Do you believe that 'alien' life forms exist?

[Pyramid*]

I am absolutely convinced that the Human Being is not the only life form outiwth planet Earth.

We know 'so much' but also know so very little.......and I am most definately a 'believer'.

Do you think we are the only intelligent life form as such or do you think there is something out there?

[Stu]

http://img.webring.com/r/i/italianxfilesweb/logo

It would be improbable to not believe in alien life forms. People forget just how massive this universe is. I'm always amused by the amount of people that believe in 'everything happens for a reason cuz' that's what I think' and 'guardian angels' and the like but scoff at the mere notion of other life forms.

[Zippy]

There could be life elsewhere in space but there's no real sign of it yet so no point worrying about it. And if there is life out there we may be best not finding it. They may be bigger, badder and more kickass than us....and prove it. Then again they could be little tiny things that are easy to squash. Really, who knows?

Certainly not worth wasting billions on.

[MTVN]

Yes, the Universe is too vast for us to be the only forms of life within it, it's almost a cert imo

[Claymores]

http://xpatnams.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/i-want-to-believe-its-not-butter.jpg?w=450&h=582

[Pyramid*]

http://xpatnams.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/i-want-to-believe-its-not-butter.jpg?w=450&h=582


:joker:


Oh, now that one, I definitely believe it's not butter !!! It's vile !

[marney]

I am absolutely convinced that the Human Being is not the only life form outiwth planet Earth.

We know 'so much' but also know so very little.......and I am most definately a 'believer'.

Do you think we are the only intelligent life form as such or do you think there is something out there?


Afraid I do not believe in Aliens ,have you seen any.Most people do not believe in a God so why should they believe in Aliens.

[Claymores]

Whilst it seems foolish to believe that the planet Earth could be unique in terms of the development of life within an infinite universe, the chances of contacting 'aliens' seem remote with the level of technology we have at present given the vastness of distances involved.

And I certainly don't believe we're being visited at the moment or that aliens are busy abducting people right, left and centre.

[arista]

I am absolutely convinced that the Human Being is not the only life form outiwth planet Earth.

We know 'so much' but also know so very little.......and I am most definately a 'believer'.

Do you think we are the only intelligent life form as such or do you think there is something out there?




Yes they are far away
and they do not need our wrecked planet.
And they have No God.

[Crimson Dynamo]

er hello

The Clangers!!

[Stu]

Afraid I do not believe in Aliens ,have you seen any.Most people do not believe in a God so why should they believe in Aliens.
The Hubble telescope is capable of detecting at least 80 million galaxies. That's only what we can see. We on this pale blue dot. One meaningless rock in one meaningless galaxy. Are you honestly comparing the possibility of extraterrestrial life to the possibility of God? Are you honestly saying visual contact is a necessary precursor to belief in the possibility of extraterrestrial life? That's absoloutely riddiculous.

Also I don't know where you get your statictics from but most people do believe in God. I don't but that is another story. But what you are saying is just riddiculous.

[Zippy]

and they do not need our wrecked planet.
And they have No God.

Er, our planet is BY FAR the most spectacular planet we know of. With its breathtaking landscapes, underwater world and staggering variety of life forms(including humans) I honestly can't imagine a better planet exists anywhere. Other planets are utter shyte in comparison. Mars? pfft if you like red rocks and toxic atmospheres..its a blast.

And we have no God either. That's all in your mind.

[Pyramid*]

Afraid I do not believe in Aliens ,have you seen any.Most people do not believe in a God so why should they believe in Aliens.


I didn't compare people believing in God to beliving in Alien life form - you did, and that was not the question. A staggering amount of people believe in God, and how many have seen God - but still remain in the belief that he exists - therefore you have offered a completely inane comparison.

Because something has not been seen does not mean it doesn't exist. Whether it be God or alien life form. As it happens, I'm talking about the existence of Alien life form.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I didn't compare people believing in God to beliving in Alien life form - you did, and that was not the question. A staggering amount of people believe in God, and how many have seen God - but still remain in the belief that he exists - therefore you have offered a completely inane comparison.

Because something has not been seen does not mean it doesn't exist. Whether it be God or alien life form. As it happens, I'm talking about the existence of Alien life form.

Most of the people who believe in God do so because their parents told them to. The amount of people who came to believing by their own deduction must be like 0.0001%

[Zippy]

We'll find aliens before we find God. I'll promise you that much.

[Pyramid*]

Most of the people who believe in God do so because their parents told them to. The amount of people who came to believing by their own deduction must be like 0.0001%

I doubt it very much. People grow up and make their own decisions, based on their own matured beliefs.

Besides which, the thread is not about God or whether he exists, or is believed - and it's been thrown off topic from what the question was about - Alien Life form.

[Beso]

Yes. but I believe we are the superior race.

Noah's ark was a spaceship by the way.

[Ninastar]

I think there is something else out there, but its too far to reach

[James]

I am absolutely convinced that the Human Being is not the only life form outiwth planet Earth.

We know 'so much' but also know so very little.......and I am most definately a 'believer'.

Do you think we are the only intelligent life form as such or do you think there is something out there?

Maybe. The universe is huge but we don't know how probable it is for life to develop, let alone intelligence - life (in some form) existed on this planet for possibly 3.8 billion years before human intelligence came about.

There is also a theory that if intelligent civilisation formed elsewhere in the universe, say a few billion years after the universe was formed it would have had time to explore (and colonise?) every part of the universe. However there are explanations, if you read into it, why an alien species would choose (or was unable) not to do this.

So I say possibly, but we can't be certain.

[Zippy]

life (in some form) existed on this planet for possibly 3.8 billion years before human intelligence came about.


Really? Wow, now there's something I didn't know. Last night it was about tea and now this. Who knew TiBB could be so educational?

[James]

Yeah, I checked Wiki for that number. :p I knew it was billions of years though.

[Pyramid*]

I think there is something else out there, but its too far to reach

Quite possible, and as Stu mentioned - we may have the technology to see 'so far' into the galaxies - there may be so much more that we cannot 'reach' / see.

The way I look at it is: - Who is to say that life forms aren't present in places that are deemed not to have life form. who is to say that what we (as humans) require to sustain ourselves and 'our world' are what another life form needs.

We may need oxygen to survive, we may need the plants and foods that we have for us to exist - it doesn't necessarily mean other life forms require anything like that. They may be able to survive in a form and by what is around them, they may not need shelter as we know it, may not need water, may not need 'food' by the things that 'we' class as food.

It seems many people base the possible existence of another life form in comparison to what we, as human beings, need to exist. I think to do so is a very blinkered view.

[Jessica.]

I think they might exist but I'm not really sure, I think I'd like if they did.

[Pyramid*]

Maybe. The universe is huge but we don't know how probable it is for life to develop, let alone intelligence - life (in some form) existed on this planet for possibly 3.8 billion years before human intelligence came about.

There is also a theory that if intelligent civilisation formed elsewhere in the universe, say a few billion years after the universe was formed it would have had time to explore (and colonise?) every part of the universe. However there are explanations, if you read into it, why an alien species would choose (or was unable) not to do this.

So I say possibly, but we can't be certain.

Swot !! :hugesmile: The 'colonisation' theory is interesting - but if they were superior - would they want to !

TBH, if there are aliens out there, and in a higher intelligent life form than us - if I were them, I'd be leaving us well alone (for a whole range of reasons!).

[marney]

i didn't compare people believing in god to beliving in alien life form - you did, and that was not the question. A staggering amount of people believe in god, and how many have seen god - but still remain in the belief that he exists - therefore you have offered a completely inane comparison.

Because something has not been seen does not mean it doesn't exist. Whether it be god or alien life form. As it happens, i'm talking about the existence of alien life form.

good you accept a christian good could exist.

[Pyramid*]

good you accept a christian good could exist.

Actually I don't.:p I far prefer the Evolution theory.

Alien life form however, that's a different story.

[Stu]

We may need oxygen to survive, we may need the plants and foods that we have for us to exist - it doesn't necessarily mean other life forms require anything like that. They may be able to survive in a form and by what is around them, they may not need shelter as we know it, may not need water, may not need 'food' by the things that 'we' class as food.
I always have to point this out to people who seem to insist on judging the possibility of alien life purely on their own needs. It's so silly.

Why has the term 'Christian God' come into this, by the way? It's a thread about aliens. The Christian God did not create us. We created him.

['Conor]

nope not at all, if der was some aliens out der dey wud hav been found by now.

[Zippy]

If God created the universe then God must be an alien.

Religion is therefore alien worship.

[marney]

actually i don't.:p i far prefer the evolution theory.

Alien life form however, that's a different story.


i knew you would pyramid so we differ on this subject to , but that comes as no suprise.

[marney]

nope not at all, if der was some aliens out der dey wud hav been found by now.

They would have us believe in anything if we are gullible enough to believe. Aliens in human form, touch of the David Ickes here.

[Grimnir]

Afraid I do not believe in Aliens ,have you seen any.Most people do not believe in a God so why should they believe in Aliens.

how about if god/s and aliens are one and the same :shocked:

[Stu]

nope not at all, if der was some aliens out der dey wud hav been found by now.
Like we found them?

What a silly argument. They could be just like us. Or even less advanced. Why would they have had to have found us? They don't all have super intelligence and spaceships.

Think outside the box, people. Jesus wept.

[Kazanne]

I am absolutely convinced that the Human Being is not the only life form outiwth planet Earth.

We know 'so much' but also know so very little.......and I am most definately a 'believer'.

Do you think we are the only intelligent life form as such or do you think there is something out there?

I am sure there are other forms of life,as I seem to have come across a few!!lol,seriously,i can never make my mind up on this one,I would like a bit more proof.

[MTVN]

Like we found them?

What a silly argument. They could be just like us. Or even less advanced. Why would they have had to have found us? They don't all have super intelligence and spaceships.

Think outside the box, people. Jesus wept.

I think he's saying that we would have found the aliens by now if they did exist, it's a bit incoherent though. Either way, it's still a stupid argument

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

yes

[Pyramid*]

Like we found them?

What a silly argument. They could be just like us. Or even less advanced. Why would they have had to have found us? They don't all have super intelligence and spaceships.

Think outside the box, people. Jesus wept.


that's the problem - some people have such closed minds - not even open to the consideration of what might be a possibility.

[Shasown]

The existence of life forms in other parts of the universe - highly probable
The existence of intelligent life forms in the universe - possible
The existence of "god" as taught by any of the religions - highly improbable

[Pyramid*]

The existence of life forms in other parts of the universe - highly probable
The existence of intelligent life forms in the universe - possible
The existence of "god" as taught by any of the religions - highly improbable


Pretty much a fair summary there Shasown, I agree with you.

[Jordan.]

Yeah I do, whether that be little green people or alien bacteria striving somewhere.

[Ninastar]

Quite possible, and as Stu mentioned - we may have the technology to see 'so far' into the galaxies - there may be so much more that we cannot 'reach' / see.

The way I look at it is: - Who is to say that life forms aren't present in places that are deemed not to have life form. who is to say that what we (as humans) require to sustain ourselves and 'our world' are what another life form needs.

We may need oxygen to survive, we may need the plants and foods that we have for us to exist - it doesn't necessarily mean other life forms require anything like that. They may be able to survive in a form and by what is around them, they may not need shelter as we know it, may not need water, may not need 'food' by the things that 'we' class as food.

It seems many people base the possible existence of another life form in comparison to what we, as human beings, need to exist. I think to do so is a very blinkered view.

I see what you mean. I always wonder if the "life form" could reach us better than we could reach them. Maybe they are super smart or something, like they have figured out how to travel galaxies or something like that, you know?

[James]

Like we found them?

What a silly argument. They could be just like us. Or even less advanced. Why would they have had to have found us? They don't all have super intelligence and spaceships.

Think outside the box, people. Jesus wept.

Fermi Paradox - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox

[Vodka Drinka]

It's quite naive to assume that we are the only life form in the Universe. When you think about how big it is, the conditions for life to develop must be right somewhere else. Not in our solar system obviously, but I'm positive that there are aliens out there somewhere.

[arista]

If God created the universe then God must be an alien.

Religion is therefore alien worship.


No God created the Universe
that is a Fable.

[Grimnir]

did god create man and aliens or
did man create god and aliens or
did aliens create god and man or
did god create aliens and aliens create man
or
:elephant:
did aliens create man and man created god cos they were influenced by the aliens to do so
:conf:

[arista]

No it dead simple
There is No such thing as a God.


Other planets far far away have humans
but with no need to speak
it is done by advanced mind transfer.

[Zippy]

Other planets far far away have humans
but with no need to speak
it is done by advanced mind transfer.

:joker:

and you know this how exactly?

[Shasown]

No it dead simple
There is No such thing as a God.


Other planets far far away have humans
but with no need to speak
it is done by advanced mind transfer.

And you hear their voices/thoughts everyday.

Telling you to put the knife down.

[Pyramid*]

Fermi Paradox - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox


just had a quick glance at that - now that's pretty interesting - I'll have a more indepth read later.

['Conor]

Like we found them?

What a silly argument. They could be just like us. Or even less advanced. Why would they have had to have found us? They don't all have super intelligence and spaceships.

Think outside the box, people. Jesus wept.

just my opinion...

[Patrick]

http://img.webring.com/r/i/italianxfilesweb/logo

It would be improbable to not believe in alien life forms. People forget just how massive this universe is. I'm always amused by the amount of people that believe in 'everything happens for a reason cuz' that's what I think' and 'guardian angels' and the like but scoff at the mere notion of other life forms.

Well said.

[Patrick]

Afraid I do not believe in Aliens ,have you seen any.Most people do not believe in a God so why should they believe in Aliens.

Because God is some ******ing magical made up creature.

Some of the things Jesus and this bloke God were meant to do, is complete and utter bollocks.

Aliens are far more realistic than God.

Maybe not Aliens like this:

http://www.newanimal.org/alien_asgard_stargate.jpg

But there's definitely life on other planets, I bet they have their own world and wonder if we exist!

[GypsyGoth]

I don't believe in the abductees, but I'm not sure why people would lie or make that stuff up.

Anyway I think there is life out there although I'm sure most of it is as dumb as a cold.

[Patrick]

I think they might exist but I'm not really sure, I think I'd like if they did.

Same.

It'd be ******ing amazing talking to like Aliens on MSN and stuff and like dating a girl from another planet, Talk about long distance relationships.

But we could make it work, I want a purple alien.


I really hope they do find life on other planets now :(

[Patrick]

I don't believe in the abductees, but I'm not sure why people would lie or make that stuff up.

Money..?

[arista]

And you hear their voices/thoughts everyday.

Telling you to put the knife down.



No not Every day.

[Shasown]

and like dating a girl from another planet, Talk about long distance relationships.

But we could make it work, I want a purple alien.


I really hope they do find life on other planets now

Fed up with all the rejections from earth girls, Patrick?

[arista]

Because God is some ******ing magical made up creature.

Some of the things Jesus and this bloke God were meant to do, is complete and utter bollocks.

Aliens are far more realistic than God.

Maybe not Aliens like this:

http://www.newanimal.org/alien_asgard_stargate.jpg

But there's definitely life on other planets, I bet they have their own world and wonder if we exist!


Yes Pat his Cousin popped down to see me
but I can not do the Mind Transfer
as I keep thinking will he Bonk old Madge
or will her wee stink scare him?
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/10/11/madonna_narrowweb__300x387,0.jpg

[GypsyGoth]

Money..?

You're probably right, that and the attention they get.

[MeMyselfAndI]

Yep

[Patrick]

Fed up with all the rejections from earth girls, Patrick?


No, It'd just be a good thing to have on your Facebook.

Patrick
14
Belfast

In A Relationship With Zendora Of Mars x

I want to shag an Alien now, Like a hot one.

[marney]

The existence of life forms in other parts of the universe - highly probable
The existence of intelligent life forms in the universe - possible
The existence of "god" as taught by any of the religions - highly improbable

What makes one highly probable, the other only possible and yet one improbable.

[marney]

No, It'd just be a good thing to have on your Facebook.

Patrick
14
Belfast

In A Relationship With Zendora Of Mars x

I want to shag an Alien now, Like a hot one.

Sounds like there are some Aliens posting here.

[Josy]

Same.

It'd be ******ing amazing talking to like Aliens on MSN and stuff and like dating a girl from another planet, Talk about long distance relationships.
But we could make it work, I want a purple alien.


I really hope they do find life on other planets now :(

:joker::joker:

[arista]

No, It'd just be a good thing to have on your Facebook.

Patrick
14
Belfast

In A Relationship With Zendora Of Mars x

I want to shag an Alien now, Like a hot one.


I thought your were older.

[Tom4784]

I've never believed in little green men but I believe there's other planets out there like ours with similar life forms inhabiting them. Not that we'll ever know either way in our lifetimes.

[Vicky.]

Of course. I can't imagine that there is only us...given how big the universe is :/

[arista]

I've never believed in little green men but I believe there's other planets out there like ours with similar life forms inhabiting them. Not that we'll ever know either way in our lifetimes.


No Dezzy they are not little
and they are not visiting us
as there planet far far away is doing better.

They are Humans
but they do not speak
they have Advanced Mind Transfer.


They have no God.

[Stu]

What makes one highly probable, the other only possible and yet one improbable.
Sheer logic and common sense? We know that the Christian God is a belief based on nothing more than Jewish folklore and word of mouth that has somehow survived in the form of The Bible. A highly contradictory text of pure meaningless rubbish that can easily be disproven by a group of eight year olds with a white board and a few Red Bulls on a Sunday afternoon.

Extraterrestrial life forms are highly probable given what we know about the size of the greater cosmos compared to our one planet. It doesn't give one a carte blanche to then allow all other things to be possible. If you work on that hypothesis then the Christian God has an equal chance of existing as Spiderman does, based on this tired idea of 'well if you can't disprove it it could exist!'.

just my opinion...
I doubt it. I'd say it's more something you thought without thinking it through. Why would we have found aliens by now? We know there are at least 80 billion galaxies in the universe - I typed 'million' by accident a while ago. It was in fact billion. Eighty billion. So far a human boot has made it as far as the moon. And that was last century. Like the entire lifespan of life on earth so far that's an astonishingly meaningless amount of time.

[marney]

Originally Posted by marney View Post
What makes one highly probable, the other only possible and yet one improbable.
Sheer logic and common sense? We know that the Christian God is a belief based on nothing more than Jewish folklore and word of mouth that has somehow survived in the form of The Bible. A highly contradictory text of pure meaningless rubbish that can easily be disproven by a group of eight year olds with a white board and a few Red Bulls on a Sunday afternoon.

Extraterrestrial life forms are highly probable given what we know about the size of the greater cosmos compared to our one planet. It doesn't give one a carte blanche to then allow all other things to be possible. If you work on that hypothesis then the Christian God has an equal chance of existing as Spiderman does, based on this tired idea of 'well if you can't disprove it it could exist!'.

Yeh like the ones walking around in human form that is what the debate is about. if you believe in that then everything is possible

[GypsyGoth]

A highly contradictory text of pure meaningless rubbish that can easily be disproven by a group of eight year olds with a white board and a few Red Bulls on a Sunday afternoon.

:laugh2:

[Patrick]

I've never believed in little green men but I believe there's other planets out there like ours with similar life forms inhabiting them. Not that we'll ever know either way in our lifetimes.

You never know...

They could find something or they could find us, any year now.
Maybe this time in 10 or 20 years, We could of found Aliens?

There's a possibility, or maybe that's wishful thinking but still if you look at all the sightings [the ones that haven't been confirmed as fake] and how advanced Technology is getting and the Space missions to find life on other planets...

[Stu]

if you believe in that then everything is possible
No ... it's not. That's a nonsensical belief. So if I believe in intelligent life then it is possible for me to stop bullets and fly?

Bloody 'ell.

[marney]

Originally Posted by marney View Post
What makes one highly probable, the other only possible and yet one improbable.
Sheer logic and common sense? We know that the Christian God is a belief based on nothing more than Jewish folklore and word of mouth that has somehow survived in the form of The Bible. A highly contradictory text of pure meaningless rubbish that can easily be disproven by a group of eight year olds with a white board and a few Red Bulls on a Sunday afternoon.

Extraterrestrial life forms are highly probable given what we know about the size of the greater cosmos compared to our one planet. It doesn't give one a carte blanche to then allow all other things to be possible. If you work on that hypothesis then the Christian God has an equal chance of existing as Spiderman does, based on this tired idea of 'well if you can't disprove it it could exist!'.

Science has yet to prove other life forms exist if they do who created them. Can you prove the universe was created THROUGH science, no one can.

[Zippy]

You never know...

They could find something or they could find us, any year now.
Maybe this time in 10 or 20 years, We could of found Aliens?

There's a possibility, or maybe that's wishful thinking but still if you look at all the sightings [the ones that haven't been confirmed as fake] and how advanced Technology is getting and the Space missions to find life on other planets...

Wishful thinking? Be careful what you wish for.

Contact with alien life may not be a pleasant experience. Do you think we would hug and exchange stories like long lost relatives? No, if they landed here they would probably be attacked, captured and quarantined. They'd have to be for safety and security. And if we ever travelled out to meet them they'd probably see us as a threat too.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by marney View Post
What makes one highly probable, the other only possible and yet one improbable.
Sheer logic and common sense? We know that the Christian God is a belief based on nothing more than Jewish folklore and word of mouth that has somehow survived in the form of The Bible. A highly contradictory text of pure meaningless rubbish that can easily be disproven by a group of eight year olds with a white board and a few Red Bulls on a Sunday afternoon.

Extraterrestrial life forms are highly probable given what we know about the size of the greater cosmos compared to our one planet. It doesn't give one a carte blanche to then allow all other things to be possible. If you work on that hypothesis then the Christian God has an equal chance of existing as Spiderman does, based on this tired idea of 'well if you can't disprove it it could exist!'.

Science has yet to prove other life forms exist if they do who created them. Can you prove the universe was created THROUGH science, no one can.
Why don't you reply directly to what I wrote for a change?

Of course they can't prove what created the universe yet. Science has not evolved that far yet. But that's the beauty of science. It evolves. It gets bigger and better every day. Unlike religion which shrinks further and further into embarrassment, mediocrity and improbability. Your first mistake is assuming the universe was created. Beyond that ... if God created the universe what created God? And if he could exist of his own free will free of the constraints of creation then why can't a scientific explanation? Where do you draw the line from where science stops and becomes a 'god'?

This especially holds true if you believe in deism which I think is totally necessary. Believing in a God theory is all fine and well, but believing in an active, omnipresent God who interferes in our lives is just absoloutely absurd considering you must inevitably reach the conclusion that God is a bit of a bastard. So - if like a deist - you believe in an inactive, immaterial God that is merely a 'force' ... at what point did it stop becoming science and start becoming 'God'? Can it not be an as of yet unfounded 'science' to the universe?

Pray to God you find the quote button next time.

[Pyramid*]

Yeh like the ones walking around in human form that is what the debate is about. if you believe in that then everything is possible


Actually, that is not what the debate is about. The debate is about alien life forms existing - elsewhere outwith this planet that we live on. The only person banging on about them being in human form - is you.

[Shasown]

What makes one highly probable, the other only possible and yet one improbable.

Ever heard of the Drake Equation?

N = RfpneflfifcL


In this equation, N is the number of detectable civilizations in our galaxy. The other variables are described below:

R is the rate of star formation in the galaxy
fp is the fraction of stars that form planets
ne is the number of planets hospitable to life (i.e., Earth-like planets)
fl is the fraction of these planets on which life actually emerges
fi is the fraction of these planets on which intelligent life arises
fc is the fraction of these planets with intelligent beings capable of interstellar communication
L is the length of time such a civilization remains detectable

The only variable known with any degree of certainty is the rate of stellar formation, R. In the Milky Way, a typical spiral galaxy, new stars form at a rate of roughly four per year [source: Cain]. The variable astronomers feel most uncertain about is L, the length of time a civilization remains detectable. A variety of estimates have been used for L, ranging from 10 years to 10 million years.

Astronomers can make educated guesses about the rest of the variables. For example, of the nine planets in our solar system, only four are what astronomers call terrestrial planets -- those that have a solid surface. Of those terrestrial planets, only Earth supports life. If we take our solar system as representative, then we might argue that ne equals 1/4 or 0.25. Similar guesses have been made about the other variables and, interestingly, they all end up having very similar values, usually in a range between 0.1 and 1.0. So, a typical calculation might look like this:

N = 4 x 0.5 x 0.25 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 3,000,000

which gives us a value of 12,000 civilizations in our galaxy.

Drake's original calculations were very close to this value for N. When he ran the numbers, he predicted that there might be 10,000 detectable civilizations in the Milky Way [source: Garber]. Carl Sagan, a leader in the SETI movement until he passed away in 1996, was even more generous when he suggested that 1 million civilizations might exist in the galaxy [source: Lemarchand]. That's a lot of ETs!

But thats only in the Milky Way, our galaxy, there are billions of other galaxies out there.

Obviously some civilisation or life forms will be more advanced and others less advanced, that reduces the probability down from highly.

There are lots of religions on Earth, there have been a lot more, most talk of an all knowing all powerful merciful God who favours his believers. Thats a joke. Why would God even bother with us, we are insignificant.

A lot of religious beliefs have been shown to have been invented, adapted and changed by man, take for example Christianity, until the Pauline Conversion old JC wasnt really looked upon as being son of god. Followers of him still followed the Jewish faith. People who started following him converted to the Jewish Faith.

It wasnt until Paul was accepted in the Nazareans and pushed out a belief in the divinity of Jesus that there was schism in the "early church" and a belief established that JC was the son of god.

[Stu]

I always get hard for Shasown's inevitable '**** you, I bet you didn't know about this!' long, intelligent post :laugh:.

[Pyramid*]

Ever heard of the Drake Equation?

N = RfpneflfifcL


In this equation, N is the number of detectable civilizations in our galaxy. The other variables are described below:

R is the rate of star formation in the galaxy
fp is the fraction of stars that form planets
ne is the number of planets hospitable to life (i.e., Earth-like planets)
fl is the fraction of these planets on which life actually emerges
fi is the fraction of these planets on which intelligent life arises
fc is the fraction of these planets with intelligent beings capable of interstellar communication
L is the length of time such a civilization remains detectable

The only variable known with any degree of certainty is the rate of stellar formation, R. In the Milky Way, a typical spiral galaxy, new stars form at a rate of roughly four per year [source: Cain]. The variable astronomers feel most uncertain about is L, the length of time a civilization remains detectable. A variety of estimates have been used for L, ranging from 10 years to 10 million years.

Astronomers can make educated guesses about the rest of the variables. For example, of the nine planets in our solar system, only four are what astronomers call terrestrial planets -- those that have a solid surface. Of those terrestrial planets, only Earth supports life. If we take our solar system as representative, then we might argue that ne equals 1/4 or 0.25. Similar guesses have been made about the other variables and, interestingly, they all end up having very similar values, usually in a range between 0.1 and 1.0. So, a typical calculation might look like this:

N = 4 x 0.5 x 0.25 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 3,000,000

which gives us a value of 12,000 civilizations in our galaxy.

Drake's original calculations were very close to this value for N. When he ran the numbers, he predicted that there might be 10,000 detectable civilizations in the Milky Way [source: Garber]. Carl Sagan, a leader in the SETI movement until he passed away in 1996, was even more generous when he suggested that 1 million civilizations might exist in the galaxy [source: Lemarchand]. That's a lot of ETs!

But thats only in the Milky Way, our galaxy, there are billions of other galaxies out there.

Obviously some civilisation or life forms will be more advanced and others less advanced, that reduces the probability down from highly.

There are lots of religions on Earth, there have been a lot more, most talk of an all knowing all powerful merciful God who favours his believers. Thats a joke. Why would God even bother with us, we are insignificant.

A lot of religious beliefs have been shown to have been invented, adapted and changed by man, take for example Christianity, until the Pauline Conversion old JC wasnt really looked upon as being son of god. Followers of him still followed the Jewish faith. People who started following him converted to the Jewish Faith.

It wasnt until Paul was accepted in the Nazareans and pushed out a belief in the divinity of Jesus that there was schism in the "early church" and a belief established that JC was the son of god.

Now....that's what I call an informative post! Interesting stuff - learn something new every day.

[joeysteele]

I don't believe we are the only planet in the Universe/s which will have life on it, what forms other life may be is obviously unknown but then we have many forms of life on this planet.

We in our lifetimes are extremely unlikely to ever learn if or where other life forms may be but its a fascinating subject to dwell on.

[marney]

Of course they can't prove what created the universe yet. Science has not evolved that far yet. But that's the beauty of science. It evolves. It gets bigger and better every day. Unlike religion which shrinks further and further into embarrassment, mediocrity and improbability.
How can you be sure it will evolve forever where is your proof.
Yet Satanism becomes more and more popular each day, so do we call that religion. quote button just for you.

[Stu]

I wish he would just show his damn face. Instead he toys with me in the shadows knowing full well my massive, herculean ability to outsmart him.

I also see you have discovered the joys of the double italicizing trick, Simon. It's the future of bypassing swear filters!

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

:joker:

[keithafc]

I know i will probably get some harsh posts my way for this but i honestly think there is more chance of a different realm (spirit world as people call it) existing than god.

Do i believe in intelligent aliens? Yes i do.

[SocietyIsRuined]

With the amount of galaxies out there then there is something than us that exists. I doubt that they will look different than us.

[Pyramid*]

I know i will probably get some harsh posts my way for this but i honestly think there is more chance of a different realm (spirit world as people call it) existing than god.

Do i believe in intelligent aliens? Yes i do.

I'm with that too..... it just seems such a complete waste of all that is learned, all that knowledge gained over all the years, to be lost.

[Zippy]

With the amount of galaxies out there then there is something than us that exists. I doubt that they will look different than us.

well they could be billions of years ahead of us or behind us so its extremely unlikely they would look like us!

Plus they could have a totally different atmosphere and climate which would dictate how they look.

[SocietyIsRuined]

well they could be billions of years ahead of us or behind us so its extremely unlikely they would look like us!

Plus they could have a totally different atmosphere and climate which would dictate how they look.

That's true.

The thing is that if we ever discover anything out there then religion goes right up in the air. All these planets would never have their own Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha or Shiva.

I am of the belief that it would cause more war than anything else on this planet and that's why they keep it quiet.

[arista]

well they could be billions of years ahead of us or behind us so its extremely unlikely they would look like us!

Plus they could have a totally different atmosphere and climate which would dictate how they look.


They laugh at us.

[joeysteele]

well they could be billions of years ahead of us or behind us so its extremely unlikely they would look like us!

Plus they could have a totally different atmosphere and climate which would dictate how they look.

True, I totally agree with you on that.

[InOne]

Who knows? We won't.


End.

[James]

Ever heard of the Drake Equation?

N = RfpneflfifcL


In this equation, N is the number of detectable civilizations in our galaxy. The other variables are described below:

R is the rate of star formation in the galaxy
fp is the fraction of stars that form planets
ne is the number of planets hospitable to life (i.e., Earth-like planets)
fl is the fraction of these planets on which life actually emerges
fi is the fraction of these planets on which intelligent life arises
fc is the fraction of these planets with intelligent beings capable of interstellar communication
L is the length of time such a civilization remains detectable

The only variable known with any degree of certainty is the rate of stellar formation, R. In the Milky Way, a typical spiral galaxy, new stars form at a rate of roughly four per year [source: Cain]. The variable astronomers feel most uncertain about is L, the length of time a civilization remains detectable. A variety of estimates have been used for L, ranging from 10 years to 10 million years.

Astronomers can make educated guesses about the rest of the variables. For example, of the nine planets in our solar system, only four are what astronomers call terrestrial planets -- those that have a solid surface. Of those terrestrial planets, only Earth supports life. If we take our solar system as representative, then we might argue that ne equals 1/4 or 0.25. Similar guesses have been made about the other variables and, interestingly, they all end up having very similar values, usually in a range between 0.1 and 1.0. So, a typical calculation might look like this:

N = 4 x 0.5 x 0.25 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 3,000,000

which gives us a value of 12,000 civilizations in our galaxy.

Drake's original calculations were very close to this value for N. When he ran the numbers, he predicted that there might be 10,000 detectable civilizations in the Milky Way [source: Garber]. Carl Sagan, a leader in the SETI movement until he passed away in 1996, was even more generous when he suggested that 1 million civilizations might exist in the galaxy [source: Lemarchand]. That's a lot of ETs!

But thats only in the Milky Way, our galaxy, there are billions of other galaxies out there.

Obviously some civilisation or life forms will be more advanced and others less advanced, that reduces the probability down from highly.

There are lots of religions on Earth, there have been a lot more, most talk of an all knowing all powerful merciful God who favours his believers. Thats a joke. Why would God even bother with us, we are insignificant.

A lot of religious beliefs have been shown to have been invented, adapted and changed by man, take for example Christianity, until the Pauline Conversion old JC wasnt really looked upon as being son of god. Followers of him still followed the Jewish faith. People who started following him converted to the Jewish Faith.

It wasnt until Paul was accepted in the Nazareans and pushed out a belief in the divinity of Jesus that there was schism in the "early church" and a belief established that JC was the son of god.

fl, fi, fc and L are guess-timates at best. fl and fc could be much less probable than 0.2 (1 in 5), which reduces the number of potential civilisations in the galaxy considerably.

[Twilight]

Maybe.

[Barbie]

This cant be the only planet in the whole universe to have life. Do they necessarily need what we need to survive though? Things live at the bottom of the ocean in what should be deadly conditions.

though i don't believe we have had aliens visit our planet.

[Pyramid*]

Ever heard of the Drake Equation?

N = RfpneflfifcL


In this equation, N is the number of detectable civilizations in our galaxy. The other variables are described below:

R is the rate of star formation in the galaxy
fp is the fraction of stars that form planets
ne is the number of planets hospitable to life (i.e., Earth-like planets)
fl is the fraction of these planets on which life actually emerges
fi is the fraction of these planets on which intelligent life arises
fc is the fraction of these planets with intelligent beings capable of interstellar communication
L is the length of time such a civilization remains detectable

The only variable known with any degree of certainty is the rate of stellar formation, R. In the Milky Way, a typical spiral galaxy, new stars form at a rate of roughly four per year [source: Cain]. The variable astronomers feel most uncertain about is L, the length of time a civilization remains detectable. A variety of estimates have been used for L, ranging from 10 years to 10 million years.

Astronomers can make educated guesses about the rest of the variables. For example, of the nine planets in our solar system, only four are what astronomers call terrestrial planets -- those that have a solid surface. Of those terrestrial planets, only Earth supports life. If we take our solar system as representative, then we might argue that ne equals 1/4 or 0.25. Similar guesses have been made about the other variables and, interestingly, they all end up having very similar values, usually in a range between 0.1 and 1.0. So, a typical calculation might look like this:

N = 4 x 0.5 x 0.25 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 3,000,000

which gives us a value of 12,000 civilizations in our galaxy.

Drake's original calculations were very close to this value for N. When he ran the numbers, he predicted that there might be 10,000 detectable civilizations in the Milky Way [source: Garber]. Carl Sagan, a leader in the SETI movement until he passed away in 1996, was even more generous when he suggested that 1 million civilizations might exist in the galaxy [source: Lemarchand]. That's a lot of ETs!

But thats only in the Milky Way, our galaxy, there are billions of other galaxies out there.

Obviously some civilisation or life forms will be more advanced and others less advanced, that reduces the probability down from highly.

There are lots of religions on Earth, there have been a lot more, most talk of an all knowing all powerful merciful God who favours his believers. Thats a joke. Why would God even bother with us, we are insignificant.

A lot of religious beliefs have been shown to have been invented, adapted and changed by man, take for example Christianity, until the Pauline Conversion old JC wasnt really looked upon as being son of god. Followers of him still followed the Jewish faith. People who started following him converted to the Jewish Faith.

It wasnt until Paul was accepted in the Nazareans and pushed out a belief in the divinity of Jesus that there was schism in the "early church" and a belief established that JC was the son of god.


Would you believe the coincedence..... I watched a program last night on BB4 OD - all about this very subject!

[Shasown]

fl, fi, fc and L are guess-timates at best. fl and fc could be much less probable than 0.2 (1 in 5), which reduces the number of potential civilisations in the galaxy considerably.

Very true, but it could also be slightly more which would increase potential civilisations considerably. And it only takes into account, this galaxy, not the rest of the universe.

Would you believe the coincedence..... I watched a program last night on BB4 OD - all about this very subject!

Journey to the Edge of the Universe? Quite an interesting program, if that wasnt the one you watched try and watch it sometime. Graphics are quite good generally and very informative sort of puts us in our place.

[Pyramid*]

Very true, but it could also be slightly more which would increase potential civilisations considerably. And it only takes into account, this galaxy, not the rest of the universe.



Journey to the Edge of the Universe? Quite an interesting program, if that wasnt the one you watched try and watch it sometime. Graphics are quite good generally and very informative sort of puts us in out place.

No, it was called The Search for Life - however....now you've mentioned 'Joureny to the Edge of the Universe'..... I am sure that''s still showing On Demand - it rings too many very recent bells !. I think I'll have a wee check and whittle away a quite Sunday afternoon (soon as the groceries are delivered and my Sunday Roast is on the go!).