How could the existence of extraterrestrials ever be proven or disproven??

Question

Of course, if extraterrestrials suddenly landed in the center of London or New York, their existence would be more than obvious. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening ever. So, what are ways you can think of that would allow humans here on Earth to prove that extraterrestrials exist, since the ETs won't land here and prove it themselves? On the contrary, how could humans ever prove that extraterrestrials don't exist when we live in such a vast and endless universe with so many stars and planets? Is it possible to prove it one way or the other?

Answer 1

Scientifically speaking, you can never "disprove," or prove a negative (as others have mentioned). Since there are infinite places to look (not just on planets, since "extraterrestrial" includes everywhere besidesTerra) and an infinity of things to look for, we could never say with certainty that we had searched everywhere. (What exactly is "life" anyway, and does it have to have the same characteristics as Earth life??)

As to proving: without encountering extraterrestrial life (whatever it is!), we can't prove its existence, but merely offer evidence and statistics that support its existence.

Answer 2

From a man that does nothing but think all day long and drive I have asked this question to myself. The possibility of life on other planets is higher than you think. Science just hasn't gotten to that point in there evolution to tell you. I would say about 10%- 15% of the universe is intellegent life equal to or more than our own. And 30%-40% is cell life. The problem that one would have to prove this is the fact that there is much more dark matter between galaxies and travelling it would be difficult. For humans to prove that life exists elsewhere we must build a telescope that can look at stars and block it out to see that planets that orbit each one and see any patterns that may chance over time. For example, When a planet turns into the dark, is there lights on the surface or spikes in thermo fields. Will we ever see an alien on Earth in our life time? No. Will we prove that life exists outside our solar system? Yes.
As for those that like they have seen UFO's, you might have seen something but not an alien spacecraft. The more likely is human from the future observing humanity in it progressive self.

Answer 3

Proved? They could travel here and visit (unlikely) or contact us by radio (more likely).

Disproved? We'd have to travel to every star system in the galaxy and search every planet. I guess most scientists would be satisfied if we only searched a significant percentage of stars and found nothing.

Or perhaps if after a few thousand years of listening for radio waves without hearing anything, that might close the case as well.

Basically, unless an intelligent species chooses to contact us, it's just speculation either way.

Answer 4

Odds of life on another planet is one in a billion. There are roughly a billion planets in the Milky Way. There are about a billion galaxies in the known universe. Therefore, there are about a billion planets that should have life on them. You can't prove or disprove anything but what you can do is provide evidence that supports a hypothesis. To say that some form of life doesn't exist anywhere except on our ordinary planet is absolutely ridiculous, foolish and ignorant.

Answer 5

It is impossible to disprove the existence of other forms of life. You are right, the universe is VAST and no matter how hard we look, or for how long, we will never be able to definitively state that we are the only life forms. And even if they landed in the stadium during the Super Bowl and killed people with their brains on live television, there will always be some who think that it was a hoax staged in Arizona, perpetrated by Elvis and the lone gunman.

Answer 6

depends on what qualifies as a proven extraterrestrial?

if something that technically is alive and fits in a test tube counts with no real intelligence or ability to communicate, then we may find it as close as mars.

If you mean something we could relate to as a kind of person, well...... not anytime soon in my opinion.

People operate under the misconception that the first "alien" life will actually be visible to the naked eye. IMO don't count on it.

While life may prove to be much more common than expected in the universe, large scale life may prove a lot more rare given conditions in the rest of the solar system really do not support a habitat worth a damn.

Answer 7

Odds are, that there is other life in the universe.
However, laws of physics and the distances involved, preclude any from reaching earth. No 'aliens' have, or will ever, reach earth.

I think that any discovery of intelligent life in the universe will probably come in the form of radio communication.
Until then, it will continue to be an unknown.

Answer 8

I don't know but, the day something happens is the day, everything will change.

There is life out there, but you gotta wonder whats taking so long to be discovered. I mean think about it, if one single planet got the technology to get out and explore. Then, they would chart the universe.

I think of it like our current space race. Everyone in the universe is racing to get out, I just find it hard to believe that we are still in the race...that no one has 'won'.

Answer 9

Probably not in this lifetime/era. Perhaps many generations after us there will be new technology or a miraculous scientific discovery that allows us to do so. That new planet with earth-like properties does make you curious as to whether or not there is life...

Answer 10

G is an assumption, like assuming that human beings have minds or that count truly exists. of path, you may stay as an atheist yet no longer for long as an immaterialist. regardless of the indisputable fact that, assuming purposiveness to the universe is functionally greater suitable than no longer doing so.