Hamilton Institute of Exopaleontology

THE HAMILTON INSTITUTE OF EXOPALEONTOLOGY
Glossary and Definitions

This site is still under construction, however feel free to browse the entries as they are added by our hard- working researchers and graduate students.

"STAR TYPES"
Star types are based on the same system as used at the beginning of Human interplanetary exploration. The Earth's sun is a Type-G main-sequence star; Barnard's star is a Type-M; Sirius-A is Type-A and so on. One modification is that for non-main sequence stars, two types are given: the current type (based on temperature/color), and the main-sequence type. A red supergiant such as Betelgeuse is Type-M(B), meaning it was formerly a hot Type-B main sequence star.

"PLANETARY TYPES"
Planetary types are determined by the composition of the planet, its atmosphere and oceans (if any). Some of these are based on 20th-century Earth asteroid designations. Please do not confuse with the 'Star Trek' planetary classification system.

Type H: hot gas giant ("Brown Dwarf")
Type J: gas giant (Jupiter, Saturn)
Type U: gas giant with icy mantle (Uranus, Neptune)
Type S: silicate rock, airless. (Mercury, Earth's moon, Vesta) NOTE: this designation was originally used for meteroites and asteroids
Type C: carbonate rock, airless. (Ceres, Pallas, Phoebe) NOTE: this designation was originally used for meteroites and asteroids
Type M: highly metallic. Sometimes applied to metal-gas giants found in close orbits around stars. NOTE: this designation was originally used for meteroites and asteroids. Again, please do not confuse with the 'Star Trek' planetary classification system.
Type Y: ice, airless (Ganymede, Rhea, Hyperion)
Type Z: rock with ice crust (Europa)
Type G: Relatively thick atmosphere, but of noble gases.
Type R: Marslike, with a carbon-dioxide or nitrogen atmosphere (Mars, Venus as a special type--see below)
Type D: Worlds with NO/NO2, other odd nitrogen compounds, etc. in the atmosphere
Type E: Earthlike, with oxygen in the atmosphere (generated by certain ecotypes) usually mixed with nitrogen or inert gases, and water in the atmosphere or surface
Type O: Proto-Earth type
Type T: Methane or ethane atmosphere/oceans or organic-coated surface (Titan, Triton)
Type L: Ammonia atmosphere/oceans
Type P: Phosphine atmosphere/oceans
Type F: Fluorine/Chlorine/etc. atmosphere/oceans
Type I: Sulfur-coated surface (Io)
Special type, V: for worlds with an unusually thick atmosphere causing extreme heating (Venus is a type VR)
Special type, N: for worlds with a thick particle layer causing extreme cooling (Earth after a global thermonuclear war would be type NE for a short period)
Special type, W: for irradiated worlds (usually near dying stars, or after attack by extremely nasty weapons)
Special type, X: for worlds modified by metaforces, gods, or extremely advanced species

NOTE: Artificial planets and quasi-planetary structures (including Ringworlds, Dyson spheres, and Criswell structures) are not included. These are usually designated Type A with a summary explanation.

ECOTYPES: describe the primary metabolism of the life forms

Fermentation (what Yeast can do)
Photosynthesis (what plants do)
Thermosynthesis
Electrosynthesis
Magnetosynthesis
Chemosynthesis (what some bacteria can do, many subtypes)
Phototransis
Respiration (what we humans do)
Metarespiration
Gravitosynthesis

EVOLTYPES: describe the genetic material and the mechanism of evolution of life. NOTE: Here 'evolution' is used in the general sense (how life changes), but in the Evoltype designation the term is specifically reserved for Darwinian, selectionist evolution.

GENETIC MATERIAL
Not all forms of life have double-stranded DNA. Even on Earth, some use RNA. Some alien life forms have different types or arrangements of nucleic acids entirely; some use proteins, crystalline structures, or even stranger genetic material. Here we avoid simplistic definitions like "carbon-based life forms" and "silicon-based life forms", and designate each alien lineage by the type of genetic material.

List incomplete; of course includes double-helix DNA, RNA (in some viruses).

MECHANISMS OF EVOLUTION
Often the mechanism of evolution is limited by or even linked to the type of genetic material that is used. Note that the PRIMARY modes of evolution are designated (Earth is Drift-Selectionist)

Drift (random genetic changes in populations; is a factor in nearly all types of life)
Selectionist Evolution (evolution by natural selection; Darwinian theory)
Transformationist (transformation by inheriting acquired characters; Lamarckian theory)
Orthogenesis (changes caused by innate characteristics of the genetic material or metabolism)
Vitalist (changes caused by metaforces)
Interference (by aliens, either accidental or purposeful. The popular term for interference in the evolution of sapience is "Uplift" [see Brin; Black Monoliths; von-Daniken]. NOTE: "Creationism" also falls under this category; although life on Earth was not designed, on some planets there is good evidence that the basic genetic or metabolic apparatus was modified or designed by another sapient species)
Transmutationism (massive, sudden genetic changes, when one mutation can have a cascade effect on the genome)
Abiogenesis/catastrophism (on many young worlds, conditions exist for the formation of life from inorganic materials, but meteor bombardment may destroy new forms of life several times before a lineage is established. This may have occurred on Earth 4 billion years ago)

DEFINITIONS OF PSUEDO-RELIGIOUS TERMS. The words "supernatural" and "paranormal" are not used here, because everything that exists can be regarded as normal or natural by some species. However, it is useful to have terms for things that appear beyond the ability of human senses (and technology) to analyze.

METAFORCE: a law or force that is beyond the senses of humans (and similar life forms); may control other laws/forces, or could also control gods, animin, or other aliens.
GOD: powerful alien species or being that has control over at least one natural law or force, and has an analytical intelligence.
ANIMIN: a powerful alien species or being that has control over at least one natural law or force, but does not have an analytical form of intelligence (may be instinctive, or have a form of intelligence that humans cannot comprehend).
BUDDHA: an enlightened being, renouncing power and selfish desires. It is probably more difficult for a God to become a Buddha than it is for a human being, just because Gods desire worship and power to such an extent they delude themselves into thinking they are a superior race.

Return to the Atlas home page