Quote:
Originally Posted by tryreading  I think about this all the time. Considering the billions of stars in just our galaxy, and the likelihood that planets have formed around most of them, there really has to be other life, and a lot of it, in our galaxy.
But the problem is, why aren't we aware of life existing other than on Earth? There should be signs, like radio waves, or funny lights out there that we can detect. We should be able to see 'them.'
That's the basis of the Fermi Paradox. If life does exist, it should be everywhere. If its not everywhere, it doesn't exist, except for us.
But if life doesn't exist, except for us, there has to be an explanation. Do all civilizations eventually kill themselves off, like we are capable of doing today? |
Our solar system is but one of millions in our own Milky Way Galaxy. Except for our planets, every star you see in the night sky is a sun with or without it's own planets...forming it's own solar system within our galaxy. And from photographs, our solar system is towards the end of the spiral of the Milky Way Galaxy, and not deep within the galaxy.
Radio waves did not leave Earth until the 1950s. Even now, radio waves from Earth will only be about 50 light years from Earth...not nearly far enough for intelligent alien life to capture. So, most likely, alien life may not know we exist.
On the other hand, we may be known to several alien species, as documented by UFO sightings and other such stuff, but for some reason not ready for any First Contact event. Who knows! The possibilities are endless.
As for the Fermi Paradox...I don't agree with it. Life does not have to exist everywhere. In fact, life does
not appear everywhere (at least not to our knowledge). For humans to believe this ridiculous "theory" is witness human stupidity up close. It also points our arrogance in assuming that we are the only life in the vastness of space.
Linear Mode
Main
Extras
