Other worlds like ours? Other Universes?

**Gwendolyn** · 06-09-2004 04:03 AM

I was just thinking about evolution and how our world came to be. There has to be other galaxies and solar systems very much like ours....Planets far away that are just as advanced (if not more advanced) than earth. I know to some this may sound absurd, but there could be planets in the same plight concerning discovering life in far away galaxies, not having enough technology to travel so far in space. I mean, if life on our earth essentially formed ( and I am going completely on what my AP Biology Book says despite any religious beliefs) from various gasses on the early earth's atmosphere, than who is to say that other worlds have not experienced this as well? I'm not saying that every one of these worlds had people evolve on them...They may have other intelligent life forms, I am not referring to the generic "alien". Also, what if there are black holes in space which lead to whole other universes?? Again, I know the prospect of it sounds absurd.......I am sure that others on this forum have pondered this besides me.

Thoughts, anyone??

**spicefiend** · 06-09-2004 05:24 AM

I have!

I don't believe that this earth, this universe was a cosmic accident and I also don't believe creation ended with just humans either. But I like to think there are other beings out there that stretch out on the grass on a summer evening and fix their eyes on a really bright star. Earth perhaps? And they ponder the same question... is there other life out there?

**jacobo** · 06-09-2004 05:28 AM

kind of a broad statement there. i don't think we are the only ones in this world... i don't think other life forms are anymore advanced than us though.

**spicefiend** · 06-09-2004 08:26 AM

Sorry, I don't mean to be broad, I get a bit abstract from time to time.

I thought Gwendolyn had a good idea and threw in my two cents.

**Gwendolyn** · 06-09-2004 04:07 PM

I didn't think you were too abstract. I know exactly what you are saying. I don't know if our world was a cosmic accident or not, but it just seems too unrealistic that there are not other worlds in other galaxies in other solar systems that are not ,in a sense, unlike we are. The technologies might not be the same, or even as advanced, but there has to be some world which we could say consisted of intelligent life.

**Joseph_Stalin** · 06-10-2004 01:25 AM

They probably only differ in adaptation of technologies, and if so, slightly. I mean, say their winds were like earth's and they had similiar woods to us. Their first airplane might not be so different.

I'd like to also see if they met any Jesus-es for example (or any other god, just put it there). Like each created world gets one incarnation of Jesus. For us, it was about 2000 years ago. For them, who knows, it might not even have happened yet. (remember, substitute any info here with another religon and you're fine)

Also, it's fun to think "maybe if the universe was a little like star trek". Because in that show, all of the races have devolped warp engines at roughly the same time, which is sort of showing the unity of everyone I geuss.

**AirRick101** · 06-10-2004 01:26 AM

With all those stars and galaxies out there, nothing is wrong with hypothesizing there might be other lifes forms that are tangible.

I cannot say what this world came from...one on hand, it doesn't seem like an accident because everything is in such nice running order (in general). And the animals of the earth are symmetrical in shape and stuff, and we somehow, miraculously have an ability to procreate offspring perfectly.

LOL, and other people say that our accident of a world had a chance of one out of a billion, and yes, I am ok with the possibility that we were lucky and got those odds down as well!

**Gwendolyn** · 06-10-2004 02:21 AM

I don't know where our world came from, but I do know that it is in such good working order because of what survival of the fittest has done for the species' of the world......But the possibilities are endless on what could be going on. What about other universes?? Wow....I mean there very well could be.....It is also a neat thought, although I am not a religious person, that on those other planets they may also have worshiped gods or saviors, and it would be interesting to see if their gods differed from the gods in our world.

**Alric** · 06-10-2004 02:22 AM

Even if we where 1 out of a billion, there could easily be more than a billion stars. Just because they are smart though doesn't mean they are like us. Maybe they don't mind the rain so live outside without a house heh.

**Gwendolyn** · 06-10-2004 04:04 AM

I'm not saying they are. They could be completely different than us and still have some form of civilization....

**spicefiend** · 06-10-2004 05:48 AM

I cannot say what this world came from...one on hand, it doesn't seem like an accident because everything is in such nice running order (in general).[/b]

It is in such nice running order, isn't it?

All that we're made of is so complex, but flows so smoothly together. Its quite beautiful, actually. Downright miraculous, as I see it. I can imagine folks on another planet pondering the same thing. Heh, and debating the same thing!

"Hey Zork? Check out that star right there... yeah there... do you think there's people like us living on it?"

"Interesting concept, Xuoq. Maybe."

"Do you think they're driving cars and flying aircrafts like we are?"

"That could be possible, Xuoq."

"Do you think they could have figured out Quantum teleportation yet?"

"That's a little far fetched, Xuoq."

As for religion, why not? Who can look up at those stars in all of it's celestial majesty and not have, to quote Einstein, some type of a 'cosmic religious feeling?'

**Gwendolyn** · 06-10-2004 04:22 PM

That's a wonderful thought

**Nova** · 06-10-2004 08:07 PM

for one thing I believe it is very possible that there is life out there besides our own... And if they did not go through a 1000 year dark age they are defenitly more advanced then we are... However earth is a miracle on it's own, we are at a perfect distance from the sun, a lil closer we would all burn to death, a little father we would be frozen.

The chances of that happening in other solar systems is very very thin. also since Mars and Venus help keep us were we are the possiblilties drop some what. There are 100 billion stars in our galaxy alone so there is a chance. But dont forget the galaxy is chaotic and in our galaxy alone there is a chance that there cannot be life on other planets at all because of our universe.

Now on the black hole other dimensions thing... I dont thinks it's possible, our universe is infinite in hight, width, and length so there is no place anywhere for another universe since ours can be the only one there is.

But there is a chance of other life, God did not say he didn't create other life forms and he didn't write every single thing he did in the bible so there may be a chance.

**Gwendolyn** · 06-11-2004 02:25 AM

I'm not even referring to our galaxy, but I think your point is very valid. I meant like out there in our infinite universe......There are millions of other galaxies. What about in those? There are other suns and moons out there. In every galaxy, there is a solar system and in every solar system a planet that is perfectly relative to the sun like Earth. Not to close or far away. This is exactly the reason earth was able to sustain life....why not all those other perfectly positioned planets?

**Nova** · 06-11-2004 02:42 AM

Well yeah. the problem is varibles... This is most liekly the only place in the universe capable of sustaining life.....

And why? Well for one thing most galaxies out there have alot of supgiant "old" starts and they cannot sustain life, the newer ones have to much radiation.

Now I think it is possible... but highly unlikely.

**Gwendolyn** · 06-11-2004 06:05 AM

We don't have the technology to tell if all other galaxies couldn't sustain life. And if we did, the probability is unlikely that we are the ONLY ones who could.......

**spicefiend** · 06-11-2004 07:09 AM

We don't have the technology to tell if all other galaxies couldn't sustain life. And if we did, the probability is unlikely that we are the ONLY ones who could.......[/b]

Yes, I agree. We don't even have this planet figured out yet, so I'm less likely to think Earth is the only place in the universe capable of sustaining life. Unless Nova (delightful name) is meaning 'galaxy' in place of universe. It goes without saying that our rover on Mars, high powered telescopes, and probes have seen only a little, probaley a hair's width of what is out there.

We may not have the technology now, but its coming! Though not soon enough as far as I'm concerned.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,128...2,60674,00.html

Let's take this discussion in another direction. What if planet's like Mercurey or Pluto could be a dwelling place for some other kind of organism? Not carbon-based lifeforms like us, but beings made of an entirely different substance. The universe is a great mystery, why not?

**Gwendolyn** · 06-11-2004 07:17 AM

I would say it would be very possible. I mean, the universe is an awfully huge place, as is our solar system. Life forms could very well evolve there, and adapt to those planets. Just like life here did....

**Joseph_Stalin** · 06-12-2004 01:16 AM

Ahh, nothing like a thousand year dark age to stunt technological growth.

Pfft, we should already have metropolises on mars by now!

By the way, I think that there could have been much more space travel and such if it wasn't for the Air Force or something dropping their connection with NASA (I think that's how it went, correct me if not). The funding would be enormous, because everyone in the government "needs" to get better weapons and planes. I think the AirForce wanted some really uber-stealth planes from NASA or something, and let's face it--most of today's technologies would not be here if it wasn't for wars. Things like computers, and jet airliners, and even rockets and space travel would not exist. Even primitive wars made way for better technologies. Better swords--new methods of getting resources like iron. More iron--beter housing structures and such. Etc., etc., etc...

If we really wanted to find those habitable planets that might even have life (microscopic, or insanely advanced, or somewhere in between), we would need a way to quickly sort out planets. Like "Habitable" "Will be habitable in X-amount of years" "Non-Habitable". This way we can easily explore them without (for lack of a better word) "wasting" time.

And think of this: What species in their right mind would dare interrupt the progress of a less-advanced one?

I mean, come on, it's practically a free experiment on the progress of sentient beings. They could then answer questions that we have like "how was religion formed, language, technologies (if they are similiar or the same, or different), etc., etc.

Besides, even if one alien species did come and give us future technology, everyone would fight over who would share it, and now we're in for even worse wars than before (new weapons are disasters...). Plus, we wouldn't know where to start with all these new ways of doing things.

Anyway, I don't think they would because giving your technological secrets if like giving a stranger keys to your house. You just don't do it.

**Gwendolyn** · 06-12-2004 04:49 AM

That is a very valid point. In some ways I agree with you, and naturally in others, I don't. I agree that if there were any alien species we would find out no technological or governmental secrets. However, I do not agree that if the Air Force had joined with Nasa, we'd already have metropolises on Mars. I mean, of course we would have progressed a lot more, but I still think that technology wouldn't have advanced THAT far. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I enjoyed reading your post.

**Joseph_Stalin** · 06-12-2004 05:24 AM

Sorry if I confused you, I meant if the dark age hadn't taken so long.

What I said with NASA was just that there would be more emphasis on space travel and better spacecrafts and such.

Thanks for your comments, though.

**spicefiend** · 06-12-2004 09:05 AM

J. Stalin has a good point. There could have been much more space travel, but it slowed down quite a bit.

I'm not sure about the Air Force breaking with NASA, but that's possible. Perhaps it was funding or recession or loss of public interest, particularly after the Cold War ended. The collapse of the Soviet Union may have taken out that competitive edge.

I am hoping that SpaceShipOne or one of the other competiters for the XPrize will succeed in sending a man into space and back safely. The thought of it is thrilling! Its like another race to the moon, except this time no beaucratic government is involved. Its privately funded, folks. It also seems line a genuine competition. A 10 million dollar purse hardly seems worth while considering what it might cost to make these ships, to fuel them, maintain them, and repair them. They have to have another motive. Which individual will make it to space this time?

Will SpaceShipOne do it? We'll find out June 21st! I can't wait to hear the news! :yumdumdoodledum:

**Gwendolyn** · 06-12-2004 06:37 PM

Originally posted by Joseph_Stalin
Sorry if I confused you, I meant if the dark age hadn't taken so long.

What I said with NASA was just that there would be more emphasis on space travel and better spacecrafts and such.

Thanks for your comments, though.

Ah...Ok. I see what you mean now! Well, I do think it would of been possible if there had been a lot more emphasis. Thanks for clarifying!

**Joseph_Stalin** · 06-13-2004 07:19 PM

No problem

About the XPrize, that just looks cool! I saw this on TechTv (now G4TechTv

) a while back, and it's really fascinating. Of course, the motivation being money, and not a cold war, makes it a whole lot different. Too bad people aren't scared crapless enough to start building better spacecraft. Although this is the first step to private space travel.

**spicefiend** · 06-14-2004 06:39 AM

Tech TV, wish I could watch it.

The vast majority of TV disgust me, so I refuse to get a satellite just for the few channels I'd actually want.

I don't think that the Xprize competition is about money. At least not entirely. As I said earlier, a 10 million dollar prize doesn't seem like it would compensate for the cost of building/flying these spacecrafts. Also, one of the funders behind SpaceShipOne is Paul Allen. 10 million is pocket change to him, I think he'd just like to get the ball rolling.

I suppose it could also be considered as a business oppertunity. Currently, flying to space is limited to astronauts or people with an extra 30 million to spend. If spacetravel became part of the market and was affordable, who wouldn't jump on the chance!