Aliens

The thing I see a lot of people saying is that it is probably possible for another planet to be exactly the same distance away from a star as Earth is, and therefore able to sustain life. But if you think about it, it wouldn't have to be. As far as our knowledge of life goes, it's water/carbon-based and needs at least some sunlight to live. It can't be too hot or too cold either, but who is to say on other planets, in other solar systems, in other galaxies that life couldn't form in different ways, evolving to fit te conditions of the planet on which it resides?

As for intellegent life, that comes down to what we really base intellegence on. Problem solving? There are animals on Earth that can do that almost just as well as humans. Communicating? Tons of animals communicate and even strategize with each other. Some apes even feel self apathy.

I wonder if they can love.

joothemoo:

I wonder if they can love.

i think so. I'd like to think they're warm-hearted creatures.

Do you consider any kind of life to be alien, or just humanoid life? Intelligent life?

Because I'm sure with all of the life out there, there are some species that can love other than us, but some also can hate much more powerfully than we can. There are also those that most likely deal in logical thinking, kind of like Vulcans from Star Trek.

Of course there are other forms of life out there.

The chance we'll discover any alien life any time in the next few millennia, however, are a mote a best.

The universe is a big place, and we've only successfully sent two missions, decades ago, that have finally left our own solar system. We've got a long, long way to go.

pen. leaf:

Of course there are other forms of life out there.

The chance we'll discover any alien life any time in the next few millennia, however, are a mote a best.

The universe is a big place, and we've only successfully sent two missions, decades ago, that have finally left our own solar system. We've got a long, long way to go.

There isn't any 'of course' about it, I hate to say. We have no definitive proof that life exists outside our solar system exists.

And Sing:

There isn't any 'of course' about it, I hate to say. We have no definitive proof that life exists outside our solar system exists.

A lot of people would disagree with you.
I don't think a lot of people understand just how frakking big our universe really is, not to mention possibilities like other universes.

There are over 100 billion stars in our galaxy alone. 100 billion suns. The average amount of planets any given star has orbiting it is 3.

In the universe, there are over 500 billion galaxies. Each galaxy harbors billions of stars.

By these numbers alone, I believe it is absolutely absurd, irrational, illogical, and quite naive to think there could not possibly be other forms of life in our universe. And in my opinion, it's actually quite selfish too because I feel like people who don't believe in other life in the universe are basically saying that we are special and privileged and so frakking important, when I don't think that much at all.

And honestly, I'd say there's way more chance that other life exists in the universe, and is more logical to think that, than to believe in any kind of superior being.

The Fantasy:

A lot of people would disagree with you.
I don't think a lot of people understand just how frakking big our universe really is, not to mention possibilities like other universes.

There are over 100 billion stars in our galaxy alone. 100 billion suns. The average amount of planets any given star has orbiting it is 3.

In the universe, there are over 500 billion galaxies. Each galaxy harbors billions of stars.

By these numbers alone, I believe it is absolutely absurd, irrational, illogical, and quite naive to think there could not possibly be other forms of life in our universe. And in my opinion, it's actually quite selfish too because I feel like people who don't believe in other life in the universe are basically saying that we are special and privileged and so frakking important, when I don't think that much at all.

And honestly, I'd say there's way more chance that other life exists in the universe, and is more logical to think that, than to believe in any kind of superior being.

I am awed by the size of the universe, don't get me wrong. I am asolutely awed by it.

However, I didn't say life was unlikely, but that there's no definitive proof. Note my wording.

Yes, perhaps there is other life out there. I wouldn't discount it. But I dont go around saying 'of course' it's out there, because I wouldn't want to be presumptuous.

And Sing:

Yes, perhaps there is other life out there. I wouldn't discount it. But I dont go around saying 'of course' it's out there, because I wouldn't want to be presumptuous.

I don't think it's very presumptuous to say it at all. Perhaps it's assumptious, but it's just the chance of their not being any other life forms in our entire universe is so ridiculously small.

I mean, there are Christians that go around that say, "Of course God exists," when they have no definite proof, and I'd argue to say there is proof that there is other life in the universe than that God exists.

I just think it's quite impossible and highly unlikely that other life doesn't exist. So to me, it's most definitely an "of course" statement.

The Fantasy:

I don't think it's very presumptuous to say it at all. Perhaps it's assumptious, but it's just the chance of their not being any other life forms in our entire universe is so ridiculously small.

I mean, there are Christians that go around that say, "Of course God exists," when they have no definite proof, and I'd argue to say there is proof that there is other life in the universe than that God exists.

I just think it's quite impossible and highly unlikely that other life doesn't exist. So to me, it's most definitely an "of course" statement.

Well, considering I believe God exists, and it is definitely an 'of course He exists' thing for me...I should also say of course to aliens...

But, are aliens part of God;s plan? *tongue in cheek*.

To be honest, to really think on it it's highly likely that life forms exist out there. But maybe not intelligent life forms.

I definitely think there's a possibility that aliens exists. Perhaps not in the sense that we normally think of aliens, but more in life on other planets. Do I think we'll ever have proof or that we'll ever make contact? Probably not.

I don't think I believe in humanoid aliens.

And Sing:

There isn't any 'of course' about it, I hate to say. We have no definitive proof that life exists outside our solar system exists.

That's because the most we've seen outside our universe is a basic idea of the composition of a couple extrasolar planets. Now, The Fantasy already pointed out how big the universe is. In order for life to exist on another planet we're going to have to find another planet that lies in the "habitable zone" of a star. One that's not too close or too far away from it to support life similar to ours. Given the amount of stars there are in our galaxy alone... I'd say the odds are good.

I think it's very likley there is life out there, and I wouldn't doubt that there is other humanoid life either.

pen. leaf:

That's because the most we've seen outside our universe is a basic idea of the composition of a couple extrasolar planets. Now, The Fantasy already pointed out how big the universe is. In order for life to exist on another planet we're going to have to find another planet that lies in the "habitable zone" of a star. One that's not too close or too far away from it to support life similar to ours. Given the amount of stars there are in our galaxy alone... I'd say the odds are good.

I think it's very likley there is life out there, and I wouldn't doubt that there is other humanoid life either.

But the planet wouldn't have to be the same distance from its start to be "habitable" because if life evolved on Earth to live in this environment, why could it not evolve somewhere much, much different than our own way of life?

I think the problem with people thinking there is no such thing as any form of life on other planets is that they're just too narrow-minded and aren't seeing the big picture.

As for if other life is humanoid, I'd kind of hope not. Perhaps intelligent enough to communicate with us, but I already don't really like my species. I'd prefer it if they were much, much different from us.

Humanoid life? What does that even mean? Star Trek pointy nose, 4 toes grey people?

The variety of life on Earth alone is so ridiculously big, that to assume there will be humanoid life on the other end of the galaxy with a DNA so different to ours... Not to mention that it could even have no DNA at all...

I think that it's quite possible that if we stumble upon extraterrestrial life somewhere, we may not even recognise it as life at first.

Xsoteria:

Humanoid life? What does that even mean? Star Trek pointy nose, 4 toes grey people?

The variety of life on Earth alone is so ridiculously big, that to assume there will be humanoid life on the other end of the galaxy with a DNA so different to ours... Not to mention that it could even have no DNA at all...

I think that it's quite possible that if we stumble upon extraterrestrial life somewhere, we may not even recognise it as life at first.

I guess she means life that resembles us?

Xsoteria:

Humanoid life? What does that even mean? Star Trek pointy nose, 4 toes grey people?

The variety of life on Earth alone is so ridiculously big, that to assume there will be humanoid life on the other end of the galaxy with a DNA so different to ours... Not to mention that it could even have no DNA at all...

I think that it's quite possible that if we stumble upon extraterrestrial life somewhere, we may not even recognise it as life at first.

Humanoid means that the species resembles humans. The aliens in the movie "Avatar" would be considered humanoid because they look like humans in many ways, and some of the aliens in shows like Star Trek and even Star Wars would be humanoids as well.

The Fantasy:

But the planet wouldn't have to be the same distance from its start to be "habitable" because if life evolved on Earth to live in this environment, why could it not evolve somewhere much, much different than our own way of life?

I think the problem with people thinking there is no such thing as any form of life on other planets is that they're just too narrow-minded and aren't seeing the big picture.

As for if other life is humanoid, I'd kind of hope not. Perhaps intelligent enough to communicate with us, but I already don't really like my species. I'd prefer it if they were much, much different from us.

I suppose it is possible for some kind of life to evolve in a completely different environment than our own, but the only life we have encountered so far is on Earth, so... if we were to find life that resembles us, it would be within the "habitable zone" from a star.

By humanoid I mean having a similar body structure to us. A head, two arms, two legs, and bipedal, like most of the aliens in Star Trek, Star Wars, and Mass Effect. Why don't you like humans?

^I'm going to answer that even though you quoted her.

It's not that I don't like humans, as much as the chances of an alien having 2 legs and 2 arms is a probability joke.

Xsoteria:

^I'm going to answer that even though you quoted her.

It's not that I don't like humans, as much as the chances of an alien having 2 legs and 2 arms is a probability joke.

The chances of aliens having two arms and legs is just as much a joke as us having two arms and legs. We look the way we do because of natural selection and evolution, which is something any aliens have been subjected to as well. They may have two legs, or six, but what they look like will be the cause of the environment in which they live.

Honestly, I don't know what the chances are either, but it is still a possibility.

pen. leaf:

The chances of aliens having two arms and legs is just as much a joke as us having two arms and legs.

I'm not sure what you meant by this. Is this what you meant to type?

Natural selection has made some very damn weird looking things, here on Earth. If our DNA was off just by a few percent, we would be ducks. Imagine what would be the difference with something that has 95% difference, or has no DNA at all.

And mutations that occur in nature, on which evolution is based on, are random. So the fact that we look the way we do is pretty much a direct result of randomness. It's not like we're this perfect schematics plan nature everywhere strives for.

So to better answer the previous question, yes there is a possibility that they may be humanoid. But there is also a possibility that there is an extraterrestrial race of Joe the Truckers, feeding off of each other's head lice. It's just not very probable.