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Scientists discover Earth-like, water-rich planet: study

Oftencold said:
Huh?

This is like saying that nothing can be unique, even individuals. We have no way at all of predicting the likelihood. And one expects that the occurrence of super-complex forms such as ourselves would be far less likley.

The fact is that organic life could quite easily be a phenomenon completely limited to this planet. Myself, I doubt there is anything remotely like us anywhere else in Eä
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Human individuals are not that unique. That's populism in the Western world, and particularly North America. The things that define our personalities rely on quite a narrow spectrum in the grand scheme. We can even pathologize our own behaviors with fields like criminology.

We assume we are complex because we are the dominant species, but maybe in reality we are nothing to write home about.
 
If life was confirmed as existing elsewhere in the universe, do you think our governments would actually tell us about it?
 
Orius said:
We assume we are complex because we are the dominant species, but maybe in reality we are nothing to write home about.
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There is nothing in the Known Universe even remotely as complex as the human brain.

Someone once made the illustration that it is the most complex thing in the known universe, as well as the only thing that has discovered the there is a universe.

Recent research suggests the possibility that the brain, as well as certain other biological processes are manipulating matter at the quantum level, which would make things like organic chemistry rudimentary by comparison.

And how would we, without supreme complexity comment on the experience of consuming fine chocolate? What else is complex enough besides man and the higher animals, to experience pleasure?

No. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we are unique.
 
Orius said:
If life was confirmed as existing elsewhere in the universe, do you think our governments would actually tell us about it?
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Governments don't control astronomers. Most discoveries are printed in peer-reviewed journals, over which governments exercise virtually no control. Do you think SETI reports are filtered through the government?

Conspiracy theories have no place in astronomy.
 
A rough estimate of stars in the observable universe is 70 sextillion. That's 70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars.

CNN.com - Star survey reaches 70 sextillion - Jul. 23, 2003

Now, let's assume there is a one-to-one ratio of planets and stars (a low estimate) in the observable universe, meaning there is also 70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 planets. Let's further assume that the likelihood of a planet having life-sustaining conditions similar to those on Earth is a trillionth of a percent.

There would be approximately seven-hundred million planets that are likely to have such conditions. Basically, it's an astronomical crapshoot and it seems very unlikely that the dye were cast in favor of complex life only ONCE in the entire universe.

Obviously, this is all just speculation, but it is reasonable speculation in the absence of direct proof.
 
Oftencold said:
Nope. It's just speculation on a topic about which we know next to nothing.
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Actually, we know A LOT about life and its origins; it's called biology.
 
Oftencold said:
There is nothing in the Known Universe even remotely as complex as the human brain.
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Black holes are pretty damn complex. Same with time... In fact, I'd say there are many things far more complex than the human brain which exist with astonishing regularity, the universe itself being one of them...
Someone once made the illustration that it is the most complex thing in the known universe, as well as the only thing that has discovered the there is a universe.
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That second point you make is absolutely incredible. That is, if we are part of the universe, then the universe itself has become self-aware.... Just blows my mind...

One of my favorite quotes is from Niels Bohr, "A physicist is just an atom's way of looking at itself."
Recent research suggests the possibility that the brain, as well as certain other biological processes are manipulating matter at the quantum level, which would make things like organic chemistry rudimentary by comparison.
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What research would that be?
And how would we, without supreme complexity comment on the experience of consuming fine chocolate? What else is complex enough besides man and the higher animals, to experience pleasure?
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Dolphins, hippos, chimps, whales, dogs, cats, birds, pigs... virtually any social creature.
No. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we are unique.
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I'm constantly surprised at how undistinguished we truly are.
 
Ethereal said:
A rough estimate of stars in the observable universe is 70 sextillion. That's 70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars.

CNN.com - Star survey reaches 70 sextillion - Jul. 23, 2003

Now, let's assume there is a one-to-one ratio of planets and stars (a low estimate) in the observable universe, meaning there is also 70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 planets. Let's further assume that the likelihood of a planet having life-sustaining conditions similar to those on Earth is a trillionth of a percent.

There would be approximately seven-hundred million planets that are likely to have such conditions. Basically, it's an astronomical crapshoot and it seems very unlikely that the dye were cast in favor of complex life only ONCE in the entire universe.

Obviously, this is all just speculation, but it is reasonable speculation in the absence of direct proof.
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There are that many stars in which universe, the observable universe or the one that actually exists?
 
Dav said:
I'm not sure if you're joking but that's not how it works. Boiling point is a physical property that does not change with location.
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It does however, change with pressure, which is different, at different locations...

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_point]Boiling point - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
 
Oh just fine until the evil commies rape me up and chop me into bits...


...please...
 
idk said:
The amount of knowledge about life can not even be compared to the amount of knowledge we have yet to learn.
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Which is a point in MY favor, not your's.
 
idk said:
There are that many stars in which universe, the observable universe or the one that actually exists?
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The observable universe, which probably means there are much more in the entire universe, which is another point in MY favor, not your's.
 
SE102 said:
Oh just fine until the evil commies rape me up and chop me into bits...


...please...
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Hey I'll buy you a ticket just so you can have your fun since you're so convinced North Korea is so benign. You'd get a lot of attention as an American since we are still technically at war. :rofl
 
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EnigmaO01 said:
Hey I'll buy you a ticket just so you can have your fun since you're so convinced North Korea is so benign. You'd get a lot of attention as an American since we are still technically at war. :rofl
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Yeah they'd put a sheet in my passport to stamp so I don't get arrested when I return to america. Thats how evil they are. They'd take me to a fake shopping mall, maybe a factory or two etc. If you bought me a ticket I'd be gone tomorrow.

BBC - BBC Four Documentaries - Holidays in the Axis of Evil

fun documentary for you to watch if you don't believe me.


Im done being off topic in this thread btw.
 
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SE102 said:
Yeah they'd put a sheet in my passport to stamp so I don't get arrested when I return to america. Thats how evil they are. They'd take me to a fake shopping mall, maybe a factory or two etc. If you bought me a ticket I'd be gone tomorrow.

BBC - BBC Four Documentaries - Holidays in the Axis of Evil

fun documentary for you to watch if you don't believe me.


Im done being off topic in this thread btw.
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:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:
 
idk said:
Black holes are pretty damn complex. Same with time... In fact, I'd say there are many things far more complex than the human brain which exist with astonishing regularity, the universe itself being one of them...

That second point you make is absolutely incredible. That is, if we are part of the universe, then the universe itself has become self-aware.... Just blows my mind...

One of my favorite quotes is from Niels Bohr, "A physicist is just an atom's way of looking at itself."

What research would that be?

Dolphins, hippos, chimps, whales, dogs, cats, birds, pigs... virtually any social creature.

I'm constantly surprised at how undistinguished we truly are.
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I suggest that you learn to use Google, that your rebuttals may be more substantive, and appear less petulant.

Here, I've done your work for you:
Some Remarks on an Experiment Suggesting Quantum Like Behavior of Cognitive Entities and Formulation of an Abstract Quantum Mechanical Formalism to Describe Cognitive Entity and its Dynamics

Quantum computation in brain microtubules: Decoherence and biological feasibility

Evidence for Quantum Brain Fluctuations

And a Wikipedia article on [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_biology"]Quantum Biology[/ame]


I further suggest that you learn to increase your reading comprehension and retention, since you cite as a rebuttal certain higher animals that I actually included in my post.

And finally, I recommend that you learn to see, that you might discover that there is nothing which is truly undistinguished.
 
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Oftencold said:
Some Remarks on an Experiment Suggesting Quantum Like Behavior of Cognitive Entities and Formulation of an Abstract Quantum Mechanical Formalism to Describe Cognitive Entity and its Dynamics
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My head asplode.
 
Oftencold said:
I suggest that you learn to use Google, that your rebuttals may be more substantive, and appear less petulant.

Here, I've done your work for you:
Some Remarks on an Experiment Suggesting Quantum Like Behavior of Cognitive Entities and Formulation of an Abstract Quantum Mechanical Formalism to Describe Cognitive Entity and its Dynamics

Quantum computation in brain microtubules: Decoherence and biological feasibility

Evidence for Quantum Brain Fluctuations

And a Wikipedia article on Quantum Biology


I further suggest that you learn to increase your reading comprehension and retention, since you cite as a rebuttal certain higher animals that I actually included in my post.

And finally, I recommend that you learn to see, that you might discover that there is nothing which is truly undistinguished.
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You have a lot of time on your hands up there in Alaska in the winter time no? :lol:
 
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