Thread: Do you believe in aliens(extra terrestrials)?

I wonder, we know that we exist here and call ourselves intelligent. But if we didn't have us how probable would the existence of intelligence seem in the Universe (to a "non-intelligent" observer, e.g a god that in no way interferes otherwise with this Universe)?

We could have been knocked out before evolving intelligence (and it can still happen). What would the estimates look like if we didn't have us and our planet to rely on as an example that definitely has intelligence?

Or, can we conclude based on a single observance (ourselves), that intelligence as we know it is a physical necessity that must evolve given self-replication of molecules, suitable conditions and sufficient time? Or could we be a one-time anomaly?

Or, aren't there an infinite number of ways how our intelligence could have developed (and industrial and infotechnological revolution being just one)? Physics (modern science) in a way applies universally, but then it could be argued to be just an abstraction - one possible intelligent attitude towards the surroundings out of infinite possibilities? Aren't there infinite development paths that intelligence could take which would never lead to the idea and possibility to leave the planet? (Why would any intelligent race really want to do that?)

Originally Posted by anon

We could have been knocked out before evolving intelligence (and it can still happen). What would the estimates look like if we didn't have us and our planet to rely on as an example that definitely has intelligence?

Don't be discouraged, anon. We are too close now to give up. Our computers can and will evolve into the alien machine children of the future, who, acting in unison with other such beings similarly developed by other civilizations gigadistances away, invented time and maybe even three dimensions as well so that we could be here in the present working on the problem.

Why do they have to have intelligence? Maybe they have something, which we can't think of, since humans can't invent new stuff, like a new color or whatever xP
Maybe they just have the skillz to make computers, UFO's and radios that go to earth, but have no idea what they're doing, or saying into the radio :O which would explain the strange noises aliens make in movies xP

Originally Posted by Akkernight

in movies

ಠ_ಠ
...

four dimensions

spacetime, length, width, and height

Originally Posted by ಠ_ಠ

four dimensions

spacetime, length, width, and height

Would it be best to use floats or double for this?

Who believes that the universe is infinite?

If the universe is infinite, that would require an infinite amount of matter, right?

And who, or what could be the sourc e of infinite matter?

Originally Posted by happyclown

If the universe is infinite, that would require an infinite amount of matter, right?

nope

Originally Posted by ಠ_ಠ

nope

I can't see how they could be mutually exclusive.

empty space

@happyclown: roolling his own again

If the universe is infinite, why is matter finite? Why does matter stop at some point, and empty space extends to infinity?

Or does the universe end at the point where matter stops?

I don't get it.

Mass is a property of matter, and space is a function of mass. "Height" is a property of vertical space and BREADTH is a property of horizontal space. Put it out now before you choke.

It's all so self-oriented.

Originally Posted by happyclown

If the universe is infinite, why is matter finite? Why does matter stop at some point, and empty space extends to infinity?

Or does the universe end at the point where matter stops?

I don't get it.

The universe isn't infinite. At the moment of the Big Bang, the universe was infinitesmally small, then space began exploding outward in all directions and it's still expanding now.

Think of space as the ocean and matter as boats floating on the ocean. Now imagine that the ocean is expanding in every direction. That's the universe.