[RightWhale]

There might be other planets about the size of earth, but none of them, not one, would be like earth in any other way. Don't expect meadow-fresh air, nor mild seasons, nor lake trout.

Suggesting that there could be life out there and planets we might like is like telling Columbus that streets in America are paved with gold. Such an idea might cause exploration and the king to open the kingdom's coffers, but the reality will be far different. False hope. How is the King of Spain doing these days?

[Savage Beast]

Maybe so, but I'm beginning to feel kinda cramped.

[Billthedrill]

There might be other planets about the size of earth, but none of them, not one, would be like earth in any other way.

I hope you are not questioning the veracity of Captain James T. Kirk! No space bimbos? For Pete's sake keep it quiet or the space program is doomed...

[dead]

I could pick a number out of hat, and it would be just as valid as this number.

[mad_as_he$$]

With all due respect I beg to differ. The probability of another Earth like planet with similiar features is just a probable as not. I do not believe that you can make a blanket statement with regard to probabilities. If you are a creationist - Why wouldn't God stick to a receipe that works? If you are a science based thinker then again it is just as likely as not.

If you like some more imagination pretend that the Stargate is real and some other race scattered the gene pool around the galaxy. Or possible by visiting a young planet and leaving behind some stray proteins that took over and began life.

[TADSLOS]

Scientists estimate 30 billion Earths

Each of which must be 'saved' by environmentalists. I wouldn't be surprised to see some form of universe environmental protection legislation pushed by the enviro-lobby and introduced by the usual suspects by the end of next week.

[lds23]

I propose we start imposing tarrifs on them right away.

[Blackdakota]

Wow these Scientists are so smart!! 30 billion..whew now I can sleep better tonight knowing this.

Come to think of it, about every planet they find they always compare to Jupiter anyway so I'm surprised they didn't say 30 billion Jupiters.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Scientists estimate 30 billion Earths

I estimate too many scientists with too much time on their hands.

[ShadowAce]

The latest find is a gas giant, just like all the other exoplanets so far detected,

So how can they possibly make the claim of earth-like planets? EVERY other planet found has been a gas giant. I'll start to believe this nonsense when they actually do find a planet remotely similar to ours.

[mr.sarcastic]

This is about as scientifically significant as my estimation that there are 30 billion ants in my backyard.

[TADSLOS]

30 billion Elvis sightings can't be wrong.

[Blackdakota]

I sure hope to all thats Holy that there aren't 30 billion Al Gore's on each one spewing non-sense about Global Warming.

Worse than that..if we have the only Al Gore then we beat the odds on a 1 in 30 billion chance of it. We sure are some unlucky punks.

[Lancey Howard]

...the reality will be far different.

Good post, and your comments are excellent.
I am as much a romantic as anybody else, but I also understand that we humans have our own singular set of realities. There is virtually zero possibility that there are "life forms" on other planets which share any piece of human or earthly reality. And if there were such "life forms", the possibility that they would have human senses resembling 'sight', 'touch', 'hearing', 'smell', or 'taste' are even more remote. Factor in other human concepts such as 'time', 'space', and 'thought' and it is clear that there is no extra-terrestrial life with which humans could hope to communicate. (Of course, "communication" itself is merely another human concept, yawn.)

I believe that there are 'beings' of some kind on other planets out there somewhere.... but nothing humans could ever hope sense in any way or, (laugh) "understand".

[SES1066]

A while back I came across a study that I now really wish I could refer back to for this response. It took into account the unique aspects of Earth's cosmological history to conclude that the odds of another earth may be very small indeed.

The first criteria is a size and gravity to hold and maintain a Nitrogen-Oxygen atmosphere while allowing other gasses to be minor components. Next is to have an orbit within the Free Water (H20) Zone (too close=too hot like Venus, too far=too cold).

Next is the presence of Earth's Moon, which, resulted from a Mars-sized impact 3.5 billion years ago to form Luna which has stabelized Earth's rotational axis, generated moderate tides and formed a minor shield against further impact events.

Next comes the presence of Jupiter and the other Gas Giants which sweep much of the potential catastrophic cosmic impactors before they can hit the Earth.

There were multiple other criteria in this study but these are the highlights as I remember them. The conclusion of the study was that even if life could form on every Earth-style planet, the odds of all these criteria lining up would reduce the possibility of another Earth to a very small number.

[Windsong]

"Astronomers say there could be..."

Well call me when you actually have a PHOTO! Sheesh..everyone wants to be Carl Sagan these days..

[Grig]

"There might be other planets about the size of earth, but none of them, not one, would be like earth in any other way. Don't expect
meadow-fresh air, nor mild seasons, nor lake trout."

If you belive in evolution, that sounds logical, but if you belive in God and that he created all things, why would he make only one earth with people on it, and why would one such earth have a greatly differnt ecology than another?

Can you imagine the fallout in society and the scientific community if we get to another such world and find the same plants and animals and humans as are here? And what if they have a religion that matches one here as well? I think the mother of all cover-ups would take place.

[HardStarboard]

This is truly good news - now all the Hollywood people
who want to leave America can leave earth and mankind behind entirely since they are "above" us all anyway!

[Call-9-11]

this backwater mudhole with meadow-fresh air, mild seasons, and lake trout.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Crisis on Infinite Earths!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

And on one of those earth like planets, Algore is president.