Post by glactus on Jan 29, 2010 4:59:21 GMT
Of men and galaxies - Are we alone?
The law of probabilities backs theories that we are not alone in the Universe, although an encounter with an advanced civilisation may shock our species, say scientists at a two-day conference hosted by Britain's Royal Society.
"There is no firm evidence that life exists elsewhere, but there is a very firm probability for it," said Baruch Blumberg, an astrobiologist at the Fox Chance Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
"My clear prediction is that living generations have an excellent chance of seeing extra-terrestrial life being detected," said Martin Dominik, an astronomer at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
Life on Earth may have been kickstarted thanks to carbon molecules and dust that drift through interstellar space, said Pascale Ehrenfreund, an astrochemist at George Washington University, Washington.
If so, "the basic building blocks of life -- at least as recognised on Earth -- must be widespread in planetary systems in our Milky Way and other galaxies," she suggested.
Since 1995, "more than 400 extrasolar planets have been detected and the number is increasing rapidly. So far none have been found to be in the lucky position of Earth.
If we go by the theory that seeing is believing, then we know that there is one intelligent civilization in our galaxy, but the pendulum would swing very heavily in favour of there being many more according to well known Astronomers. If so, then in the entire universe there would be many hundreds of billions of them, many much more advanced than the civilization on the planet we call home.
The Planet we call home
Credits: This is part text only. See full text and all scientists involved at Space daily.com
www.spacedaily.com/reports/Law_of_probabilities_backs_hopes_for_ET_conference_hears_999.html