Life on Mars ?

[oldhifi]

So is there life on Mars, are there other species out there on another planet?

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/25/...er-reservoir-underground-habitable-life-radar

 

[keysofanxiety]

Sentient life on another planet is a definite. It’s a mathematical impossibility that we’re alone in the universe. It’s infinitely, mindblowingly large with trillions upon trillions of planets.

The real question is if there’s sentient life anywhere near Earth which we’d discover within the next few decades, or who would discover/make contact with us. That I’m not so sure about. Space is so vast, it’d take decades to travel the smallest distance by conventional means. I hope we’d find aliens within in my lifetime but I doubt it.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Sentient life on another planet is a definite. It’s a mathematical impossibility that we’re alone in the universe. It’s infinitely, mindblowingly large with trillions upon trillions of planets.

Unfortunately quantity still doesn’t make it certain. Plausible, very plausible, but not certain.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Unfortunately quantity still doesn’t make it certain. Plausible, very plausible, but not certain.

Nah it’s a certainty. There are at least 250 billion suns in our galaxy. There are about 200 billion other galaxies in the observable universe. 200 billion to the power of 200 billion.

There’s gonna be one other planet within those suns which matches the criteria to support life as we know it, let alone other sentient life biologically different to us. We’ve already found 30 or so planets which are Earth like. It’s impossible we’re alone. There’s quantity and then there’s practical infinity.

 

[oldhifi]

For me I don't think were alone..hopefully in my life time we will find out..

 

[S.B.G]

In the vastness (and that is an understatement) of the universe, I think there is sentient life someplace. But I have my doubts that there may be any in relative close proximity of us. Even if there is sentient life within our galaxy, I'm not so sure we'd ever be able to discover or make contact with them. At 100,000 light years across, the Milky Way, is ridiculously huge and impossible for us to travel through.

For practical purposes of discovery and contact, we'd need to find sentient life within or very close to our solar system. So far, that seems like a bust.

The problem of course is time. Even the speed of light is stupidly slow on the large scale of the galaxy and even worse, the known universe. As it stands it is the fastest thing out there and we can't even begin to think about moving even at a fraction of a percent of the speed of light to make any trip worthwhile in a single human lifetime.

Take Mars for example. When it and Earth are at their closest orbits to each other, it's a two-year trip to get there. While practical in relative terms, that's just the inner solar system.

But, I do think there is life out there. I'm just saddened that its not likely we'd ever find it. However, I still think we should keep looking and never stop looking either. We just might be surprised someday. I just hope it'd be in my lifetime.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Even finding some Martian microbes would be the single greatest discovery in my lifetime I could plausibly imagine.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Nah it’s a certainty. There are at least 250 billion suns in our galaxy. There are about 200 billion other galaxies in the observable universe. 200 billion to the power of 200 billion.

There’s gonna be one other planet within those suns which matches the criteria to support life as we know it, let alone other sentient life biologically different to us. We’ve already found 30 or so planets which are Earth like. It’s impossible we’re alone. There’s quantity and then there’s practical infinity.

Still, you’re relying solely on quantity. Life is a bit more difficult, and sentient life is incredibly more difficult. The building blocks of life are not determined solely by geography, temperature, location, etc.
Again, I am not disputing that it’s very plausible, I am just against saying that it’s a definitive proof, and mind you I used to have a “I want to believe” poster on my wall.
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Even finding some Martian microbes would be the single greatest discovery in my lifetime I could plausibly imagine.

Yes it would! I love space exploration, just the idea that there might be water on Mars is amazing. Gosh, a couple of months ago I saw the Apollo XI at Houston space center and my eyes were watery, same when I was in front of Von Braun’s office at the AMAZING Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

So is there life on Mars, are there other species out there on another planet?

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/25/...er-reservoir-underground-habitable-life-radar

No, while it appears that there is a large - exceptionally saline - underground lake or reservoir on Mars, comprised of water, that does not equate to being able to support any form of life that we can identify, let alone that we are familiar with.

On Mars, whatever "life" exists, would have had to evoke to survive the environment in which it lives.

However, that does not means that there are not advanced or sentient life forms elsewhere in the galaxy (or universe).

 

[Gregg2]

When it's observed, documented, and verified, it's certain. Not before. Then, it is just probable, perhaps.

 

[Huntn]

Sentient life on another planet is a definite. It’s a mathematical impossibility that we’re alone in the universe. It’s infinitely, mindblowingly large with trillions upon trillions of planets.

The real question is if there’s sentient life anywhere near Earth which we’d discover within the next few decades, or who would discover/make contact with us. That I’m not so sure about. Space is so vast, it’d take decades to travel the smallest distance by conventional means. I hope we’d find aliens within in my lifetime but I doubt it.

Unfortunately quantity still doesn’t make it certain. Plausible, very plausible, but not certain.

Nah it’s a certainty. There are at least 250 billion suns in our galaxy. There are about 200 billion other galaxies in the observable universe. 200 billion to the power of 200 billion.

There’s gonna be one other planet within those suns which matches the criteria to support life as we know it, let alone other sentient life biologically different to us. We’ve already found 30 or so planets which are Earth like. It’s impossible we’re alone. There’s quantity and then there’s practical infinity.

My input is that sentient life is likely, but I agree we could be too far apart, that is until one of those many alien ships scoping us out either is forced to land due to a malfunction or land to finally make contact. I'm not holding my breath. Don't confuse this statement with belief in little green people. It's one of those things I'd have to see to believe.

Unfortunately images like this are suspect, other than this is supposed to be an image of the Westfall UFO sighting 1966, where it was reported to be witnessed by 200 students as it descended into a nearby field. https://www.express.co.uk/pictures/...ightings-photographs-space-crafts-in-pictures

​

 

[Gutwrench]

Take Mars for example. When it and Earth are at their closest orbits to each other, it's a two-year trip to get there. While practical in relative terms, that's just the inner solar system.

Your point is well made, but I recall reading the travel time to Mars can be about six months. The assumption is the return fuel would be produced on Mars.

 

[LizKat]

Your point is well made, but I recall reading the travel time to Mars can be about six months. The assumption is the return fuel would be produced on Mars.

Man. "Trust me, they have that stuff up there, just have to mix it, et voila, fill up, hit the road back."

That's like assuming someone will build a charging station for my electric car before I actually have to rely on it being there later today so I can finish my trip? [why i don't have one of said vehicles yet]

The rest of this is a highly optional free association to some earlier mention of UFOs in this thread.

Spoiler: You want UFOs, quilters have them

I always get guilt pangs when people talk about UFOs.. in my avocation, it means UnFinishedObject, and all quilters have baskets or boxes of them, so we know they are real. Or at least virtual.

Below is documentation of one of my UFOs: the identity of the fabrics, sample blocks, even the completely pieced and bordered top of an actual scrap quilt nicknamed Picnic by the Pool. But it's a UFO that fell off my radar sometime in 2012. I must have got distracted LOL. Unfortunately it turns out I actually promised this thing to someone, and now she wants it, so it's about to lose its UFO status and I have to get a backing and binding sewn on it before winter, when it must become a regular ol' down to earth solution to what's for Christmas.

 

[Huntn]

My input is that sentient life is likely, but I agree we could be too far apart, that is until one of those many alien ships scoping us out either is forced to land due to a malfunction or land to finally make contact. I'm not holding my breath. Don't confuse this statement with belief in little green people. It's one of those things I'd have to see to believe.

Unfortunately images like this are suspect, other than this is supposed to be an image of the Westfall UFO sighting 1966, where it was reported to be witnessed by 200 students as it descended into a nearby field. https://www.express.co.uk/pictures/...ightings-photographs-space-crafts-in-pictures

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I’ll clarify something from this previous post. Life on other some other planet is a foregone conclusion, a mathematical certainty. Yes, it may be a huge jaunt to a planet with prolific life, the likes of Earth. And using mathematics, sentient life also must seem to be certain. Because where there is life, in this case, we have an example of where evolutionary advancement produced us. The Universe, though only what we can see of it, is still an unimaginably huge infinite space, so the odds are high this has occurred or will occur someplace else.

 

[yaxomoxay]

I’ll clarify something from this previous post. Life on other some other planet is a foregone conclusion, a mathematical certainty. Yes, it may be a huge jaunt to a planet with prolific life, the likes of Earth. And using mathematics, sentient life also must seem to be certain. Because where there is life, in this case, we have an example of where evolutionary advancement produced us. The Universe, though only what we can see of it, is still an unimaginably huge infinite space, so the odds are high this has occurred or will occur someplace else.

Odds are good, still not a certain, proven fact. Math can’t prove life, unfortunately.

 

[maflynn]

We continue to find life in the most unlikeliest places here on Earth, why not on some other planet. That in no in way diminishes the uniqueness of the creation of life here.

 

[Lioness~]

Of course there is life on other planets, and consciousness way beyond what's been discovered on Earth.
Depends totally on who you ask.
Would you trust a child's reply on questions that totally exceeds them. I wouldn't.
I would listen and say, ok kid, I hear you, there's much to learn, you'll grow up one day too.

I doubt intelligent beings far ahead of us would walk into the White House or something like that and introduce themselves to a race that is way below them in the understanding of universe
I'm totally certain that their intelligence is not even comprehensible to earthlings.
Progress is made in large areas in the consciousness on Earth, but the lowest common denominator still rules in many areas, until more minds evolves.
I mean you can't hardly prove difficult mathematic questions and quant-physics using ordinary addition and subtraction mathematics. Same thing.

Our beloved aliens smile at us with big love. One day the earthlings will open their eyes too

 

[niploteksi]

Earth is just one of many cells on the isolation block. A pity we never get to talk to the other inmates.

Edit: or maybe it’s a good thing to keep convicted murderers apart

 

[Huntn]

Odds are good, still not a certain, proven fact. Math can’t prove life, unfortunately.

This is just a difference of philosophical perspective. No hard feelings.

My proof is that from a scientific standpoint, if it happened once it certainly could/would happen again, especially when you are working with our concept of infinity. I realize there are those who would insert the religious aspect into it as in we are unique because God decided, but even if it was an intelligent decision, we don’t know anything about the other plans of dieties and speculating, by their choice, there could be thousands of instances of sentient life scattered about this infinite space. No intent of entering into a PRSI style debate, and not implying you want to.

 

[Gregg2]

This is just a difference of philosophical perspective. No hard feelings.

Actually, I think it's a difference in understanding of a definition of "certain". It can be used in a future tense of course, meaning a thing has not been established or verified, but is bound to occur. Such as, "If I start to walk across the street, and plan to continue walking, it is certain that I will get to the other side of the street." There is another sense of the word that requires indisputable proof. Someone would have to observe the phenomenon. It has little to do with math, IMO.

 

[Huntn]

Actually, I think it's a difference in understanding of a definition of "certain". It can be used in a future tense of course, meaning a thing has not been established or verified, but is bound to occur. Such as, "If I start to walk across the street, and plan to continue walking, it is certain that I will get to the other side of the street." There is another sense of the word that requires indisputable proof. Someone would have to observe the phenomenon. It has little to do with math, IMO.

If you consider our universe is a system, which as far as we know has consistent rules (which may not be the case), it’s safe to say if you drop seed into the dirt, with moisture, it will sprout. I admit that the creation of life is more complicated than the seed which already contains life, but If I’m not mistaken, the creation of the most basic life processes has been accomplished in our labs. Using this yardstick, and us as proof, framed against an almost unimaginable expansive universe, and based on an assumption of consistency in rules, I’m comfortable saying other examples of sentient life is certain, or bound to be certain , although it has not been proven. It is strictly a optimistic perspective based on assumptions.

As far as proven, and having to see to believe, I apply that standard to ghosts and UFOs, and not just some streak in the sky, but landing nearby and seen by myself or documented in no uncertain terms.

 

[yaxomoxay]

This is just a difference of philosophical perspective. No hard feelings.

My proof is that from a scientific standpoint, if it happened once it certainly could/would happen again, especially when you are working with our concept of infinity. I realize there are those who would insert the religious aspect into it as in we are unique because God decided, but even if it was an intelligent decision, we don’t know anything about the other plans of dieties and speculating, by their choice, there could be thousands of instances of sentient life scattered about this infinite space. No intent of entering into a PRSI style debate, and not implying you want to.

Lol, philosophical disagreements are the best!!

From a sceintific standpoint you would have the burden of proof, that is, you have to prove that what you’re saying is 100% accurate. As of now, yours remains a theory; it’s based on some strong evidence (based on probability more than anything else), but it remains a theory nonetheless. Even the famous Wow! Signal (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow!_signal) could be used as evidence somehow... but it would’t be enough. We need certainty, which is something we don’t have at this moment. My understanding is that life, for what we know, is very very difficult to begin, and it’s even more difficult for it to evolve. A single degree in temperature might make the difference between a cell that will become the mightiest civilization of the universe and a dead, undeveloped form of life. Considering all the other factors (oxygene, CO2, methane, radiations, etc.) mixed with the time necessary for going from cell to sentient being, I am not overly optimistic or overly pessimistic. We’re at the beginning of our understanding of the outer universe.

Although I am religious myself (Catholic), I have absolutely no objection to the possibility of God creating other worlds; heck, I certainly don’t understand why the heck He would’ve created this messy world, so speculating on God’s desire to create (or not) other forms of sentient life would be proposterous on my side...

 

[Ulenspiegel]

John Carter must be somewhere there.

 

[yaxomoxay]

John Carter must be somewhere there.

Movie or book(s) ?

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Movie or book(s) ?

Both.
I am a very big fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs.