The universe could be full of elements that have similar properties that we haven't discovered yet.
The problem with this sort of statement is that your use of "could" is qualitative, not quantitative. Things are only worth considering in proportion to how probable they are, and that probability can be quantitatively determined from Bayes' Theorem, based on the information we do have (the prior probability). Just saying "X could be true" is virtually meaningless, because what really matters is if X is likely to be true. In this case, the scenario you propose is extremely unlikely, because we understand not only the complete periodic table of elements up through element 118 (i.e. there are no gaps), but also the subatomic makeup of those elements in terms of electrons, protons, and neutrons, the latter two being made up of quarks and gluons. Given all of this information, the domain of possibility for some nebulous alternatives with "similar properties" is highly restricted.
It is the claim that we "know" things like that that bothers me. It wouldn't bother me a bit if they just said that according to what we do know the most likely elements are hydrogen and helium.
That such a claim bothers you is a problem with you, not a problem with the claim. The claim is perfectly legitimate and in line with every other claim of scientific knowledge. There are standards for evidence that rule out reasonable doubt and alternatives, and the standards have been met in this case. Your suggestion of "according to what we do know, the most likely..." is what we mean when we say "we know" in any case of knowledge. For some reason, you feel more confident in other domains of evidence than in this one, but again, that's not the evidence's problem.
More Important Than Soccer: Completely new type of DNA discovered
- 02/12/2010 04:48:51 PM
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Wow. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 05:32:08 PM
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that is TOTALLY inappropriate
- 02/12/2010 04:58:47 PM
883 Views
Crazy awesome.
- 02/12/2010 05:07:49 PM
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So the movie Evolution was real!
- 02/12/2010 05:24:16 PM
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Wow. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 05:32:08 PM
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Dang. I thought it was naturally occurring. Missed the part where it was grown in a lab.
- 03/12/2010 02:16:16 AM
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I won't pretend I know enough about biology to understand the impact of this
- 02/12/2010 06:26:24 PM
940 Views
It's like finding a type of rock that eats laughter
- 02/12/2010 06:51:15 PM
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... without coming down and dealing with the nasty stomach cramps.
- 02/12/2010 09:49:06 PM
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- 02/12/2010 09:49:06 PM
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I think I had an ex once that was made of arsenic. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 07:10:57 PM
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So, is it an alien?
- 02/12/2010 07:19:49 PM
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They haven't mentioned anything saying it's not from Earth, I think
- 02/12/2010 08:03:44 PM
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The bacteria in question is part of a known lineage
- 02/12/2010 08:07:34 PM
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see my note below
- 02/12/2010 08:13:35 PM
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Maybe
- 02/12/2010 08:23:16 PM
871 Views
So, apparently, this bacteria doesn't use arsneic for its DNA in its natural state?
- 02/12/2010 08:06:02 PM
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While awesome, it's a bit of a problem.
- 02/12/2010 09:04:22 PM
840 Views
True, but I'm not "looking for" anything in particular, so I just like it
*NM*
- 02/12/2010 11:09:21 PM
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*NM*
- 02/12/2010 11:09:21 PM
486 Views
Less cool a revelation than I was hoping, but certainly not a complete disappointment. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 10:35:33 PM
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I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It always seemed common sense to me that there are
- 02/12/2010 10:40:22 PM
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I think it just makes them happy that they can widen the parameters for life-sustaining planets. *NM*
- 02/12/2010 11:00:31 PM
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yah. it's one thing to theorize, another thing to find something to hold true.
- 02/12/2010 11:10:23 PM
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It's much more than an educated guess.
- 02/12/2010 11:59:18 PM
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You can't "know" from this distance.
- 03/12/2010 03:13:05 AM
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Why not?
- 03/12/2010 04:42:15 AM
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obviously you have not learned to look at the back label on the car
*NM*
- 04/12/2010 07:04:42 PM
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*NM*
- 04/12/2010 07:04:42 PM
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Yes, we can.
- 04/12/2010 06:04:48 PM
1189 Views
The problem probably is with me.
- 04/12/2010 08:00:56 PM
836 Views
No, they aren't.
- 04/12/2010 10:01:25 PM
850 Views
Are you baiting me to bait you?
- 05/12/2010 06:41:49 AM
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I'm just carrying on a conversation.
- 05/12/2010 07:26:39 AM
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Re: I'm just carrying on a conversation.
- 05/12/2010 07:08:04 PM
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Re: I'm just carrying on a conversation.
- 05/12/2010 07:56:43 PM
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Re: I'm just carrying on a conversation.
- 06/12/2010 03:15:37 AM
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I made my students watch the NASA channel for over two hours today
- 02/12/2010 11:11:40 PM
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- 02/12/2010 11:11:40 PM
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