Posted on 02/29/2016 7:33:16 AM PST by Salvation
I have written a good bit over the years about what is known as the Rare Earth Hypothesis. A recent blog on discovermagazine.com ponders how high the odds are against the existence of another Earth-like planet. More on that in a moment. But first lets review some of the basics of the Rare Earth Hypothesis.
While most people, including most scientists, believe that there may be billions of inhabitable planets out there a capable of sustaining complex life, the Rare Earth Hypothesis suggests that such a large number is overstated.
This is because there are not just a few things that come together to support life here on Earth, there are many. Here are some:
There are many more items on the list (see the first video below), but let these suffice. The conditions that come together on this planet such that it is capable of sustaining complex life are complicated, remarkable, and some argue rare in the universe. The ability to support life here is the balance of many fascinating things. We cannot but be amazed at the complexity of life and the intricacies it takes in order for it to flourish here. It would appear that for complex life to be sustained, many factors must come together in just the right way. The sheer number of these factors sharply decreases the number of possible Earth-like planets, despite the many billions of galaxies and stars.
All this background information leads us back to the recent blog at discovermagazine.com: Earth-is-a-1-in-700 quintillion kind of place. (700 quintillion is 7 followed by 20 zeros). The blog references a study by Astrophysicist Erik Zackrisson from Uppsala University in Sweden.
Here are some excerpts:
Zackrissons work suggests an alternative to the commonly held assumption that planets similar to Earth must exist, based on the sheer number of planets out there . Current estimates hold that there are some 100 billion galaxies in the universe containing about 10^18 stars, or a billion trillion . Probability seems to dictate that Earth-twins are out there somewhere.
But according to Zackrisson Earths existence presents a mild statistical anomaly in the multiplicity of planets . Most of the worlds predicted orbit stars with different compositionsan important factor in determining a planets characteristics. His research indicates that, from a purely statistical standpoint, Earth perhaps shouldnt exist . Researchers are confident in the broader implications of their model: Earth is more than your garden-variety planet.
I write on this topic more in wonder and awe than anything else. There is no necessary requirement of our faith that we must believe ourselves alone in the whole universe. God can, and even might have, created intelligent beings on other planets, beings with whom He interacts and whom He loves.
But neither should we too quickly assume that Earth is not a rare jewel. Statistically, it would seem that there is good evidence that we and Earth are rare jewels. Humble amazement at all that it takes to sustain life on our planet is a proper stance at this stage of the evidence. The more we learn, the more it seems that the convergence of all the factors we enjoy on Earth is rare rather than commonplace. Consider well all that God and nature, sustained by God, have done so that you and I can exist. Be amazed; be very amazed!
Thank you for this post.
And without three enormous gas giants to act as brooms and a large moon (relative to the size of the earth) to act as shield, life on earth would probably be ‘reset’ on a regular basis.
The more I learn, the less I believe in a ‘random’ universe.
“Its finite.”
lmao
I thought of that too!
Maybe so but it would take forever to prove it.
That is of course still in debate. If it is finite and expanding what is it expanding into ? Its nearly metaphysics more than physics.
There was a pretty good sci-book close to that “Dragons Egg” by Robert L. Foward the cirtters lived on the surface of a white dwarf if I recall
Sir that is not true, there are Marine Guards :)
cloudmountainAMEN!
We can only extrapolate from what we know. The Star Trek universe cannot exist, based on what we know. today.
Thanks for the link. I’m going to buy it.
I hope you find it to your liking. It's very different from most science-fiction.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Notice how the earth is singled out, because there is only one planet like it and only one planet created for Man, created in God’s Image.
There are no space aliens out there.
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