Astronomers to sweep entire sky for signs of extraterrestrial life

The Guardian ^ | February 14, 2020 | Hannah Devlin

[4Runner]

Three Earth-sized planets orbiting a cool, dim star called Trappist-1 in the constellation of Aquarius will be high up on the hit list. Computer models suggest the Trappist-1 system is among the most promising for finding planets with atmospheres and temperatures that would enable liquid water to exist on the surface.

“The James Webb Telescope will be able to tell us whether they have atmospheres like the Earth or Venus,” said Meadows. “It gives us our first real chance to search for gases given off by life on another planet. We’re basically going to get to study Earth’s cousins.”

[4Runner]

Boy they just can't wait to tell us we are just humdrum and chance creations and not in any way unique or special. I wonder how many of these "scientists" believe in God.

[Oscar in Batangas]

And what will the do IF they find any???

Send out a ‘welcome’ beacon or

(my choice) go as quiet as humanly possible.

[pepsionice]

You could pull up the scenario that any race you find....might be 100 million years more advanced, so it’d be like Einstein trying to converse with a 4-year old kid.

[Ciaphas Cain]

I visited the VLA a few years ago. All the TV, movies and magazine photos could not prepare me for the size of that place. There are entire counties smaller than the VLA's footprint.

Truly an amazing sight to behold.

[Does so]

...or had passed-on millions of years ago...

[equaviator]

The cable TV fantasy show called Ancient Aliens loves to suggest that throughout recorded history, we required the help of extraterrestrials in order to accomplish anything extraordinary on earth, and I often wonder what the point of that is.

[Clutch Martin]

“I often wonder what the point of that is.”

...you didn’t build that.

[sphinx]

And when they don’t find any aliens, they will draw the obvious scientific conclusion: “We just need more money.”

[Mark17]

I wonder how many of these "scientists" believe in God.

Probably none, but maybe it’s time to ask for more grant money.

[equaviator]

I think you might be on to something there. The Beatles didn’t write those songs!

[spirited irish]

More than likely most of them believe the creator God of the Bible is a pre-scientific myth. However, they religiously believe that everything in existence came from creative energy (evolution) working on chemicals (matter pregnant with life) billions of years ago. Thus if mystical evolution has been at work this long than surely there must be vastly superior, highly evolved beings out in deep space.

Stephen Hawking absolutely believed in the existence of these beings and warned against contacting them for fear that they would view humans as some sort of subhuman life useable only for food.

Christians who take the Word of God seriously know that as these are the last days, these beings are not extraterrestrials but fallen angels and demons serving the Will of God.

[Bullish]

I wonder how many of these "scientists" believe in God.

The answer to that is between zero and none.

[Bullish]

You’ve been watching too much Star Wars.

[Bullish]

We're gonna' need a bigger telescope.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[Oscar in Batangas]

Heck, if another civilization is only 50 years advanced from us it would be like Einstein trying to converse with a four-year old

Just compare our knowledge base from 50 years ago with that of today. A LINEAR extrapolation of human knowledge (and it’s never ‘linear’) boggles the mind.

[ronnie raygun]

Turn those babies around and search around here

[sanjuanbob]

Can’t you believe I God AND accept the idea that we ma not be alone?

[freepertoo]

The Beatles didn’t write those songs...oooh, you just brought that ridiculous argument into sharp focus. I think I just felt my blood pressure rise.

[Delta 21]

Just one question:

WTF have astronomers been doing since the invention of the magic spy glass? Peeking in on the neighbors wife?