[eastbay]

I'll be truly impressed when some astronomer or astrophysicist discovers an artificial object emitting signals in orbit around an earth-like object on some distant solar system.

Until then it's all very interesting, but most of us allready knew a large percentage of stars have planets. Anyhow, it's all an academic pursuit because of the long periods of time ... generations... involved in travelling such great distances.

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I')'ll be truly impressed when some astronomer or astrophysicist discovers an artificial object emitting signals in orbit around an earth-like object on some distant solar system.

Until then it's all very interesting, but most of us allready knew a large percentage of stars have planets. Anyhow, it's all an academic pursuit because of the long periods of time ... generations... involved in travelling such great distances.

[Bioman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Raphael', '
')They couldn't find WMD in Iraq.

[Benzin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bioman', 'I')f Europeans say they will be searching for something, they know they will find it. They're not going to steal tax payers money to search for things that don't exist.

[pea-jay]

Somewhere there is a nice formula that starts out with a very large number for the number of

* solar systems with planets

then reduces that number with each of the following factors:

* planets that are rocky and earth-proportioned
* planets in stable orbits free of space debris
* planets that are not too close or far from their suns
* planets with liquid water and the building blocks of life
* planets with simple life (bacteria)
* planets with more complex life (multicelluluar organisms)
* planets with a functioning ecosystem that has a diverse range of life that cycles nutrients and energy back and forth
* planets with sensing and perceiving life forms
* planets with larger, more complex life forms with basic memory functions.
* planets with intelligent life, but unorganized
* planets with an intelligent life form and basic civilization
* planets with intellegent life and a technologically sophisticated civilization capable of looking out to space (this is where we are)
* planets with advanced civilization capable of interstellar space flight

Now the kicker....

* planets with the last one or two characteristics in existence AT THE EXACT SAME GIVEN TIME AS US, in this tiny window where we have been in a position to understand what space and time really is and can see or be seen by these civilizations before either ours or theirs falls victim to overshoot or collapse.

Puts a new spin on things