UTOTD: Can Intelligent Life be Aquatic? [modified]

[Lost User]

I would say cryogenics would be the biggest problem.

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[Lost User]

Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:

If Intelligent life is aquatic based (mermaids may be)

I can relate to that :-D But! Intelligent life is what? When and if some other beings in the universe make it to earth, they will have a real problem getting their ID cards, Ofsted certification, etc. Chances are, they will take one look at the stupidity of Earthlings, and head straight back home to safety!

[Nish Nishant]

Mandatory reference to related xkcd : http://xkcd.com/638/[^]

Regards, Nish

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Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
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[Mycroft Holmes]

We would probably not recognise it if it is there. They would require a completely different basis for technology - no heat/fire. We define our civilisation by our tech, I know it is not intelligence but how do YOU define intelligence.

[Lost User]

Have the dolphins already left? :confused: :-D

[Lost User]

Yes - and thanks for all the fish.:)

___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

[Lost User]

I have actually thought about this a lot because of some sci-fi versions. I lump aquatic life in with a lot of other physical drawbacks that would prevent a species from achieving space-faring status. For pure aquatic life, the extra weight of getting water out of orbit would be more or less a deal breaker. Basically I think any organism that does not generally follow human form would have a hell of time getting into space. Either environmental, food or basic size/space problems become permanent obstacles.

[leckey 0]

How smart can aquatic life be if shellfish can't avoid non-Orthodox Jews for a few centuries? ;P

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[majee]

Human also need an oxygen gas atmosphere like aquatic creatures need water. An intelligent life can beat these limitations by building space suits, ships ect.

[Christian Graus]

Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:

(mermaids may be)

Mermaids are stupid. Why keep a woman around if all the interesting bits have been replaced with fish parts ?

Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

[Christian Graus]

Mycroft Holmes wrote:

how do YOU define intelligence.

Owning a Mac.

Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

[Mycroft Holmes]

Luddite

[Mycroft Holmes]

There is a joke there about fishy smells and mermaids but in the interest of kid sister I'll ignore it.

[Christian Graus]

Don't think I'm not impressed with your restraint, because I am.....

Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

[Mark_Wallace]

Christian Graus wrote:

Owning a Mac. Disconnecting all higher brain functions, and letting Steve Jobs do all your creative thinking for you.

Fixed it for you.

I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

[smcnulty2000]

Veldrain wrote:

Basically I think any organism that does not generally follow human form would have a hell of time getting into space.

Arguably, the humans have a helluva time as well.

_____________________________ I've often heard of an older, wiser person passing the torch. After witnessing something like that, I'm not sure who'd want the thing.

[Mustafa Ismail Mustafa]

Technically, there's nothing stopping intelligent life forming in an aquatic environment so long as (and this based completely on Earthly biology) there is an abundance of Oxygen. Having said that, much of the science that we know is "surface" science. I'll agree with Mycroft here, our technology is completely different, assuming they got to that stage. Bear in mind, one of the reasons, I read this or saw this somewhere, above ground radiation played a big role in development.

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[smcnulty2000]

Some thoughts... Underwater volcanoes could provide heat. They do right now. There are little islands of life around underwater volcanoes. One difference for water-folk of any variety is the amount of light. If these are deep ocean water-folk then their first big leap might be getting to the surface, and if land is available, onto land. Water folk on Europa will be less fond of bright light than creatures made for being closer to the sun. Humans are only moderately getting help from their environment. Seems like lots of other creatures are better suited. Humans, on the other hand, can manipulate their environment. I've seen cats try to open a door. Their paws just aren't up to it. But they try. They are smart enough to know that is their obstacle, they are not smart enough to come up with a way around it. Perhaps with certain exceptional circumstances. Octopuses are supposed to be quite smart. Being able to solve a variety of puzzles other creatures can't. Lifespan is relevant to a smart species. If you can't learn enough in your lifetime you don't get to use what you've learned before you die. You have more trouble passing knowledge along. Your species takes longer to get advancements. Perhaps you don't advance at all. Collective approaches to problems is also a hallmark of smart species. A cooperative group can get more done and pass more information along than a non-cooperative group. I don't think you can get to space as a species without cooperation. Five tribesmen with spears can take on a large predator, even though none of them could do it alone. Greater ability to distinguish differentiation in the environment is helpful to a species. The less difference you see in things the less intelligent you might be. However that might not be limited to what you can see. By itself it isn't enough, of course. Frankly, your environment also needs to challenge you enough so that you have to solve problems to survive.

_____________________________ I've often heard of an older, wiser person passing the torch. After witnessing something like that, I'm not sure who'd want the thing.

[hairy_hats]

Are you thinking mermaids with bottom half fish or top half?

I hope you realise that hamsters are very creative when it comes to revenge. - Elaine

[daniilzol]

Yes, but it would be more difficult because it takes a lot more energy to bring reserves of water into orbit.