>
>Keith Knapp wrote to Andrew Cummins about Back to Apes
 AC> DB> Now, it does not look like Venus ever had, or ever will support
 AC> DB> any form of life we can imagine.
 
 AC>Why not?  Is it because Venus is stuck in an open system, getting
 AC>energy from the sun?  Just what principle or law leads you to
 AC>the conclusion that Venus will probably never support any form
 AC>of life?????????????????
 KK> Andrew, it may have something to do with the fact that the surface
 KK> of Venus is at about 800 degrees F -- hot enough to melt lead.
 The surface of the Earth was once that hot.  But really now, the 
 surface of Venus is really only averaging a temperature closer to
 450 degrees F.  At this temperature _now_ certain types of bacteria
 _thrive_ now on Earth in the deep ocean at volcanic vents.  And this
 at a place where oxygen is poisonous to this type of bacteria.  
 
 The earth has, in fact, an oxygen rich atmosphere _because_ early
 bacteria excreted oxygen as a waste product.
 
... Explain counter-clockwise to someone with a digital watch.
--- GEcho 1.11++TAG 2.7c
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