesn't require water. The problem is, how do you look for it if you don't have any idea what it is? You could say look at everything, but that's not realistic, so they keep their eyes open while looking where life is most likely.

So what would you look for?

Of course, I am limited by my scant knowledge in this area, much less than those who plan this sort of thing. All I would know to look for would be evidence of electrical activity and chemical reactions. But even that is based on our life forms.