Alien Life May Be Rare Across the Universe

[astr0144]

Alien Life May Be Rare Across the Universe.

Found this, but I don't necessarily agree with it.



When it comes to life across the cosmos, the universe might just be an "awful waste of space" after all.

A new theory presented at a conference this week would confirm the worry of Ellie Arroway, Jodie Foster's character in the film "Contact," that life might not exist on other worlds.

Some scientists think that just because exoplanets could have habitable environments, that does not mean that life evolved there.

"The pervasive nature of life on Earth is leading us to make this assumption," Charles Cockell, the director of the U.K. Center for Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh, said in a statement."On our planet, carbon leaches into most habitat space and provides energy for microorganisms to live. There are only a few vacant habitats that may persist for any length of time on Earth, but we cannot assume that this is the case on other planets."

Cockell's hypothesis states that, although habitable alien planets might abound in solar systems around the universe, it does not mean these locales harbor extraterrestrial life.

"It is dangerous to assume life is common across the universe. It encourages people to think that not finding signs of life is a 'failure,' when in fact it would tell us a lot about the origins of life," added Cockell.

It is also possible that scientists will not be able to detect alien signs of life, even if it exists, Cockell said. Life might be markedly dissimilar from planet to planet, making it unlikely that astronomers on Earth will see recognizable signatures of life. But not all hope is lost.

"Professor Cockell explains that in coming decades, increasingly powerful telescopes and developments in spectroscopy may allow us to look for the signals of life on planets beyond our solar system," officials from the Royal Society, the United Kingdom's national academy of science, said in a statement."However, regardless of this, our view is still going to be heavily influenced by our knowledge of life on Earth."

Cockell presented his theory at a conference sponsored by the Royal Society.

http://news.yahoo.com/alien-life-may-rare-across-universe-205322738.html

[zorgon]

As long as these "braniacs' continue to thing inside the box, Earth will be the center of the Universe

But heck we are still seeking life using radio signals... but any space faring planet would have needed to develop something beyond radio to communicate in real time

If I was SETI I would also listen for 'local chatter" If there are so many aliens buzzing the planet, surely there would be ship to ship communication

[rdunk]

In my opinion, and that of many others, it is not a question of "IF" there was/is other civilized life in this universe, it is a question, when will the known facts of the existence of actual proof of such life be made public.

I personally have seen more than enough photograph "proof" of such life on Mars, that there is absolutely no question, for me, about this. And, I am not talking about "scratches of rocks"! I am talking about objects of civilized design/manufacture.

Yes, many of these anomalies don't really get to the public, because in the current anomaly world negative thought seems to rule, and the skeptics seem to retain much of the control.

Now, with that said, other life in the universe still may be "rare", but I say we should absolutely assume that it exists, and all space exploration (and home planet management) should include pre-planning to appropriately deal with that assumption, if and when it comes to pass.

Of course, I have posted some such anomalies here, in the "Anomalies on Mars" forum, with most getting a small amount of discussion.

[Ellirium113]

LOL I think Professor Cockell needs to lay off the flouridated water. There has been life found in nearly every unfathomable crevace they have looked thus far on this planet, on mars and meteorites. Unbelievable this clown would say something so ridiculous and claim to be an astrobiologist.

Life on metorites:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/alien-life-discovered-in-meteorite-which-crash-landed-1550474

Life on Mars:
http://planetsave.com/2013/01/12/microbial-life-found-in-mars-like-salt-deposits-in-rio-tinto/

Life on the moon:
http://www.panspermia.org/zhmur2.htm

Gee if life turns up on ALL these places why would anyone assume it would not be everywhere? 

[The Matrix Traveller]

As long as these "braniacs' continue to thing inside the box, Earth will be the center of the Universe

Now that's the Truth Z...

But heck we are still seeking life using radio signals... but any space faring planet would have needed to develop something beyond radio to communicate in real time

Again you are right... 

Why do our many educated human Scientists believe Alien civilizations should use Primitive RF ?  LOL.

Just because we use RF doesn't mean or dictate that more Intelligent beings would use such.

We have to earn to explore outside "The Square".

If they are Intelligent, then surely they would make their 1st priority to learn HOW their experience, i.e. the individual body & Environment (Universe) are being produced.

It's a pity we don't here.

Once known, then they would be able to use this knowledge in Communications, Building, Manufacturing, Importing, and use such knowledge to explore this Experience. (Universe) 

Perhaps this is what we should also be trying to learn.