Is there life on Mars?

~~Cuthbert~~ · 07-27-2015, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyislingering

..or any other place within the galaxy outside of earth?

This is an absolute certainty, all things considered.

All you'd need to do was find something like yeast on another planet.

I think they've found evidence of underground water on Mars now.

@Chula do your thing mate.

Trollheart · 07-27-2015, 05:34 AM

Given the vastness of our own galaxy, only one in a massive number of galaxies in our own local group, and that only a tiny portion of the universe, and given how long the universe is accepted to have existed, I think technologies could exist out there that we have no conception of, and so literally anything could be possible.

**Frownland** · 07-27-2015, 08:04 AM

Very informative tore, thanks for posting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

If you believe in the possibility of extraterrestrial life, then why could they not have visited this planet? I'm not a UFO nut, I don't necessarily believe abductions happen, but I'm not arrogant enough to state they categorically did not. They could have, is what I'm saying. And a lot of the stories abductees tell are remarkably similar. Didn't any of you watch The X-Files?

Is it more stupid to believe in the possibility of life on other worlds (which then allows they may have visited ours) than to put your faith in a concept with no empirical evidence to back it up at all, to believe in a god? I'm not saying there's anything wrong with believing in God or a god, but it's just as much a leap of faith as allowing the chance that some --- probably not all, or even that many, but some --- of these abductees may in fact be recalling actual experiences. I don't know for sure they did, but by the same token you don't know for sure that they didn't, so you have to be open to the possibility.

"You know what, Vort The Invincible? Sometimes I look up at the sky and I wonder ... could there be other intelligent life out there?"

Overwhelming lack of evidence from abductees and the whole paranoid and very recent culture revolving around allegedly alien UFOs is enough for me to call horse**** on the 'abductees'. Of course it's not impossible that aliens visited us but I highly doubt it. I'm not religious either because of the same lack of evidence.

Xurtio · 07-27-2015, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

This is basically what I mentioned, but knowing a planet's chemical composition generally does not tell us if there's life on it. And also as I mentioned, the greater the mass of a planet, the easier it is to detect this way and so as a method, it favours detection of big planets which tend to be inhospitable gas giants.

It's a ROC curve - and a ROC curve that favors false positives since there's no danger in false negatives. If your planet is made entirely of only five or six elements, or has no key elements like oxygen or carbon, the chances of life having formed there are approaching 0.

Edit: also your point that it doesn't tell you if life is there is a good one too. Even if carbon and oxygen are there, there's no guarantee that life is there. Of course, this is all in the drake equation.

Trollheart · 07-27-2015, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Very informative tore, thanks for posting.

Overwhelming lack of evidence from abductees and the whole paranoid and very recent culture revolving around allegedly alien UFOs is enough for me to call horse**** on the 'abductees'. Of course it's not impossible that aliens visited us but I highly doubt it. I'm not religious either because of the same lack of evidence.

Yeah I'm not a believer like I said, but just open to the possibility. Maybe aliens stole my three grand this morning?

And of course you knew this was coming...

**Frownland** · 07-27-2015, 12:26 PM

I'm open to the possibility as well, but anything supporting that possibility is not present, so saying all those abductees can't be wrong...makes it sound like you've accepted the possibility even though the only evidence is anecdotal.

Trollheart · 07-27-2015, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I'm open to the possibility as well, but anything supporting that possibility is not present, so saying all those abductees can't be wrong...makes it sound like you've accepted the possibility even though the only evidence is anecdotal.

I didn't mean they're all right, I meant some of them may be. Probably badly phrased I'll grant you. Was mostly in jest anyway but I don't like to assume I know everything (even though I do) and so always allow for the possibility that there may be some grain of truth in it. Maybe.

Pretty sure they were the ones stole my money though. I mean, I've never even been to Galactic Supply Station K-21, never mind bought a sixpack of triple strength Neptunian brandy...

Mr. Charlie · 07-27-2015, 01:56 PM

I like newts.

Xurtio · 07-27-2015, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Charlie

I like newts.

Jesus was schizophrenic

Mr. Charlie · 07-27-2015, 03:28 PM

Jesus is dead. Where as I saw a living newt today.

View Poll Results: Are aliens a thing?
Without a doubt.	6	31.58%
I don't know.	5	26.32%
Nope.	2	10.53%
Go home, Lady, you're drunk.	6	31.58%
Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

07-27-2015, 05:34 AM	#52 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Given the vastness of our own galaxy, only one in a massive number of galaxies in our own local group, and that only a tiny portion of the universe, and given how long the universe is accepted to have existed, I think technologies could exist out there that we have no conception of, and so literally anything could be possible. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

07-27-2015, 12:26 PM	#56 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	I'm open to the possibility as well, but anything supporting that possibility is not present, so saying all those abductees can't be wrong...makes it sound like you've accepted the possibility even though the only evidence is anecdotal. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

07-27-2015, 01:56 PM	#58 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	I like newts.

07-27-2015, 03:28 PM	#60 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	Jesus is dead. Where as I saw a living newt today.