What is the definition of life?

[KerikBalm]

Life already makes use of electric potential... it has elaborate systems to cause an electric potential after absorbing a photon (photosynthesis) or oxidizing a compound (like a fuel cell)...

This isn't so surprising, and they still need "external materials and chemical compounds" to grow, but as material and not an energy source.

[Technical Ben]

Well, if I saw someone eating rocks with ketchup on, I'd still be surprised. No matter how many hot dinners I'd eaten with salt on, in mundane comparison.

[CelticCossack51]

This could help. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/life

[Technical Ben]

Well, that means one thing is for certain. Nothing is as complex as life... than perhaps that list of definitions for "life" in the dictionary.

[PB666]

http://www.pnas.org/content/112/36/11141.full

[AngelLestat]

http://www.pnas.org/content/112/36/11141.full

Yeah that was my point.

[KerikBalm]

tl;dr

- It's complicated (THANKS viruses)

- Basically, life has ribosomes, non-life doesn't

- It doesn't really matter

And viruses make it even more complicated:

http://www.pnas.org/content/112/38/E5327

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mollivirus

"Surprisingly, the host’s ribosomal proteins are packaged in the virion."

This virus has ribosomes.... o.O

[PB666]

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2015/10/16/449106501/did-life-begin-on-mars