Extraterrestrial life....is not bound by terrestrial rules
With the discovery of the so-called "super-Earth" 40 lightyears from us, it got me remembering about some science show on TV I watched one night. I distinctly remember the narrator saying that life cannot exist without liquid water somewhere present on the planet.
...........wtf? Seriously? In all the vastness of space, all the worlds of all the systems of all the universe, you MUST have water in order for life to exist? That may be true on Earth and possibly in our solar system for carbon-based lifeforms such as us, but to assume that that must hold true for everywhere is just a bit naive, don't you think? This new "super-Earth" has liquid water, but the atmosphere you say is too thick and hot to support life. Really? Then why don't you go there and check your facts. Nature has very creative ways of making life, so to assume that everything on Earth must hold true elsewhere is just bizarre to me.
Don't get me wrong; I'm thrilled that this planet was discovered as it is such a wonderful thing, and something to get people thinking about our own existence and place in the universe. However, I'm not at all surprised by it. Maybe I'm just too influenced by things like Star Trek and Star Wars and the like, but I've never believed Earth to be the only planet with intelligent life. It's just not possible; basic laws of probability will tell you that, oh enlightened ones.
I'll admit: I dream of the day when we can come into contact with other life forms (hopefully peaceful ones). When I really sit down and think about it, I get depressed because all these scenarios run through my head: what if we really ARE alone? What if we're just some alien kid's toy? What if we do encounter life and they kill us all? What if we encounter life and they're stuck up? What if there is life out there, but it's too smart to come bother with us? What if the life out there is just plain dumb? What if this is really like the Matrix and it's all just one big thought bubble in someone/something's head? What if we find the life, visit it, and just kill it all (the US especially as a country doesn't exactly have the best track record when dealing with native peoples [ex. Hawaii, Native Americans])?
Anyway, enough rambling. Avatar premiere tonight! Woooot! 8D
...........wtf? Seriously? In all the vastness of space, all the worlds of all the systems of all the universe, you MUST have water in order for life to exist? That may be true on Earth and possibly in our solar system for carbon-based lifeforms such as us, but to assume that that must hold true for everywhere is just a bit naive, don't you think? This new "super-Earth" has liquid water, but the atmosphere you say is too thick and hot to support life. Really? Then why don't you go there and check your facts. Nature has very creative ways of making life, so to assume that everything on Earth must hold true elsewhere is just bizarre to me.
Don't get me wrong; I'm thrilled that this planet was discovered as it is such a wonderful thing, and something to get people thinking about our own existence and place in the universe. However, I'm not at all surprised by it. Maybe I'm just too influenced by things like Star Trek and Star Wars and the like, but I've never believed Earth to be the only planet with intelligent life. It's just not possible; basic laws of probability will tell you that, oh enlightened ones.
I'll admit: I dream of the day when we can come into contact with other life forms (hopefully peaceful ones). When I really sit down and think about it, I get depressed because all these scenarios run through my head: what if we really ARE alone? What if we're just some alien kid's toy? What if we do encounter life and they kill us all? What if we encounter life and they're stuck up? What if there is life out there, but it's too smart to come bother with us? What if the life out there is just plain dumb? What if this is really like the Matrix and it's all just one big thought bubble in someone/something's head? What if we find the life, visit it, and just kill it all (the US especially as a country doesn't exactly have the best track record when dealing with native peoples [ex. Hawaii, Native Americans])?
Anyway, enough rambling. Avatar premiere tonight! Woooot! 8D