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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CookieLuvsBunny · 31-35, F

Statistically one would think that there is life on other planets. But the distances between inhabited planets is probably so great that they can never know of the other's existence

Ynotisay · M

@CookieLuvsBunny I think you're absolutely right. I'm not sure everyone considers the VASTNESS of the universe. People talk about Alpha Centauri as the nearest body with the potential to sustain life. OK. It's 25 TRILLION miles away from earth. About 300,000 times the distance of the earth to the sun. Not gonna' happen.

CookieLuvsBunny · 31-35, F

@Ynotisay That is true. If there are 200 trillion planets in the observable universe and 1 in every trillion has life that's 200 planets. Life is probably very rare and the chances are slim that two inhabited planets are in "close" proximity to one another

Ynotisay · M

@CookieLuvsBunny Yep. I had to comment because just last night I watched something that showed the observable universe and our place in it. And then it extrapolated out to what else is probably there based on models. It was mind numbing to consider the distance and size. As humans we tend to think it all revolves around us. It doesn't. :)

CookieLuvsBunny · 31-35, F

@Ynotisay I think the idea of a multiverse is intriguing. Hawking thought it possible but I don't think it's available to proof

Ynotisay · M

@CookieLuvsBunny And that's the thing about science. It's all about the proof.

CookieLuvsBunny · 31-35, F

@Ynotisay If it is unprovable then it's a faith statement

Ynotisay · M

@CookieLuvsBunny Yep. I don't tend to swim in those waters which is why the TV shows on alien's and UFO's just blow my mind. :)