On December 3, 2010 (October 27, 2010 in the lunar calendar), NASA discovered that "alien bacteria" are composed of arsenic. "GFAJ-1" bacteria under an electron microscope Scientists sampling "GFAJ-1" bacteria NASA announced on December 3, 2010 that they had not found the strict "extraterrestrial organisms" that had previously gone viral on the Internet, but the so-called "alien bacteria" that ate arsenic found and cultured in Mono Lake, California. Researchers say "alien bacteria" can also combine the "seventh element" - arsenic - with their own DNA molecules, making arsenic an important part of their life. This discovery will greatly improve the possibility of humans finding life on extraterrestrial planets, broadening the scope of the search for extraterrestrial life in the universe. The little guy - feeds on arsenic, takes arsenic as a body Comprehensive British and American media reports, NASA astrobiologist Felisa Wolf-Simon said at a press conference that the bacteria "GFAJ-1" they found in nearby Mono Lake, California, can not only survive on the six elements of life (phosphorus, carbon, oxygen, helium, hydrogen, sulfur, under normal circumstances, all known species are based on phosphorus as a constituent element of life), but also "replaces phosphorus with arsenic", completely dependent on highly toxic arsenic to survive. The scientific community has long believed that phosphorus is one of the six basic elements that make up life, and arsenic is one of the most toxic chemicals on earth, but "GFAJ-1" can not only feed on arsenic in a laboratory environment, but also combine arsenic with its own DNA molecules, replacing the position of phosphorus, making arsenic an important part of its life. "GFAJ-1" is the best-growing bacteria in the lake, belonging to the family Halomonas. Scientists took it back to the laboratory and grew it in a different environment. They found that it was 60% "bigger" in an arsenic-rich environment than in a phosphorus-rich environment. When the researchers removed the phosphorus completely and replaced it with arsenic, the bacteria could continue to grow. Observations in a radioactive environment show that arsenic atoms even occupy an important position in the DNA of "GFAJ-1". Therefore, Felissa and other researchers have determined that arsenic-dominated life forms do exist, and its ability to adapt beyond imagination is not possessed by any life form known to mankind. Opening a New Chapter in Life Felissa also said at a news conference on December 3: "Although'GFAJ-1 'is not a true alien life, it is indeed a brand new branch of the tree of life... The degree of complexity and change of life is far beyond our imagination. In the future, scientists should no longer search for new life according to the standards of Earth when exploring alien planets." Another NASA astrobiologist, Pamela Conrad, also pointed out on the 3rd that humans have been searching for extraterrestrial life on Mars and Titan "Titan" based on the six elements of life, but now that "GFAJ-1" has been found on Earth, scientists should use their imagination in the future and stop being limited to the conditions of existing life. For example, on "Titan", its extremely cold environment of minus 179 degrees Celsius is obviously not suitable for phosphorus-based life, but arsenic-based life can adapt. In addition to opening up new paths for the exploration of alien life, "GFAJ-1" bacteria can also provide more development ideas in the fields of new biofuels, water pollution and toxic pollution. The six elements of life All "known" species on Earth today are mainly composed of six elements: carbon, hydrogen, helium, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. They are the basic substances that build DNA molecules, proteins, and fats. Normally, all known species are made of phosphorus as the building block of life. Arsenic is one of the most toxic chemicals on Earth, but newly discovered "alien bacteria" can not only feed on arsenic in a laboratory environment, but also combine arsenic with their own DNA molecules, replacing phosphorus in the position of arsenic as an important part of their life. The discovery of subverting the understanding of life has caused all textbooks to be rewritten. At a 2006 conference on extraterrestrial life in Arizona, Felissa hinted that life "replacing phosphorus with arsenic" was possible. To find the creature, Felissa extracted arsenic-rich soil from the bottom of Mono Lake in California and eventually discovered "GFAJ-1". The scientist Felisa said that "GFAJ-1" is very similar to Earth species in biological structure, but also has obvious alien biological characteristics. Its strange life form of "replacing phosphorus with arsenic" seems to be only seen in science fiction. This discovery will "fundamentally change the way we define life, and even the way we search for life... This major discovery proves that although the atmosphere of some planets lacks phosphorus, an important element of life, it is also very likely that there are organisms." This discovery will completely rewrite the theory of life in all biology textbooks. Exploring the scope of extraterrestrial life will expand. Ferissa said that this bacteria, known as "GFAJ-1", is similar in biological structure to Earth species, but also has obvious alien biological characteristics. Its strange life form of "replacing phosphorus with arsenic" seems to be only seen in science fiction. This discovery will "fundamentally change the way we define life, and even the way we search for life... This major discovery proves that some planets have atmospheres that lack phosphorus, an important element of life, but are also likely to have biological existence." If it is confirmed that arsenic can indeed be used as another basic element for forming life, scientists will no longer limit the previous six elements when exploring extraterrestrial life, but have one more reference and one more idea. For this claim, Anbar believes that there is still a long way to go from this new discovery to finding alien life. But at least now, scientists have something to do. In addition to phosphorus, will other essential elements be replaced by other elements? Could alien life exist in another form?