Study: Maybe we can’t find aliens because they’ve all died already

washingtonpost.com ^ | January 22 at 12:27 PM | Rachel Feltman

[Trumpinator]

Study: Maybe we can’t find aliens because they’ve all died already

By Rachel Feltman January 22 at 12:27 PM

he hunt for extraterrestrial life is one of humanity's most exciting endeavors. The pieces are all falling into place: We're finding more and more planets outside of our own solar system, and soon the James Webb Telescope will give us unprecedented looks at these distant worlds. We've populated Mars with robots looking for signs of ancient habitability. Orbiters dive through the icy geysers of ocean-covered moons in hopes of catching some life-giving minerals. Our radio telescopes are tuned in to mysterious stars, listening for the sounds of a hustling and bustling civilization.

In spite all of that, we've yet to find a single measly microbe off-world. So where is everybody?

In a new study published in Astrobiology, researchers from the Australian National University offer up one possible explanation: Maybe all of the other life in our neighborhood has already come and gone.

[samtheman]

The study authors believe that Earth’s early microbial life helped to stabilize the planet’s climate, while any life that might have existed on the nearby, similarly rocky planets Venus and Mars failed to do so.

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Don’t forget the lack of magnetic field on Mars. No magnetic field (or one that is extremely weak), and the solar wind blows away the atmosphere. Which happened. And is still happening, on Mars.

[samtheman]

Or maybe we are the first.

Like a Garden of Eden of the universe

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The universe is big. But I think your idea is quite likely for the galaxy.

Maybe we are the first in the galaxy.

[samtheman]

I think Rare Earth is the most logical hypothesis at the current time.

[Admin Moderator]

This thread had nothing to do with Putin, did it.

Once again - knock it off or I’ll do it for you.

Permanently.

[Trumpinator]

For there to have been an atmosphere on Mars - guessing - means that it must have had a magnetic sphere once. The iron core stopped rotating in the center of Mars as the planet’s magma solidified?

[samtheman]

Good question.