Most Americans Believe Alien Life is Possible, Study Shows

space.com ^ | 05/31/05 | Tarig Malik

[KevinDavis]

While most depictions of extraterrestrials are confined to science fiction, nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that some form of alien life exists somewhere in the universe, according to a new survey.

The telephone poll, which questioned 1,000 Americans, found that 60 percent of those surveyed believe extraterrestrial life exists on other planets.

Of those who believed, most agreed that they would be “excited and hopeful” upon learning of the discovery of extraterrestrial life while 90 percent of them said Earth should reply to any message from another planet, the poll reported. At least two-thirds of those polled who said they did not believe in extraterrestrial life also stated that Earth should respond to an alien signal if the situation arose, the survey reported.

[KevinDavis]

I should have voted.. Of course my answer would have been yes. As for the program it was interesting...

[KevinDavis]

[Fitzcarraldo]

How many said they've met interstellar life?

[A CA Guy]

After seeing Howard Dean, how could anyone NOT believe there is alien life?

[Dog Gone]

most agreed that they would be “excited and hopeful” upon learning of the discovery of extraterrestrial life while 90 percent of them said Earth should reply to any message from another planet, the poll reported.

90% are as dumb as turkeys who respond to the turkey calls by hunters.

"Hello, any earthlings out there? Are you made of protein?"

[Jaysun]

I should have voted.. Of course my answer would have been yes. As for the program it was interesting...

I always say that if extraterrestrials really did exists we'd be sending them foreign aid by now.

We're all alone.

[Paleo Conservative]

Here's proof.

[Texas Eagle]

How could one NOT believe in alien life. All you have to do is visit San Francisco once and you'll believe.

[ElkGroveDan]

[libertarianben]

Yes, we called them politicians.

[andyk]

"Hello, any earthlings out there? Are you made of protein?"

Reminds me of "To serve man" - what a great Twilight Zone episode!

[umgud]

I never even saw a flying saucer until I got married. As a matter of fact, I saw so many I got divorced.

[RightWhale]

Chance of extraterrestrial life is about 100%

Chance of intelligent extraterrestrial life near enough to affect us through interaction = 0%

Prophet Rahway notwithstanding.

[BenLurkin]

I believe winning the LOTTO is possible.

[ozzymandus]

Bacteria? Single-cell organisms? Plant life? Maybe. Intelligent humanoid life? Nah.

[xrp]

After seeing Howard Dean, how could anyone NOT believe there is alien life?

Hmmm, interesting, but I think that's a bad comparison for proving alien life. Considering the age of the Universe and the youth of our planet (and especially homo sapiens) it is extremely likely that any existing life we would have contact with (either by them visiting or us simply detecting radio waves) is equal to or superior than our own intelligence. I certainly do not place Howard Dean as an equal or superior to my own intelligence.

[cripplecreek]

I would have liked to have seen the show but I don't have that channel. I did see "Alien planet" on the discovery channel a couple of weeks back.

I would have voted yes as well. It doesn't make much sense that God would create an entire universe and put life on one comparatively subatomic sized particle.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Extraterrestrial ping.

[Xenophobic Alien]

Someone call me?

[ozarkgirl]

Chance of extraterrestrial life is about 100% Chance of intelligent extraterrestrial life near enough to affect us through interaction = 0%

Agree with that, I do believe God is a creator and who would create such a vast universe to be totally barren? However, I do not believe it's in his plans we meet one another. Hence the unsurmountable depth of space between us.