Alien bacteria and biosphere II

[T.L.G.vanderLinden@student.utwente.nl (Timothy van der Linden)]

>>By the way, I note there is concern about alien biologies
>>overwhelming our biologies.  I think it depends upon how
>>advanced the "exo-bacteria" are.  There is also the
>>possibility of OUR bacteria completely overwhelming the
>>local ecosystem.  This is, of course, undesirable.  But
>>not dangerous to us.
>
>I supposed we havn't been talking about the Earth plague risk much.  Nasty
>environmental impact stament.  "Ah, well we could whipe out an entire
>planetary ecosphere."   F.O.E. would nuck NASA as a premtive strike!

Yes, if we have bad luck the planet will be rotting away after a few years.

>I don't really think the risks are due to sophistication of bacteria.  Just
>the fact they might each be about the same level of sophistication, but
>inconpatable with the evolved checks and balences of the other ecology.
>Sort of like how Kudzu and fire ants (remember them Dave? ;) ) are taking
>over the southeastern U.S.  They arn't better or worse, but different
>enough to not have a effective local opponent.

Even if they are less sophisticated, the hazard of killing us is possible,
just because we have evolved beyond them too far.

============================================================================

To Kelly:

>>Kelly do you know why there was too little oxigen? 
>>I've never heard the real reason for it, some thought 
>>the oxigen had oxidated with the metal inside
>>the construction. I think that the glass may have 
>>filtered out some essential radiation or it may have
>>dimmed the light too much.
>
>Nothing flashy.  The concrete reacted chemically with something in the soil
>(can't remember what off hand, sorry)  that starved the planets a bit, which
>cut down oxegen production.

So the problem could be solved in a new try, or even in the same biosphere.

Tim