What are the odds that other life exists?

[sophiecentaur]

I can't even imagine how the global world view would change.

It's amazing that it would get everyone off their backsides much quicker than the obvious potential disaster we already know about. Haha - Intelligent!

 

[valenumr]

It's amazing that it would get everyone off their backsides much quicker than the obvious potential disaster we already know about. Haha - Intelligent!

Would it though? We've been facing multiple existential crises for a while. I don't see too many people leaping from the couch!

 

[symbolipoint]

Well, I was being snarky, as in, there is no intelligent life on earth.

CORRECTION: there is only slightly intelligent life on earth.

 

[woopydalan]

Given the millions of species that have ever existed on earth, there is only one that has been remotely capable of what humans can do. So add that as another 1 in a million factor. But I guess when we're on the order of 10^20 planets, maybe 1 in a million factored in really is meaningless.

 

[BillTre]

If life on Mars were found to be based on DNA, it just means we are martian in origin

That's not necessarily the strongest assumption. DNA is very well suited for storing genetic information and might be a molecule selected in independent origin lineages.
I think it would be a stronger conclusion if the genetic code were drastically different from that on Earth.
Or if some of the important pillars of our metabolism, the ATP synthetase and the electron transport chain proteins that are both conserved among all Earth life. Both of these are very large complex proteins that depend upon a cell membrane for their function.

An alternative is that life on Earth might have gotten to Mars (however Mars has less of a gravity well to escape).

I don't think that life from another planet, when closely examined, would be all that difficult to identify.
This is because any life being shot off another planet (by an impact?), and then traveling through space for a (possibly) extended period of time, and then entering into our atmosphere to land on Earth, would probably require a pretty sophisticated outer coating (like a cell wall). They would also have to able to suspend life functions for the period of their trip. A strong cell coating that would not be found in the simple life forms that could possibly have lead to something LUCA (ancestor of all earthly life). This seems to be independantly derived traits of the bacterial and archaeal lineages.
If a life form came to Earth with these traits already established, those traits (independently derived by the alien life form before getting to Earth, and thus likely different in some way) would likely be revealing of them, as not be of our earthly lineage of life. If they did not have those traits, I doubt they could successfully make the journey.

 

[sophiecentaur]

there is only one that has been remotely capable of what humans can do.

The difference between humans and a number of intelligent species is much less than you claim. In another million years, a different species could be where we are now.
Although the assumption that "what humans can do" means 'what good they can do'. Human activity has not done a lot for their long term survival so it may not be the best benchmark to be judging success against.

 

[Sciencelad2798]

The difference between humans and a number of intelligent species is much less than you claim. In another million years, a different species could be where we are now.
Although the assumption that "what humans can do" means 'what good they can do'. Human activity has not done a lot for their long term survival so it may not be the best benchmark to be judging success against.

I had a question similar to this. Does free will exist, and if not, does this mean something is controlling us?

 

[symbolipoint]

I had a question similar to this. Does free will exist, and if not, does this mean something is controlling us?

No, no, the topic or thread should not be pushed into that direction.

 

[Sciencelad2798]

No, no, the topic or thread should not be pushed into that direction.

Sorry I thought that's where it was heading, it's been bothering me though. If our choices are predetermined isn't that evidence of a creator guiding us into doing something

 

[berkeman]

Sigh. Thread closed for Moderation.

 

[PeterDonis]

If our choices are predetermined isn't that evidence of a creator guiding us into doing something

A warning has already been given in this thread that discussion of a "creator" is off topic.

Since you did not choose to heed the warning, this thread will remain closed.