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Old 20-January-2004, 09:38 PM
Bluewolf027 Bluewolf027 is offline
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Given that there really is not alot of evidence either way as to wether life exists on other planets I would like to here others opinions. Is there life out there? Is there intelligent life out there?

My thought would be that given the diverse climates and environments here on earth in which micro organisms can live that it is very likely that we will find living organisms of this sort on other planets. Since they have found micro - organisms that life even in the volcanic gas vents in the oceans the temerature of which is something like 1050 degrees celcius it would stand to reason that micro organisms will be found in many places in the universe, in my mind anyway. The bigger question would be then wether or not there is other intelligent life in the universe. I read some where once that the likelihood of an organism as complex as we are deveopling naturally is very slim. But on the other hand out of the micro-organisms here on earth developed - humans - dogs - birds- sea life - plants- insects, etc you get the picture. What are your thoughts? Do you think there is other life out there and if so do you think we will ever find it?
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Old 20-January-2004, 09:56 PM
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Life maybe exist in the other solar system...but the planet's luminosity is too low therefore we cant detect any planet in the other solar system...
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Old 21-January-2004, 09:49 AM
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I think it all depends how long intelligent life typically survives. At the moment, we've only been around for an instant, compared with how long non-intelligent life has inhabited the earth. If intelligent life only appears briefly then dies out (or self-destructs), there is only a slim chance of us detecting it elsewhere.

Alternatively, if intelligent life is generally persistent and vast civilizations are developing throughout the universe, how come we don't see all their radio and other electromagnetic transmissions whichever direction we look? Are the only civilizations that survive going to be the ones that never invented long-range communications?
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Old 21-January-2004, 06:42 PM
damienpaul damienpaul is offline
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The have found a galaxy that has significant organic compounds, though this is not proof of life, just an interesting point to consider...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/...31219070424.htm
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Old 21-January-2004, 06:48 PM
GOURDHEAD GOURDHEAD is offline
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Some thoughts that bear considering:

If the big bang paradigm proves accurate, it took quite a while for enough life supporting elements to be manufactured and dispersed then collected in a stellar system. Maybe as much as 10 billion years which brings us to the instantiation of the solar system and the other systems capable of supporting life.

It has taken the best part of 4 billion years to evolve sentients capable of the technolaogy that is needed for comprehending and beginning to explore the universe. We can not assess whether this is average.

The generation of life and its subsequent evolution is an algorithmic process..change and test. The universe in a very mindless way continually does this. Life is ubiquitous...a universal solvent and organizer.

Be patient. They will come here and we will go there.
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Old 23-January-2004, 01:39 AM
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The universe is quite big. Considering that the Milky Way galaxy is a fairly standard galaxy, chances are there are planets that have carbon, H2O, nitrogen. And if there are enough planets maybe one will be within the 'habitable' zone of the parent star. Maybe the odds oput us done to only one planet Earth. But I hope not.
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Old 26-January-2004, 03:26 AM
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Considering I plan to live a long time, I've decided that I'm going to act like there are aliens. Not the weirdo-cult kinda thing, but patiently pushing people to advance our space abilities.
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We can get to space as a species. The above link is information about life-extension (living longer) so that you can personally see a space-based civilization.

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Old 26-January-2004, 01:38 PM
GOURDHEAD GOURDHEAD is offline
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Darwin's Dangerous Idea by Daniel Dennett presents a strong argument supporting the initiation and evolution of living organisms and their inexorable advancement to intelligence. This happens wherever the universe fails to take deliberate action to prevent it.
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Old 26-January-2004, 02:56 PM
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So where are they all? If life evolves easily, I would expect we'd stumble across something quite quickly. Either within our own solar system or, even more likely, from our or other galaxies (visible from their electromagnetic emissions). Given all the amazing natural things we've detected, like pulsars and galactic clusters, it seems unlikely to me that we've not spotted all the advanced civilisations that are out there.
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Old 26-January-2004, 04:21 PM
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I've always thought that it's plain arrogance to assume that we are the only sentient life kicking about the universe. In such a huge universe with so many different galaxies and possibilities it must have happened somewhere.

I'm no big brain but i seem to remember scientists saying a while ago that life can only exist where there is carbon, because all life is carbon based, but isn't there something in the depths of the ocean that they've found which isn't carbon based?

This being the case, doesn't it then open up more possibilities for life elsewhere.

Maybe i'm just deluding myself, but i like to keep the faith.


This post was edited by moderators to remove all-caps
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Old 26-January-2004, 05:54 PM
Bluewolf027 Bluewolf027 is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sp1ke@Jan 26 2004, 02:56 PM
So where are they all? If life evolves easily, I would expect we'd stumble across something quite quickly. Either within our own solar system or, even more likely, from our or other galaxies (visible from their electromagnetic emissions). Given all the amazing natural things we've detected, like pulsars and galactic clusters, it seems unlikely to me that we've not spotted all the advanced civilisations that are out there.
When looking at the universe you have to remember that the distance between objects is immense. The milky way alone in about 100000 light years across so when we are looking at stars at the outermost edges of the milky way we are actually seeing them as they appeared ten of thousands of years ago. The closest galaxies to the milky way are millions of light years away from us - other galaxies are billions of light years away. If it takes light that long to reach us it will take radio waves even longer.

Also if there was another advanced civilization whos to say that they communicate in the same ways we do - maybe they have never used radio waves as a way to communicate. Or that they have ever created any electomagnetic emissions, as you put it. There technology could be completely different from anything we have ever seen or thought of.
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Old 27-January-2004, 02:26 AM
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Old 27-January-2004, 03:00 AM
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LOL
A dog.... maybe there is a(n) life on Mars, but they are invisibe to see... (put a sunglass on, I mean the dog )
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Old 27-January-2004, 07:45 AM
damienpaul damienpaul is offline
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Very clever tony!!! but you know i would not be in least bit surprised if life were to be found in places that had been considered 'impossible'
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Old 27-January-2004, 01:22 PM
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They've detected gigantic clouds of alcohol out in deep space...I wonder what happy forms of life live out there?
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Old 27-January-2004, 05:01 PM
Weaselbunny Weaselbunny is offline
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Probably life-forms with highly developed livers!

In fact, they probably invented hangover cures before they discovered fire! :P
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Old 03-February-2004, 11:17 AM
nietsyo nietsyo is offline
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It seems that one does not have to travel far to find life in the Universe!

I just found evidence of life on Mars! (Allthough not as clear as the evidence tony873004 provided perhaps ) :P

Here's evidence of pokemon's really originate from the planet Mars:Pikachu

Reference image:


But seriously:

It does not look like a rock to me. It has horns, and look pretty symmetric. Notice the shadow cast on the soil, it proves that the "horns" are not photographic illusions.

It even has spikes beneath wich resembles little legs!

I have never seen rocks or crystalline minerals formed with curved spikes like this.

Does any of you guys and girls have a good explanation of how this thing was formed? I sent an email to NASA with the same question, but they seem to have a lot of email to answer these days, so I thought I'd ask you guys.

In my amateur opinion, I would say this thing had organic origin. Fossilized maybe. (Don't see any trails indicating recent movement) :P

The image is extracted from an high resolution image at nasa mars rover site:
Source. (Take a look for yourselves...)

It would be cool if Nasa could make a better closeup of this thing.
(If it isn't something that came off the lander of course)
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Old 03-February-2004, 11:35 AM
Weaselbunny Weaselbunny is offline
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Could this be a rock formed from natural erosion processes that would occur either now or in the past on Mars?

I'm not good at rocks :huh: , has anyone any theories?

Also, was Mars once in the 'Solar Green Belt'?
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Old 03-February-2004, 11:41 AM
nietsyo nietsyo is offline
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Natural erosion prosesses occur on Earth too... I've never seen anything remotely similar formed by natural erosion... :blink:

According to this document (page 118 (38)), Mars is within the "Solar Green Belt":

Quote:
Since this study is targeted towards the search for signs of life in the Solar System with particular reference to Mars, this will deal only with the radiation climate of those planets within a green belt a habitable orbital zone between 0.7 AU and 2.0 AU where, as discussed above, liquid water is likely to have existed at least part of the time during the 4.6 Gyr history of our Solar System. Venus, Earth and Mars are situated in this habitable zone and their radiation climate and its implications for life are discussed
below.
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Old 03-February-2004, 12:01 PM
Weaselbunny Weaselbunny is offline
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That's one huge article! Not time to read it all right now, think my boss would be a little put out! Read page 38 though.

Excuse my ignorance, but what's an AU? :huh:
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Old 03-February-2004, 12:06 PM
nietsyo nietsyo is offline
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AU = Astronomic Unit, and is defined as the average distance between Earth and the Sun, if my memory serves me right.
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Old 03-February-2004, 12:12 PM
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Ahhh... thank you.

So do you believe that there used to be life on Mars or are you reserving judgement?
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