are we alone or is there other life in the universe?

Steven Hawking has said there is a billion other solar systems in the world and it is possible one of these other systems has a planet with intelligent life like our own (not to be confused with bacteria or single celled organisms).

However, Steven Hawking has also said that our planet is set perfect for intelligent life and is 1 in a billion chance of earth's circumstances. (i.e. having a moon, water, distance from the sun, etc.)

so if there are a billion other solar systems and the odds of our planet having life are one in a billion, that doesn't really help us lean towards the possibility of life on other planets or not.

What are your thoughts on the posibility of intelligent life on other planets?

we found the 2 in a billion

there is planet habitable for human in the next galaxy over and life could be easily redefined by an alien species made from tungsten so yes there is definitely life but maybe not intelligent
22% Voted for by thecornerofacircle, mudgod.
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- thecornerofacircle
  July 30, 2007
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  < convincing argument?
  basically this can be anything and there are arguments that support both sides so it doesn't matter what argument you heard it's more probability then possibility
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Cliese

there are planets out there within the habitable zone, such as this one (artistic drawing of Cliese 581c by Karen Wehrstein). it has oceans that can support life, so thus, it really is a matter of time and chance before life evolves into something intelligent.

22% Voted for by Kazrith, Orange seedsandpeel.

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qwestman
June 19, 2007
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from what I know water isn't the only requirement for intelligent life. am i correct? I always thought smaller variables such as our exact distance from the sun and gravitational pull of the moon are required to sustain life.

Just curious, has Cliese 581c been proven to be able to support life or is it still theory?
- Kazrith
  June 19, 2007
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  all the math is there, we just have to comfirm liquid water
- - qwestman
    June 19, 2007
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    what about the idea that the gravitational pull of the moon is required for life? this planet has a similar moon too?
  - - Kazrith
      June 19, 2007
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      it is hard to say exactly what created life on earth. yes the moon may have helped create life, but i am not sure if it is a requirement for life.
    - qwestman
      June 19, 2007
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      agreed..from what I've read the moon idea is still theory.
Drew3000
June 26, 2007
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Well, when NASA says a planet could be habitable, they mean that it's the right distance away from it's star. It's in the "sweet spot" where the temperatures are right for liquid water. They also make sure the gravity isn't too powerful for life, and that it has a good density, and it isn't a gas ball like jupiter. I'm not sure if they can even tell what color the planet is from that far away, though. So, we shouldn't jump to conclusions and say that it definetly has water and air. It could be like venus, for all we know. I still think it's cool that NASA is discovering these planets, and hopefully we can get telescopes powerful enough to get good pictures of them one day.
Weydon
June 26, 2007
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We can't even see most of these possibly habitable planets as stars. We see THEIR stars, and notice their stars wobble. The "wobblebility" tells us, with supposed likelihood, of the planets around out that would affect it's gravitation--the amount, size, distance, etc.
thecornerofacircle
July 26, 2007
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you missed a few things
i never said we would go there and communication may be possible tho the question was is there intellegent life and that was good bases for there is so i don't see why you bothered to comment
thecornerofacircle
July 26, 2007
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you missed a few things
i never said we would go there and communication may be possible tho the question was is there intellegent life and that was good bases for there is so i don't see why you bothered to comment

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No Carbon, Oxygen or sugar? Okay!

Who's to say that life can't exist unless it's an oxygen-breathing, carbon-based form? Or that it even has to exist on /biological/ grounds?

We, as Humans, can only describe the universe in terms of what /we/ see. There is no saying what is really out there. I firmly believe that, through evolution, life can form on any planet (or even in the stars, perhaps voids, of space), although the likelyhood of it becoming sentient, and of us being able to recongise and comprehend it are rather small.

I absolutely refuse to believe that we are "alone" in the universe, but will say that we might was well be, because more than likely any life that exists outside of our own small bubble of understanding will seem so utterly alien it won't matter if it existed or not.

22% Voted for by nanoinfinity, camus.

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Multi-verse

The discussion out there among leading physicists these days are, could there be a multi-verse, more than one universe, each working around the others, basically other dimensions. In my opinion, I'd have to say there has to be other life out there, we're just too small to notice. I don't think aliens will be coming to conquer our planet or setup some sort of galactic government, but life as we know it would not be nearly the same as life from another world, hence throwing out there that the possibility of there being a multi-verse somewhat justifies life elsewhere, maybe not in this universe, but what about our neighbor universe? We're here, maybe intelligent life exists just on the other side of the veil we call reality.

Voted for by christopheshea.

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Odds

So astronomers say the universe is huge. It consists of solar systems which hold roughly 10-50 planets. There are millions of solar sytems in a galaxy. There are billions of galaxies in the universe what are the odds of our planet being the only planet with life?

Voted for by Hellfione.

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From a biblical standpoint

You have to understand how and why the universe exists. If you believe in evolution then you might as well believe in life on other planets. If you believe in God then you should understand that it is all starting here. There is no other intelligent life in the physical universe. The universe exists for us, as potential god beings, to build, populate, and beautify. Scientists, in dismissing the creator of all things, can never hope to understand the complete picture. With God in the picture, all becomes perfectly clear.

Voted for by mudgod.

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Kazrith
June 19, 2007
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maybe, but to make things clear, you have to toss the bible out the stellar window.
Makessenseright
June 21, 2007
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Why would I have to believe that God is only interested in us? According to the Bible, there are angels, of various types and ranks, and they are most definitely classified as intelligent lift. But other than that, who's to say that God didn't make hundreds, or thousands, or millions of other planets with intelligent life? The Bible never says that He did, but as far as I know, it never says that He didn't. Even if He did, it probably would not have made it into the Bible, because the Bible has a narrow focus, it does not tell us useless facts. One of the useless facts that the Bible might not have recorded is that there are 1000's of other planets with intelligent life, they just all happen to be so far away that never in all of human history will we ever interact with them in any way.
mudgod
June 21, 2007
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Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

The above verses show that angels are ministering spirits. They have no potential to be the sons of God, heirs with Christ. God never creates without a purpose. What is His plan for us? WHy were we created? We are now only begotten of God by His Holy Spirit, but when we are brought to maturity (like a mother giving birth - to be "born again" of the spirit) we will be the sons of the Living God. God's purpose with us is to build a family. He took the chance of living alone for eternity for this. If Jesus had sinned just once (and it wasn't impossible for Him to sin), then God would have been alone forever. But the planned worked. Jesus didn't sin making it possible for us to be heirs with Him. To be God as God is God. To then go into the universe which waits for us.

The following verses say it well:
Rom 8:19 All creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal who his children are.
Rom 8:20 Creation was subjected to frustration but not by its own choice. The one who subjected it to frustration did so in the hope
Rom 8:21 that it would also be set free from slavery to decay in order to share the glorious freedom that the children of God will have.
Rom 8:22 We know that all creation has been groaning with the pains of childbirth up to the present time.
Rom 8:23 However, not only creation groans. We, who have the Spirit as the first of God's gifts, also groan inwardly. We groan as we eagerly wait for our adoption, the freeing of our bodies from sin.
The creation (the entire universe) is waiting for us to be revealed. It is in slavery to decay (there are no other intellegent beings living through this decay). And we will be adopted into the God family spiritually, as His children. We will have all the attributes of our Father as His children. The tribulation is almost upon us, keep studying.
Makessenseright
June 22, 2007
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Ok, these are some great verses, but to say that this proves that there is no intelligent lift elsewhere in the universe... that's a stretch at best. Yes God is building a family, but does the whole family have to be made up of humans?I know that angels are not going to be part of the family in the sense of being sons or heirs. But who's to say that a God who is at work in millions/billions of peoples lives, can't be working in a similar way elsewhere? Unless I had some very specific and clear verses, I would not want to put God in a box and say 'He can't do it.'
mudgod
June 22, 2007
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I would never limit God. Certainly, He can do anything. It just seems very clear to me that this where it all starts. Eventually the whole universe will be populated with intelligent life. It will be our job to do it. Because the scriptures say that the whole of creation waits in a state of decay for the revealing of the sons of God, us. It just does not make sense to me for there to be intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. I admit that I am not aware of any scripture that says specifically that there is or is not intelligent life elsewhere, but I believe that the inference is that there is not.
Makessenseright
June 22, 2007
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Ok, interesting, I think we have peeled away a layer of the onion so to speak. You are coming from the assumption that there eventually will be intelligent life throughout the universe. In your view, where will all that life come from? What verses have lead you to believe this?
mudgod
June 23, 2007
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Psa 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Heb 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Heb 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

What is man that God is mindful of him? It is by and through God's spirit born children that the universe will be maintained and beautified. All things will be in subjection to them. There is nothing that will not be subject to them. And yet we do not yet see all things that will be subject to them. The universe is too vast for us to see it all with our limited capabilities. The works of God's hands are the creation of the universe, everything. The Moffatt translation renders "all things" in verse 8 as "the universe".

Also note:
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

The creature (creation, entire universe) shall be delivered by the children of God (His spirit born children).

We know that not all will die in the tribulation. So we know that there will be a continuation of physical human life for at least some period of time. Could the children of these people be the ones to populate the universe? Or will it be the spirit born children of God? Don't know. Could we, as children of God, being heirs with Christ, with all authority as God and Christ direct us, being Gods as God is God, create life on other planets? Don't know this either (Although Rom 8:21 does say the children of God). But I do know that:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
There will be no end of the kingdom. What is a kingdom? A government, with laws,ruling over subjects, within the physical parameters (land area). Or, God's government, and God's laws, ruling over us (His spirit born sons), withing the whole universe.
camus
July 1, 2007
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There is no God, only a natural source that keeps some kind of balance. Catholics believe that Eternity exists so the concept of no end is held. Well, my contention is that there was no beginning so no God was needed to create the start. Why can't we accept that as readily as no end ? If we do accept that we are conditioned to thinking in terms of beginnings and ends and that those two imposters may be human myths, then the Christian belief that we were made at the start by God is nonsense and so other planets may well exist but may have a totally different form of "life" from ours. It will be fascinating to hear how the Christians explain other life on other planets if it ever materializes, since no mention of this is made in the religious sources of reference.
mudgod
July 1, 2007
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On what do you base your beliefs? Where is your proof? Your belief in something does not mean it is proven. It is only your belief. It is not an argument to say that there is no creator. It is only a statement with no basis of fact.
- qwestman
  July 9, 2007
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  because the bible is proof right? the bible verses you keep quoting don't prove anything. somebody wrote a book a long time ago and all of sudden its proof for all your beliefs. What if I found a book written thousands of years ago that had a verse that said "nicholas 4:15 intellegent life is on other planets" would you believe it?
mudgod
July 9, 2007
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I believe the Bible is the word of God, because it is proveable. Fulfilled prophecy is clear evidence of the living God. Many writers over thousands of years all inspired by God. Uncontradictory. The Bible explains who, what, and why we are. It also explains who, what, and why God is. There is a plan for man and the universe unfolding in history right now exactly in the manner that the Bible says. The problem is that many don't believe in God or His word and because of their nonbelief, God causes them to believe lies.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish (are perishing); because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

If it could be proven that your "book of Nicholas" was from God, I would believe it. But, if it contradicts that which we already know is from God, then it can't be from God. The Bible is an amazing book of pre-written history. Empires rising and falling exactly as prophesied written prior to their existence. Until you can understand this, you can never understand that we are at the end of man's history as we know it. God is about to unleash terrible things on mankind because they won't turn to Him. Man's allotted 6,000 years are close to an end. Billions of people are on the verge of extinction through war, famine, and pestilence. People dying needlessly because they have forgotten their God. How is it that with the increase in science and technology, our social ills are at an all time high and rising? Wasn't science and technology supposed to make life better for everyone? The Bible shows this too:
Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

"A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation..." When? "even to the time of the end:" And what will be the conditions at that time? "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Look at the world. Knowledge in the last half century has far exceeded the acomplishments of the previous 5,900 years. 100 years ago, if you wanted to travel across country you had to go on horseback, now you can cross the country in a couple of hours.

It's all in the Bible, the sure word of God, to those who believe.