Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

What would you have thought about Galileo a few hundred years ago Atrocities? And (to the forum), didn't 'they' confirm some chunk of asteroid found in the Arctic had multicellular organisms fossilized within? Probably from an impact with Mars as I recall...

Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

Antarctic it was. And yes that's true, Unfortuantely it isn't reliable evidence due to contamination through Earth's Atmosphere and landing.

I believe NASA's Project Stardust is the next step towards proving this. Check out the FAQ section.

Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

*Throws popcorn at RD. When RD spins around with death in his eye, Slick points at Fyron*

*Sits back in his lawn chair to watch the festivities heat up*

Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

That is very true, there's no real direct evidence of other life existing out there. But there is a host of indirect evidence. First, there's the sheer number of extrasolar planets out there. So far we've only had instruments capable of detecting (at the extreme range of the instruments) planets that are at the least 10 times more massive than Earth. When more advanced equipment comes online, for example the James Webb Space Telescope which should be launching somewhere around 2010 or 12, it should be able to directly detect Earth-sized planets. Now just because we can't, at this time, detect those Earth-sized plaents, does that mean they don't exist? We can't see them, but we can't see an electron either, can we? We say it exists, but who of you have seen an electron? And yet we all believe they exist, right?

I know it's a really big leap to go from Earth-sized extrasolar planets existing to life being abundant in the universe, but here's another point. Just look at the diversity of life that has developed (or been created) on this chunk of rock. There's organisms like us, oxygen breathing, likes temperatures around 20-25 degrees. Then you have single celled organisms called thermophiles which live at the bottom of the ocean around vents, who live off of hydrogen sulphide, oxygen is poisonous to them (I believe), and who live in temperatures over 100 degrees! A wide range of possibilities, no? Diversity indicates abundance.

The final point: We, as humans, find it difficult to conceive of life that is different from our own. Sure, we may say that it might exist, but do we really believe it? I think that most people think that intelligent life would be humanoid, and exist in the ranges of temperature, gravity, and atmospheric composition that we ourselves enjoy. That just simply isn't true. There's no reason that I can think of to say that life could not take any form. Why can't the super-hot, close-orbiting Jupiter-like planets that have been detected harbour life? It would not be life as we know it, but is there any reason to think that it could not exist there, and be just as much 'life' as we are?

By the way, everything said above is not intended to offend anyone, it's just me arguing for the "side" of the debate that I believe in. No offense intended in any way.

Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

*erects a sign with a finger pointing at Slick*

Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

Lets see

There are billions of species on Earth alone
And thousands of years ago, we thought the world was small and flat, the stars were gods, comets and lightning were signs from said gods, so on and so forth

Our understanding of the universe is far too limited, science is just a theory until proven right or wrong

But personally, I'd prefer us to try and save what we have here before trying to find out whats out there

Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

I believe that Earth is the only planet with sentient life in the universe. I don't think that we're going to find any sentient life anywhere else in the universe. Now, other non-sentient life could exist elsewhere...

Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

Well, the answer to whether alien life exists or not is quite obvious: just look at Fyron and Narf! Fyron is a proven Vorlon, and have you ever seen sapient mice wielding six-foot tall hammers? Of course not; besides, mice are the true rulers of the universe, and do not hail from Earth.

(What I am really wondering about is how those other lifeforms would think, but that would be another matter, and a bigger can of worms so I will stay quiet. See, you aren't even reading this message!)

Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

From the point of view of anthropomorphic cosmology, universe was created (and this process is going on) by the collective mind of humanity. Hence the more we argue the nessesarity of extraterrestrial life - the more chances it exists.

In the light of this ...hmm... theory, your, Slick and others, attempts to stand aside of discussion are revolting, since they decrease chance for Small Green Aliens to appear. So give me, please, your popcorn and chair and join this creative (literary!) debate.

ps: they do exist. (+0,0000000000000000000000000000000000001% chance for SGAs)

Re: OT: Extrasolar planets discovered directly
 

Really? I don't believe you!