Why do people think that we're so special that aliens would ever want to visit us?

The question is pretty self-explanatory. Why? Seriously. Isn't this just the latest manifestation of the, very ancient, belief that mankind is located at the centre of all things, that we're the most important thing in the universe, an idea that was first challenged by the ideas of Copernicus (heliocentrism)?

I really don't care if you "saw something" in the sky you couldn't explain, and then came to the (totally unjustified) conclusion that it could only have been an alien spaceship. I've never seen anything in the sky I couldn't explain, and I've been staring at the clear night skies since I was ten years old. Meteors, satellites, and the ISS are up there, and the moon and stars of course, but not much else. Space is incredibly huge, and in most parts of it nothing much happens.

Look, let's admit it; we're alone. There aren't any spacefaring aliens out there. Investigate this phenomenon for yourself with impartiality, and you'll quickly come to the same realisation that I did, all those years ago.

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BohemianBabe · M

There's billions of planets in the universe. Isn't it unlikely that this is the only one with intelligent life?

Bel6EQUJ5

@BohemianBabe No. Like everyone else who brings up the issue of the universe's vast size, you fail to recognise that while a huge universe may be necessary for the emergence of life, and eventually intelligence, on its own that's not enough. You need the right combination of conditions, like the right type of star. Seventy percent of stars within the Milky Way galaxy are red dwarfs. That means that 70% (at least) of stars within that galaxy are not suitable for even the most basic lifeforms, nevermind intelligent ones.
Synchronous rotation - look into it, because that's what a planet would experience if it were the correct distance from its star for liquid water to exist on its surface, if it orbited a red dwarf.

BohemianBabe · M

@Bel6EQUJ5

You need the right combination of conditions, like the right type of star.

Yes, but with the universe being so big, isn't it more than likely that at least a few of those billions of planets have the right conditions?

Bel6EQUJ5

@BohemianBabe Yes, but even that doesn't help us much, because even if you have the right type of star, you also need to have that star in just the right location within the galaxy. You'll also need a star that lasts a few billion years at least, and many stars don't (ex. blue giants), you'll need a stabiliser (i.e. moon of sufficient mass) to have axial stability, you'll need plate tectonics too (Mars and Mercury don't have that).
The list goes on, and on, and on, and on, and on...

OogieBoogie · F

@Bel6EQUJ5 thats assuming that life is carbon based like us.

Does it have to be?

We have discovered sulphur based life forms on our own planet....so the potentialities of 'intelligent life' must be expanded from our own assumption that it has to be like us.

NativePortlander1970

@BohemianBabe [media=https://youtu.be/o8GA2w-qrcg]

Bel6EQUJ5

@OogieBoogie

That's assuming that life is carbon based like us.

Does it have to be?

Yes, it has to be, because carbon is in all probability the only element upon which life can be based, if one defines "life" as complex self-replication and growth using energy that may eventually lead to the development of even more complexity.

OogieBoogie · F

@Bel6EQUJ5 im not sure it does.
We have found sulfur based life forms, albeit just a type of cave worm, but still😅, that lives in a high sulphur environment, its what its form is based on.
Highly toxic to us....but essential for life for them.

Its discovery rocked the scientific world as it proved that life doesnt have to be carbon based.
Which therefore expands our parameters for sustainable life to potentially be found on other planets.
And sulfur is abundant in the universe along with others like silicon, neon.... magnesium etc

Planets that would otherwise kill us, would be life giving to other life forms

It also poses the question if there are other elements that life could be based upon besides carbon and sulphur.
Which is pretty mind blowing.🤯