Posted on 02/15/2009 11:03:43 AM PST by KevinDavis
Trillions of planets that are capable of harbouring life are probably orbiting Sun-like stars, making it almost certain that humanity is not alone in the Universe, a leading astronomer said yesterday.
The discovery of hundreds of planets around distant stars in our galaxy suggests that most solar systems have a world like ours that is capable of supporting life, and many of them are likely to have evolved it, according to Alan Boss, of the Carnegie Institution in Washington, DC.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
There is an enormous differences between an assumption and creating a testable hypothesis on what conditions MIGHT lead to lack of other life forms. In that it would be stupid to be dogmatic about the idea in either direction, I agree with you.
When Alfred Wegener espoused the theory of Continental Drift in 1912, he built upon observations noticed by mapmakers and scientists since the late 16th Century. Because he could not explain a causative mechanism and because he was a meteorologist rather than a geologist, dogmatic scientists ignored the obvious fit of Africa and South America. It took decades to develop the Plate Tectonics theory that underlies the process and validates Wegener.
I can cite other examples but in this single known universe that we live in, I hesitate to make any dogmatic statement about life elsewhere. That being said, I'd love to have a universe with Vulcans, Wookies and other non-human life forms. That would really add spice to the life of everyone!
"For you my love"
For you, my love
I went to a bird market
And I bought a bird
For you
My love
I went to a flower market
And I bought a flower
For you
My love
I went to a junk market
And I bought a chain
A heavey chain
For you
My love
And I went to a slave market
And I searched for you
But I couldn't find you anywhere
My love
What can I say? He's Fwench.
Cheers!
The original hot green chick. Also Batgirl.
The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding,
in all of the directions it can whizz,
As fast as it can go, at the speed of light you know,
twelve million miles a minute, and that’s the fastest speed there is.
So remember, when you’re feeling very small and insecure,
how amazingly unlikely is your birth,
And pray that there’s intelligent life somewhere up in space,
because there’s bugger all down here on Earth.
All anecdotal events of "close encounters" are discredited primarily because they are reported by unreliable witnesses--those with unstable lives, chemical dependency issues, rednecks. Surely, we are told, if the aliens wanted to contact us, they'd get in touch with the world leaders.
But somehow, we got through eight years with Bill Clinton in the White House with nary a peep from the aliens.
So where were the aliens then?
QED.
Cheers!
Wait a MINUTE! I remember a former President claiming a close encounter:
Seriously, didn't Mr. Peanut claim a UFO encounter?
Knowledge of the creation of life is not necessary to know it exists.
When you see a wrist watch, you know the watch exist even though you do not know who created it. The same is true of the wrist. You know the wrist exist even though you do not know who created it.
If you want to assign a probability to the number of intelligent lifeforms in the galaxy you need to know how probable life is. One basic component to that probability is knowing how life is created.
Finding them is the problem.
From Wikipedia:
In 1830, according to adherents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith was commanded by God to create a new translation of the Bible, in order to restore lost portions and correct mistranslations in the modern text. The Book of Moses is a partial result of that work
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If you're a Singularitarian, they believe that technological progress is more or less exponential. So visiting other solar systems might not be so long off. To use your analogy, it may have taken millennia to put our toe in the surf (reach the Moon), but the first voyage to neighboring islands may come pretty soon.
Finally, somebody mentioned Star Wars (though technically, it's Wookiees, with two Es)! I don't think Vulcans would add much spice to life - they strike me as the party-pooping type. :-)'
By the same token, when you see a wrist watch, you don't know how many other wrist watches there are out there. That wrist watch could be unique, or could be one of many.
Secularly, I take SES1066's stance. As a Christian, however, encountering intelligent aliens who are not related to humans genetically, but who are fallible, throws up a lot of difficult questions. Can these aliens be saved if they are not kinsmen of Adam or Christ? Wouldn't that be unfair and cruel if not, unless they just wink out of existence at death?
Vulcans creep me out. (Note: link contains NSFW lyrics.)
LOL
Learn something new every day. I thought it was just Wooki. I figured they changed it from a y to an i to sound more intellectual. Ghandi did the same thing.
I don't know. T'pol looked pretty hot in that skin tight suit.
Are the scientists writing for scientology?
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