eli5: Why can’t we make boron-based life forms?

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I saw a boron-based life form in a sci-fi show and it made me curious about how that works. I did some reading on it, and all I see is around the oxidation states and the ability to bond with atoms.

I vaguely grasp these concepts, but don’t get why, if it is possible for boron to build life, why can’t we/haven’t we done it?

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4 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

A lot of our definitions of “life” are really narrow to the STP and composition of the earth and it’s atmosphere. Things that bond less durably than carbon would need colder environments to be stable. Boron life form would be something you’d see in weird atmospheres and low temps probably. Maybe a moon or planet near a brown dwarf

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