(no subject)
So there's this hypothesis, among some of the more speculative biologists out there, that there exists a shadow biosphere - microbial organisms, communities, or even ecosystems that have such radically different biochemical metabolisms, they do not belong on the tree of life, and cannot even be measured by current methods due to their lack of traditional biochemical markers that, for us, signify life. These hypothetical organisms could use arsenic as the backbone for their DNA instead of phosphorous, use RNA instead of DNA for storing genetic information, or are silicon-based, instead of carbon. The idea is far-fetched, but I think there's something to the notion that there may be life out there that we cannot find with our current methods.
Of course, I'm only looking this stuff up on Wikipedia because I'm procrastinating on my job search. It's been slow and frustrating, so far. Very few people are hiring right now, and the jobs that are being offered are either way above my experience level, require a completely different set of skills, or sound boring as hell. I've been searching through about a half dozen different job sites and haven't found a single posting that I've been truly excited about. And it's now, of all times, that I'm reminded of the shadow biosphere hypothesis. Sure, there aren't many jobs out there, and hardly any seem to be ones I'd want to take, but some must exist that pay enough and are cool enough for me to want to apply to them. I just haven't been able to find them yet. I'm not using the right methods, or I'm looking in the wrong places. I need to start hunting for the shadow job market.
Of course, I'm only looking this stuff up on Wikipedia because I'm procrastinating on my job search. It's been slow and frustrating, so far. Very few people are hiring right now, and the jobs that are being offered are either way above my experience level, require a completely different set of skills, or sound boring as hell. I've been searching through about a half dozen different job sites and haven't found a single posting that I've been truly excited about. And it's now, of all times, that I'm reminded of the shadow biosphere hypothesis. Sure, there aren't many jobs out there, and hardly any seem to be ones I'd want to take, but some must exist that pay enough and are cool enough for me to want to apply to them. I just haven't been able to find them yet. I'm not using the right methods, or I'm looking in the wrong places. I need to start hunting for the shadow job market.