Are we alone?

Question

My son is doing homework on the BIG BANG and we got talking about ALIEN LIFE FORMS. Do you think we are alone?

Answer 1

Of course not, that would be wishfull thinking. It gives far more importance to the human species and our stupid religious beliefs. Realize that the universe is so big that statistically it is impossible that there were no other beings. It is a different issue if we will ever know because of the extent of the vastness of the universe as well as the neccessity of being in the universe in an overlapping time period as well as to be technologically and philosophically advanced enough to look for and ascertain each other's existence (the universe is about 15B years old, give or take a few billion years!).

NOTE: I am not even considering the whole idea about an infinite number of universes!!! (which has recently been proven (?) mathematically)

Answer 2

So far we've seen no verifiable evidence of other sentient species. That said, I believe with some certainty that somewhere in our galaxy at some past, present, or future time, a sentient species did/does/will exist.

Why haven't we heard from them?

Perhaps they are not technologically advanced enough to be heard. They may be mastering stone knives right now, or experiencing their own Rennaisance.

Perhaps they are here right now. Any species sufficiently advanced to travel interstellar distances would be able to hide or masquerade with ease. That Boeing 737 that just flew by may be a surveillance craft.

Perhaps they are so far away they will never notice us and vice versa.

Perhaps they existed a million years ago and died out.

Perhaps they will exist a million years from now.

It is really impossible to know for sure.

The Drake Equation suggests that there is sentient life out there. The Fermi Paradox casts doubt. Play around with the calculation form at the second link and see what you think.

Answer 3

I asked myself the same question long ago and i think there is ALIEN LIFE FORMS out there, only just recently i started to do some research on the basis that i wasn't the only one who thought that way and i found that there tons of people who think just as i do that there is life out there, check out these links.

Answer 4

Most certainly not. Its irrational to really think there couldnt be, so if there is ANY chance at all, and given the amount of area we consider possible to have them...makes it difficult to deny their existence period.
Proof of them being here is an on-going debate whether its real or not...I believe its just a matter of time, it will present itself like a slap in the face.
When you stare into the night sky, and envision the amount of distance and how vast "it" is, know that surely the cosmos cant be occupied by us alone.

Answer 5

we cant be alone!..the universe is too big to believe that...mankind just happens to be the only "intelligent " life form we know (well, aside from dolphins)....if we've been able to evolve to this point, how can anyone think another life form out there hasn't evolved at least to this stage and more than likely beyond what man has become?..its just not possible....theres as good a chance that there is life "out there" as there is for life developing on our planet isnt there?..good luck with your kiddo's project!

Answer 6

With the incredible number of galaxies that are being discovered one after another it seems unlikely. But alone on earth as far as aliens being here, probably.

Answer 7

No way! I've watched loads of stuff on the universe and the size it is, there is no way that we are the only planet with advanced life forms. There are some more advanced than us I reckon. Whether they have visited Earth though, I don't know...

Answer 8

it is probable that there is life
in some form elsewhere
given the size of the universe

life on this planet will be extinct
before we find that out-there may
have been life locally though
mars maybe?

Answer 9

There's absolutely no evidence one way or another, so we can only suppose.

Personally, I think the universe is teeming with life. But given the vast distances, I doubt we'll be seeing them anytime soon.

It's the one question I'd like to see answered before I pop my clogs. I reckon it'll happen one day, too. We'll hear them through radio waves probably.

Find the SETI website for your son, lots of interesting info there.

Answer 10

Unless GOD has this experiment running on multiple worlds around the universe, YES!

On the other hand, if you beleive in evolution, then there would be an abundant amount of civilizations out there. There is an infinate amount of space and time for this to happen in billions of different regions and conditions. The further out from the big bang region, the more advanced they would be.