Well.... after all, it IS a very big galaxy and an even bigger universe,
isn't it?

Dan

Well, the universe might contain lots of stuff, but the thing is all that stuff is surrounded by lots and lots and LOTS of nothing, i.e. SPACE! Hence when you say the universe is so big, it should really be that it is SO ABSOLUTELY ENORMOUS, with little bits of 'stuff' hanging amid all that space!

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The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not Eureka! (I found it!) but rather, 'hmm.... that's funny...'
- Isaac Asimov

Are we alone in the Universe? Are we the only intelligent life? Who knows? But the universe is so BIG, it somehow seems such a waste of space if we are ....

True indeed.

A simple way to put the point across though, would be billions of stars per balaxy, multiplied by billions of galaxies per visible universe equals heaps of billions of potential for life.

Your point about the space would suggest the potential for life must in turn be divides by heaps to reach the odds of that life being in any location at any time.

Using that insanely powerful logic it seems very unlikely we'll encounter life any time soon.

(main assumption: heaps equals a really big number)

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The left hand knows full well what the right hand is doing, but quietly ignores it.

Hi Spoons, The B key is quite near the G key .

Actually, I'm pretty sure I intended to introduce the world to my fantastic new word - balaxy.

Balaxy: A type of galaxy that revolved around German midfielder/captains.

To be honest, it was bait for Gillian. Every morning I wake up, look in the mirror and ask myself, "Will today be the day when Gillian corrects me?". But hey, you'll do!

And now for some Nostradamus prophesizing:
Bathroom Quatrain 5:54(am)
A dark cloud envelopes chiseled jawlines,
The shaving cream is in defensive stance,
One man at the mailbox,
Will today be the day when Gillian Dan corrects me?

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The left hand knows full well what the right hand is doing, but quietly ignores it.

WEe love Gillian, the Omnipotent!

Isn't that from the coarse counting method:

one = 1
two = 2
few = 3 ... or 4 .... or possibly 5 ish
some = about 7ish and perhaps a few more
lots = some + some
heaps = lots * some(squared)

etc. etc

__________________
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not Eureka! (I found it!) but rather, 'hmm.... that's funny...'
- Isaac Asimov

Are we alone in the Universe? Are we the only intelligent life? Who knows? But the universe is so BIG, it somehow seems such a waste of space if we are ....

That's exactly it, but it's also in base 16 just to keep things simple.

I believe heaps is actually the primary constant of the universe - Alfalfa.

Right, that's wrapped up all of cosmology & physics.

Next up: the art of tandoori chicken.

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The left hand knows full well what the right hand is doing, but quietly ignores it.

Do you think the Tandoori chicken will be as nice on other planets as we get here on earth?

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ooops..... wrong forum!!!

I believe on Mars it is going to be a much lighter meal.

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The left hand knows full well what the right hand is doing, but quietly ignores it.

" Who wants food paste? !! "
From the Nunies on mars (snl )

Yes, and I think the spicy chicken wings won't be as big either!

__________________
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not Eureka! (I found it!) but rather, 'hmm.... that's funny...'
- Isaac Asimov

Are we alone in the Universe? Are we the only intelligent life? Who knows? But the universe is so BIG, it somehow seems such a waste of space if we are ....

so long as smart life isn't stupendously rare in our galaxy

im 100% confident we are being watched


it would be incredibly easy to have a few spy sats disguised as passing asteroids and a mother ship in the outer reaches (communication by laser so as to go undetected)

it would also be incredibly easy to hide an alien base under the ocean floor or deep in a inside a mountain range

you may even have met an alien and had a beer (they would have the ability to clone humans maybe with a few hidden tweaks for fun, these human like aliens would be brought up as aliens in the hidden bases and maybe pop out for a daring adventure and a swift half at the local pub (bit risky) but they may be playing a game with us just for fun

this all sounds like the cheap "they are among us" tv shows i hate but its all very doable

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we might even be aliens , knowing how rare smart life is they visited us 3millions years ago and gave us a discrete shot of smart dna to help us on our way....the game may be that having done so the rule is never to meet us or tell us , just let us go on our way bit like a sperm donor wishing to remain anonomous or a adopted child never been told he is adopted