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Life on other planets?

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"The origins of life in our galaxy and the search for alien life outside our solar system will be at the forefront of discussions by experts in Edinburgh.

The scientists are gathering at Edinburgh's Royal Observatory for this year's annual workshop, which runs from Wednesday until Friday.

Members of the public will also hear about some of the research in this year's public talk, 'Are We Alone?'.

There are now more than 300 planets known beyond our own Solar System.

Known as exo-planets, they are likely to be discovered with the completion of instruments such as Scuba 2, a camera to detect dust from the earliest phases of the formation of galaxies and, in the near future, the James Webb Space Telescope, an orbiting telescope to catch the first light of the universe.

'Fundamental questions'

The aim of the workshop is to gather researchers from areas including astrophysics, geophysics and biology to discuss astronomical instruments, both present and future, and laboratory based experiments studying extreme environments.

The workshop has five sessions, over three days, with key speakers in astrobiology, atmospheric physics and astrophysics, from universities across the country and several international institutions.

Professor Ian Robson, director of the STFC UK Astronomy and Technology Centre (UKATC), the national centre for astronomical technology, housed at the Royal Observatory, said: "The UK ATC is a world-leader in designing, building and delivery facility-class instruments to the world's greatest observatories, seeking answers to the most fundamental of questions regarding our universe.

"The search for life is truly one of these and so the UK ATC is very enthusiastic in taking a leading role in developing such capability."

This year's public lecture, 'Are We Alone?' will be given by Professor Monica Grady, professor of planetary and space science at the Open University. "
DeliaTheArtist

13 responses // Life on other planets?

  •  

    we are not alone.

    MyDigitalSin
    2 responses to this
  •  

    i simply dont get that there "must be life" on other planets...or elsewhere.

    i get it if the universe is finite in size...but my understanding is that if something is infinitely large, or approaches infinity, then at the same time it approaches being infinitely small.

    i.e. the argument that the universe is infinitely big so must support life elsewhere is equally valid in vice versa- i.e. it is so big that it is so small and the chance of anything replicating life on earth, in such a small sample, is virtually zero.

    i heard this explained once by a professor during a UFO conference and since then havent heard it.

    to me it makes sense.

    akatimnewman
    1 response to this
  •  

    i guess the key in the infinite size statement is "as it approaches infinity it simultaneously approaches both large and small."

    im not sure but i think the universe can be infinitely large whilst expanding, but not contracting.

    for me, the difficulty in comprehension is that we have this big bang theory and expansion and so on- but what is it expanding into?...that is perhaps the infinite space.

    my head hurts.

    akatimnewman
  •  

    We better not be alone, c'mon you think we are the only ones in this vast universe

    BIOHAZARD
  •  

    i dont have an opinion either way. all im saying is that statistically we have no proof after years of looking, so the evidence is that there is none. Adopting the same rationale for the existing of life, whats the chance of finding a planet with similar conditions as ours- and in the same timescale?..on a long enough timeline its zero. and with enough possible combinations of conditions its also zero. maybe life has existed and become extinct already, maybe when we can search effectively, what is there now isnt there anymore.. what if the rate that our searches increase at, is slower than the rate of the expansion of the universe?..to me, its an equal bet either way. so yes im comfortable in thinking that we are alone. but equally that there is life out there.

    the thing that weighs against us is how and if we can find it. it might be teeming with life but if we cant find it for the many reasons working against it, then we might as well be alone.

    akatimnewman
  •  

    Wowww....

    emezajr
  •  

    look up hubble's journey, there a several pictures that show millions of galaxies similar to ours. How are we the only thing alive out here? The aliens just don't want to be a part of our mess man...

    krush_producions
  •  

    looking for other life and focusing our attention to the stars seems a lot of resources wasted to me. We should focus on getting everything on this world right first. Thats a big task, but then again, its a big world.

    oliholmes
  •  

    i agree with oil. part of what i left out though is that if life does exist, they may be also looking like we are, so that swings it back.
    the idea that the size and number of other bits in the universe must mean that other life exists doesnt appear valid.- moreso when you add a timeline.

    now, if we can time travel in both directions then to me, it makes it more possible to explore more..but still doesnt offer something conclusive.

    akatimnewman
  •  

    We really need to ask the absolute expert expert this question...Sarah Palin, how about it?

    I just heard her answer...she said, "I'll just hafta git back to ya on that..."

    KD0BQM

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