The answer to this question for me at least is incredibly obvious, especially in light of all the recent astronomical observations of planets around other stars and considering the huge estimated numbers of planets similar to earth in the universe. It's a matter of probability! Thus far of course, scientists have no direct proof of life outside the Earth, but what do people think? Y or N?
The probabilities of life elsewhere in the universe is undeniable. That being said, It's unlikely we'll ever meet life on other planets, let alone intelligent life. Comes down to distance.
Yes
As you say, it's just a matter of probability. It's a given in my mind, but even finding the most rudimentary microbe on another world in our solar system would raise that probability astronomically (no pun intended) to the extent that we could start talking about sentience.
Given the sheer unimaginable vastness of the universe there is surely a high probability of life in a variety of forms on other planets within our galaxy and beyond in other galaxies. I think it exceedingly unlikely that we are the only life form in the universe.
I'm not so arrogant as to imagine that we're the only ones floatin' around !
While the probabilities are superficially good, until we actually find life elsewhere, we can't say for sure. If the odds of life arising are low enough, we may be unique. Like the odds of a monkey typing Hamlet by chance. Doesn't matter how many monkeys you have, it's odds are so low as to be effectively zero.
That's true good point. Like quantum mechanics where anything 'can' happen but probabilities are so low that we'll never see them.
According to one estimate:
"Frank Drake's own current solution to the Drake Equation estimates 10,000 communicative civilizations in the Milky Way"
Then counting the number oif estimated galaxies which by the way keeps growing, currently at about 10^12 galaxies (https://phys.org/news/2017-01-universe-trillion-galaxies.html)
That's 10^12 x 10^4 = 10^16 = 10 000 000 000 000 000
Of course not all galaxies are equal, so this is a very basic way to find an estimate.
But no matter how conservative you get here it's still going to be a 1 with quite a few zeros attached
There is not a doubt in my mind given how unfathomably big the universe is. I find it highly unlikely that we are the only sentient life in our galaxy much less the universe.
There has to be something living out there.
I've mentioned the Drake equation (whichever incarnation you want to choose) and the Fermi paradox elsewhere on Agnostic.com. The numbers make very compelling arguments.
Now the question seems to be Why is there no evidence of ET life yet?. It is becoming apparent that believing we are alone is a step beyond arrogance.
What @TheMiddleWay said with some reservations. I am 99.9999...9% sure there is life elsewhere in the Universe, perhaps in our solar system. I won't go the full distance because of the same reasoning he brought up.
@NerdyOkieDude -- The one with the Frank and Sullivan modifications taking into account Kepler and more recent data. Yes. Here's a slap shot I took at it just now. The article is well written.
It's only a matter of time before we get confirmation. But it will not be in the UFOs field that it will be confirmed, but after our civilization leaves the boundaries of our solar system. So centuries from now.
of course but how far away it is will be the difficulty
The Fermi Paradox suggests there is a high probability of extraterrestrial life. So, I think keeping an open mind about the existence of ETs rather than denying the possibility is the better way to think. When proof presents itself maybe I'll feel a little better inside.
For me it's not really a paradox that there are high estimates for the probability of alien life and yet a lack of evidence, as there are such vast distances between solar systems. This may prove or not prove to be an impenetrable 'barrier' to meeting other life forms directly. However, I am hopeful that with improving radio telescopes and other receiving instruments that in the future we would at least be able to pick up signals proving their existence, signals that could only have come from another intelligence.
Fiction mimics reality. The movie, Avator, takes place on a moon of a gas giant planet in the Apha Centauri system. Moons of gas giants in our home system possibly harbor life. The question about life anywhere other than earth may be answered within the next couple of decades, not to mention other planets in other star systems. So what will happen is we'll discover life and Christian missionaries will be the first to go there and try to convert the inhabitants.
IF Xtian Missio9naries do ever go to another planet and try to convert them, then the inhabitants of those planets will most certainly have my deepest and most sincere sympathies and condolences.
@Triphid I'm including the microbial life that may exist on the moons of our solar system's gas giants. (My view of the absurdity of christian missionaries.)
While I'm certain, by simple probability, that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe; I'm also comparatively certain that it has not visited us, simply by the distances involved.
It would SHEER, Unadulterated Human Religious fed Arrogance to think/believe that only this 1 single planet amid possibly millions in the Universe would have some sort of life on it.
As to whether that life-form may be intelligent or not is another question since We humans see ourselves as being the 'Pinnacle of Intelligence and Evolution' then I ask Who are we to actually judge since WE can't even manage to get along with members of our OWN species.
Very true!!