Can you imagine Nothing? Is there really life out there?

[Gabriel1]

if we aren't alone, we are the type that will hunt it down and kill it.

And put it between two slices of bread......

The Archangel

 

[AdmiralAdama]

Don't forget the mayo.
AA

 

[AdmiralAdama]

On a more serious note, I think we'd make out rather poorly in a showdown.
AA

 

[KevinJS]

On a more serious note, I think we'd make out rather poorly in a showdown.
AA
<img src="http://www.ipadforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=15041"/>

That's true. Anyone, or anything, with the technology to get here would certainly have the technology to get us.

 

[skimonkey]

Don't forget the mayo.
AA

Chipotle mayo!

 

[biobunny]

There's a higher chance of other species being out there in space then us being the only human-like creatures.

Sent from K48

 

[AdmiralAdama]

There's a higher chance of other species being out there in space then us being the only human-like creatures.

Sent from K48

We agree.


AA

 

[KevinJS]

There's a higher chance of other species being out there in space then us being the only human-like creatures.

Sent from K48

Very definitely. Life itself is a mystery, but almost certainly only started once on this planet, since all living entities can be shown to share basic characteristics. There is no known case of the existence of any living entity which started from other than the singular occurrence of life starting, however that may have come about. Since life started, evolution has pretty well been mapped, and can account for every living thing now in existence.

However, evolution is random, and at any point, it could have taken a different turn, or turns, with the result that life would look vastly different now than it actually does.

Intelligence has sprung up once, and only once, as far as we are able to make out. I do not subscribe to Douglas Adams' view that mice are intelligent, nor whales or other cetaceans. considering how many species exist on this planet, it is clear that lack of intelligence is no bar to success in the race to simply survive. Intelligence, like life, could be a one-time accident that will never be repeated, anywhere.

Thus, it is possible that life could exist elsewhere, almost certain that it would not be humanoid in the slightest, although we would probably be able to recognize it as life, and potentially, though not necessarily intelligent.

But I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[zipur]

Very definitely. Life itself is a mystery, but almost certainly only started once on this planet, since all living entities can be shown to share basic characteristics. There is no known case of the existence of any living entity which started from other than the singular occurrence of life starting, however that may have come about. Since life started, evolution has pretty well been mapped, and can account for every living thing now in existence.

However, evolution is random, and at any point, it could have taken a different turn, or turns, with the result that life would look vastly different now than it actually does.

Intelligence has sprung up once, and only once, as far as we are able to make out. I do not subscribe to Douglas Adams' view that mice are intelligent, nor whales or other cetaceans. considering how many species exist on this planet, it is clear that lack of intelligence is no bar to success in the race to simply survive. Intelligence, like life, could be a one-time accident that will never be repeated, anywhere.

Thus, it is possible that life could exist elsewhere, almost certain that it would not be humanoid in the slightest, although we would probably be able to recognize it as life, and potentially, though not necessarily intelligent.

But I wouldn't bet on it.

Very nicely put. Never heard the intelligence angle. Even if you are big on evolution maybe it's Intelligence that is and has only happen once.

 

[AdmiralAdama]

Very definitely. Life itself is a mystery, but almost certainly only started once on this planet, since all living entities can be shown to share basic characteristics. There is no known case of the existence of any living entity which started from other than the singular occurrence of life starting, however that may have come about. Since life started, evolution has pretty well been mapped, and can account for every living thing now in existence.

However, evolution is random, and at any point, it could have taken a different turn, or turns, with the result that life would look vastly different now than it actually does.

Intelligence has sprung up once, and only once, as far as we are able to make out. I do not subscribe to Douglas Adams' view that mice are intelligent, nor whales or other cetaceans. considering how many species exist on this planet, it is clear that lack of intelligence is no bar to success in the race to simply survive. Intelligence, like life, could be a one-time accident that will never be repeated, anywhere.

Thus, it is possible that life could exist elsewhere, almost certain that it would not be humanoid in the slightest, although we would probably be able to recognize it as life, and potentially, though not necessarily intelligent.

But I wouldn't bet on it.

Very thoughtful.

AA

 

[Ldsdad]

I used to believe somewhat in evolution - until I saw Hoyle's odds on evolution in a college class.
(Sir Fred Hoyle Was an absolutely brilliant mathematician - and a believer in evolution - until he calculated the odds of a single protein strand forming by happenstance; the odds he came up with we're so stupidly remote he had to conclude it was impossible for life as we know it to accidentally form. Google "Hoyle's odds on evolution" for a summary for additional info.)
Having said that, of course there is other life out there.

 

[thewitt]

Hoyle's Fallacy was based on seriously flawed initial conditions and has been discredited by virtually all evolutionary scientists since its publication.

He used science based on 1920s understanding of genetics and protein synthesis.

Though his math skills are not in question, the premise of his argument is....

Read Richard Dawkins or John Maynard Smith for more complete and modern discussions on the probability of evolution.

 

[KevinJS]

Please do not continue this line here. As interesting as the subject is, discussion of evolution as a controversial subject is an open invitation to backers of alternative theories.

I'll remind everyone that discussion of religion is strictly taboo on iPF and that includes discussion of authors such as Richard Dawkins who is a very prominent atheist.

If the religious are not allowed a voice here, then the irreligious must follow the same conventions.

Sent from my iPad 4 HD mini

 

[thewitt]

Hoyle is also a Creationist, whose theories are the most often used to deny the possibility of evolution, so it's really hard to discuss the topic with modern credibility without also discussing the relevant arguments and their backgrounds, positions and prejudices...

I'll stay out of this discussion, but you cannot really have a topic like this without getting into the details....

 

[codeX]

It makes me wonder too..
If other species do exists on other planets, are they thinking the same too that another species might exists somewhere..?
If they do, are they planning on something too that might help travelling from planet to planet..?
Hmmm.. Im kinda weird, arent I..? hahah..