Are you surprised that an earth-like planet has just been discovered?

Question

Astronomers have found the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System to date, a world which could have water running on its surface.

The planet orbits the faint star Gliese 581, which is 20.5 light-years away in the constellation Libra.

Scientists made the discovery using the Eso 3.6m Telescope in Chile.

They say the benign temperatures on the planet mean any water there could exist in liquid form, and this raises the chances it could also harbour life.

What do you reckon to all this? Are you surprised?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6589157.stm

I agree - it's not surprising, but I do find it quite exciting. You should have seen the face on my sceptical friend when she heard about it.

As the Monty Python team once sang:

"So remember when you're feeling very small and insecure
how amazingly unlikely is your birth,
AND PRAY THAT THERE'S INTELLIGENT LIFE SOMEWHERE OUT IN SPACE,
BECAUSE THERE'S bugg*r all DOWN HERE ON EARTH."

I can't comprehend not finding a big discovery like this interesting - yes, anyone with common sense would have suspected this would be the discovered sooner or later, but it changes our understanding and knowledge of space. How does that ''not affect us''? It's a step forward in humanity's knowledge.

Just to clear something up: I've always found it ridiculous that people can seriously suggest that we're the only inhabited planet in a universe that is vast beyond any concept humanity can understand.

Answer 1

I'm suprised Bush isn't planning missions to bring them freedom!

Answer 2

Lord, give me strength! The question is not terribly staggering -but the answers show why I'm beginning to think the patients are running the asylum. Infinite universe? I doubt it. Inasmuch as the big U is a defined area -even if it is expanding and dynamic- there is, at any given time, a finite number of particles "out there," so the U's status as "infinite" is not subject to "belief." Besides which, this is a tautological argument, such that if true than of course there is an infinite number of possibilities. Call security. Your question, which I see apparently comes from the somewhat murky depths of the BBC, does NOT ask if we are surpised that an earth-like planet exists -but rather, it asks if we are surpised that it has "just been discovered ..." And so, of course, most respondents answer the question that was not asked -the "existence" one, I mean. One respondent did pick up this nuance, noting surprise that the discovery was made so soon, but claiming to be underwhelmed that we have a distant neighbor that seems to be like us: send the champagne to that person. And I would side with that person; I'm surprised in somewhat the same way I feel delighted when a mail order arrives a day or two ahead of expected delivery; I've been waiting for it, assume it will get here, but am happily surprised when it is sooner than I expected. But, then again, the question concludes with more queries about being surprised by "...all this." The premises of the questions are a bit frail, however. I'm not sure why the mere existence of water raises the chances of life. All we know is that life and water seem to go together here on earth. And this touches on the whole notion of what life -as we undertand it thus far, and as we understand it HERE- needs to exist. Perhaps there are life forms which enjoy silica. I don't know. Since no one has YET, far as I know, discovered exactly what it was that took earthly chemicals and made them self-replicating, adaptative, and evolving, it is difficult to guess what boundary events or circumstances would produce a repeat performance elsewhere. And so, resolving that and related issues await more data -just as HERE. Now let's see if we have some help for the Almighty. If you don't think there is one, then there's no discussion. But if you think there is, then I see no reason why the Creator would not employ whatever means "He" thought might serve best. This poses no threat to theological thought, or worse, fundmantalist thought, that I can detect. What has been left out of the question is any reference to the "Drake Equation," which is an attempt to calculate the chances of life "out there." Since we now have an actual "earth-like" planet (which is N sub e in the equation) how would the formula be modified -or would it, at all? Being as how the formula was spawned by another centre of British thought (the journal, "Nature") the BBC should be all over it by now. Good broadcast journalism, that. I suppose there may now be some rush to detect "intelligent" (ie., not earth-like) like on G581.1 but if there is, I hope we have the good sense to leave those poor folks alone. By now, or soon, they shall be suffering old radio quiz shows and reruns of "I Love Lucy," God forbid. Cheerio! I shall look forward to the result of BBC's investigation.

Answer 3

It was only a matter of time before what us Star Trek nerds call an M class planet was discovered.

They've found over 200 planets but they haven't been in the Golilocks Zone. Given the amount of stars there are out there, there had to be more than one unique planet (Earth) capable of sustaining life.

I also believe it's only a matter of time before life ... even intelligent life ... is also discovered.

It is conceivable that we are the most advanced form of life in the Universe, after all, someone has to be the First, it could be us .... How depressing is that?

I like to think that there are advanced civilisations out there and they either don't know we exist or they do and don't want to contact us to allow our own development to continue unhindered ......

..... Or else they know ALL about us and don't want the human savages to contaminate the Universal community.

Woah, what a lot to think about.

Answer 4

I am not surprised at all that we are not unique, the universe would be a strange place if with all the stars in the universe and all the planets that must orbit them, that there was no chance another planet like ours would not exist. However, I do not believe in aliens having visted us or stuff like that simply because the distances between planets like us must be so immense the chances of visiting them are remote indeed. A great pity.

Answer 5

The Moon has polar cores, as does Mars. Europa is mostly ice, heralding the fact that the universe is mostly made of Japanese Sushi Bars. So the fact that another 'earth-like' planet (technically another rock with water, just father away...) is found, justifies a few wild theories. But you can bet your boots they're ten a penny in this universe. Interesting though... I'm going to start learning how to speak 'Beluga'!

Answer 6

The universe is a big place - why not?

The Universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding
In all of the directions it can whizz
As fast as it can go, the speed of light you know
12 million miles a minute and that's the fastest speed there is
So remember when you're feeling very small and insecure
How amazingly unlikely is your birth
And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space
'Cos there's bugger all down here on earth

Answer 7

I wonder if everyone on that earth is exactly the same as everyone on this earth - like do we all have a twin on that earth living the exact same as us here? lol that was honestly my first reaction to hearing it, oddly enough. I thought, another earth? I like to think we're unique but wouldn't that be weird if they had all kinds of technology too and had been through several phases of evolving as well and have some new technology that got past us and vice versa? God knows what where we could be if that happened. Then people would be taking vacations to the other planet to visit family instead of another country on the same planet. lol (yeah-i kinda have one of those JK Rowling imaginations).

Answer 8

I think finding a new planet is great news , and to believe that we are alone here is very naive , and at the end of the day this planet is slowly starting to disappear because of the melting ice caps, as it is the map of the world has changed over the years. So the clock is ticking!!!

Answer 9

Yes, I was surprised to hear about the discovery of this new planet. Who knows, if it can support life, maybe we will all end up having to move to this new planet, because we are destroying the Earth!! Apparently it takes 20 light years to get there though

Answer 10

Not in the least surprised but am annoyed at the reference of possible life being only flat bugs, because its gravity is 50% higher than our own (6.0clock news UK) If they had never found dinosaur fossils on this planet, would they have ever believed these monsters had roamed the Earth.

Answer 11

Its always very interesting when they find these new planets, but one thing is sure if there is by a very slight chance ther eis life on it at least they are safe from the human race for now it would take at least 20 years to get there at the speed of light which obviously isnt easily done, so if and whatever it is of life there good luck to them im sure they take better care of their planet than we have our own, "perhaps"