Extra-Terrestrial Life

[pnoom]

Here's a discussion thread/poll about extra-terrestrial life. Basically, do you believe it exists. Why or why not?

I believe it does exist. Since there are so many planets in the universe, a conservative estimate (at least according to Richard Dawkins) would suggest that life has arisen 1 billion times outside of the Earth.

While I don't necessarily agree with the numbers, I agree with the principle, and thus I believe that extra-terrestrial life does exist beyond the Milky Way.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi pnoom,

Even through the use of VLBI(very long baseline interferometry) or radio telescopic technology, we are engaged in a futile search. We can daily peer into the distance of well in excess of 13.5 billion light years - nothing. At those distances, carbon based life forms can't survive the enormous traversal of space and time, even in cryo-stasis!

Silicon-based life forms is currently science fiction, not fact. Sure, we can all dream about *little green men* - I still like to watch DVD's of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's adventures or Deep Space Nine but that is for titillating entertainment.

Having studied Astronomy and Astrophysics, I have an enormously healthy respect for the powerful tools we have in Maths and Physics and we must continue exercising those tools. Dream big dreams, follow and hunt down your dreams but let them be philosophically reasoned and seasoned with reality.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Violinschlüssel]

Corno Dolce, I'm lost in admiration: have you really studied astrophysics and astronomy? OMG! You know, astrophysics has always been one of my hobbies (even though I have never been given the chance to actually study it; I'm a (humble) linguist ). I don't know if you have ever heard mentioned Margherita Hack, who's the most famous Italian astrophysicist, and... ahem, I apologize: I realize I'm getting pretty off-topic.

Well, as far as extra-terrestrail life goes, I believe that, in this universe, there must be some kind of life, besides ours. I mean, we can't be so arrogant and/or blind to think that ours is the only life form in the whole universe. Sure, it would be very important to decide what kind of life form we mean using this term: I mean, even bacteria are a kind of life form, but I don't think that this would be sufficient to determine that we're not alone in this vast, still unknown universe. Finding out a life form able to successfully communicate with us would be something closer the matter.
I expect to meet "pointy-eared men with green blood in their veins" neither, and yet I am confident that there must be "something" out there.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Violinschlüssel,

Wow - you're a linguist? That is way cool
Astrophysics as a hobby? I certainly don't discount it, but one does miss out on the astrophysical community when one is not engaged in research having been funded by grants through the NSF, NASA, or any other Science grant awarding institution. The thrill of writing a proposal will help one to narrowly define the parameters of one's research.

Yes, I know of Dr. Hack. Here's an interesting .pdf abstract of some of her thinking:

http://www.thefutureofscience.org/ve...racts/Hack.pdf

I invite you to continue entertaining ETI(Extra-Terrestrial-Intelligence) but don't stop just there. Apply for a Science grant so that you can do research on the subject matter. But beware, the funding pot is very limited for such research. It is not considered very valid or fertile grounds for research. Do some research into the history of grant-giving for ETI, find out the statistics of the frequency of those grants and the amounts rewarded.

You might find yourself discouraged by your findings. All this I share with you as a forum colleague and with respect to your person.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Krummhorn]

I heartily agree with Pnoom ...

Other lifeforms do exist out there, somewhere ... and I firmly believe that they are laughing their heads off watching us destroying ourselves ... There are way too many abnormalities that happen in every day life for me to not believe that there is some form of extraterrestrial intervention ... Even our own US Government keeps "Area 51" completely sealed from the public - why? That's my $3 worth, anyway.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Krummhorn,

Maybe the Air Force puts a tight seal on Area 51 so that ground-breaking research on agile, high-performance, long endurance aircraft and their associated technologies don't fall into the wrong hands. Of course, such draconian measures in security does foster suspicions, no doubt about it.
I know I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[methodistgirl]

Yes I believe in other life elsewhere. Ever heard of angels?I know
they exist.
judy tooley

[Krummhorn]

Hi Krummhorn,

Maybe the Air Force puts a tight seal on Area 51 so that ground-breaking research on agile, high-performance, long endurance aircraft and their associated technologies don't fall into the wrong hands. Of course, such draconian measures in security does foster suspicions, no doubt about it.
I know I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
Cheers, Corno Dolce

Hi Corno Dolce,

Nor will I loose sleep over it - having worked for a government contractor doing electronic testing for nearly 25 years, my last 6 years were spent working inside a "black box" ... everything, from test fixtures to the toilet seats were classified top secret. I can't even tell my pet cat what I did for a living, even in retirement. So, yes, I do have appreciation for secrecy and will carry those secrets I have to the grave - but the government withholding info about extra-terrestrials is absurd. I mean, what harm would it pose for the public to have that kind of knowledge.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Krummhorn,

What independently verifiable proof is there that information about ET's is being withheld? So far, after seeing and hearing hours of testimony about federal malfeasance in re to ET's, I find alot of conjecture and projection from those who claim the presence of ET's at Area 51. There is an even more huge area than *51* and it is located in the vicinity of the U.S. Army Toolele Depot in Utah. The U.S. has incinerated thousands of tons of biological and chemical warfare munitions there ever since experiments with such munitions began. They also have a giant runway there accessed only by government contracted civilian aircraft and, of course, military aircraft.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Sybarite]

I think that the balance of probabilty is that we are not the only lifeform in the universe.

[Oneiros]

Call me small-minded, but I find that there are enough mysteries on planet Earth to keep me occupied, let alone contemplating the universe. Whether aliens exist in outer-space or not, I don't know - but like Judy said, I do know that angels are here with us.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Oneiros,

I have to agree with you on that one.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[Sybarite]

I can't say that I've ever seen an angel – has anyone got any photographs or other evidence?

[pnoom]

I heartily agree with Pnoom ...

Other lifeforms do exist out there, somewhere ... and I firmly believe that they are laughing their heads off watching us destroying ourselves ... There are way too many abnormalities that happen in every day life for me to not believe that there is some form of extraterrestrial intervention ... Even our own US Government keeps "Area 51" completely sealed from the public - why? That's my $3 worth, anyway.

Hmm... I think that if there any life forms out there with the intelligence to achieve the technology necessary to observe us is probably destroying themselves as well, if they haven't already.

When I say I believe in extra-terrestrial life, I believe it's probably mostly single-celled organisms. The leap from single-cell to multicellular is a giant evolutionary leap.

[Oneiros]

I can't say that I've ever seen an angel – has anyone got any photographs or other evidence?

I haven't seen any either, at least not with these two eyes.