Of course there is a *possibility*.
I don't know if there is any - we just haven't found any yet.
We have not searched even a fraction of our galaxy by SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence), and we've only *physically* looked on one or two other bodies in *this* solar system. We've just not looked hard and long enough to be certain.
Check the wikipedia entry on the Drake Equation for semi-scientific estimates about the probability of life elsewhere in the galaxy.
2007-09-24 03:17:13
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answer #1
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answered by gribbling 7
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I think there's a 100% probability of life existing elsewhere in the universe.
There are an estimated 100 Billion stars in our galaxy. There is either 100 or 200 Billion galaxies that we know of.
That means there are 1x10 to the 22nd power (1 x 10exp22) stars out there. If only one in a million has planets, that means there could be at least 1 x 10exp16 planets or planetary systems. If only one in a million of those planets has the right conditions, then there could be 1x 10exp10, or 100 Billion planets in the universe with some form of life on them.
If a planet is positioned in the right location to be be able to have liquid water on it, and there are chemicals like methane and ammonia present, and the right kind of radiation streaming from the star in that system, there is a 100% probability that the chemicals needed for life-amino acids- will be formed and life will arise there eventually. And given the nature of these chemicals, that life will begin to evolve as time passes.
That being said, how many of those will have evolved into "intelligent" life? That's hard to say.
There are perhaps 2 million species and sub species known on our planet. Only a few of them could be considered intelligent, or more correctly, sentient, capable of rational analysis and thinking. Humans are one of those species. Because of recent discoveries, I'd argue that certain birds, namely crows and, especially, ravens are intelligent.
Intelligent life must exist on many planets, but that doesn't automatically mean they will invent the kind of technology we have, especially if they happen to be afraid of fire.
If they're afraid of fire, they're not likely going to be smelting ores and building things like we do. Metal is a useful material, but one can live a fairly decent existence without it.
We've only used metal for perhaps 6,000 years, or whenever people started using copper tools and wearing purified gold an/ or silver jewelry.
To do that, though, we first had to develop agriculture and domesticate livestock.
That lead to being able to create and store surplus food'
And with the food system, there there was both a need for some method of protecting stores of that food and retaining control over the best hay fields, and a surplus population to organize to be able to do that.
This then lead to more sophisticated ways of organizing society and social groups, and soon cities appeared.
Cities and food surpluses in turn gave some people the leisure to create writing systems and astronomy, as they did in Sumeria about 5500 or so years ago or so.
On some other planet, that might not have happened. Among other things, this process requires a highly social animal to come about, and some sort of hands to do the work.
Lone wolves won't be sending out radio signals, that's for sure.
So, while I think it is entirely likely there is life elsewhere, it isn't going to be anything like what we see on this planet. In fact, the life forms being discovered near hydrothermal vents in the deep oceans aren't like anything we've seen before.
On other planets, the life forms will be even stranger.
Even if there are civilization out there which do use metal and could send out radio and television signals, the whole notion might not have occurred to them.
But that's no reason not to listen: We aren't going to hear ET calling if we don't.
2007-09-24 12:21:44
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answer #2
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answered by chris g 5
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Yes. Astronomers have found all the chemicals needed for life in space and there is every reason to believe there are planets, yet to be discovered, where the temperature is just right for these chemicals to participate in biological processes just like they do on Earth.
2007-09-24 10:18:43
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answer #3
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answered by campbelp2002 7
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The possibility exists. Many people (myself included) think it's likely - due to the number of planets we're currently discovering, and the number of stars in the galaxy, and the number of galaxies in the universe.
2007-09-24 11:17:55
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answer #4
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answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7
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There are three requirements for the emergence of life.
Chemistry,environment and time.
All these exist in abundance in all parts of the universe.
When life emerges,intelligence and technology are not far behind.
2007-09-24 10:37:33
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answer #5
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answered by Billy Butthead 7
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Most definitely. Life evolved here so the Laws of Probability" demand that it will happen elsewhere..
2007-09-24 10:17:35
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Let me propose some reasons why I believe there is no life on other planets. Now, I should tell you that these reasons are simply exercises in biblical theology.
The Bible says there is one Trinitarian God. Jesus was God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8), second person of the Trinity, and died for our sins (Romans 5; 1 Pet. 2:24). If, there were other beings on other planets that have sinned, then they would need a redeemer. God would have to die for them as well.(1)
Only God can forgive sins. Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9), is forever a man (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:17, 21) and died for the sins of people here on earth (Rom. 5:8). Therefore, I conclude that the only members left in the Trinity to die for the sins of another race would be the Father and the Holy Spirit. But this doesn't seem credible since the focus of the Trinitarian effort in this world has been for the Father to elect a people (Luke 18:7; Rom. 8:33), the Son to redeem them (John 6:39; 17:9,24; Rom. 5:8; 1 Pet. 2:24), and the Holy Spirit to fill, guide, and indwell them (Acts 4:29-31; John 16:13; Rom. 8:9-14). The focus of their effort has been this world and the redemption of mankind, not anywhere else.
Second, if there were life on other planets, would it be possible that they never sinned and don't need a redeemer? I think this question can be answered by the Bible where it says that creation is groaning, waiting for its redemption at the return of Christ (Rom. 8:22). That would mean that all of creation was affected by the fall. When Adam sinned, the ground was cursed and death entered the world. If that is so, then any other beings out there that were made in God's image, would have fallen too since they would be part of creation.(2) I don't see how they could escape the effect of the fall. They would be sinners too and need a redeemer. Then they would fall under the first objection above.
Third, there are only two options available to explain our existence. Creation and evolution. I have studied the theory of evolution and do not believe it is a viable option to explain how we got here. I do not accept evolution for two reasons: The Bible says God created life on earth; that means it did not evolve. Second, the problems of spontaneous life formation are so immense that it is impossible. Also, missing links abound. The fossil record is spotty at best. DNA mutation theory is insufficient to account for life form development. And more.... But this paper is not a refutation of evolution.
What about the appearances of UFO's?
I do not deny that there are physical manifestations of UFO's and that many people have claimed to have seen them and even been abducted by them. But the issue is not whether these things occur, but what they are.
Research of UFO abductees has led to some interesting discoveries. According to those abducted, the aliens are teaching theology. The curious thing is that the theology is New Age theology; namely, that we are all divine, all evolving to higher levels of consciousness, that reality is what you perceive it to be, etc. These are anti-Christian teachings. In some cases, comments about Jesus himself have been made that directly contradict biblical revelation. I've studied the New Age for quite some time, and a great many people in the New Age not only accept Aliens and UFO's, but teach that they are more highly evolved than we are and that we need to learn from them.
In addition, an inordinately high percentage of the abductees have had previous experience with the occult. I remember when I was younger and into séances, necromancy, psycho kinesis, and astral projection. One night I looked into the sky and saw a very bright light that moved at an extremely high rate of speed and made sudden and sever changes in direction during its flight. It moved extremely fast and accelerated out of sight as it moved high into the night sky and disappeared. I saw this with my own eyes. But it doesn't stop there. During my occult days, I also saw many other unusual manifestations, heard voices, and saw things move. I could go on. But suffice it to say, that I confirm the findings that those who experience UFO phenomena are very often involved in the occult. This is alarming and a major warning.
My conclusion is that the UFO phenomena is occultic in origin and demonically based. I do not believe there is life on other planets and I suspect that what has manifested is nothing more than a great deception that is slowing enveloping mankind.
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1. Actually God doesn't have to die for anyone. He saved us because of His grace, not because of our worth.
2. Animals, creeping things, plants, etc. are subject to the fall, but they do not sin. They are not made in the image of God and cannot know and break God's revealed Law. But they die because of what Adam did. Death entered the world when Adam sinned (Romans 5:12).
2007-09-24 11:55:51
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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yes i believe, did u saw the X-Files. d truth is out there.
2007-09-24 12:57:13
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answer #8
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answered by negimagi 2
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