All life is based on carbon – or at least, here on Earth. But does it need to be? Would it be possible for some truely weird alternative biochemistry to evolve on the backbone of a different chemical element?
Some authors have proposed hypothetical forms of life where the backbone is made by silicon instead of carbon, on the basis of silicon sharing some chemical properties with carbon.
Here we dive into the chemistry of a hypothetical „silicoid world“ and explore the possibilities – and obstacles – such a biochemistry would face, in order to paint a clearer picture if some kind of „silicoid life“ would actually have a chance…
