![Akhi](/data/avatars/l/38/38407.jpg?1722967342)
Akhi
cavill enthusiast
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2023
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One of my favorite topics:
If there are so many earth-like planets out there, why haven‘t we detected any sings of life-forms on other planets? Our galaxy alone contains multiple billions of rocky earth-like planets, and there are billions to trillions of other, even bigger galaxies out there.
Even if lightspeed is very slow in comparison to the vast distances of the universe, we should‘ve detected something as of now, even if life and intelligence develops very rarely.
You have to realize that even with our current technology, due to exponential expansion, it would take merely a few millions years to colonize the galaxy, which is a tiny timeframe in comparison to the age of the universe.
Even if there was only a tiny, tiny chance of life developing towards a technological civilization, we should have evidence of them everywhere. The galaxy would be full of life, because only a single species would need to make it.
But theres nothing.
So, whats your solution? Here is mine:
In order to advance to a technological civilization, life has to pass so many ‚filters‘ that it becomes rare to the point even life on Earth is insanely unlikely. We are the first and probably only, and last planet that will develop life.
From Abiogenesis, to multicellular life, to the evolution of the brain, all those chances multiplied together are such a tiny fraction that it obliterates the amount of ‚chances‘ the universe ‚gets.‘
This is not even talking about the fact that our laws of physics, if adjusted even by a tiny bit, would make the universe inhospitable. I‘m talking about the 100 decimal of physical constants.
So, the fact that I‘m even able to ponder this question is more than a miracle, which brings us to all sorts of interesting philosophical questions.
Do you seek the answer in divine revelation?
I‘m a big fan of the anthropic principle. It boils down to the following: If the universe wasn‘t like it is, I wouldn‘t even be able to ask myself this question.
Thoughts?
If there are so many earth-like planets out there, why haven‘t we detected any sings of life-forms on other planets? Our galaxy alone contains multiple billions of rocky earth-like planets, and there are billions to trillions of other, even bigger galaxies out there.
Even if lightspeed is very slow in comparison to the vast distances of the universe, we should‘ve detected something as of now, even if life and intelligence develops very rarely.
You have to realize that even with our current technology, due to exponential expansion, it would take merely a few millions years to colonize the galaxy, which is a tiny timeframe in comparison to the age of the universe.
Even if there was only a tiny, tiny chance of life developing towards a technological civilization, we should have evidence of them everywhere. The galaxy would be full of life, because only a single species would need to make it.
But theres nothing.
So, whats your solution? Here is mine:
In order to advance to a technological civilization, life has to pass so many ‚filters‘ that it becomes rare to the point even life on Earth is insanely unlikely. We are the first and probably only, and last planet that will develop life.
From Abiogenesis, to multicellular life, to the evolution of the brain, all those chances multiplied together are such a tiny fraction that it obliterates the amount of ‚chances‘ the universe ‚gets.‘
This is not even talking about the fact that our laws of physics, if adjusted even by a tiny bit, would make the universe inhospitable. I‘m talking about the 100 decimal of physical constants.
So, the fact that I‘m even able to ponder this question is more than a miracle, which brings us to all sorts of interesting philosophical questions.
Do you seek the answer in divine revelation?
I‘m a big fan of the anthropic principle. It boils down to the following: If the universe wasn‘t like it is, I wouldn‘t even be able to ask myself this question.
Thoughts?
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