I mean, what are the chances that life happens to exist on our planet? What are the odds; what is the exact probability of our existence?
2007-02-12 14:13:44 · 19 answers · asked by gene_is_guilty42 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You should visit the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) website and find something called the Drake Equation (actually, you can just google "Drake Equation". It's not so much an equation as it is a basis for reasoning out the answer to your exact question. Most websites are set up so that it's interactive - you input your own expectation of factors such as the number of years that an average civilization might exist. The Drake Equation combines all your inputs and tells you how many planets with intelligent, communicative life are out there, according to your own interpretation of the science.
I've done it several times, and I'm always at the zero end of the scale - meaning that I don't believe in intelligent life beyond our planet. My sister has taken the same test, though, and comes out with 50,000 such planets every time.
Have fun!
2007-02-12 14:24:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The exact probability of our existence (life on earth) is 100 percent. The probability of life on other planets depends on your definition of life.
If you consider the earth a living organism, not because it is like an animal or plant, or some other such nonsense, but as a system, then the probability of life on other planets is 100 percent. All of the planets seem alive to a degree, and they all have reduced components that might be considered independent systems of life.
On the other hand, if you are looking for life-forms, ones like the terrestrial variety, in other words something that we would recognize as a living being, well that would also depend on your defintion of a living being. For one thing, life here is going to be based on this earth and may not at all resemble life on another planet. Therefore it might be hard to recognize as a living being.
Since we cannot compare life on this planet to life on other planets just yet, we cannot calculate the probabilities. We can only speculate. For now, this is a fact that we cannot deny. At this point, our models are inaccurate or too incomplete to even theorise with any kind of certainty.
2007-02-12 21:58:23 · answer #2 · answered by Shawn D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No one here can give you the odds or exact probability. That's impossible. All one can do is theorize. My saying goes something like this..."Theoretically, if life on our planet can exist, so can life on another planet." Can you imagine being the only planet in the entire universe that carries life? We are possible...thus, it is reasonable to think that there is a possibility of other life on other planets.
2007-02-12 14:19:17 · answer #3 · answered by CC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the odds are extremely high that there is life elsewhere. Scientists have found life at the bottom of the ocean, where there's no light, crushing pressures, and no oxygen, yet life exists there. Why can't there be life on other planets?
2007-02-12 14:18:19 · answer #4 · answered by mamabear1957 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We easily have no scientific archives that shows different Human organic and organic existence to boot Planet Earth exists ,interior the confinement of this one huge Universe. As some distance a threat is in contact ,they persist with a risk distribution which easily boils all the way down to deterministic. We easily stay easily and that's deterministic. scientific observations are what they're, no longer what they probable are.
2016-11-03 07:27:18 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ONLY correct answer is that no one has any idea. It is not knowable and will remain completely unknowable unless and until life is in fact detected elsewhere. Any scientist who doesn't admit this is obscenely incompetent.
No one can even give a competent guess. The Drake equation tells you absolutely nothing -- it's merely an algorithm to reason through a set of wild guesses -- but those guesses are completely worthless because no one has any basis at all for even making an estimate of the relevant variables.
2007-02-12 17:27:16 · answer #6 · answered by KevinStud99 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a 100% CERTAINTY that life exists on our planet. The word "probability" is not applicable.
As for other planets, there is a POSSIBILITY of life existing elsewhere.
2007-02-13 03:33:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anthony Stark 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Please read the book by the great physicist Carl Sagan's " Broko's Brain". In that he had given the probability of existence of life in another planet in the universe. As i do not have the book with me now, i am not able to provide you the exact answer. In any case i request you to go through the book . it will be great reading.
2007-02-12 14:29:25 · answer #8 · answered by viji_sampath2000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Think of it like this.. Earth is a small planet revolving around a minor star, located in the outskirts of a minor galaxy, which is itself located in a super cluster, which contains thousands of other galaxies.. and there are many super clusters.. you get the picture.
because of the sheer numbers of stars, (billions? trillions? hmmm if the universe is infinite..) it is not only possible, nut very probable that atleast some stars will contain habitable planets such as our own revolving it. with fortune some of these planets will produce life.
it is a matter of statistics or it is a matter of God. you choose. me? I like to think there are others out there.
like the venerable Carl Sagan says, "it would be a terrible waste of space."
2007-02-12 19:04:23 · answer #9 · answered by FooFighter 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
certainly life exists in some other planets...if earth had the conditions for life to come into existence why cant some other have some other conditions for the life of some other organisms...physics laws are same to all and at all places in this universe...if anyone says no then how come organisms exists in earth
2007-02-12 17:15:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋