Life Out There- Aliens

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The Star Trek universe presupposes the existence of extraterrestrial beings in our vast universe. In the Alpha quadrant alone there are thousands of life-form of different physical variety, mental capabilities and in various stages of civilization. The possibility of different life-form, their different existence, way of life and the interaction between the life-forms are part of the reason that make Star Trek so intriguing and interesting as a show.

Back to our own reality on present day 20th century Earth, the question is: are we alone? Is there anyone out there?

These types of questions have been asked ever since recorded history began. Yet we are no closer to giving a definite answer. People continue to speculate. Movies continue to be made using aliens as a theme. Scientific rationales continue to grow more sophisticated in support of life out there (of course, there are always those who disagree).

Personally, I believe there are definitely life out there. Why should we be the only being in this vast and old (relative to us) universe. To belief we are alone would be naive and overtly human-centric, that we, human, are somehow privileged.

In fact, most scientists now agree that the universe is teeming with life. Conservative probabilistic estimate suggest that there are at least 10,000 star systems out there that contain life.

The next question is how intelligent is such life? Sure not all life that emerge will develop intelligence. Anyhow, I am of the view that not only is life abundant in the universe, intelligent life forms, other than us, definitely exist. Some reasons are:

• The chemical elements for carbon-based life forms as found on Earth are common in the Universe (See non-carbon and non-corporeal life form);

• Our sun is a very ordinary star in a very typical galaxy within a universe that contained at least 400 billions similar stars. Also, the existence of planets have been demonstrated in many nearby star systems. (Even though planets cannot be directly observed because of their relatively small size, their presence are inferred by tracking the path of star through space. A star "wobble" from side to side suggests that it is subjected to the pull of an unseen object- a planet- orbiting the star.)

The inference is that Earth like planets, one that is capable of sustaining life as we know it (remembering that there could well be form of life that is unknown to us), are out there. Our Earth is arguably not unique in the universe. Indeed, many scientists think that one-quarter of the stars could harbor planets similar to Earth.

The recent (August 1996) discovery that meteorite from Mars possibly contains fossil evidence of ancient micro-organisms only reinforces this inference;

• The diversity of life form or species on earth suggests that life is not rare and that life is inherently adaptive and resilient. Even on Earth life have been discovered in places where once though incapable of supporting life. For example living organisms were found near underwater volcanically active fissures that are filled with chemical concoctions toxic to life on the surface. In fact, it is now scientific fact that there is a whole new biosphere deep within the Earth crust itself. Bacteria and other micro-organisms have been found at depth of up to 3.5km (and they may well exist beyond that). While most of these bacteria utilises specialise process to extract energy from the little organic materials present, some are apparently able to make their own organic compounds to sustain life.

In January 1997 biologist in California, announced the finding that brine shrimps can enter into a death-like state, where energy processing or their metabolic activity stopped (or at least slowed to a level that is undetectable), in situation where they are deprived of oxygen. The brine shrimps returned to life once oxygen has been restored. Nature has a way of keeping things alive in the most remarkable situation.

With such evidence it is not surprise that some people belief that the emergence of life is inevitable (cf. to those who belief that the emergence of life by chance is improbable). On this basis the earlier that life began, the more inevitable it must have been. The revelation (though not conclusive) that terrestrial life first formed as far back as 3.85 billion years ago (compared to the estimated 4.5 billion years age of the planet) provides significant vindication of this claim. This revelation is based on the finding of the chemical traces of life in rocks from Akilia (an island off the coast of Greenland). More specifically the chemical traces are carbon isotopes in a ratio that is characteristic of living organisms. The rocks have been dated at 3.85 billion years of age.

However, one puzzling aspect is that if life is so robust and ubiquitous as claimed by those who said the emergence of life is inevitable then how can it is not possible (at least not up till now) to create life from primeval chemicals in the laboratory?

• It has been argued by those who belief that life cannot possibly exist elsewhere in the universe that it took a set of specific circumstances on Earth for the evolution of life. eg. the star system must contain a planet of the right size at the right distance from the star and with the right composition; the spontaneous formation of the necessary complex carbon compound on the planet surface; the subsequently transformation of the compounds into cells that in turn evolve into living things that eventually gain intelligence. By estimating the probability of all these things happening scientists have calculated that the number of possible intelligent civilisation ranges between 10 million to only 1. If we take the middle value, that still give 5 million, which is a lot of intelligent being out there!

• If living things can exist out there, it is then logical to say that some such life form is as intelligent, if not more so, than us (human). It is equally probable that some alien beings would possess abilities that we do not have, such as telepathic or telekinetic power.

Although it is to be doubted whether there is such an omnipotent being as represented by "Q" on Star Trek: The Next Generation. If there is then such a being would be god-like, or may even be a god for those who belief in the existence of God.

However, Frank Tipler of Tulane University in New Orleans subscribes to the view that while primitive life is common in the universe, the development of intelligence is highly improbable. In fact, he is of the view that human being is the first and only intelligence to arise in our Galaxy, if not the universe.

Further Issues:

If there are aliens out there, how come we have not seen any alien yet? What evidence are there?

On a related note, is there life on Mars?

Some people may consider the belief in the existence of aliens is contrary to one’s religious belief. Whilst I am no expert in the world religions, I have recently considered this point in the context of Christianity (and no, I am not an expert here either). My opinion, so far (it is still under consideration), is that the two belief need not conflict: a lot depends on how one see the aliens in one’s life.

Aliens’ Physiology and Abilities

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