Do you reckon there is life out there?

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Foghat

Freight-train-groove-rider
Excellent sequence, Speicher!

By the way, have you made it to Slovenia yet?
 
Given the current theories about there being infinite parallel universes, this means some interesting possibilites for life out there, but not in the sense that we will ever be aware of it, be able to detect it or come into contact with it.

As for our own universe, the vast distances and timescales involved mean it's unlikely that we would happen to be around at the same time as another highly evolved lifeform in the contactable vicinity. When we look into the sky, the nearest star is 4 light year away. That means the image of it you are seeing is the star as it was 4 years ago. You aren't seeing 'the present', you are viewing the past. Similarly, a message sent by a lifeform in the distant reaches of space could have started out on its journey thousands of years ago. Whether that lifeform or its descendents still exists by the time we receive such a signal is by no means guaranteed. All lifeforms have a limited tenure on Earth, all planets have a finite period during which they can sustain life and probably this is the same thoughout the cosmos.
 

Norm

Guest
Absolutely, and maybe a lot closer than we think. I'm always staggered by the arrogance of "experts" who claim planets (or even the moon) could sustain life because theres not water or too much radiation or another dumb reason. The assumption that a life form would have to exist with our rules and limitations is beyond belief!
A point perfectly illustrated by the opening paragraphs in this news story which appeared on the Beeb today.
 

marinyork

Resting in suspended Animation
Location
Logopolis
A point perfectly illustrated by the opening paragraphs in this news story which appeared on the Beeb today.

It's mostly biologists that seem to think this. Most exoplanet hunters and people interested more in the area of actually finding the planetary systems are generally a lot more open minded.
 

gbb

Squire
Location
Peterborough
This subject always makes me think...suppose WE are part of a monstrously larger universe than we think we know...where other lifeforms are stupendously larger than us...to the degree where our world is so small thats we'd be mere bacteria size in that universe. !!!!
We could be co-existing with lifeforms, and not even be aware of each others existence
Too much time on my hands methinks :biggrin:

And further to that...the human brain can't (well mine can't anyway) quantify'infinate'. I always thought of space (which is 'infinate' of course) as being contained in a box.....that makes it quantifyable to me...but then you think about it...whats on the outside of the 'box' ?. Then you're back to square one :biggrin:

FWIW, there has to be other (intelligent) life out there.
 

Norm

Guest
A point perfectly illustrated by the opening paragraphs in this news story which appeared on the Beeb today.
It just doesn't get better, with this story on the BBC today.

The opening paragraph is just fabulously bollocks...
The first organism able to substitute one of the six chemical elements crucial to life has been found.
Who contacted God to determine that there were 6 elements crucial to life? And will they be having another word with Him now that it has been shown to be nothing more than a sack of crap?
 
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