Comment of the Day: "Ignoring 500 Billion Galaxies: Mathematics vs Common Sense in the Debate About the Probability of Extraterrestrial Life"
"They seem to be overlooking the fact that we're using more than human existence as evidence for life elsewhere. We're using all life on earth as an example. Humans weren't the first life forms to pop up. We are at the top of an enormous family tree of earth life. From the largest creatures to the very smallest, we observe life here that exist in the most extreme conditions, which basically guarantees that non intelligent life is spread all across the universe.
"So is it really that big of a stretch to say that a few other places in this gigantic place have the right conditions for intelligent life to come about? Especially considering that we are finally beginning to be able to identify places where life could easily flourish. Intelligence is an evolutionary trait we developed to survive and it is something that enabled us to build a bank of knowledge through language. And if we arose naturally on this planet, tell me again how that is not evidence for elsewhere? We are very much a part of this universe and to dismiss everything here as not being evidence is crazy."
"B"
Comments
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Life even on Earth is a thin, thin scum existing between a narrow band of atmosphere and the sterile lower reaches of the crust. Not tough, but tenuous.
Posted by: barzuk | February 24, 2012 at 04:31 PM
My sneaking suspicion is that while UNintelligent life is probably not too uncommon in the cosmos, intelligent life is probably fairly rare. Again, if one looks at Earth as evidence, there have been perhaps a hundred million species that have ever existed on this planet, and of those hundred million, only one has developed any significant intelligence. Intelligence is a great survival mechanism if a species can attain it, but it has a high caloric cost and is dependent on a number of other luck-influenced factors like having vocal chords suitable for complex language and limbs suitable for making and using tools. This is why dolphins and octupuses, two of the more intelligent animal species after humans, will never develop things like civilization or spaceflight.
Posted by: Andrew T | February 25, 2012 at 09:26 AM
I beleive there is an anti universe exist here.
Posted by: Prabha kumar.trivandrum | February 25, 2012 at 10:29 AM
We are guessing a lot.But COMMON SENSE TELLS US THAT TIME AND PATIENCE WILL BRING THE RIGHT ANSWERS.
Posted by: Olga Altstatt | February 25, 2012 at 12:24 PM
There will be SURPRISES and disappointments in studing the COSMOS and lookings for answers but they will be some day,and we'll be happy and proud of our THOUGHTS and scientific efforts!
Posted by: Olga Altstatt | February 25, 2012 at 12:30 PM
It is crazy to think that we are the only INTELLIGENT BEINGS in the Milky way or the COSMOS.
There are more intelligently advanced and less.
When HUMANS start COSMIC WAR , they will go first on those with less advanced technology.
What about those who can use ENERGY from STARS and BLACK HOLES?
Is human MILITARY ready for that?
Posted by: Olga Altstatt | February 25, 2012 at 02:44 PM