Friday, October 22, 2010

Life in the Universe

I am fairly certain in my belief that life exists elsewhere in the universe. I would even go so far as to say I am confidant that intelligent life with brainpower similar to that of humans. It is unfortunate though that I feel we will never find it. There are around ~200,000,000,000 stars in our galaxy. Not all of them have solar systems like ours, but a large number have planets in the habitable zone (the sweet spot distance from the sun where you can have liquid and solid water) and statistically very probable that at least a few have a molten core and a bunch of carbon. This means that there is a fairly decent chance that life, even in a single cellular form, exists somewhere within our own galaxy! Then you must realize that there are another 200,000,000,000 galaxies in our universe (some estimates are much higher) so even if only one out of every 200,000,000,000 stars have life on it, there are that many galaxies, all with life (even if only on one planet).

Our own sun is about 2/3rds of the way out on our arm, and the diameter of the milky way galaxy is 100,000 light years. Even if we were lucky and there is life in our own galaxy, at about the same position but on the other side. The fastest man made object traveled 150,000 mph, and assuming we could make this speed safe for humans it would still take 4 billion years to make it to our suns position on the other side of the galaxy. Even if we broke physics and went the speed of light it would take over 60,000 years. And this is only if we are lucky and life exists elsewhere in our own galaxy.

For these reasons I feel confident that life exists on planets other than earth, and that we will sadly never come across it. As Carl Sagan thought; If we are alone in the universe, what a tremendous waste of space. Thoughts? Criticisms? What do you guys think?

20 comments:

  1. I agree. There's got to be something out there. I find it hard to believe that in that incomprehensible amount of space, there's nothing else there.

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  2. There probably is, we just don't know it too well yet

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  3. I'd like to think there is at least life, regardless of it's intelligence.
    But, I'm relatively certain that we will never encounter it in our lifetime.

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  4. I wonder where we'd be with technology if the Dark Ages never happened.

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  5. Wont happen unless humans in the future become super, and can withstand travel at multi millions per hour speed.

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  6. i believe life exists outside our galaxy, but we will never meet them. its a shame really.

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  7. haha yeah right. like you counted all those stars. get real.

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  8. there is something out there. something green....oooo it"s an alien....hello litle alien...how are you....---------------- ;)

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  9. Makes sense. why would we be the only planet with sentient life

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  10. Well even though I know you are right, I like the thought of focusing on life here, thinking too much about the cosmos, makes me feel alone, and scared, and I would rather be content with my life here, for however short it is good.

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  11. i still don't believe were the only one outta there...

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  12. I want to believe that there is another living organism out there.

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  13. Too bad, we'll probably never find out is or isn't someone there. I wish I was born like 500 years in future :P

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  14. DUHH jordán who do you think built the pyramids ?!?!??!?! Or make the best crop circles¿?!? Not onnly are there aliens but THEY VISIT US... didnt you hear about the UFO las wqeek in manhatten¿ then it waent to Houston Texas or something¿,?!?

    Sent from my friendo spanish iPad oh jeez bits hardware to type

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  15. So true dude. I know its so romanticized, but i would love to make contact. It would just plain be sad if we were the only ones here. Though i don't think I need to worry about that discovery in my life time.
    So I'll believe what I want.

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  16. we are given to know as much as it is necessary that brain did not tear.

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