# Lookin' For Slime in All the Outer Spaces

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookin-for-slime-in-all-the-outer-spaces/306023>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 29, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookin-for-slime-in-all-the-outer-spaces/306023 "2005-05-29T21:38:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookin-for-slime-in-all-the-outer-spaces/306023/1 "2005-05-29T21:38:52Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> “Slime worlds” may prove excellent targets for the search for extraterrestrial life, according to new calculations. The research suggests future space missions may be able to detect the signature of microbial life around as many as 200 nearby stars.
> 
> One of the top priorities for future missions scouting for Earth-like planets is to look for atmospheric components such as oxygen, water, and methane, which could signal life. But these molecules are not always biological in origin, so astronomers believe they can strengthen the case for possible life if these candidates show other intriguing signatures.
> 
> One is called the “red edge” - a spike in the amount of near-infrared light emitted from a planet. Plants and some microbes on Earth reflect this light - apparently because absorbing it would cause them to overheat during photosynthesis.

So will we call the inhabitants of such worlds Slimerians?

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookin-for-slime-in-all-the-outer-spaces/306023/2 "2005-05-29T22:46:37Z")

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> [@Tuckerfan](#):
>
> So will we call the inhabitants of such worlds Slimerians?

I can think of a political party…  
😃

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**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookin-for-slime-in-all-the-outer-spaces/306023/3 "2005-05-29T23:17:59Z")

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Just don’t let any fans of the Dragon Quest/Warrior game series near 'em…

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**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookin-for-slime-in-all-the-outer-spaces/306023/4 "2005-05-30T15:52:51Z")

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It’s the Vogons, didn’t you know?

Everybody get their towels!

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**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookin-for-slime-in-all-the-outer-spaces/306023/5 "2005-05-30T23:50:26Z")

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I, for one, welcome our new Slimerian ov-…

[sub]What?..Oh…[/sub]