|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Searching for Life in the Universe, Are We Alone?
As humans we tend to believe that we occupy an extraordinarily unique and special place in the universe. Up Until a short while ago, we lent credibility to the entire universe revolving around Earth.
When Copernicus argued instead that Earth orbits the Sun, we backed off, only to insist that if not Earth, then it must be our Sun around which the universe revolves. However, this view of a Sun-centred universe was also not supported by subsequent astronomical observations.
In response, we believed that as a minimum the Sun is the centre of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. But that was also not borne out by observation. Indeed, we continue to discover that our solar system's place in the universe is not unique at all.
But wait. What about life on Earth? Surely we represent the only life in the universe and, even more assuredly, the only intelligent life. Don't we? Actually, while we do not have concrete proof that there is life elsewhere in the universe, there is enough of a possibility to justify a search.
Just a thought,
Dar.
When Copernicus argued instead that Earth orbits the Sun, we backed off, only to insist that if not Earth, then it must be our Sun around which the universe revolves. However, this view of a Sun-centred universe was also not supported by subsequent astronomical observations.
In response, we believed that as a minimum the Sun is the centre of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. But that was also not borne out by observation. Indeed, we continue to discover that our solar system's place in the universe is not unique at all.
But wait. What about life on Earth? Surely we represent the only life in the universe and, even more assuredly, the only intelligent life. Don't we? Actually, while we do not have concrete proof that there is life elsewhere in the universe, there is enough of a possibility to justify a search.
Just a thought,
Dar.
Everybody who votes for the first two options should contact SETI. If your'e sure one way or another certainly you have proof.
we use "being sure" just like we use it when we say we are sure this rock is going to drop when we let go of it. We are SURE that energy cannot be destroyed. I have not seen it, or can prove it TIL I see it completly, but it seems like a statistical impossibility that we are not alone.
I think there is something...................we can't be the only ones.....
or wel the has been something else
if it is there or not has still to be found out
or wel the has been something else
if it is there or not has still to be found out
| Mason11987 wrote: |
| we use "being sure" just like we use it when we say we are sure this rock is going to drop when we let go of it. We are SURE that energy cannot be destroyed. I have not seen it, or can prove it TIL I see it completly, but it seems like a statistical impossibility that we are not alone. |
You can prove that the rock will drop, a simple calculation of gravity, mass, bouyancy, and atmospheric resistance. You can even predict exactly how fast the rock will fall and how hard it will hit the ground.
But statistical impossibility?
(As a token of goodwill, I will not turn this into a discussion of the drake equation.)
Suppose you want to cross a road that gets almost no traffic. (Perhaps one or two cars an hour)
Still you would not cross the road without being sure of no oncoming cars.
Now, the probability of a car coming at just the right moment to smash you is very low. However, do you not still look and check?
The way ya'll are talking about surety, I would not trust you to cross such a street.
[quote="ocalhoun"]
Exactly. That's why we're searching for them. The likelyhood of finding life elsewhere is small, but we will continue looking both ways before crossing...
| Mason11987 wrote: |
| Suppose you want to cross a road that gets almost no traffic. (Perhaps one or two cars an hour)
Still you would not cross the road without being sure of no oncoming cars. Now, the probability of a car coming at just the right moment to smash you is very low. However, do you not still look and check? The way ya'll are talking about surety, I would not trust you to cross such a street. |
Exactly. That's why we're searching for them. The likelyhood of finding life elsewhere is small, but we will continue looking both ways before crossing...
I was just posting that to demonstrate the difference between surety and probability...
I voted "not sure," and I'm quite in favor of searching for further evidence.
I voted "not sure," and I'm quite in favor of searching for further evidence.
Strong probability, that is all we have. As for certainty even that can be a cheap act of prestidigitation! 
Dar.
Dar.
i agree that because of the shere(spelling?) size of the universe, there has to be life out there somewhere. There are billions of stars out there, maybe even trillions, there has to be at least one other planet similar to ours, even if we are an oddball in the universe, we can't be the only one. Nature has a funny way of repeating itself.
History works that way too
History works that way too
| s43ros wrote: |
| i agree that because of the shere(spelling?) size of the universe, there has to be life out there somewhere. There are billions of stars out there, maybe even trillions, there has to be at least one other planet similar to ours, even if we are an oddball in the universe, we can't be the only one. Nature has a funny way of repeating itself.
History works that way too |
I agree with that. There also some other universes, much bigger, which have more universes, other phisycs, there are also universes similar to ours
It would be great if we can make contact with some strange aliens . however this is impossible. Just the time is a big problem. Or can aliens travel time??
I heard that some corporation is sending radio signals to space. Maybe some time we will get the answer from aliens...
But a couple of years ago we got some strange signals from space, but it wasn't uncoded until today...
But a couple of years ago we got some strange signals from space, but it wasn't uncoded until today...
 |