Perhaps E.T.s Can Afford to...

FOREWARD - Inexperienced readers may be perplexed by FACTS presented without M.E.'s explanations. If inexperienced reader describes you, read no further; in all likelihood you would be unable to synthesize a single, worthwhile theory from the assembled FACTS. Seasoned readers, on the contrary, are very likely to connect the FACTS with suggestions made by astrophysicists, other experts, and science fiction authors as long ago as 1891. Seasoned readers' patience will be rewarded with a startling, new hypothesis regarding a possible reason for E.T. visitations to our oceans.
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BACKGROUND -

Familiarity with the following terms is strongly suggested:

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Organic farming

Mariculture

Isolation of space

Extraterrestrials

Carbon based life

Silicon based life

Biopharmaceuticals

The Final Frontier

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FACTS -

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In 1891, the German astrophysicist Julius Scheiner hypothesized the suitability of silicon as an alternative basis for life.

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On February 23, 1998, the periodical Scientific American published Could silicon be the basis for alien life forms, just as carbon is on Earth?.

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In 2005, Leif C. E. Larsen, Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg (supervised by Dr. Paul Holloway) submitted Honours Thesis (05.4111/6) Bounty from the Deep - An investigation of the antimicrobial properties of two [Hexactinellid] species from the phylum Porifera

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On July 30, 2008, The Times (UK) published Forget space travel. The ocean is our final frontier - by Frank Pope, Times ocean correspondent - Beneath the surface of the sea lie untold mysteries and opportunities - The idea of breaking through the upper atmosphere of an alien world and descending through the clouds to greet alien life is fantasy. For the real thing I'd suggest heading down in a deep-diving research submarine.

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Silicon dioxide (silica) is a common form of silicon.

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While most forms of multicellular life have developed a calcium-based skeleton, a few specialized organisms complement their body plan with silica. However, of all recent animals, only sponges (phylum Porifera) are able to polymerize silica enzymatically mediated in order to generate massive siliceous skeletal elements (spicules) during a unique reaction, at ambient temperature and pressure. - source [emphasis mine].

As with other sponges, hexactinellids may be sources of pharmaceuticals, although their economic potential is largely unexploited. - source

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Sponge barcodes provide a set of indispensible tools for the identification of sponge species, and greatly aid taxonomists, ecologists, and will enhance the discovery of drug-producing species. - source [emphasis mine].

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Submarines are always silent and strange.