In addition to carbon compounds, all currently known terrestrial life also requires water as a solvent. This has led to discussions about whether water is the only liquid capable of filling that role. The idea that an extraterrestrial life-form might be based on a solvent other than water has been taken seriously in recent scientific literature by the biochemist Steven Benner, and by the astrobiological committee chaired by John A. Baross.Committee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems, Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life, National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press, 2007; pages 69–79. Solvents discussed by the Baross committee include ammonia,Committee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems, Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life, National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press, 2007; p. 72. sulfuric acid,Committee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems, Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life, National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press, 2007; p. 73. formamide,Committee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems, Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life, National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press, 2007; p. 74. hydrocarbons, and (at temperatures much lower than Earth's) liquid nitrogen, or hydrogen in the form of a supercritical fluid.Committee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems, Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life, National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press, 2007; p. 75.
In addition to carbon compounds all currently known terrestrial life also requires water as a solvent This has led to discussions about whether water is the only liquid capable of filling that role The idea that an extraterrestrial life-form might be based on a solvent other than water has been taken seriously in recent scientific literature by the biochemist Steven Benner and by the astrobiological committee chaired by John A BarossCommittee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press 2007; pages 69–79 Solvents discussed by the Baross committee include ammoniaCommittee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press 2007; p 72 sulfuric acidCommittee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press 2007; p 73 formamideCommittee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press 2007; p 74 hydrocarbons and (at temperatures much lower than Earth's) liquid nitrogen or hydrogen in the form of a supercritical fluidCommittee on the Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life National Research Council; The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems; The National Academies Press 2007; p 75