Do any of these things exist in the universe?

Question

Here's a list of odd astronomy related things I've always wondered if they exist or could exist-

-A bunch of stars orbiting an even larger rock in a backwards solar system. The smaller always orbits the bigger, right?
-life that isn't carbon based on another planet
-how about stand alone planets. Not orbiting, just floating, or falling there, depending on how you look at it
-chemicals that bond or exist differently, or act like chemicals, but aren't. Things or substances that wouldn't respond to any of our known tests
-a kind of floating consciousness, perhaps bubbles of it, floatin on along in outer space. Either by our thoughts all going to meet in one place, or its whats been broadcasting to us in the first place.


I have more but this is good enough for now, and I don't want to get too greedy here. I didn't want to clog up the board with a bunch of questions, so I hope this is okay.

Answer 1

No, you could not get a star, or a bunch of stars, orbiting a large rock. Any "rock" that got near to being more massive than a star would first become a star itself. When it did that, the remaining rock stuff in the system would be pushed outwards, so it would not fall into the star.



It's physically possible to have non-carbon based life. It's just that the odds are billions to one against it.



Stand alone, or rouge, planets are certainly possible. It fact, it is practically certain that there are a lot out there.



"Things or substances that wouldn't respond to any of our known tests". I would say that's impossible, in any bulk concentrations. Of course, there's still the problem of "dark" matter - - but that is a very thin stuff, not concentrated at all (if it was regular matter, it would be at 1 hydrogen atom per cm^3).



Floating consciousness -- that's just fantasy land. There is no evidence for such a thing, and lots and lots of evidence against it. You might as well be talking about invisible pink unicorns.

Answer 2

Do you mean multiple star systems? Yes, but I suspect you're talking about something else.



They say silicon-based life may be possible, but not likely because carbon is just better suited. It supports more diverse types of molecular bonds and has a wider range of stable temperatures.



They have found rogue planets, specifically brown dwarfs, but it's more than likely that smaller planets can be ejected into interstellar space for a variety of reasons.



Floating consciousness? Who can say.



I have no idea what you mean by chemicals that are "different".

Answer 3

I'm sure there are, it's just too hard getting proof :)

Answer 4

yes