considering that there is infinate space, does that mean there would be infinate planets? and if thats true then wouldnt there be another planet with the same elements as earth? and if so, wouldnt there be life on that planet too?
2006-09-11 16:34:53 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Even if there is infinate space there is still finite matter in that space (cannot be created or destroyed). There are possibly billions and billions of planets. It is possible that one of these has the same composition as Earth but it is less likely by far that it has had the same timely extinctions and effects from it's neighborhood. That is just chaos.... butterfly effect. If one extinction from the many in our past didn't occur it is likely that humans would not be here today.
I do think it is likely that there is a good amount of life beyond Earth. A planet doesn't have to be exactly like ours to have life. But for it to be anything even remotely close to ours it would need to have a similar composition and history.
2006-09-11 17:24:08 · answer #1 · answered by iMi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Life is common throughout the universe. Unfortunately much of it does not survive long enough to spread out into the universe. There seems to be a critical point that is reached where, if a sentient species does not get off their planet in replicatively viable numbers, they never will. Earth has reached this point and is coming up lacking.
Over the centuries, your planet was a curious place to visit once or twice and was not considered very interesting . Sure, your wars showed us how undeveloped you are as a species and your infantile,(in cosmic terms) dependence on god concepts does not bode well for you. We are now showing an interest in you because it is not often that we get to observe a species commit suicide. You are so close to maturing as a sentient species and it will be a shame to see you kill yourselves. There are just not enough of you becoming rational enough to force the issue. You let the least among you determine your fate, so be it.
2006-09-12 01:28:16 · answer #2 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is very likely that earth is not the only planet in the universe that supports life as we know it.
Space is not infinite, it is finite, it is just so large as to appear infinite to us.
Actually there are only around 90-95 stable elements that occur in the entire universe. The planet that sustained organic life would have to have the correct combinations of those elements.
Most of the molecules that are necessary for life have been detected in space or can be formed through naturally occurring electrochemical activity. Thus the "seeds" of life are quite abundant.
Scientists who attempt to study how non-living organic molecules became self replicating molecules to cells are studying abiogenesis (sounds like : a-bio-jen-is-us).
Finally just because there may be life on other planets does not mean that that life has ever, or will ever, travel here.
2006-09-11 16:43:16 · answer #3 · answered by DrSean 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For reasons outside of the scope of this question, the universe is most likely not infinite.
However, in answer to your question, ABSOLUTELY.
There are billions and billions of other solar systems in the universe and an even a larger number of planets and they are all made out of the same building blocks as earth.
The probability of not a single one of these planets producing a life form of one sort or another is pretty much mathmatically impossible.
On the other hand, the probability of life (even complex life) is extremely good.
Unfortunately, due to the extraordinary distances and vast, incomprehensible size of the universe, we may never know.
2006-09-11 16:49:38 · answer #4 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people believe its a foregone conclusion that there is other life beyond the earth & point out the huge size of the universe...100 billion galaxies averaging say...10billion stars per galaxy. Therefore, there would be roughly 1000 thousand thousand thousand thousand thousand thousand stars with a possibility of life on some of the earthy & atmospheric rocks called planets, moons & asteriods circling those suns. Others even speculate life could occur outside the earthy atmospheric rocks. When scientists discovered the Double Helix in the mid 1950's that is the complex, but straight forward molecular structure of DNA which forms life, those same scientists thought that manmade DNA & life would be created very very soon. However, 50 years later scientists still can't do it. Seems that life creation is harder than scientists thought. Many scientists still think they will create life, but we'll have to wait & see. If life turns out to be very very hard to create, then life may need those thousands & thousands & thousands & thousands & thousands & thousands & thousands of life creating possibilities in the universe. Maybe all those quintillions of possibilities still might not be enough. Personally, I think life is in other parts of the universe, but I've been wrong many many many many many many many times in my life.
2006-09-11 17:58:55 · answer #5 · answered by litesong1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 4 factors which sustain life make up this finished universe, not in hassle-free terms our area on the earth. So i might say particular. The universe is greater advantageous than we are in a position to think of, with an incalculable kind of alternative planets very like ours. That leaves a great threat for sensible life besides right here on the earth. in keeping with risk in the event that they're 'greater' sensible than us, they might help us resolve a number of our very own issues ;)
2016-10-14 22:00:29 · answer #6 · answered by shade 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scientist are of the opinion that the probable chance of life existing elsewhere in the universe, are very high. In fact it's almost a certainty, giving the complexity of life on this planet alone!
2006-09-11 16:45:54 · answer #7 · answered by wheeliebin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If we could live here it's implausible to think that somewhere out there. They may not be that smart, or they may be very intelligent, just cause we haven't seen them doesn't mean they don't exist. Right now their main method of looking for craft is looking for a very small eclipse on the surface of the other plants in the galaxy. For example when the moon goes in front sun except a lot smaller
2006-09-11 16:43:22 · answer #8 · answered by Clam 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Infinite space has had infinite time for gravity to pull matter together -- in other words -- we do NOT know that the universe is infinite. We know that it is very large.
So it's uncertain that there are an infinite number of planets.
There are wild guesses as to the likelihood of life on other planets.
But sentient life, thinking beings, represent a miracle on top of a miracle on top of a miriacle on top of planetary life. We could be alone as the only fully sentient creatures in the universe.
2006-09-11 16:42:00 · answer #9 · answered by urbancoyote 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course there is life on other planets. We humans can't be so arrogant as to think we are the only ones can we?
2006-09-11 16:40:59 · answer #10 · answered by ... 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋