Jan 22, 2024 11:55 PM
(This post was last modified: Jan 22, 2024 11:56 PM by C C.)
https://thedebrief.org/coincidences-of-o...lly-lucky/
EXCERPT (Avi Loeb): . . . Was the Moon-Sun tidal coincidence on Earth important for allowing complex and intelligent life? In a paper with my former postdoc, Manasvi Lingam, we argued that tides may exert a significant positive influence on biotic processes including abiogenesis, biological rhythms, nutrient upwelling, and photosynthesis. In particular, we suggested large-scale algal blooms as potential temporal biosignatures in reflectance light curves that can arise indirectly as a consequence of strong tidal effects.
Anthropic reasoning for tides can be tested in the future if we find that exoplanets with complex lifeforms have moons that satisfy the tidal matching condition with the host star. If we ever encounter aliens, we can ask them whether the tide from their host star on their home planet coincides with the tide from their moon. If they reply “We have no moon”, we will know that Earthlings are truly lucky and special. After all, the Universe is under no obligation to reward all of its inhabitants with the same ocean view... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPT (Avi Loeb): . . . Was the Moon-Sun tidal coincidence on Earth important for allowing complex and intelligent life? In a paper with my former postdoc, Manasvi Lingam, we argued that tides may exert a significant positive influence on biotic processes including abiogenesis, biological rhythms, nutrient upwelling, and photosynthesis. In particular, we suggested large-scale algal blooms as potential temporal biosignatures in reflectance light curves that can arise indirectly as a consequence of strong tidal effects.
Anthropic reasoning for tides can be tested in the future if we find that exoplanets with complex lifeforms have moons that satisfy the tidal matching condition with the host star. If we ever encounter aliens, we can ask them whether the tide from their host star on their home planet coincides with the tide from their moon. If they reply “We have no moon”, we will know that Earthlings are truly lucky and special. After all, the Universe is under no obligation to reward all of its inhabitants with the same ocean view... (MORE - missing details)