[blattimwind]

> We're quite lucky to be close enough for solar energy to be a viable source of energy.

If solar energy were not viable, this form would not exist.

[basementcat]

If solar energy were not viable, Hacker News posts might be written by technologically inclined chemoautotrophs hacking in the basement of their hydrothermal vent. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemosynthesis

[zaarn]

Just because solar cells don't work doesn't mean photosynthesis wouldn't work.