Is there life on other planets?

Considering the number of stars in the universe, even if only a few of them have planets, it seems highly unlikely that Earth is the only planet supporting life.

However, it seems that all life on Earth evolved from a single ancestor, suggesting that abiogenesis is extremely rare. It is possibly so rare that it has only ever happened once anywhere?

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FeetAreFantastic · 41-45, M

I think it is pretty certain that there is life in abundance in the universe and not rare at all. It just seems rare because it is so unfathomably far way because the universe is so incomprehensibly big.

So likewise, abiogenesis would not be rare either. I don't know how evolving from a single ancestor changes that. That single ancestor could have come to be via abiogenesis.

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@FeetAreFantastic [quote] I don't know how evolving from a single ancestor changes that. [/quote]
If abiogenesis were common, I would expect to find more than one evolutionary line.

FeetAreFantastic · 41-45, M

@suzie1960 Common in the universe, not necessarily common on this planet alone.
But who says there were not multiple evolutionary lines? I don't know the details though. Has it been scientifically demonstrated that there was just one single ancestor of all life on earth?

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@FeetAreFantastic I believe the evidence is currently pointing to a single point of origin.

FeetAreFantastic · 41-45, M

@suzie1960 Okay. Well that doesn't change what I said. There is still life in abundance in the universe as abiogenesis would not be rare at all on this scale. :)

DudeistPriest · M

@suzie1960 I agree and believe the gov't has known about it for many decades but is hiding it from the public. Here's an example of a variety that are said to have visited:

* https://img.youtube.com/vi/YuwDXukkI9U/0.jpg