Simple enough question.

Are we alone in the universe?

Does life exist anywhere else but on Earth?

I'm inclined to believe that life is very common in the universe and that we are not alone. But as a whole we're still too ignorant and egocentric as a species to understand this and accept it. The fact that we exist means life is possible, and I have no reason to believe life is something exclusive to Earth.

"Be it resolved, that we are not alone in the Universe and that life exists beyond the planet Earth."

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Killswitch_Engage,

quote:

Originally posted by Killswitch_Engage:
I'm inclined to believe that life is very common in the universe and that we are not alone.

Agreed. My belief in life elsewhere is based on the odds of infinity - with so many galaxies/stars/planets/environments to work with, and such a long time frame to work it in, I cannot imagine that life has arisen only on our home planet. Furthermore, the distances implicit in an infinite universe explain why we have not yet been able to contact them.

However, this is all rationalizing from a single data point. To get a better idea of the odds, we're going to have to go out there and look.

From "The Earth is the CENTER of the Universe and revolves around the sun." to "Life probably exists elsewhere in the Universe."

How many years did that leap take for mankind?

Yes, there is.

quote:

Originally posted by peter3_1:
Yes, there is.

Care to elaborate Peter?

No we are not alone.

Look at our planet ...the purpose of life IS life!!

Ipso facto, the universe is FULL of life!!

And, I for one would love to meet them!

Be well ....Tawodi

Absolutely, if ANY superior being were to see us, the things we do, how we treat each other, our school systems, and Bill Gates monopoly of technology then GORK would tell SNIRK to squash us flat and start the experiment over. Since that hasn't happened in the last how-ever-long-we've-been-here I catagorically state that we are alone.

I think,??

I think it is with great hubris that we assume that we have any idea what "life" looks like somewhere in the universe, or if and how it thinks.

K_E, no, I prefer not to.

Yes, I believe there is life on other planets than Earth. As stated, it is simple probability. With all the star systems that exist, it is unlikely that our planet is the only one to host life.

The key thing to remember, for those who doubt, is that we are talking life - not any particular form, just life. This can range from microbes and bacteria, to complex organisms.

I too, would love to meet them....unless they are their worlds politicians!!

Since the universe is infinite, I, too, believe that life exists somewhere out there.

However, if life out there is anything like life here on Earth, I don't want to meet them. We have enough trouble dealing with our fellow earthlings. Who needs more trouble!

quote:

Originally posted by gsuchey:
Absolutely, if ANY superior being were to see us, the things we do, how we treat each other, our school systems, and Bill Gates monopoly of technology then GORK would tell SNIRK to squash us flat and start the experiment over. Since that hasn't happened in the last how-ever-long-we've-been-here I catagorically state that we are alone.

I think,??

It's all those darn problems of playing with an infinity of time and space. We've had radio for what? A hundred years? Will we be around in a million years?

Love it when Sagan used to say, "billions and billions and billions...

I have a hard enough time thousands, hundreds of thousands? Millions! Whoa!

So, is there life capable of being intelligent life, within our arm of ONE galaxy? When? Yesterday? Tommorow?

And then there's all these itsy bitsy problem of space travel. Anyone figure out how to break the speed of light barrier? And if there is no way to break this barrier?

Yup, better soup up them radio's, 'cause it may very well be that that's the only practical connection we will ever have.


BTW: It has been proved that if you establish a continious radio beam into space to a destination, and maintain it, information (not matter) can be sent instantaniously. In some manner, it acts as a solid, and disturbing one end, instantly alters the other, no matter how long it may be. So, even if we never "get there" our information might.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Grachus:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by gsuchey:
Absolutely, if ANY superior being were to see us, the things we do, how we treat each other, our school systems, and Bill Gates monopoly of technology then GORK would tell SNIRK to squash us flat and start the experiment over. Since that hasn't happened in the last how-ever-long-we've-been-here I catagorically state that we are alone.

I think,??

It's all those darn problems of playing with an infinity of time and space. We've had radio for what? A hundred years? Will we be around in a million years?

Love it when Sagan used to say, "billions and billions and billions...

I have a hard enough time with thousands; hundreds of thousands? Millions! Whoa!

So, is there life capable of being intelligent life, within our arm of ONE galaxy? When? Yesterday? Tommorow?

And then there's all these itsy bitsy problem of space travel. Anyone figure out how to break the speed of light barrier? And if there is no way to break this barrier?

Yup, better soup up them radio's, 'cause it may very well be that that's the only practical connection we will ever have.


BTW: It has been proved that if you establish a continious radio beam into space to a destination, and maintain it, information (not matter) can be sent instantaniously. In some manner, it acts as a solid, and disturbing one end, instantly alters the other, no matter how long it may be. So, even if we never "get there" our information might. (I'm probably not getting the preceding exactly right - someone else can correct the details, if not the conclusion)

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by fnewt:
Since the universe is infinite, I, too, believe that life exists somewhere out there.

However, if life out there is anything like life here on Earth, I don't want to meet them. We have enough trouble dealing with our fellow earthlings. Who needs more trouble!

I hear that....

quote:

Originally posted by Grachus:

quote:

Originally posted by gsuchey:
Absolutely, if ANY superior being were to see us, the things we do, how we treat each other, our school systems, and Bill Gates monopoly of technology then GORK would tell SNIRK to squash us flat and start the experiment over. Since that hasn't happened in the last how-ever-long-we've-been-here I catagorically state that we are alone.

I think,??

It's all those darn problems of playing with an infinity of time and space. We've had radio for what? A hundred years? Will we be around in a million years?

Love it when Sagan used to say, "billions and billions and billions...

I have a hard enough time thousands, hundreds of thousands? Millions! Whoa!

So, is there life capable of being intelligent life, within our arm of ONE galaxy? When? Yesterday? Tommorow?

And then there's all these itsy bitsy problem of space travel. Anyone figure out how to break the speed of light barrier? And if there is no way to break this barrier?

Yup, better soup up them radio's, 'cause it may very well be that that's the only practical connection we will ever have.


BTW: It has been proved that if you establish a continious radio beam into space to a destination, and maintain it, information (not matter) can be sent instantaniously. In some manner, it acts as a solid, and disturbing one end, instantly alters the other, no matter how long it may be. So, even if we never "get there" our information might.

Dave

Dave,

Hypothetical question. It is proven that radio waves travel at the speed of light. If the fastest we can achieve (spaceship wise) is the speed of light, then if I robbed an intergalactic liquer store the police would not be able to catch me because they can't go faster than me. Also, the radio waves of the police would not be able to pass me so they couldn't call ahead and be waiting with spike strips.

quote:

Originally posted by gsuchey:

quote:

Originally posted by Grachus:

quote:

Originally posted by gsuchey:
Absolutely, if ANY superior being were to see us, the things we do, how we treat each other, our school systems, and Bill Gates monopoly of technology then GORK would tell SNIRK to squash us flat and start the experiment over. Since that hasn't happened in the last how-ever-long-we've-been-here I catagorically state that we are alone.

I think,??

It's all those darn problems of playing with an infinity of time and space. We've had radio for what? A hundred years? Will we be around in a million years?

Love it when Sagan used to say, "billions and billions and billions...

I have a hard enough time thousands, hundreds of thousands? Millions! Whoa!

So, is there life capable of being intelligent life, within our arm of ONE galaxy? When? Yesterday? Tommorow?

And then there's all these itsy bitsy problem of space travel. Anyone figure out how to break the speed of light barrier? And if there is no way to break this barrier?

Yup, better soup up them radio's, 'cause it may very well be that that's the only practical connection we will ever have.


BTW: It has been proved that if you establish a continious radio beam into space to a destination, and maintain it, information (not matter) can be sent instantaniously. In some manner, it acts as a solid, and disturbing one end, instantly alters the other, no matter how long it may be. So, even if we never "get there" our information might.

Dave

Dave,

Hypothetical question. It is proven that radio waves travel at the speed of light. If the fastest we can achieve (spaceship wise) is the speed of light, then if I robbed an intergalactic liquer store the police would not be able to catch me because they can't go faster than me. Also, the radio waves of the police would not be able to pass me so they couldn't call ahead and be waiting with spike strips.

He, heh, he. Well yes, but if there is an already established connection with this planet you are heading to, then they'll be waiting for you.

I wish I was into physics instead of just posting "facts" I've read, of which I have no understanding - But while the speed of light is a constant, time is not. If I recall, if you actually approach the speed of light, it will take You minutes to get to another planet light years off in space, while time for all of us on earth, (or the other planet) will be years.

Married folk will have to travel together if they want to stay together.

Who knows? What's theoretically imnpossible today, may be practical tommorow.

Dave

I have read & heard that the universe kinda folds and expands (moves?) constantly and what might be millions of light years away in the "traditional" sense could be a whole lot closer than we actually think using worm holes and other "short cuts" to traverse great distances. The limitation of human (my own) understanding frustrates me. I want to know everything before I die. Hurry up scientists!

If God is half the entity I think it is, there is no way we could be the best product. I know it's done better.

I say "it" because if God is the totality, it cannot have a sex designation.

quote:

Originally posted by Killswitch_Engage:
I have read & heard that the universe kinda folds and expands (moves?) constantly and what might be millions of light years away in the "traditional" sense could be a whole lot closer than we actually think using worm holes and other "short cuts" to traverse great distances. The limitation of human (my own) understanding frustrates me. I want to know everything before I die. Hurry up scientists!

I've heard they want a raise before they tell us everything...

In my lifetime of 60 years, the universe has opened up. But heck, we didn't even know germs existed a 120 years ago. I'm patient...

Let's restart this thread in fifty or so years, and see what's changed?

Dave