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> Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:31:14 -0800<BR>> From: jerry_friedman@yahoo.com<BR>> To: urth@lists.urth.net<BR>> Subject: Re: (urth) The green man is a fake<BR>> <BR>> > - Who says more intense radiation can't lead to different photosynthetic <BR>> >strategies (heck, even our plants have 3 types)<BR>> <BR>> It would have to be many times more intense. Mirrors in space? Another white <BR>> hole or two?<BR>> <BR>> > - Who says photosynthesis is the only path to autotrophy<BR>> <BR>> What else is there? He doesn't seem adapted to use wind power. Getting one's <BR>> internal<BR>> algae to parasitize plants through what looks (and probably feels) like human <BR>> skin would<BR>> be a really, really good trick.<BR><BR>
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<STRONG>Truth be told, there are other things: chemosynthesis, which many bacteria and archaea use. However it doesn't solve the problem in any way, so you're right anyway.</STRONG><BR>
<STRONG></STRONG> <BR>
<BR>> > - Who says the green man isn't engineered to be more efficient in his storage <BR>> >of energy<BR>> > - Who says the green man isn't engineered to be more efficient in his usage of <BR>> >energy<BR>> <BR>> There's not enough at 100% efficiency, as Jeff said.<BR>> <BR>> However, I'm imagining a world with many fusion plants powering LEDs that shine <BR>> on<BR>> green people as they sleep. Including shining on them from below through <BR>> transparent<BR>> water or air mattresses.<BR>> <BR>> However however, I suspect Wolfe just committed the Sin Against Niven and didn't<BR>> think it through.<BR>> <BR>> > (Interestingly, one corollary of your idea is that a moving, talking plant is <BR>> >an evolutionary impossibility.)<BR>> <BR>> If by "plant" you mean "something that gets most of its energy from <BR>> photosynthesis on Earth<BR>> as it is now", it would have to move a lot less than us.<BR><BR>
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<STRONG>I agree fully. </STRONG><BR>
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Pedro<BR> </body>
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