Search for Extra Terrestrial Life

Color · Apr 24, 2014

Well, along with many others, I believe extra terrestrial life is undoubtedly out there. That's not what this is about.

So, I've been thinking about this for a while now, I'd like to know some others' thoughts on it. Now, as I've said, I believe there IS life out there, no doubt. Of course, a lot of research has been put forth toward searching for signs of life forms located elsewhere in our solar system. Why is it that we believe water, oxygen, etc., is necessary for life elsewhere? To me, it sounds insane to think that just because this is what's required here on earth, this is what life forms everywhere would have adapted to.

I realize this may be a bit scattered and confusing, I apologize in advance. I'm on the verge of falling asleep, and wanted to get this up, as I've been pondering this for quite some time now.

Cann!bal · Apr 24, 2014

We use our world as a model for life for we have no other models to base life off. Our life model is the basis of the mathematical equations that suggest life is out there; the possibility of life enduring another way is ignored, making the potential possibility of otherworldly life that much more probable. There's life that lives within the scorching abysses of volcanoes, where water and oxygen is essentially taboo. I find it very likely that life does not have to arise or subsist in an Earth-like environment.

Radical · Apr 24, 2014

To be honest, you opened up my mind about this subject more. I never really thought they don't need the needs we need. (I know people who probably wouldn't think of this) I think it is because us humans think if it is are needs it is their needs.

Anyways, I believe there is another life out there, but it will take a long time to find.

NULLNULLNULL · Apr 25, 2014

Good question. One reason that we use our model is because imagine using no model. I could literally say "what if aliens survive by transparent translucent gas that we can't see?" well by that system it would be impossible to progress. Also we believe that natural law governs existence itself. But their could be other natural laws in other galaxies or universes, no one really knows. But interesting question again.

Envy · Apr 27, 2014

cause we have experimented and research concludes life can only be sustained in set conditions.

Nevermind · Apr 27, 2014

Valiant said:
cause we have experimented and research concludes life can only be sustained in set conditions.

That's not exactly true. We only know of one type of life, and it can only exist in certain conditions. The possibilities are truly endless. For example, there might be life that needs to breath Argon rather than Oxygen. We only know of one type of life, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other types.

Envy · Apr 27, 2014

That's not exactly true. We only know of one type of life, and it can only exist in certain conditions. The possibilities are truly endless. For example, there might be life that needs to breath Argon rather than Oxygen. We only know of one type of life, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other types.

We've used endless elements in combination with eachother to test these theories. First of all Argon is a gas true, but it is a noble gas and it has properties that prevent a chemical reaction with the body which prevents cellular respiration/ photosynthesis. Carbon is needed because of it's ability to form long molecular chains and oxygen's elemental form and ability to bond with other certain elements makes it ideal for live. The facts are there.

Nevermind · Apr 27, 2014

Valiant said:
We've used endless elements in combination with eachother to test these theories. First of all Argon is a gas true, but it is a noble gas and it has properties that prevent a chemical reaction with the body which prevents cellular respiration/ photosynthesis. Carbon is needed because of it's ability to form long molecular chains and oxygen's elemental form and ability to bond with other certain elements makes it ideal for live. The facts are there.

"We only know of one type of life, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other types."

Envy · Apr 27, 2014

Leader said:
"We only know of one type of life, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other types."

I've already read that, and i'm just trying to tell you that it, in fact, does mean there aren't any other types. We have discovered every stable element. Elements are created from the heat of stars. I don't see how it is possible for there to be other elements greater than the one's we have identified that can create life because they are all chemically and nuclearly unstable. The earth itself is composed of nearly the entire periodic table, so that eliminates other possible elements that have not been seen. Look around you, do you see anything, anything at all that could somehow create a living organism? There is only one type of life, and in that type of life there are variations. I'm saying, as far as anybody on the earth's knowledge goes, it is theoretically impossible.

Nevermind · Apr 27, 2014

Valiant said:
I've already read that, and i'm just trying to tell you that it, in fact, does mean there aren't any other types. We have discovered every stable element. Elements are created from the heat of stars. I don't see how it is possible for there to be other elements greater than the one's we have identified that can create life because they are all chemically and nuclearly unstable. The earth itself is composed of nearly the entire periodic table, so that eliminates other possible elements that have not been seen. Look around you, do you see anything, anything at all that could somehow create a living organism? There is only one type of life, and in that type of life there are variations. I'm saying, as far as anybody on the earth's knowledge goes, it is theoretically impossible.

I'm not saying that there are more elements.

Just because we only understand one example of intelligent life, doesn't mean that there is only one type of intelligent life. To say that is intellectually dishonest. We don't even know how life started in the first place. The possibilities for life are endless.

I'm saying, as far as anybody on the earth's knowledge goes, it is theoretically impossible.

It's actually quite the contrary. Any scientist you talk to will acknowledge the possibility of different forms of life. Neil de Grasse Tyson even talks about different possibilities in Cosmos. The claim that the existance of another form of life is "theoretically impossible" is just not true.

Envy · Apr 27, 2014

Leader said:
I'm not saying that there are more elements.

Just because we only understand one example of intelligent life, doesn't mean that there is only one type of intelligent life. To say that is intellectually dishonest. We don't even know how life started in the first place. The possibilities for life are endless.

It's actually quite the contrary. Any scientist you talk to will acknowledge the possibility of different forms of life. Neil de Grasse Tyson even talks about different possibilities in Cosmos. The claim that the existance of another form of life is "theoretically impossible" is just not true.

Another form of 'life' the word we have come to know relevant to earth simply means like a new type of mammal/animal/organism. I'd like to see Neil de Grasse Tyson's quote in context for me to beleive your claims.

Color · Apr 27, 2014

Valiant said:
I've already read that, and i'm just trying to tell you that it, in fact, does mean there aren't any other types. We have discovered every stable element. Elements are created from the heat of stars. I don't see how it is possible for there to be other elements greater than the one's we have identified that can create life because they are all chemically and nuclearly unstable. The earth itself is composed of nearly the entire periodic table, so that eliminates other possible elements that have not been seen. Look around you, do you see anything, anything at all that could somehow create a living organism? There is only one type of life, and in that type of life there are variations. I'm saying, as far as anybody on the earth's knowledge goes, it is theoretically impossible.

This comment truly made me sad. If you honestly believe we've found every element in throughout existence, you must be insane. As humans, we've barely scraped the crust of what is out there. Given the tiny, tiny, area the earth takes up of our solar system, or even more, our galaxy, that would be ignorant to even consider. On top of that, there is absolutely no way of knowing what else could sustain life in other conditions. To think the earth, this tiny speck in all of existence, is the only place to support life (considering how exact it must be in order to do so), would truly be astounding, and in my opinion, impossible.

Envy · Apr 27, 2014

Color said:
This comment truly made me sad. If you honestly believe we've found every element in throughout existence, you must be insane. As humans, we've barely scraped the crust of what is out there. Given the tiny, tiny, area the earth takes up of our solar system, or even more, our galaxy, that would be ignorant to even consider. On top of that, there is absolutely no way of knowing what else could sustain life in other conditions. To think the earth, this tiny speck in all of existence, is the only place to support life (considering how exact it must be in order to do so), would truly be astounding, and in my opinion, impossible.

I don't really wanna argue with you. But I never said that earth is the only place to support life. I completely agree that it is impossible for life to only be on earth. But a type of life that uses elements of the periodic table that aren't used in our elemental makeup, on the other hand, is extremely unlikely. Also I never said we have found every element in existence. We have, however, created an element of 118 protons and electrons. Which is the highest we have seen. The biggest naturally occuring element on earth is plutonium. Everything other than that has been scientifically created, and is scientifically unstable. Like I said earlier, all elements above what we have found are extremely unstable in that its atomic number deteriorates to a smaller more stable element--faster than we can record.

Color · Apr 28, 2014

Valiant said:
I don't really wanna argue with you. But I never said that earth is the only place to support life. I completely agree that it is impossible for life to only be on earth. But a type of life that uses elements of the periodic table that aren't used in our elemental makeup, on the other hand, is extremely unlikely. Also I never said we have found every element in existence. We have, however, created an element of 118 protons and electrons. Which is the highest we have seen. The biggest naturally occuring element on earth is plutonium. Everything other than that has been scientifically created, and is scientifically unstable. Like I said earlier, all elements above what we have found are extremely unstable in that its atomic number deteriorates to a smaller more stable element--faster than we can record.

This isn't an argument, please check the title of the section. Just mind the fact that these are all subject to their conditions, who knows what they're going to be like in others. Furthermore, this honestly isn't about elements, it's about the existence of life, and the fact that it may very well be a completely different composition than what we have here on earth.

Chill · Apr 28, 2014

Adding to what @Color said, scientists have proven fact (somehow) that even on Earth only 60% of species have been found. So to say there isn't life outside our atmosphere is absurd. If we haven't fully discovered our own what the fuck lies out there?

Cesar · May 1, 2014

right on you with this one @"Color"
Always believed that there is different sorts of like out there

Envy · May 1, 2014

Color said:
This isn't an argument, please check the title of the section. Just mind the fact that these are all subject to their conditions, who knows what they're going to be like in others. Furthermore, this honestly isn't about elements, it's about the existence of life, and the fact that it may very well be a completely different composition than what we have here on earth.

@color What conditions? The only conditions that exist are gravity, temperature, pressure, and atmospheric/land composition. Elements are the same as composition... Elements make up everything in the universe... There isn't a visible object in this universe that isn't composed of elements. So, furthermore, this honestly is completely about elements. Elements make life exist. I'm consistently providing facts that dispell your claims. I want you or anybody else to explain to me how it would be possible to create life out of completely different compositions or conditions? The only reason we are alive is because what we are made of. You can't just mix two and two, and create life. The conditions can vary a little, but the composition cannot.

Color · May 1, 2014

Valiant said:
@color What conditions? The only conditions that exist are gravity, temperature, pressure, and atmospheric/land composition. Elements are the same as composition... Elements make up everything in the universe... There isn't a visible object in this universe that isn't composed of elements. So, furthermore, this honestly is completely about elements. Elements make life exist. I'm consistently providing facts that dispell your claims. I want you or anybody else to explain to me how it would be possible to create life out of completely different compositions or conditions? The only reason we are alive is because what we are made of. You can't just mix two and two, and create life. The conditions can vary a little, but the composition cannot.

You're looking at this way too closemindedly. The only fact to this, is that there are no facts. As for elements, weve only discovered some of them, and only under our earthly conditions do we have any clue how they're going to work. Look at the diversity of organisms here on earth, and think about how small we really are in the scheme of things. Everything here has adapted to the conditions around it. Who's to say the same doesn't apply to life elsewhere? We've done so little research with so little resources available, to judge everything else based on the way life is sustained here is truly insane.

Envy · May 1, 2014

Color said:
You're looking at this way too closemindedly. The only fact to this, is that there are no facts. As for elements, weve only discovered some of them, and only under our earthly conditions do we have any clue how they're going to work. Look at the diversity of organisms here on earth, and think about how small we really are in the scheme of things. Everything here has adapted to the conditions around it. Who's to say the same doesn't apply to life elsewhere? We've done so little research with so little resources available, to judge everything else based on the way life is sustained here is truly insane.

It really isn't insane at all. We've only discovered some of the elements? We've discovered every single stable element. I feel like i'm just repeating myself over and over again becuase you guys are too single minded. I have already opened my mind to your theories, but the facts that I know all go against it. Please reread my previous posts... I'm guessing most of you haven't taken physics, biology, and chemistry at high to college levels. I'm sorry, I don't need to sound mean. Just try to imagine yourself knowing a whole lot about this stuff--hard concrete facts. Then, having to explain to people who won't let go of the fanciful idea that life can exist at a 1000 degrees celcius, have pressures of 412 lbs/in^2, and flesh/muscles made out of iron and dna/brain cells made out of mercury. @color

xVis · May 1, 2014

Well yeah since the universe is ever-expanding and from what we've found finding a planet like Earth is actually not that difficult.
If you're talking about intelligent life; that is a bit of a stretch but I would never say no to anything like that.
EDIT: Some kid told me to address the Op. I guess he can't read my post.
Op asked:

Why is it that we believe water, oxygen, etc., is necessary for life elsewhere? To me, it sounds insane to think that just because this is what's required here on earth, this is what life forms everywhere would have adapted to.

And I answered it perfectly. We have found planets much like Earth that is capable of life. The reason we don't actually know is because quite simply; we can't.
If we can't analyze a planet that is exactly like ours for lifeforms similar to ours then how are we going to analyze every planet out there for some form of life?
TL;DR Technology not good enough, stop pming me about not reading the Op, read my post before you pm me.

Search for Extra Terrestrial Life

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