Do you believe we are alone in the universe?

[Erik Mesoy]

To we think we are alone is not arrogant; rather, to think we are not alone is presumptuous, and gives one the burden of proof.

So I think we're alone and I'll keep thinking that until somebody proves otherwise. Can't prove a negative you know, that's why they're generally assumed...

 

[The Condor]

Super. Thanks for telling.

We are not alone.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

Your invisitext completely fails to work. I have a blue background.

We are alone until somebody shows otherwise.

 

[The Condor]

Your red text does not affect me for I have a white backround!!! Also, desist at once cuz you are starting to threadjack my thread that I can only threadjack for it is my thread.

 

[calyth]

There would be at least bacteria. They're hardy little buggers.
I don't particularly know about the intelligent life thing. And I think SETI is useless and impractical. They can't even scan 10% of the sky at anyone time. By the time we hear their primative radio signals, they probably already sent their armada on the way to Earth anyways

 

[El_Machinae]

Because they've heard OUR signals, and our early signals show really fast progress. Too bad for us that we're stagnating.

 

[Kayak]

Because they've heard OUR signals, and our early signals show really fast progress. Too bad for us that we're stagnating.

Right, they should be recieving the Ed Sullivan show any day now. That should make them come if anything

 

[Arachnaphobia]

Its a big universe, there's bound to be some intelligent people out there.

 

[Che Guava]

I'm not sure we would recognize extraterrestrial life even if we did find it

 

[El_Machinae]

How could you not recognize a 8 foot tall monster eating your friends as LIFE?

edit: with the ray guns? and the 'ack ack ack'?

 

[josephstalin]

There are other forms of life out there for sure. Latest science buzz. http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=18569

 

[Che Guava]

How could you not recognize a 8 foot tall monster eating your friends as LIFE?

edit: with the ray guns? and the 'ack ack ack'?

C'mon! At least be consistant! Are they little ones like in Mars Attacks or 8' behemoths?

 

[Perfection]

There are other forms of life out there for sure. Latest science buzz. http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=18569

The question of how likely the steps between organic monomers and full scale life is a signficant.

I will say, however, there is some tentative evidence suggesting that life may be ralitvely common in the universe. That is the fact that it was not long after Earth cooled that life popped into existance. This could mean that life is "easy" to develop and thus it might be more commonplace. Of course, it could be mere coincidence or requiring the convergance of rare phenomena.

 

[El_Machinae]

Seriously, I think that if we discovered any evidence, we'd be awfully worried about a technological disadvantage. Actually, since scientific advancement is based off of compounding returns, any investment now (whether they exist or not) is well spent.

 

[The Condor]

I'm not sure we would recognize extraterrestrial life even if we did find it

I think we could find a way.

will say, however, there is some tentative evidence suggesting that life may be ralitvely common in the universe. That is the fact that it was not long after Earth cooled that life popped into existance. This could mean that life is "easy" to develop and thus it might be more commonplace. Of course, it could be mere coincidence or requiring the convergance of rare phenomena.

Yeah, like the bacteria that lead to us wasn't the first type of bacteria ever made on the planet. In fact, there have been at least five periods of time where lifeforms developed and evolved during the history of the Earth only to be hit by a meteor or a huge volcanic eruption or shifts in the climate. People know this thanks to fossils they have found of peculiar looking organisms. Granted, they might not of developed quite as much as we have during that time but they still were living and performing basic functions of life.

 

[Bluemofia]

We are alone until somebody shows otherwise.

Go to your neighbor's house. Wait for a while. Voila! Intelligent life! (hopefully)

Anyways, what makes you think that out of the billions upon billions upon billions of galaxies out there, we are the only intellignet life? The probability for that is enourmously, hugely, biggly, big, against. What makes you think that in a fertile field, only one shaft of wheat shall grow?

 

[El_Machinae]

Because the probability of life forming spontaneously could be too low to make it probable, even among the billions of galaxies?

 

[The Condor]

Even though it may be low there is still a chance something is out there.

 

[El_Machinae]

Hey, I'm in the "It's quite probable" camp myself. My opinion is that aliens will be a concern some day. This opinion doesn't conflict with my 'we should advance technology' bias in any way.

 

[The Condor]

Yeah, like I said in an earlier post talking to Perfection I too believe we will have to deal with them eventually but probably after I am long dead.