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2007-01-08 15:26:36 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics Astronomy & Space

15 answers

Another asnwerer posted the Drake Equation, as well as the Fermi Paradox as contradicting theories about the possibility of sentient extraterrestial life.

And therin is the rub. All we have are theories.

Consider the Drake equation, depending on what numbers you plug in for the variables, we could either be alone, or awash in a sentient universe. The known facts of star and planet formation, along with what we know of carbon based biology suggests that intelligent extraterrestial life is very high on the probability scale, but short of a transmission or a saucer hovering over the White House, we'll never know for SURE.

Then consider the Fermi Paradox. Enrico Fermi asks "where is everyone" meaning that if we take what we know, we should be drowning in signals and alien probes bouncing off of the ISS on an almost daily interval. The flaw here is that Fermi assumed other sentient life would be technologically more advanced, and that humans would be playing a "catch-up" game with spacefaring technology.

If you're familiar with Star Trek, then that scenario is quite recognisable. The plucky humans use ingenuity and courage in place of knowledge and technology, and somehow always manage to succeed in the end. Reality is not like that, and it may be that Earthlings are in fact the most advanced space faring culture in the universe. Its not a popular theory, but it would help explain the why behind the lack of real, hard evidence of alien life.

So while I believe that there are indeed other sentient life forms out there, that it is foolish in the extreme to believe that with the mind-boggling size of our universe that we could be the singular planetary system supporting life, I also find it foolish to believe that Vulcans will land and help jumpstart our warpdrive program. It may be that human pluckiness and ingenuity is what allows us to (hundreds or even thousands of years into the future) become the first true spacefaring race in our galaxy and possibly the universe, although with the size and distances involved, there'd be no way to empirically prove that either.

2007-01-08 16:14:29 · answer #1 · answered by kaleban21 2 · 1 0

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.

2007-01-08 15:32:37 · answer #2 · answered by Otis F 7 · 0 0

At this point we have no evidence if Aliens exsist. Time will tell but I do think believe Aliens do live out in space. I don't beleive there are no Aliens that have visit this earth.

2007-01-08 15:33:40 · answer #3 · answered by Richard D 2 · 0 0

Spelling, spelling, spelling... Exsist = wrong Exist = correct.

Do Aliens exist? Sure, why not?

Are they real? They probably are, but I have not met or seen one yet. I am waiting for the opportunity to do so as soon as it can possibly happen. What do they look like, talk like, eat, travel in?
I haven't a clue, but would love to know.

2007-01-08 15:34:35 · answer #4 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0 1

Legends and artifacts courting back hundreds of years have ignited guy's mind's eye for some years to centuries with theories of historical astronauts and alien beings from different planets. Sightings of "UFOs" or "unidentified flying products" of various sizes, shapes and different features have been recorded international huge for hundreds of years, in all hazard hundreds. In common television shows, that's mentioned that "sky people" are purportedly recorded as having delivered progressed way of existence to the hominids who've lived in the international. in accordance to those legends, supposedly, this "first touch" had handed off previously, following cataclysm. some thoughts relate this civilizing experience to have handed off quite a few situations in the time of Earth's historic previous. Geological, paleontological, anthropological and archaeological records exhibit that there have certainly been many cataclysms in this earth, quite a few on a international point, with climate exchange and mass extinction. The thoughts allegedly recount that once certainly one of those disaster, many surviving people have been decreased to the Stone Age yet that extra progressed humanoids descended from spacecraft and reestablished civilization. Are those claims genuine? have been those "sky people" extraterrestrial beings? Have there been "extraterrestrial beings" between us all alongside? Or is all of it merely an phantasm?

2016-11-27 21:48:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Probably.
Have they ever contacted, interfaced, abducted, probed anyone on this planet? Overwhelmingly unlikely.
The universe is just too large for it to not harbor life -- perhaps even in the form of a technologically developed society.
But the universe is just too large for any of those to have developed space faring capabilities that would have enabled them to come all the way to here.

2007-01-08 15:35:33 · answer #6 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0 0

Not to be a racist or anything, but I don't think there are any aliens and if so then why only white people see them and always saying that they got abducted in crap. I mean cmon now, who's making this crap up.

2007-01-08 15:36:41 · answer #7 · answered by good4sumpthin 1 · 0 0

They are there, but not here yet.

They might have visited us, may be, 5-10 times during the last 1 million years. There is no regular bus service !

2007-01-08 16:19:13 · answer #8 · answered by ken88dorset 2 · 0 0

SO far i would say that ever UFO ever seen is a bunch of crockpot ****. But the fact that the universe is so much bigger that we can imagine, that who knows. They could be many species less advanced and more advanced.

2007-01-08 16:07:52 · answer #9 · answered by Devin R 1 · 0 0

I think the odds are for their being life out there, but in the grand, galactic scheme of things, we havn't been looking for very long.

2007-01-08 15:36:03 · answer #10 · answered by d1jeditech 2 · 0 0

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