Stephen Hawking's views on life in the universe
- Thread starter mrk
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Quite a few have been observed that could possibly contain water outside our solar system IIRC. Obviously that's long range observation of earth like planets looking at the light spectrum they emit and such like to determine their atmosphere.
Mars contains visible ice and signs of recent water flow as well as condensation drops observed by the cameras onboard one of the rovers.
Water is everywhere
Mars contains visible ice and signs of recent water flow as well as condensation drops observed by the cameras onboard one of the rovers.
Water is everywhere
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Sparky__H
Sparky__H
None yet I think. What we have so far are suns being pulled by another gravitational force from a central position then back again as another mass orbits them. This wobble is what's detected.
Is there not an obscene amount of water thought to exist in that band of left over material at the edge of the solar system?
Water is one of the most common elements in the Universe, even our Moon has water as have most the Planets and Moons in our solar system. We haven't found liquid water yet though, although Enceladus a Moon of Saturn might have liquid water under the ice.
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Ok, but why do we insist on it being the building blocks of life for other life forms light years away from us?
Please be free to tell me to stop being such an idiot, but I just don't get why we are so narrow minded about something that should surely be approached with an as open mind as possible.
Sparky__H
Sparky__H
Our only known working model with conclusive practical evidence is based on it.
Based on the factors involved here? Not on a planets light years away.
Sparky__H
Sparky__H
But it gives rise to a theory with a much stronger foundation then say a theory based on life evolving in a sea of hydro-carbons.
It's not set in stone as the only possible option but the more we learn it's becoming further strengthened as the most likely.
Soldato
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Good read, what's with the spelling errors though?
Imperfect robot voice translation?
Soldato
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Isn't the other possibility that there is intelligent life out there but the chance is that we may never, ever encounter it due to the vastness of the universe?
Drakes theory suggests there are potentially millions of planets with intelligent life on them at some time in their existance. However the the theory is based on too many assumptions to make a definative equation.
I disagree with Hawkings theory that intelligent life would be hostile. More I believe we are being passed over for the time being because we are an insignificant civilization, like say a line of ants would be to a human.
Many planets have the potential to hold water. Europa is being closely studied and has the best potential to hold microbial life under it's ice surface. Personally I am more intrigued by the idea that life exists in space in a different state to what we know. Such as Silicon rather than Carbon based lifeforms.
It is now also suggested that our universe could be one of many and that there were multiple 'big bangs' as well as the theory of mutliple dimensions whereby what we know as the universe would become a biverse, triverse etc.
There's just so much we don't know, don't understand and cannot comprehend.
I disagree with Hawkings theory that intelligent life would be hostile. More I believe we are being passed over for the time being because we are an insignificant civilization, like say a line of ants would be to a human.
Many planets have the potential to hold water. Europa is being closely studied and has the best potential to hold microbial life under it's ice surface. Personally I am more intrigued by the idea that life exists in space in a different state to what we know. Such as Silicon rather than Carbon based lifeforms.
It is now also suggested that our universe could be one of many and that there were multiple 'big bangs' as well as the theory of mutliple dimensions whereby what we know as the universe would become a biverse, triverse etc.
There's just so much we don't know, don't understand and cannot comprehend.
That was the start of a horrible crime against humanity, my family doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving for that reason. We aren't native americans, just feel it is wrong what happened.
Or they have seen what most of us are, war fighting idiots.
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what makes you think they are any better?
I would argue that, if they have been around long enough to evolve to the point where they are technologically advanced enough to see us and what we're up to, and have chosen not to make contact, then they're probably a lot 'better' than we are.
Soldato
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It was truly awful, I agree, the west attempting to exterminate the natives. But my point was that it was a good analogy, as if we came into contact with a more "evolved" life form, we could be virtually wiped out like the natives were.
Soldato
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A Starship Troopers situation would be good. Mass hostile dumb alien enemy which causes humanity to unite against it and have a war.
And after the 'bugs' were gone? We'd just revert back to barbarism... Humanity needs to find a way of co-operating en masse that doesn't involve conflict in any way.
Soldato
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But it'd further our tech. Humanity has no hope of evolving past its war lust and appetite for destruction any time soon. Might as well destroy something on another planet that's trying to kill us than continue to wreck our own world and exterminate its species.
but why would they not have war?
Expansion into space means colonisation, and colonies do not like to be under the control of a foreign power for very long. if they have colonized worlds it's more than likely those worlds would eventually rebel/try for independence which never ends peacefully.
Just because they're more advanced doesn't mean they wont still have war and fighting, it just means they'll do it on a larger scale.