Wildcat
Retired Moderator
Re: Are we alone in the Universe, or Galaxy?
Oh, this is that thread that J told me about a few weeks ago.
Interesting theory, HalRules. Here’s my take on the situation. We are definitely NOT alone in the universe. We are just one tiny little planet revolving one tiny, insignificant (in the grand scheme of things) star. There are approximately 100 billion stars (many of which have been proven to have planets revolving around them) in our own Milky Way galaxy. That’s not even factoring in the billions and billions of stars that are in other galaxies. The odds of there being at least one other planet out there that is capable of supporting life are too great for there not to be something else out there!
I don’t think, however, that we have actually come in contact with these other life forms. If we have, then they have the technology to travel at the speed of light, or they have discovered some kind of worm hole that allows them to transport from one place to another. Yes, many scientists believe that wormholes actually exist, but they haven’t been able to prove it without a doubt yet. It’s not just science fiction. If we could travel at the speed of light, which is 186,282 miles/second (299,792,458 meters/second), it would still take us 4.3 years to reach the closest star, Proxima Centauri. If we tried to travel to the nearest galaxy (Andromeda), it would take us 2 million years to get there traveling at that speed. So there’s really no way that we could ever really come in contact with aliens unless they are way more advanced than us. In that case, we’re probably in big trouble.
While were on the subject of the speed of light, did you know that when you look at stars, you’re looking into the past? When you look at the Andromeda galaxy, for example, you’re really seeing how it looked 2 million years ago because that’s how long the light that you’re seeing has taken to reach Earth. So the galaxy could have been destroyed and not even be there anymore (not that it would happen), but you can still see it because it was there 2 million years ago. Cool huh? The light that you’re seeing outside right now actually left the sun 8 minutes ago. I know, I’m such a science dork. Astronomy fascinates me though.
Oh, this is that thread that J told me about a few weeks ago.
Interesting theory, HalRules. Here’s my take on the situation. We are definitely NOT alone in the universe. We are just one tiny little planet revolving one tiny, insignificant (in the grand scheme of things) star. There are approximately 100 billion stars (many of which have been proven to have planets revolving around them) in our own Milky Way galaxy. That’s not even factoring in the billions and billions of stars that are in other galaxies. The odds of there being at least one other planet out there that is capable of supporting life are too great for there not to be something else out there!
I don’t think, however, that we have actually come in contact with these other life forms. If we have, then they have the technology to travel at the speed of light, or they have discovered some kind of worm hole that allows them to transport from one place to another. Yes, many scientists believe that wormholes actually exist, but they haven’t been able to prove it without a doubt yet. It’s not just science fiction. If we could travel at the speed of light, which is 186,282 miles/second (299,792,458 meters/second), it would still take us 4.3 years to reach the closest star, Proxima Centauri. If we tried to travel to the nearest galaxy (Andromeda), it would take us 2 million years to get there traveling at that speed. So there’s really no way that we could ever really come in contact with aliens unless they are way more advanced than us. In that case, we’re probably in big trouble.
While were on the subject of the speed of light, did you know that when you look at stars, you’re looking into the past? When you look at the Andromeda galaxy, for example, you’re really seeing how it looked 2 million years ago because that’s how long the light that you’re seeing has taken to reach Earth. So the galaxy could have been destroyed and not even be there anymore (not that it would happen), but you can still see it because it was there 2 million years ago. Cool huh? The light that you’re seeing outside right now actually left the sun 8 minutes ago. I know, I’m such a science dork. Astronomy fascinates me though.