[tricky_k_1972]

The problem is not just whether life can in fact live in hostile conditions; the problem is where are they?

If you look at the age of life existence on our planet and the time it took for that life to develop into intelligent life it is very small compared to the age of the universe or even other solar systems.

If life on Earth is not an aberration, and I don't think that it is, then let suppose a similar developmental process for life and it's eventual "evolution" into intelligence.

John von Neumann was a scientist and most notably a theorist who presupposed an intelligent race that created machines that could recreate themselves, probably not too far advanced from where we are today, he went onto propose that these machines even without the benefit of faster than light travel could eventually travel the entire galaxy in relatively (compared to the age of the Universe) short period of time and leave their mark.

The question is, if life can be and is numerous, and if life will eventually evolve into intelligence (given eneough time), where are they?

[RightWhale]

We are about to demonstrate for the nth time in this galaxy that it is near impossible for a technological civilization to get out of the staring blocks. Where are they? Fuming and fussing over pieces of graffiti.

[bildabare]

Intelligence- that's a different matter. Are there intelligent life forms out there? You've got me. BUT, you can't tell me that somewhere, on some planet out in the middle of nowhere, there isn't some "stuff on a rock." An ocean planet with a rock sticking out of the waves, with crud on it. Gloopy self-replicating crud. ha

[FormerACLUmember]

The problem is not just whether life can in fact live in hostile conditions; the problem is why haven't we been visited? If you look at the age of life existence on our planet and the time it took for that life to develop into intelligent life it is very small compared to the age of the universe or even other solar systems. If life on Earth is not an aberration, and I don't think that it is, then let suppose a similar developmental process for life and it's eventual "evolution" into intelligence. John von Neumann was a scientist and most notably a theorist who presupposed an intelligent race that created machines that could recreate themselves, probably not too far advanced from where we are today, he went onto propose that these machines even without the benefit of faster than light travel could eventually travel the entire galaxy in relatively (compared to the age of the Universe) short period of time and leave their mark. The question is, if life can be and is numerous, and if life will eventually evolve into intelligence (given eneough time), where are they?

Fermi's paradox: If intelligent life is common in the galaxy, where is it?

Many, many explanations of this.

My personal thoughts: We are a spontaneous, inevitable product of carbon chemistry in a infinite, evolving universe. The problem is that this evolution is taking place all across the universe at essentially the same time. The other civilizations are all rising contemporaneously.

[mrsmith]

Yeah, that always gets a discussion going. But I have no problem thinking we're the only ones around.

The scientific theories of life- as we know it- depend on as miraculous gestation of intelligent species as religious ones. There are so many requirements and pitfalls.

Consider such postulates as Neumann's and Ferni's for humanity though. Once nuclear power is as under our control as electicity is now- something we can at least reasonably assume will happen- there will be few limits to our growth. We'll be everywhere- or dead.