Are we really alone in the middle of the universe?

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

I'll have to start by giving credit to this thread for giving me the idea:

World's biggest hacker held -up to 70years in jail, for UFOs
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1317271#1317271

I was reading it, and wondered what do you think about the subject. Are we alone in the universe?, is there really intelligent life out there?, have they already contacted us and there's a big government cover up?, are they among us now?.

Maybe I've just been watching too many X-files episodes lately...

What do you think?


I think that we are NOT alone, it's impossible that in such a HUGE universe we are the only race that developed an intelligence enough to start travelling through space. I also believe that they must have contacted us in some way and that the government is hiding something. The Roswell crash, Area 51... too clouded to be certain of anything, but there is something for sure, and we are not told the whole thruth.
I myself have witnessed some strange UFOs in my life, too strange to be "regular" airplanes.
What do you think?, are we alone?...

[jackal70058]

We're probly not alone. The universe is endless, and who knows what's out there.

I don't know if we have any proof. I don't think the government would want to hold that back if they know, what would they have to get out of it? I do know that they aren't always trustworthing but the government like to create panic so this would be a great way.

[Mister Flonk-Flonk]

What makes you think we're in the middle of it anyways? Odds are that we're probably closer to one of the edges of it than the middle of it.

[smearbrick1]

We're probly not alone. The universe is endless, and who knows what's out there.

I don't know if we have any proof. I don't think the government would want to hold that back if they know, what would they have to get out of it? I do know that they aren't always trustworthing but the government like to create panic so this would be a great way.

The government sees the public as children that need to be sheltered from the big bad world. It's no coincedence that they initiated several probes into the viability of life existing on other planets and the probability of being visited by that life (ie: Project Blue Book). Even if they didn't know the truth, too many attempts have been to cover up seemingly innocuous happenings. For example: How many different times have they changed their stories about Roswell. Everytime there is big stink raised about it, there is yet another story cooked up. It may very have been a dummy and test parachute, but no one will ever believe the story because they have lied about so much. They try to spread so much misinformation that the only thing they do is fuel conspiracy theory fire.

For Christ's sake, admit that there is something out there you don't understand and can't control!!!!

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

What makes you think we're in the middle of it anyways? Odds are that we're probably closer to one of the edges of it than the middle of it.

It's just an expression, or would you be more comfortable If i say "Are we alone in the outskirts of the universe?
Jokes aside, if the theory of the big explosion is true (the most accepted at this time), then, as the universe expands we are also being closer to the center.

I don't think the government would want to hold that back if they know, what would they have to get out of it?.

Everything!, let's suppose that they REALLY had contact with aliens, they could try to reverse-engineer their technology (obviously for military applications), besides, as Smearbrick1 posted, they like to see us as "little kids" that need to be protected from everything, and news like this would have an enormous impact, a gargantual impact I might say over the people.
Just think of what this may represent (actual confirmation of extraterrestrial intelligent life) to our planet, to our beliefs. I don't want to turn this thread religious, but what do you think it would mean to most religions of the world to realize this?, panic on the streets, and other nasty stuff that would happen if something like this leaked out uncontrolled.

For Christ's sake, admit that there is something out there you don't understand and can't control!!!!

You have my signature on your petition.

[Byronleehk]

There is NOT WAY we are alone in this universe.

I don't want to start anything here but I had doubts about where the name God came from? What gave them the idea of what God is like? etc etc.

Just my 2 cents.

[shelbyGT]

If you came to Kansas, you'd find some people that think the Earth is 6,000 years old and that evolution is false.

Politics aside (sorry), I think that there is something, somewhere out there. Whether or not we will ever meet them, I have no idea. Like you all said, it's a big place. We could be right next door to them and never know it.

[pbhalerao]

99% of the stars have a planetary system. And there are zillions and zillions of stars. Now it is just not possible that there exists life only on earth. This is too fantastic a coincidence.

Scientists have put a theory that any planet that has conditions like earth (oxygen filled atmosphere, water, enough sunlight and warmth, etc.) can be a candidate for living inhabitants. I will go a step further - just because earthlings require oxygen and water to survive does not mean that other life forms will require the same. Why, there may be life forms which survive by breathing nitrogen or chlorine!

Carbon has the unique property of forming tetrahedral bonds and combining to form a long chain structure to give rise to a giant molecule. This has been one of the other essential requirements for forming bodies. But there may be lifeforms made up of lower metals or silicon.

Really the possibility is endless and limited only by our imagination.

[pbhalerao]

We're probly not alone. The universe is endless, and who knows what's out there.

I don't know if we have any proof. I don't think the government would want to hold that back if they know, what would they have to get out of it? I do know that they aren't always trustworthing but the government like to create panic so this would be a great way.

The government sees the public as children that need to be sheltered from the big bad world. It's no coincedence that they initiated several probes into the viability of life existing on other planets and the probability of being visited by that life (ie: Project Blue Book). Even if they didn't know the truth, too many attempts have been to cover up seemingly innocuous happenings. For example: How many different times have they changed their stories about Roswell. Everytime there is big stink raised about it, there is yet another story cooked up. It may very have been a dummy and test parachute, but no one will ever believe the story because they have lied about so much. They try to spread so much misinformation that the only thing they do is fuel conspiracy theory fire.

For Christ's sake, admit that there is something out there you don't understand and can't control!!!!

The government has a very patronizing attitude. The people in the military high-ranks, CIA/FBI (add any other agency here) believe that common people are too weak, fearfull, etc. and need protection. They feel that we ar not ready for it all. Now that could be true to some extent. Sometime back in 1930's the radio play of H.G.Wells' 'War of the Worlds' caused widespread panic in New York and surrounding areas. People thought that they have really been attacked by Martians.

Again films like ET and many fictions have not shown the government in good light.

[rkr1958]

I don't believe massive conspiracies ... well ones that can last for several decades. I think people give the "Governement" too much credit when they attribute a massive conspiaracy to them ... such as Area 52.

I do believe that since the Universe is so massive that life does exist elsewhere but, since the Universe is so massive ... life from two different Worlds may never come in contact with each other. I believe this boils downs to whether or not the speed of light is the limiting factor on how fast anything can travel.

[Conquest10]

I don't believe massive conspiracies ... well ones that can last for several decades. I think people give the "Governement" too much credit when they attribute a massive conspiaracy to them ... such as Area 52.

I do believe that since the Universe is so massive that life does exist elsewhere but, since the Universe is so massive ... life from two different Worlds may never come in contact with each other. I believe this boils downs to whether or not the speed of light is the limiting factor on how fast anything can travel.

Just as I was thinking. The universe is so massive that there may be intelligent life and we are not aware of them nor are they aware of us and are probably wondering if they are alone. I also believe there may be unintelligent life out there (that didn't sound right. Life like animals I meant).

[pbhalerao]

Anyone who saw MIB which showed some of the "aliens living in the guise of humans", would possibly never doubt it ...

[Darth Paris]

I would say that some other life has evolved somewhere at some point. I doubt they have ever reached earth. The earth is relatively young by universal standards so more then likely another spiecies would have died off or killed themselves at this point in time.

[Faustus]

Doubt it.

http://www-astro.physics.ox.ac.uk/~wjs/apm_colour.gif

Thats just what we can see.

[Cobra]

I'm pretty certain that there will be intelligent life out there, but the physical distance between us means that we can't reach out. As well as that, how would you know where to look?

[Faustus]

Besides if two cultures who were vastly different suddenly came into contact one or both would get really screwed up by it. Likely the less advanced one.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

A very common assumption is that "Aliens" would be much more intelligent and have technology far superior to our own.

I believe, sure, this is very well possible.
However, it is also possible that WE are the more advanced ones. There could be a planet somewhere, far away, in which they have not yet gone into space. They could have some very limited technology, such as the Middle Ages. The possibility of their technology being behind ours is just as likely as being ahead of ours.

And, of course I do believe that there are those who have technology superior to ours who have visited as, and visited us for as long as we as a species can remember (Ancient cave paintings give evidence that they have been visiting us for a very long time...)
I believe they started visiting this planet a very, very long time ago. Like back before we have become fully evolved (to the form as we are now), and they even may have educated us in some ways (such as how to create fire)
They have been watching us for all this time, and obviously find us to be quite an interesting species. And, if you stop and think about it, we really are. Most notably because we simply can not get along. We are very violence prone. Whether it be random attacks on the street, bank robberies gone bad, or something as massive as World War II, we seem to always be trying to kill each other. We don't seem to truly appreciate the value of a fellow human life.
Perhaps they had hoped to acheieve some sort of relationship/fellowship/dealings/etc with us, but due to our violent nature, they decided it would be best to keep in the shadows, away and hidden from the general public. Perhaps they asked the government to keep them hidden from the general public's knowledge? If this is the case, then I would respect their choice in not wanting us to know about them.
But, who knows... these are only my thoughts.

I can go on and on and on for quite some time... But, I've already typed quite a bit and I doubt the chances of my entire post being read.

Reading this thread reminded me of my fascination with Aliens/UFO's/MIB/etc, which i have long forgotten about. I have a book I never finished entitled "Aliens Among Us" which is quite interesting (dont remember the author). I think I'll start reading it again.........

[MackemX]

I watched this program ages ago but that also made you think as there may not only be just 1 universe!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2001/paralleluni.shtml

[pchan]

The are billions... and billions of stars in this universe. Astronomers are discovering more and more planet system outside our solar system. By chance or coincidence, it possible to develope life supporting system out there.

If they show at our doorstep... that will be the end of us.

[garman]

How do you define intelligence. Aren't we the species who kill for oil, religion, greed, etc. We create our own demise by poluting our air, water and food. Anyway, if I were an alien from another planet I would wait to see if we kill ourselves or fix or problems before appearing.
On another note Frank Drake he came up with an equation to determine the number of extraterrestrial species living in our universe. Here's the link the the "Drake Equation"
http://www.activemind.com/Mysterious/Topics/SETI/drake_equation.html
Good fun if you believe! -garman

[Deku Scrub]

I believe there is a good chance of life out there, but I do not believe for one second that they have visited earth.

Who's gonna travel all that way just for some anal probes, crop circles, and random abductions? Not gonna happen.

[lordsmurf]

The universe is endless,

That's not necessarily true. The universe is an ever-expanding body, that may or may not tether and snap back (retract) from time to time, for which case, all reality resets along a certain cycle, like a bungee cord.

Another thing that the religious should take note of is the theory of the big bang can include an "aftermath" of sorts, the brilliance of the event (all white?) where "heaven" may reside, for those that believe in such a thing. Religion or not, it makes for an interesting thought, an "outer boundary" if you will. The space beyond space.

When it comes to space, theories abound. You can easily take science, religion and science fiction, and create a cohesive and very believable theory. To believe in a creator, an afterlife, life on other planets, and good old eyes-through-the-telescope science does NOT require a "stretch" like many believe.

Take some advanced astronomy courses. Especially ones that involve heavy physics and theoretical studies.

If anything, the ones that believe in simple theories are the ones that are nuts.

[Faustus]

"Aliens landed saying our planet wasn't worth invading,
cuz all the natural resources are fading."

~Deltron 3030.

[AlecWest]

After having just rewatched my backups of Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" series, I'm more convinced than ever that there has to be other intelligent life in the universe ... some civilizations more technologically advanced than we are, some less advanced. The odds in favor of this are (pun intended) astronomical ... and the only thing I'm skeptical about are the skeptics themselves.

Here's another thought. A few years ago, the editor of Physics Today magazine wrote a short SF story that appeared in Aboriginal Science Fiction magazine. It started out with a man standing outside a theater at night, waiting for his wife to come out so they could go home. While waiting, a homeless man came up to him and tried to make conversation. The man just turned the other way and tried hard to ignore the homeless guy. But, the homeless guy was persistent and finally, the man turned to him and asked what he wanted.

The homeless guy said he was just trying to make polite conversation. He told the man he was a former NASA employee who'd been forced out of a job due to funding cuts ... and no one else would hire him because he was considered overqualified. Then, the homeless guy told the man that aliens really existed and that he'd even seen and communicated with them.

The man was skeptical and asked the homeless guy why the aliens haven't ever announced themselves. The homeless guy responded something like this:

"Because they see us as an inferior species. We're poor stewards of our own planet. We take much from our environment but give back little. We involve ourselves in wars inspired by greed and our desire to control other peoples. In short, to aliens, Earthers are the street people of the universe. And whenever we try to get their attention, they merely turn away from us and try hard to ignore us."

From the Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce:

Mythology - n. The body of a primitive people’s beliefs concerning its origin, early history, heroes, deities and so forth, as distinguished from the true accounts which it invents later.