Perhaps the most crucial answer to the question of whether there could be life on other planets is: “Can humanity’s comprehension be expansive enough to recognize life forms for which we have no definition?” That will be determined as we discover new planets and moons with alien surface atmosphere and unknown biological forces we may also not fully grasp.
A recent scientific discover illustrates this potential difficulty in defining life in terms of earth’s carbon-based life. NASA-funded a new astrobiology study into microorganisms and it has changed the fundamental knowledge about what comprises all known life on Earth and anticipates the potential of life elsewhere in the universe. In describing this new life, Ed Weiler, NASA’s associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate said: “The definition of life has just expanded.” He said “…as humanity seeks signs of life in the solar system, we have to think more broadly, more diversely and consider life as we do not know it.”
What is this new life? “NASA astro biologists, conducting tests at the chemically hostile Mono Lake in California, “… have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in its cell components.”
As we consider this new definition of life form on earth, it expands the definition of potential life on other planets and that definition becomes a statistical issue since, to date, we have no actual proof of extra-terrestrial life. In the infinity of space, the question is how could there not be life on other planets. The building blocks of earth’s life have just expanded and from a scientific point of view, it practically demands that life exist beyond earth. One of the prevailing scientific theories is that the materials to create life came from space, landed on earth and with the proper conditions, were provided the incubator of formation. It is logical to conclude that those incubators exist beyond our solar system.
Most recently, scientists say they believe Earth-sized planets are much more common than originally thought. Charles Q. Choi, writing for space.com out of a hundred sun-like stars there are about 12 super Earths (between three and ten earth masses). In addition using Choi’s figures, Andrew Howard (in the space.com article) an astronomer at the University of California at Berkeley, added : “If we extrapolate down to Earth-size planets between one-half and two times the mass of Earth, we predict that you’d find about 23 for every 100 stars.”
If you believe in the God-directed intelligent design theory, is it not egotistically presumptuous to assume that an all powerful creator would create life on earth and then stop, given the immensity of space and time and an unlimited, omnipresent and omnipotent potential? It makes reason stare.
In either concept, scientific or intelligent design, the proposition that life exists on other planets is certainly a foregone conclusion. It seems unconscionable to think otherwise. In the scientific case it is ludicrous to establish an egocentric conception of limitation, when humans are barely amoebas in the historical progress of understanding space, time and the potential definition of life.
In the case of intelligent design, the politically correct version of defining God as creator, to say there is no life on other planets, is to limit God. The hypothesis is an egocentric humanistic assumption by man, which man has no realistic, spiritual or intellectual right to assert. In fact, it is just the opposite. If you believe in God as creator, you must assume that earth is not the only world he has created.
In Isaiah 55:8 God is quoted as saying: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways. Obviously, he hasn’t told humans everything. Thus, an intelligent reading of this is that HE is not limited to what “we” know or think we know. To presume otherwise is beyond arrogant or just antagonistically stupid.
The other critical question is the definition of what life actually is? Does life have to be defined as carbon based oxygen-using animals or CO2-using plants? Or perhaps, life is defined as are creatures being researched by Pennsylvania State University. They are describes as giant tubeworms found near hydrothermal vents that, lacking a mouth or stomach, use a symbiotic bacteria in their bodies to metabolize the sulphurous volcanic soup and both not only survive but thrive.
So there are at least three life forms on earth that we know, of that use totally different forms of nourishment. How many more forms of life could there be that might use even more bizarre forms of sustenance right here on earth. It’s a short extrapolation to exoplanets.
Consider that our Sun, compared to the star Antares, is one computer pixel, and Antares is the size of a gym exercise ball, you begin to understand just how trivial we may seem. Obviously, if you extrapolate down from the Sun to Jupiter and continue down to earth, then on to humankind, it’s an enlightening, if not a humbling, experience to contemplate. The definition of life cannot be constrained. As Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park, “life will find a way.”
In geological terms, astronomy is scarcely beyond conception stage. Yet, a new planet has just been discovered and the findings posted on Space.com. Scientists believe it has a thick atmosphere. It is called GJ 1214b and apparently the pressure of its atmosphere is high enough to keep liquid water on its surface. The newly discovered extra solar planet is about forty light-years from earth. Perhaps someday it will be visible by telescopes of the future as technology advances.
Since, we are only at the beginning in discovering planets beyond our solar system, we can assume that as the number of exoplanets, about 300 to date, increase so too will their variety. We add daily in building a much more expansive vision of what type of planets we can identify and determine their life potential. The variety we have already discovered tells us that the potential or earth-type planets are not nearly as rare as initially theorized. Their diversity is as endless as star types.
Every star potentially has planets. It is estimated that there are 100 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. It is also estimated that there are about 200 billion galaxies in the observable universe and our telescopes can only see so far. If one assumes there are galaxies larger than the Milky Way and some smaller, the number of stars with orbiting planets becomes unimaginably vast.
Statistically, if those estimates are correct, there are at least 2,000,000,000,000,000,000 or (2 quintrillion) stars around which planets may orbit. If just five percent of those stars are the size of the sun, there are 100,000,000,000,000,000 (100-quadrillion) potential sun-sized stars and Howard’s calculation is that twenty three per cent of those stars are likely to have earth sized planets orbiting them. The probability of Earth-like life seems more than evident. As indicated early, what may not be so obvious is the exact form that life may take.
It is only in the last few years that a new form of life was discover in the depths of the ocean. Can there be any doubt, that given the vast and infinite depths of space, that life will be found there too? A recent view of “deep space” thought to be void of stars or galaxies taken by the Very Large Telescope (actual name) located in Chile, showed a whole new panorama of stars and galaxies we didn’t think existed.
For a strictly scientific conclusion, infinite possibilities suggest infinite potential. In the intelligent design theory, “Your thoughts are not My thoughts!”
Perhaps the most crucial answer to the question of whether there could be life on other planets is: “Can humanity’s comprehension be expansive enough to recognize life forms for which we have no definition?” That will be determined as we discover new planets and moons with alien surface atmosphere and unknown biological forces we may also not fully grasp.
With this in mind, life on other planets becomes a statistical issue since to date, we have no actual proof. In the infinity of space, the question is how could there not be life on other planets. The building blocks of earth’s life, from a scientific point of view, practically demand that life exist since one of the prevailing scientific theories is that the materials to create it came from space, landed on earth and with the proper conditions, were provided the incubator of formation. It is logical to assume that those incubators exist beyond our solar system.
Most recently, scientists say they believe Earth-sized planets are much more common than originally thought. Charles Q. Choi, writing for space.com out of a hundred sun-like stars there are about 12 super Earths (between three and ten earth masses). In addition using Choi’s figures, Andrew Howard (in the space.com article) an astronomer at the University of California at Berkeley, added : “If we extrapolate down to Earth-size planets between one-half and two times the mass of Earth, we predict that you’d find about 23 for every 100 stars.”
If you believe in the God-directed intelligent design theory, is it not egotistically presumptuous to assume that an all powerful creator would create life on earth and then stop, given the immensity of space and time and an unlimited, omnipresent and omnipotent potential? It makes reason stare.
In either concept, scientific or intelligent design, the proposition that life exists on other planets is certainly a foregone conclusion. It seems unconscionable to think otherwise. In the scientific case it is ludicrous to establish an egocentric conception of limitation, when humans are barely amoebas in the historical progress of understanding space, time and the potential definition of life.
In the case of intelligent design, the politically correct version of defining God as creator, to say there is no life on other planets, is to limit God. The hypothesis is an egocentric humanistic assumption by man, which man has no realistic, spiritual or intellectual right to assert. In fact, it is just the opposite. If you believe in God as creator, you must assume that earth is not the only world he has created.
In Isaiah 55:8 God is quoted as saying: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways. Obviously, he hasn’t told humans everything. Thus, an intelligent reading of this is that HE is not limited to what “we” know or think we know. To presume otherwise is beyond arrogant or just antagonistically stupid.
The other critical question is the definition of what life actually is? Does life have to be defined as carbon based oxygen-using animals or CO2-using plants? Or perhaps, life is defined as are creatures being researched by Pennsylvania State University. They are describes as giant tubeworms found near hydrothermal vents that, lacking a mouth or stomach, use a symbiotic bacteria in their bodies to metabolize the sulfurous volcanic soup and both not only survive but thrive.
So there are at least three life forms on earth that we know, of that use totally different forms of nourishment. How many more forms of life could there be that might use even more bizarre forms of sustenance right here on earth. It’s a short extrapolation to exo-planets.
Consider that our Sun, compared to the star Antares, is one computer pixel, and Antares is the size of a gym exercise ball, you begin to understand just how trivial we may seem. Obviously, if you extrapolate down from the Sun to Jupiter and continue down to earth, then on to humankind, it’s an enlightening, if not a humbling, experience to contemplate. The definition of life cannot be constrained. As Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park, “life will find a way.”
In geological terms, astronomy is scarcely beyond conception stage. Yet, a new planet has just been discovered and the findings posted on Space.com. Scientists believe it has a thick atmosphere. It is called GJ 1214b and apparently the pressure of its atmosphere is high enough to keep liquid water on its surface. The newly discovered extra solar planet is about forty light-years from earth. Perhaps someday it will be visible by telescopes of the future as technology advances.
Since, we are only at the beginning in discovering planets beyond our solar system, we can assume that as the number of exo-planets, about 300 to date, increase so too will their variety. We add daily in building a much more expansive vision of what type of planets we can identify and determine their life potential. The variety we have already discovered tells us that the potential or earth-type planets are not nearly as rare as initially theorized. Their diversity is as endless as star types.
Every star potentially has planets. It is estimated that there are 100 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. It is also estimated that there are about 200 billion galaxies in the observable universe and our telescopes can only see so far. If one assumes there are galaxies larger than the Milky Way and some smaller, the number of stars with orbiting planets becomes unimaginably vast.
Statistically, if those estimates are correct, there are at least 2,000,000,000,000,000,000 or (2 quintrillion) stars around which planets may orbit. If just five percent of those stars are the size of the sun, there are 100,000,000,000,000,000 (100-quadrillion) potential sun-sized stars and Howard’s calculation is that twenty three per cent of those stars are likely to have earth sized planets orbiting them. The probability of Earth-like life seems more than evident. As indicated early, what may not be so obvious is the exact form that life may take.
It is only in the last few years that a new form of life was discover in the depths of the ocean. Can there be any doubt, that given the vast and infinite depths of space, that life will be found there too? A recent view of “deep space” thought to be void of stars or galaxies taken by the Very Large Telescope (actual name) located in Chile, showed a whole new panorama of stars and galaxies we didn’t think existed.
For a strictly scientific conclusion, infinite possibilities suggest infinite potential. In the intelligent design theory, “Your thoughts are not My thoughts!”
