But "Where Are They?"
There are an estimated 250 billion (2.5 x 10¹¹ ) stars in the Milky Way alone, and over 70 sextillion (7 x 10²² ) in the visible universe, and many of them are surrounded by multiple planets. . . .
The odds of there being only one single planet that evolved life among all that unfathomable vastness seems so incredible that it is all but completely irrational to believe. But then "where are they?" asked physicist Enrico Fermi while having lunch with his colleagues in 1950.
Consider also the vastness of time. We might not be separated by just light years, but also time-years. For most of this planet's history it was just dinosaurs roaming Pangaea. Our civilization has only been capable of radio technology for one century, and even if civilization survives another 100,000 years it will on be a blip in the history of the solar system.
Here's the better question: what are the odds that once an intelligent species evolve intelligence and build technological civilization it will have the wisdom to keep it?
Posted by: Brock | December 23, 2009 at 08:51 AM
"Where Are They?"
They are VERY far away!
http://hl98.blogspot.com/2008/05/houston-et-has-problem.html
Posted by: TheBigHenry | December 23, 2009 at 09:34 AM
They're smart enough to both ignore us and hide from us.
Posted by: JorgXMcKie | December 23, 2009 at 08:42 PM