37 replies to this topic

[JRPomazon]

So far, we have confirmed that our solar system is made up of 8/9 planets (depends on whether or not Pluto can be called a planet). Out of these planets, it seems clear that none of the planets besides earth has or can sustain any life. However, since we haven't seen all of the planets in our solar system, what are the chances of one of our "neighboors" having life on it's surface?

Edited by JRPomazon, 20 February 2007 - 05:40 PM.

[ninja kitten]

i dont think it's very good. maybe in another galaxy, but not in our solar system.

[Selena]

In our solar system? Nah. Perhaps some bacteria of some kind under Europa's ice sheets, but I wouldn't bet on it. Any planet we haven't discovered in our own system is going to be too far out to make it possible, I would think.

Also... not in the solar system, but in another GALAXY, kitten? Sheesh, there's like a billion stars in the galaxy. I'm sure there's some kind of life on one of their planets. A few we've discovered are supposedly in habitable zones. Or did you mean another part of the galaxy?

[deuterium]

I think there could be microbial life in our solar system but it has yet to be discovered. I'm sure somewhere in our Milky Way Galaxy or in other galaxies there could be organisms similar to what we find on Earth.

[wisp]

Sooooo JRP... define "life." Are we talking simple life or multicellular sentient beings here? XD

[JRPomazon]

Sooooo JRP... define "life." Are we talking simple life or multicellular sentient beings here? XD

Anything from a single-celled organism to an intellegent UFO-ridin' alien.

Edited by JRPomazon, 20 February 2007 - 05:40 PM.

[GraniteJJ]

You might want to get a mod to correct the title. I don't think there is life in any "solor" system.

As for life, yes. There'd have to be...somewhere...growing evidence about water on Mars has scientists wonder if there might be stuff there now (or recently).

As for sentient life forms...I suppose it is possible. Maybe they've just been avoiding us. Or in hiding. Or extremely primitive. I have to say a policy of avoiding mankind shows that aliens are superintelligent, just on its own.

[Twinrova]

a intellegent

Irony at its finest. XD


I dunno, I mean, even if there's no proof, I still feel like there's life out there somewhere. There just has to be. Earth cannot be the only planet with life on it in the ENTIRE universe. Space goes on forever and ever. There has to be SOMETHING somewhere. o.o

And I don't understand why people seem to think that just because another planet can't support the same kind of life that there is on Earth that there can't be life there period. I mean.. what if there's life out there that doesn't need the same things we do to survive? What if there's life out there that doesn't NEED oxygen, or doesn't NEED water, or stuff like that?
And also.. there could be life out there with more advanced technology than ours.. Just 'cause we don't have that technology doesn't mean others can't.. So yeah, totally support the idea of alieans riding around in spacecraft out there somewhere.

I just.. have this FEELING that there's more life out there, and we just haven't found it yet.

[wisp]

I'm sure that somewhere out there, there must be sentient life of some sort... but given that the chances for life to exist on Earth as it does now were something like 1 in 1000000000000000 (Yeeeeeeah, I forgot the actual number), it's probably pretty scattered through the universe.

Here, have some Hawking!

http://www.hawking.o...tures/life.html

[JRPomazon]

You might want to get a mod to correct the title. I don't think there is life in any "solor" system.

a intellegent

Damn my inability to check for spelling errors and fast typing.

*hides head in shame*

Also: thanks for the Hawking.

[SteveT]

I'm sure that somewhere out there, there must be sentient life of some sort... but given that the chances for life to exist on Earth as it does now were something like 1 in 1000000000000000 (Yeeeeeeah, I forgot the actual number), it's probably pretty scattered through the universe.

Actually, the chance of life existing on earth is 1 in 1.

I love statistics.

It's entirely possible there are microbes on other planets/moons in our system. We'd probably have noticed anything worth enslaving by now.

As far as life outside our solar system...either they have a Prime Directive system (probability of that is inversely proportional to the number of civilizations out there), communicate in such a way that we can't hear them, arent' worth talking to (read: enslaving), or don't exist.

[Chikara Nadir]

I think microbial life in places like some of the water-holding moons around Jupiter might be possible...if it weren't just so cold out there. XP Otherwise...yeah, other solar systems, but not ours. Fo' sure. XD

[Meep]

I think there might be some life floating about in some tin cans just outside of the atmosphere, it's just we can't see them!

[Keen]

In our solar system? Nah. Perhaps some bacteria of some kind under Europa's ice sheets, but I wouldn't bet on it. Any planet we haven't discovered in our own system is going to be too far out to make it possible, I would think.

Also... not in the solar system, but in another GALAXY, kitten? Sheesh, there's like a billion stars in the galaxy. I'm sure there's some kind of life on one of their planets. A few we've discovered are supposedly in habitable zones. Or did you mean another part of the galaxy?

*Agree.*

[Lagelace]

I'd say unlikely. I mean two planets in one solar system that can support life? Possible but since we've already researched a lot of the planets I doubt it.

[wisp]

Actually, the chance of life existing on earth is 1 in 1.

I love statistics.

It's entirely possible there are microbes on other planets/moons in our system. We'd probably have noticed anything worth enslaving by now.

As far as life outside our solar system...either they have a Prime Directive system (probability of that is inversely proportional to the number of civilizations out there), communicate in such a way that we can't hear them, arent' worth talking to (read: enslaving), or don't exist.

I was referring to the chance of the earth and all its life forms coming into being in the first place.

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Has anyone watched star trek, 2151 first contact, we meet vulcans. or was it 2051, or 2061? one of those three.

[Keen]

I was referring to the chance of the earth and all its life forms coming into being in the first place.

In that case, it's either 1 in 1 or completely unknowable.

[d4rkdragon]

I myself believe that there is intelligent life out there somewhere, 'cause supposedly the universe spreads out forever and ever, so theres gotta be at least ONE planet that can sustain life. I mean, billions and billions of stars, and only one habitable planet? If you ask me, it's kinda like how before, scientists believed that the Earth was the center of the universe.

[Keen]

Well, it doesn't spread forever and ever, but it is pretty huge.

[SteveT]

I was referring to the chance of the earth and all its life forms coming into being in the first place.

It's a math joke. Nevermind.

[Lagelace]

Well, it doesn't spread forever and ever, but it is pretty huge.

Well I wonder what the end is.

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

don't you remember! blue blobs and bubbles (TNG).

[Ransom]

The real question is: Are they Raman or Varelse?

[Keen]

Well I wonder what the end is.

Good question. Physicists seem to agree that there is no end, but that space curves so that at any side of the universe one would end up on what is effectively the other side of the universe. I really want to see how they get to this conclusion.

[SteveT]

Turns out Pac-Man's a popular game amongst physics professors.

[Masamune]

So wouldn't that description of the universe suggest the Universe is... ROUND?

So much for sailing off the edge of the Universe.

[Showsni]

Good question. Physicists seem to agree that there is no end, but that space curves so that at any side of the universe one would end up on what is effectively the other side of the universe. I really want to see how they get to this conclusion.

Too much time with Riemann spheres? One point compactification of the universe...

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

So wouldn't that description of the universe suggest the Universe is... ROUND?

So much for sailing off the edge of the Universe.

That would be assuming that the universe is a flat plain...

[Masamune]

This is true, but it's the only way my finite mind can grasp the concept of any 'edge' of the universe bending over to connect with the other edge.