Is man the only intelligent life form in the universe?

[Misty]

The universe is huge and Earth is just one small planet, it is highly unlikely we are the only intelligent life forms. I reckon there are others out there more evolved than us. We might not like it if they did engage with us earthlings and decide to take us over and treat us like a sub-species!

 

[Zadok]

Again few seem to be paying attention. The most common source of energy in the entire universe is hydrogen and the most common engine in the universe is hydrogen fusion. Every star that lights the sky is either using hydrogen fusion or started its life in hydrogen fusion. Besides the visible light there is invisible light – that is invisible to the human eye. Hydrogen fusion on any scale creates an EMP – Electrical Magnetic Pulse. So distinct is this signature our current science can determine the age and size of any star (sun) we can detect. We can also determine its velocity relative to us – even what other elements it possesses.

It is not likely that any sustainable intelligent life form has overlooked this source and means of providing energy most conducive and compatible for life. An intelligently controlled sustainable hydrogen fusion reaction will most diffidently provide indication of intelligent civilization beyond the less potent communication signals.

Some have talked about degradation of signals but not only does “noise” mask a signal but noise will also amplify weaker wave forms actually creating detectable patterns beyond the range of a weak signal alone. If any source existed – we should have found it by now – but we have not. Not any evidence what-so-ever. Yet most still believe – we believe despite the absents of any proof. There is none. Not any – yet we believe – certainly not because of any evidence but pure speculation alone.

And in all the responses on this thread I have not seen a single criticism for anyone believing life exist out there somewhere with no more reason than speculation alone. Why are we so one sided when it comes to what we desire and want to be so? It must be true because we want it and speculate it to be so. But it is not because of actual real proof.

Zadok

 

[PolyHedral]

No, you're the one who misunderstands: Nuclear fusion can be done in facilities miles across, and does not in any way imply artificial stars.

And it must be true because there's astronomical odds in favour of it happening at some point in the past.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Why are we so one sided when it comes to what we desire and want to be so? It must be true because we want it and speculate it to be so. But it is not because of actual real proof.

Best description of religion I've seen in awhile.

 

[DeitySlayer]

Zadok, as previously mentioned, you assume that alien societies would want to develop technology. Think Na'vi style from Avatar.

 

[PolyHedral]

Don't think that. Think disease, famine, pestilence, labour, and all the other things James Cameron skipped over for the sake of the story.

I don't think any society that has adapted technology would then reject it.

 

[Misty]

Best description of religion I've seen in awhile.

Nice one!

 

[logician]

I'd just like to drive home the difficulty of transmitting over these sorts of distances. The loss in a radio signal you get over 28mly is around 220 decibels. (So a signal that starts at 230db will only have 10db left by the time it reaches us.) Your ears can hear 90db before it starts to hurt. However, the numbers deceive: A difference of 10db doesn't mean you make the signal a set amount louder; It means the signal becomes twice as loud.

This may be true, but a super-intelligent race may find unique ways we can't yet fathom to up the signal strength tremendously. The more likely way an intelligent civilization would show itself would be by sending out a fleet of robot ships to search the galaxy, each with the ability to communicate by the leapfrog method back to home. We should do this ourselves, if we can ever manage to get past our current "barbaric" state.

 

[PolyHedral]

But that still doesn't let you get around the fact it would take multiple species lifetimes to explore the galaxy. (Humans as a species only appeared 100,000 years ago, and it would take around that long if you traveled arbitrarily close to the speed of light. However, this isn't feasible. )

 

[logician]

But that still doesn't let you get around the fact it would take multiple species lifetimes to explore the galaxy. (Humans as a species only appeared 100,000 years ago, and it would take around that long if you traveled arbitrarily close to the speed of light. However, this isn't feasible. )

Totally agreed there, I think it has been estimated it would take a species capable of interstellar travel 50 MILLION years to search and colonize an average galaxy like the Milky Way. Most species don't last near that long, so maybe that's why we don't see a slew of alien robot shps zooming over our heads.

 

[Kerr]

Our earth is on an arm near the far outreaches of our galaxy. The Milky Way is home for billions of solar systems far more evolved than our own - but only 28 million light years away. Our own galaxy should be home to at least one other intelligent life form that reached a point in their evolution (much more than the meager 28 million years they would be from us) where we would be able to discern their presents. But nothing - no evidence at all.

The next closest galaxy - Andromeda (just a few hundred million light years away) is also home for countless possibilities but no signal.

There is absolutly no evidence - yet we believe -- why? but we do not believe in G-d Why?


Zadok

You need to get your facts right. Our galaxy is the Milky Way. It is 100 000 light years across, and we are about 25 000 light years from its center. Andromeda is about 2.5 million light years away.

Also, if an alien race in Andromeda started using radio it would take 2.5 million years before anyone on the Earth could pick up the signal. Then add to that the probability that the signals would reach us now then it is not very likely we would discover an alien race so far away.

And by the way, you do know that the speed of light is the fastest any signal can travel?

 

[averageJOE]

Not any evidence what-so-ever. Yet most still believe – we believe despite the absents of any proof. There is none. Not any – yet we believe – certainly not because of any evidence but pure speculation alone.

Zadok

You know, if you want to talk about "evidence" you can look no further than your own bible. Go and read the book of Eziekel. I don't know about you, but in the first chapter it sure sounds like the guy is describing an ailen encounter.

 

[branson]

totally agree with you on that. and eziekel is not the only mention, there are several. think of someone whose idea of technology is almost nonexsistent, of course every thing that we could understand and explain would seem like magic in their eyes.

 

[Zadok]

You know, if you want to talk about "evidence" you can look no further than your own bible. Go and read the book of Eziekel. I don't know about you, but in the first chapter it sure sounds like the guy is describing an ailen encounter.

Interesting response averageJoe. My understanding is that G-d is much like us - but advanced. What I find so interesting is that non-religious people do not want to consider the possibility of G-d but they will accept ET and "religiously" defend advanced intelligence when there is about the same caliber of evidence.

Zadok

 

[Smoke]

Is man the only intelligent life form in the universe?

We're not even the only intelligent species on earth -- just the most intelligent extant species -- and it's possible that at least one other species may have been smarter than we are.

Is it any more absurd of foolish to believe that there is intelligent life in the universe other than man any more than it absurd to believe there is a G-d?

The likelihood of intelligent life on other planets seems much greater than the likelihood of god. However, it would still be absurd if one were to convince oneself that one is in possession of infallible alien writings or if one were to have meetings to communicate with the aliens, build temples for them, ordain priests for them, obey prophets who claim to speak on their behalf, or otherwise delude oneself on the subject.

 

[Misty]

We're not even the only intelligent species on earth -- just the most intelligent extant species -- and it's possible that at least one other species may have been smarter than we are.

The likelihood of intelligent life on other planets seems much greater than the likelihood of god. However, it would still be absurd if one were to convince oneself that one is in possession of infallible alien writings or if one were to have meetings to communicate with the aliens, build temples for them, ordain priests for them, obey prophets who claim to speak on their behalf, or otherwise delude oneself on the subject.

I agree, and if they are more evolved than humans they might have completely sussed the origin of the universe.

 

[logician]

One way an alien civilization could send out signals that could be picked up at extreme distance is to create an extremely large but very thin object in orbit around a close star, an object that could be made both opaque and transparent by communications signals. These signals could be non-random like morse code, and cause a very small but perceptible loss of luminosity by the star in question in all directions of the orbit of this object. One thing telescopes can do is pick up very small changes in luminosity. Admittedly it would be no small feat, but it seems possible for an advanced species.

 

[PolyHedral]

In other words, a semi-transparent Dyson sphere? They aren't exactly easy to build.

 

[Duck]

In other words, a semi-transparent Dyson sphere? They aren't exactly easy to build.

I think Logician was leaning more towards a signal light shield (like the blinkers on a signaling light on Naval vessels) like apparatus (or at least that is how I interpreted his comment). I would assume that the device in question would be a more directional signal than what would be developed by a Dyson sphere.

Not completely sure that is what he was thinking though.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

Science has never been able to discover any evidence of any life in the universe other than the life we have found here on earth. One of the theories is that with random possibilities it is inevitable that there would be life and eventually intelligent life. Assuming that life would be more advanced in more mature or more evolved area of our universe – it is most interesting that we have never discovered any electrical magnetic radiation from an intelligent source similar to man or as advanced as man currently on earth.

Even accounting for the vast distances of space there are mature evolved solar systems much like our own that would have reached us with signs of intelligent use of electrical magnetic forces. Recent developments in researching nuclear fusion indicates that controlled nuclear fusion would produce a discernible electrical magnetic beacon pointing us to any intelligent life like our own that exist within the vast dimensions within tolerances of reaching us by now. But there is none.

Is it any more absurd of foolish to believe that there is intelligent life in the universe other than man any more than it absurd to believe there is a G-d?

Zadok

“Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.” -Calvin