2007-02-23 08:30:41 · 27 answers · asked by ? 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
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.
2007-02-23 11:51:58 · answer #1 · answered by Otis F 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Surely, I do believe that there is life outside earth. Considering the fact that we are only aware of a very very small fraction of the planets, asteroid belts, other stars, there is a fat chance that there is life outside of Earth on some planet that we might see billions of years later due to the distance the light from that planet has to travel. How can it be that in this huge universe, there is only one chosen planet, Earth, that has any life forms on it. I don't see why only planet would meet all the conditions required for life and have different life forms present. Look at the different species on only our planet, Earth, they all have different lifestyles. Why can't it be that these conditions required for life are present on some other place in the space (maybe exactly the same distance away from their main star, and having almost the same types of gases, and yes, even oxygen!) I agree that there could be some species similar to humans outside the earth but not necessarily exactly like us. We are only one of the millions of species on this planet, Earth. Why is it that we only consider ourselves the most important ones? There could be an advanced species of fish or rats somewhere "out there".
2007-02-23 17:22:35 · answer #2 · answered by just_me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do believe there is life outside the Earth; I do not believe they are humans though. That because evolution might have taken a much different turn on another planet. Depending on the conditions present on the planet, and other factors, life will have evolved differently.
2007-02-27 16:26:22 · answer #3 · answered by Tenebra98 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that it is POSSIBLE that there is life outside Earth, but I also believe it is possible that there isn't. On balance though I think it is about 99% probable that there is, just because Earth is such a small part of the universe that is seems highly unlikely that all the rest is lifeless. But I don't truly believe, I just suppose.
2007-02-23 16:40:00 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Given an infinite number of stars, many of which have planets favorable to life, the odds are very much against Earth being the only planet in the universe with life and/or intelligent life. If the odds are 10 to 1 against, as it is in our solar system, that still means billions and billions of "Earths" are out there.
2007-02-23 17:00:46 · answer #5 · answered by Robert P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I certainly do...Although I don't truly believe there are humans or humanoid creatures out there. That might be too much of a coincidence for me to buy into.
When you consider the bizarre number of creatures that we have seen on this planet, you have to realize that life comes in many, many different formats (nudibranchs, frilled sharks, etc.).
If you take that knowledge and combine it with the number of solar systems, and then the subsequent number of planets that exist in the universe, it's really pretty hard to believe that there's NOT other life out there.
I also think that the few of us here on this little planet would be pretty boring for an all-powerful God...The fact that he created all of those other solar systems leads me to believe that he created other life forms. Why else would he have put all of that out there, if he wasn't going to populate it?
2007-02-23 16:43:51 · answer #6 · answered by abfabmom1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that there is life outside of earth, that it is out of reach (and that Earth is out of reach from them at this point) but that NONE of them are humans. They can be pretty advanced, maybe more than we are, perhaps even vaguely humanoid in size and shape, but they will NOT be humans; there are just too many little variations that would have gotten in the way.
2007-02-23 16:35:10 · answer #7 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are ignorant if we believe we are the only life in the universe. Billions of star systems, tens of billions of planets, and an infinate possiblity of the correct combinations being present for life to exist.
What that life is...... we will most likely never know. As for the possibilty, it is very probable.
2007-02-23 16:43:02 · answer #8 · answered by Moby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course there is life outside the Earth. We would have to be pretty arrogant to think we are the only ones in this Universe. It would be a tremendous waste of space.......
2007-02-23 16:40:47 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to be technical, there IS life outside Earth (international Space Station). But when both Carl Sagen AND Steven Hawking says yes, I'm inclined to agree.
2007-02-23 16:35:07 · answer #10 · answered by brewcityjr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋