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Is there a scientific consensus on extraterrestrial life?

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Is there a scientific consensus on extraterrestrial life?

Phaedruswax
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Posted 08/06/09 - 07:51 AM:	#11
Protip wrote: Well if you knew more than me about what we are talking about, you might notice me saying something that indicates a misunderstanding on my part of something you do understand. You could then explain it to me. I think this is obviously what I meant and I think it's also obvious that you'd rather pick at semantics than openly explore this with me. Ok. But this is not inconsistent with anything I've said. Either our universe is infinite or it isn't. It may not be as simple as that but that's fine. Both scenarios are equally mind-boggling. That's an underlying point to what I'm saying; we don't really know anything about it either way. What we do know is that we exist. So why, in the context of an unfathomably large and possibly infinite universe, would we assume that nothing else does? Again, the default position should be that a lot of aliens probably exist. Whether it is consequential to our existence or not is irrelevant. I'll tell you what I believe I know and you can see if I know more than you on this subject. I know that interstellar travel is impossible to us. I know that we are the pinnacle of intelligence on earth. I know that of all the species of animals that have lived/do live haven't attained the same heights. As far as your accusation of being concerned solely with semantics, I'm slightly offended. I attempted to understand what you were trying to say, stated how I understood it, and gave you the chance to clarify. If you were frustrated by your own inability to communicate sufficiently what you wished, please don't take it out on me. Science requires observation. If we have never observed extraterrestrial life, scientifically it is safe to assume that extraterrestrial life does not exist. The fantastic thing about science which departs from religion, is the tentative nature imposed upon scientific method. If an observation of extraterrestrial life is made, then the assumptions will change, and no harm will have been done. What's the point of assuming extraterrestrial life exists if it hasn't been observed? For what reason do you WANT to have life off of our planet to exist? What do you seek to gain from that assumption?

Virgil Fontaine
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Posted 10/05/09 - 06:37 PM:	#12
I believe that our galaxy has (or has had) probably quite a few intelligent species, possibly more than we may realize. I think that while many of them may be strikingly and perhaps frighteningly different, I would not be shocked if at least a few of them were surprisingly similar to us. However, I do think that people often overlook the logistical difficulties in communicating with (or even noticing) another intelligent species/civilization (or any life at all). Humans have only been able to produce and receive radio signals for less than a century, a blink of an eye compared to the colossal age of the universe. The likelihood seems rather low of us happening to evolve near another intelligent species, one that is not either far below our current technological level or far beyond it, and one that is also at least somewhat similar enough to us communicate with. This is not to mention the ridiculous amounts of time it takes light (essentially the universal speed limit) to get from just one star to another. Even the closest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri, is 4.2 light-years away and happens to be a red dwarf star, a seemingly unlikely host to any type of life that we'd be familiar with. Of course, this is all just theoretical. The main thing, is we don't know. You can't prove life doesn't exist anywhere else in the universe but on Earth. And, so far, we haven't proven that is does exist, either. Personally, considering the incomprehensible vastness of space, I find it rather naive to simply disregard the concept entirely, let alone claim that is "science-fiction and utter nonsense". The fact that WE are here is enough evidence for me to assume that there might be a lot MORE than just us. What makes humans so special? Edited by Virgil Fontaine on 10/05/09 - 06:43 PM
Believe nothing, no matter where you've read it or who has said it, even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. - Buddha

Cheshire
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Posted 10/05/09 - 07:11 PM:	#13
OP wrote: I thought it was the opinion of most scientists that belief in "aliens" was science-fiction and utter nonsense? Is there a scientific consensus on the probability of "aliens existing?" The Drake equation suggests there are possibly 10,000 intelligent civilizations in existence. The consensus is that it is reasonable to look for life on other planets. They take the matter of Aliens serious enough not to deliberately seek contact, but instead use a passive scan like SETI. I think the the vastness implies the likely hood, but for a statement of this magnitude irrefutable evidence is necessary.
Or not.

enkidu
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Posted 10/06/09 - 08:06 AM:	#14
Let's be patient. As of now, there is no consensus among scientists about the presence of intelligent extraterrestrial civilisations, but things are changing fast, and a focus of the new generation of space telescopes will be the observation of earth-like planets in the solar system neighbourhood (~30 light-years), and these telescopes will be able to detect water, ice and clouds. Furthermore, recent observations seem to indicate the presence of liquid underground water on Europa (satellite of Jupiter), water has also been discovered on the Moon and on Mars, and some elements(to be confirmed) indicate it may also have been present on Venus at some point of time. The large presence of water is a key element to support the thesis of extraterrestrial life. The next 20 years should lead numerous discoveries in this debate about extraterrestrial life, and therefore about the possibilities of extraterrestrial civilisations.
Tight toy night, streets were so bright. The world looked so thin and between my bones and skin there stood another person who was a little surprised to be face to face with a world so alive. I fell. (Tom Verlaine)

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