When Will We Find Aliens?
No, not illegal aliens, but interplanetary aliens.
For the first time in human history, we may be able to answer the question: Are we alone in the universe?
Chris McKay's quest for inter planetary life began in 1976, when the first Viking spacecraft landed on Mars. The Viking lander found some kind of substance in the soil of Mars that took in nutrients and producing carbon dioxide-- just like a microbe would. But, when no organic materials were found, scientists concluded that there was no life on Mars.
Despite subsequent explorations, no proof of life has been found-- but the data produced by Viking is still intriguing scientists. In addition, as more probes are launched into space, they are finding comets, asteroids, and planets with water-- the spot where microbial life could develop. Outside the solar system, there are literally thousands of planets with earth-like atmospheres, and, that basic necessity, water.
In the coming decades, new space probes and telescopes will be able to seek out earth-like planets outside our solar system. "We have a decent chance for finding life on Earth-like planets within the next 30 years," said Jim Kasting, a planetary scientist at Penn State University.
For the first time in human history, scientists have the means and a plan to answer the question. Jason Wright, also an astronomer at Penn State, said, "It might be a long shot that we can do this, but the question is so compelling."
To read more, visit the entire article on the BBC !
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This could get very interesting!
We may see them on their respective planets when this telescope is finished being constructed in Hawaii.
I wonder would Ted Cruz advocate a fence to keep out Martians that come here illegally?
Hahaha!
Probably so, for sure!
I really look forward to seeing images from this telescope! Great picture! I wondered what it looked like!
HELLOOOOO....
Dowser.... dear lady
Interesting article. I've often thought that rather than our quest to find aliens elsewhere, they have been here, and did not really like what they saw. So why make their presence known? Thanks for the article.
"ET PHONE HOME! " Nice find Dowser!!!
The Reptilians are already here.
They are among us.
Been searchin for ET for a long time, hopefully sometime in my lifetime...
Dowser
Didn't Buddha say that to find something, one must first stop searching for it (or words to that effect)
We won't.
They'll find us.
Or maybe
When Will We Find Aliens?
I doubt we will ever find aliens that are anywhere near where we can look them in the eye. We may discover planets that have the necessary components to support life... but only through long range telescopes... furthermore, even if we did discover such a place, and somehow came up with the means to travel there (which we won't), the odds we would find life forms anything like humans is so small it can be said to be essentially zero.
I wish we would spend more time thinking about the many thousands of life forms we have right here on planet Earth... life forms that are pushed into extinction every day by our human actions... I wish we would devote as much time to protecting this incredibly rare life supporting place, the Earth, on which we and every other life form we know of is dependent for the survival of its kind... It is truly fascinating to contemplate the vastness of space and what other things may be out there(living or not)... But contemplating the notion that we will ever "find aliens" distracts us from our responsibilities here on Earth.
Sorry to be so negative, Dowsie... but this dog's gotta speak up for the creatures on this planet that have no way to voice their concerns about the impact of humans...
[Mal steps down off his soapbox... places the box on his travois... hitches himself to his travois... trudges off... tail dragging... ears drooping...]
Okay... This is really frustrating... I posted a comment... put a lot of thought into it... the list of articles on front page seems to recognize that I did that... but there is no sign of it here... ARGH!!!
I hope it eventually sows up...
[Mal frowns...]
Update: Whew!!! Mal's original comment finally showed up...
I just hope they're friendly!!!
Aside from the pictures, my post was serious.
The "technological window" implies that there is very little chance of two "neighbor" stars evolving to similar technology at the same time. Our neighbors are either far behind us or far ahead. If they are far behind, we have no way of finding them any time soon. If they are far ahead, we probably cannot understand their emissions... but they may be able to listen to us... or visit us... if they choose to.
That pretty much sums it up. Thanks for making the point so succinctly!
Add to that... the physical and logistical limitations of spanning the distance even to "neighbor stars" relegates the idea ofinterstellartravel strictly to sci-fi...
Darling, Buzz!
Thanks, Nona! The BBC always has interesting things...
I know-- I kept thinking that if they knew they were here, they would be wise to not let their presence be known!!!
We never know, do we? The article goes on to say that if we found something, it would probably be microbes...
Funny!
If I were to name some reptilians, those people would not be high on my list...
I think you're right!
That's true for my life...
I think they were going to analyze telescope data. Not that we'll ever meet, so to speak, but we may know that something is there...
Probably slime-like creatures...
Maybe like the stuff up under the refrigerator...
Eek!
Familiarity breeds contempt.
We're fascinated by the creatures that live in the deepest depths... but care little for those in our own lawn. And even less for the beasties whose preservation might inconvenience us in any way.
Have y'all ever seen the movie, "Interstellar"? We watched it, and wow... I hope we never get to that point.
Absolutely, Bob!
Funny!!!
Unmasked!!
I don't know that we'll be able to actually meet them, face to face, (after all, it's hard to shake hands with a paramecium), but to know that something exists would be wonderful!
Well... I won't dispute that, Dowser... But I would be very interested to know WHY it would be wonderful.
Unmasked!!
Pretty good book by Stephanie Meyer (better known for the "Twilight" series): The Host.
I will have to look for it!
Panspermia
Maybe it would give us a whole new perspective on our own problems... Maybe not, too.
I would think it would lead to greater speculation about a lot of things! Maybe we could all take a broader view, and not be so nasty to one another. (hope never dies...)
Have you ever watched that program on the History Channel, about Aliens among us? I watched it all one afternoon, just to watch the man with the weird hair. They make some incredible claims...
BRAVO to that!!!
Without hope for a better world, somehow, there is no point. And the world, with all of its problems, IS getting a bit better...
I was thinking about this the other day... Grandma told me of two little girls that were sold to the circus-- and no one ever tried to find them, or look for them, or did anything to bring them home. In today's world, that wouldn't happen! So, maybe things aren't great, but they surely could be worse!
One of my all time favorite novels is "The Andromeda Strain" by Michael Crichton.
A couple of points from that book that are relevant to this discussion. It is quite possible that all life on this planet is descendant from an asteroid laden with microbial life from hundreds of millions of years ago. In short we are related to the alien life we are looking to find, or might find us.
A second point from the book, when we find life, are we sure we are going to recognize it? Even today, astrobiologists are having a bitch of a time coming up with an all encompassing definition that will allow us to recognize life. In short, how do you study, or look for something you don't recognize as being alive?
Again, when it comes to life, how are we going to know it "is life" if we can't recognize it?
Dowser
A interesting and entertaining series on the History Channel
The Andromeda Strain wasn't a bad movie either - "There's a fire!" Of course there are many speculative movies, like "Contact", or even War of the Worlds, or The Day the Earth Stood Still, etc. (too many to mention)
There is a story called "To Serve Man". I think McDonald's is their agent.
LOL!!!
The movie was good, but the book was one of those that I couldn't put down. I read it about every three to four years. Considering it was written back in the late 1960s, the technical information Crichton brought forth is still as relevant as ever.
That guy with the weird hair is soooo annoying!
Oh well, it was good for a lot of laughs!
Yep, that's the one!
I think it's interesting and entertaining-- if a bit over the top!
I do understand that...
Yes, they have.
But I think this article is real... I don't think they're looking for someone that came here, just microbial life... There IS a big difference.
Great movie!
We just watched "Interstellar", and that's a great movie, too!
Good points, FLY!
LOL!
Wasn't that on the Twilight Zone? Or, was it Outer Limits?
I saw it too. Was anything but a feel good movie wasn't it.
Makes you think...... water levels in California?
The Outer Limits.... I remember the episode well.
Hate to correct you Fly, but it was the Twilight Zone:
Damn you John! You beat me to it!
Yes... But before that, it was a short story by Damon Knight, in Galaxy SF, in 1950.
Since when does getting debunked prevent a theory from being repeated? (That's as close to politics as I'll go...)
Thanks for the info Bob. I actually thought it was Richard Matheson, but you are right!
I'm older than you ... I was around in 1950. Not reading either author yet, though.
:-((
DAMN, I have GOT to get the TV Group running....
I have both series the Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits......
"To Serve Man" A Twilight Zone episode from the first series, Season 3 Episode 24, Aired; March 2nd 1962 on CBS.
Wasn't it wonderful how everyone just accepted the aliens help without question?
Old Indian adage, beware strangers bearing gifts, particularly if the gift is a cookbook....
Not enough hours in the day...