Geoffrey B. Veteran Share Posted December 23, 2009 Perhaps in a few million years we will have some neighbors lol. Link to post Share on other sites
FloatingFatMan Share Posted December 23, 2009 Perhaps in a few million years we will have some neighbors lol. Make that a few billion. :p Link to post Share on other sites
The_Decryptor Veteran Share Posted December 23, 2009 if we cant create carbon-based life in laboratory conditions, and all life forms as we know it are carbon-based, whats stopping life forms based on other substances from existing? Carbon based life takes a really long time to form, we've only been at it for a very short time span. And nothing's stopping life from being based on other substances (I think anyway), but because we have no evidence of it occurring we don't look for it (since looking for every single possibility on every single planet = slow, while looking at a sample found = fast) Link to post Share on other sites
carmatic Share Posted December 23, 2009 Carbon based life takes a really long time to form, we've only been at it for a very short time span.And nothing's stopping life from being based on other substances (I think anyway), but because we have no evidence of it occurring we don't look for it (since looking for every single possibility on every single planet = slow, while looking at a sample found = fast) cuz i was thinking, for example, europa, the moon of jupiter with frozen water... they sent a probe looking for carbon life into it, but perhaps that caused an extinction event for the non-carbon-based lifeforms already living there... Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Gibs Share Posted December 23, 2009 That's pretty cool. Sadly this happenned so far away that the planets could have already been formed by now but we'll never get to see it as most of us will be dead by the time the light gets to us =( Of random note, that would make a pretty cool wallpaper without the zoom-ins LOL That is light years which is a measure of distance not time! Oh wow... :rofl: Link to post Share on other sites
lt8480 Share Posted December 23, 2009 For those who want this without the zoom-ins... its M43 (Google sky it) I find using the historical map the easiest way to find / relocate things, so alternatively you can zoom into orion Historical Map Link to post Share on other sites
FloatingFatMan Share Posted December 23, 2009 That's pretty cool. Sadly this happenned so far away that the planets could have already been formed by now but we'll never get to see it as most of us will be dead by the time the light gets to us =( Not a chance. It takes millions of years for planets to form. Those systems will be virtually indistinguishable now from how they were 1500 years ago. Link to post Share on other sites
PricklyPoo Share Posted December 23, 2009 right amount of water, right air mixture etc Have you ever thought that maybe life adapts to its surroundings, not the other way around? Link to post Share on other sites
Zain Adeel Share Posted December 23, 2009 thinking outside the box i would say life could be some other chemical based. not carbon. But we can only search for carbon as its easier because we know in what conditions carbon based life exists. Link to post Share on other sites
LOC Veteran Share Posted December 23, 2009 I'm pretty sure there are other ways for life to exist in the ENTIRE Universe than just carbon based. As was said above, what's the point then of everything else? I suppose it gets down to a religious/philisophical question in the end but really, what's the point of the vastness of the Universe and all the wonderful amazing things in it if it's just empty everywhere but here on Earth? Link to post Share on other sites
Lezard Share Posted December 24, 2009 Flip a coin so many times, that maybe, just maybe, it will land standing. IMHO Link to post Share on other sites
Xerxes Share Posted December 24, 2009 That's pretty cool. Sadly this happenned so far away that the planets could have already been formed by now but we'll never get to see it as most of us will be dead by the time the light gets to us =(Of random note, that would make a pretty cool wallpaper without the zoom-ins LOL Oh wow... :rofl: :blink: what? it's still (half) correct! Have you ever thought that maybe life adapts to its surroundings, not the other way around? Umm can't you read?!? the first part was describing what other people claim and the second part was what I though, to which I said life has proven to exist in all kinda of extremes! However, back to that you'll be surprised what people (including scientists) strongly believe life needs the correct surroundings to evolve, they argue if life can adapt to it's surroundings why isn't the universe teaming with life? (a pointless argument since how can it be proved/disproved?) this is also why they are looking for Earth-like planets (to which they have been damn close to finding a few too), they go on how delicate life is and how if the planet is a degree too hot (or cold) or the balance of gases in the atmosphere is slightly off it'll snuff out the life. They completely dismiss the life forms that live on volcanic vents under the sea and life forms that live in sub-zero conditions in the Antarctic. They just brush that off and claim only basic life can exist in those conditions, saying for intelligent life to exist the conditions need to be more exacting. Once again I do not follow this school of thought, I'm just bringing forward what the opposition believe on this and what I said here is merely the "tip of the iceberg" as these guys go into immense detail. Personally I think intelligent life does exists elsewhere in the universe (if not all over) and I think it's arrogant and single minded to believe we are the only intelligent life in the universe. Link to post Share on other sites
Scorbing Share Posted December 24, 2009 Though we're looking 1,500 years in the past. Agreed. Those solar system are formed already. We are looking at the past every time we look at the sky through a telescope. What an amazing thing the universe is. Link to post Share on other sites
FloatingFatMan Share Posted December 24, 2009 I'm pretty sure there are other ways for life to exist in the ENTIRE Universe than just carbon based.As was said above, what's the point then of everything else? I suppose it gets down to a religious/philisophical question in the end but really, what's the point of the vastness of the Universe and all the wonderful amazing things in it if it's just empty everywhere but here on Earth? Whilst it IS entirely possible for life to be based upon other chemicals, such as silicon; the chances of it doing so are much lower as carbon is WAY more reactive than many of the other possibilities. Assuming there is other life out there (and there has to be, somewhere), then it's chances of being based upon carbon are fairly high. Link to post Share on other sites
HawkMan Share Posted December 27, 2009 Whilst it IS entirely possible for life to be based upon other chemicals, such as silicon; the chances of it doing so are much lower as carbon is WAY more reactive than many of the other possibilities.Assuming there is other life out there (and there has to be, somewhere), then it's chances of being based upon carbon are fairly high. Due to the sheer number of systems in just a small area of our own galaxy, the chances of carbon based life is fairly high, and due to the same numbers, there's probably life based on other base materials as well. Link to post Share on other sites
guru Share Posted December 27, 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothetical_...of_biochemistry while non carbon life forms forms are possible...its unlikelier than carbon based life. I guess it all goes back to what life is... Link to post Share on other sites
Awsta Share Posted January 13, 2010 For those who want this without the zoom-ins... its M43 (Google sky it)I find using the historical map the easiest way to find / relocate things, so alternatively you can zoom into orion Historical Map M43 is actually just a part of M42, which is the Orion nebula. Link to post Share on other sites
vincent Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 Agreed. Those solar system are formed already. We are looking at the past every time we look at the sky through a telescope. What an amazing thing the universe is. Solar systems don't form in 1,500 yrs Link to post Share on other sites
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