Conditions for life?

Question

When scientists, such as in the SETI program, search for alien life, whether intelligent or not, why do they say they have to look for things such as water

. Is it not possible that organisms on other planets could not have evolved to be sustained on other compounds, such as methane or anything really.

Answer 1

I'm a little tea pot, short and stout, this is my handle this is my spout:P

When the tea is ready hear me shout!

tip me up and pour me out;)

Answer 2

Hm. You're right. Water isn't essential - especially if they're not of the "human type". You should become a Scientist and help those SETI ones out :)

Answer 3

Yes, they could have easily adapted to something else, just like we have a mix of Oxygen and other compounds in our Air Supply. But we can also breath pure Oxygen.

Life is anything that can react and has a high level of thinking.

Answer 4

Sure, and scientists are open to this possiblity. However, look at our Solar System and the planets it consists of. Now look at the presence of life in the Solar System. It seems that Earth is the only one, or at least the only one with obvious forms of life. Therefore, we can only see one example to draw on. Thus it is not unreasonable to conclude that because water, oxygen and carbon are so important to sustain life on Earth that this principle is universal. We have yet to find signs of any form of life on Mars, therefore when looking for life in the universe why would we look at places with high amounts of Carbon Dioxide and little to no Oxygen or Water. It is logical to look at the latter characteristics first based on our scientific observations and understandings.