Did you know that the Rare Earth Theory predicts about 10^11 earth-like planets in the universe?

Question

The Rare Earth Theory (which is what people are talking about when they talk about the finely-tuned universe, predicts about 10 billion planets similar to earth and capable of supporting live and providing an environment in which intelligent life could possibly evolve.

So even if you look at it from an anthropic perspective, we're not that special.

Sorry, that should be one-hundred billion not ten billion.

Koresh, you're not getting it. This is the low end figure. It assumes the earth is extraordinary in its ability to support life and it still comes up with 100 billion other planets capable of supporting life. There are other theories which would predict a much greater number of life sustaining planets.

Either way, proof of life elsewhere is not really the issue. The issue is that the supposed rareness of earth is a fallacy. There are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on our entire planet. So the expectation of 100 billion planets very similar to earth is not extraoridnary.

Answer 1

hundreds of millions of galaxies containing hundreds of millions of stars most of which contain multiple planets....the odds that our planet is the only one with life? UNBELIEVABLY SMALL.

Answer 2

A hypothetical, untested hypothesis is your best argument against religion?

There MAY be billions of planets that MAY have conditions to support life, and that MAY have developed life, some of which MAY have evolved into some sort of sentience or intelligence on par with humanity.

Tell you what, find a single one of these hypothetical planets with intelligent life, and then you'll have something.

Do you think that you or your loved ones are "not that special" just because there are 6 billion other human beings?

"Koresh, you're not getting it"

No, you're not getting it. You're presenting an untested, unverified hypothesis as proof. This is Logic 101. Come back with some evidence, not an "it's possible."

Answer 3

I am fascinated by Ward and Brownlee's hypothesis. I agree it still leaves open so much possibility. But, I do believe it is a sober antidote to the wildly optimistic Drake Equation.

Don't forget too that it is not just space, but time. Intelligence may have existed billions of years in the past and then died out.

Answer 4

Yeah? Well I aint come from no munkey, and aint no Aliens that God likes neither.

I think it would be extremely egotistical, given the size of the universe, to think that we're the only life out there.

I always thought that made a cute premise to Red Dwarf though. Having an entire Sci-Fi series with no aliens was unique.

Answer 5

I think one can make a pretty strong argument that reality as a whole is infinite and ergodic. If so, there are an infinite number of earth-like planets.

Answer 6

Thinking about the vastness of the universe is mind boggling. And just think God has time to find you a good parking place at the mall. Sarcasm alert!

Answer 7

I have never thought we were special,not to mention the other planets that may {do} have life forms different and may not
need water etc.

Answer 8

if you want know how old the earth is, it is one year old for every dollar Bill Gates is estimated to be worth.

I have a theory too, there are 97 planets JUST LIKE earth. Lots of atheist who spend about as much time studying science and creation as they do praying.

Still waiting for an evolutionist to present the proof they claim they have??????????????Where is it????????

Answer 9

How many of those planets support life? I'm not asking if they can, or if in a million years they could, i'm asking how many do now?

Answer 10

The only special quality that any tangible life form anywhere in any environ has is the manifestation of immaginary existence outside of their true spiritual existence.