This is a thread intended to discus alien lifeforms and what they might look like, not the possibility that they may have visited us in the past. Hopefully everyone will enjoy, participate, and debate in all good fun.
Scientists recently-ish determined that much of the universe probably harbors life of one sort or another. If it's animalistic in nature, then if some of the strange and baffling creatures that call earth home is any indication then it can be just about anything.
But if it's intelligent life, maybe even one with a space faring civilization what then? What can we assume about it? A few sad individuals on the forums might say that we can't assume anything because we only have one data set to learn from and that it can be anything. That alien life would most likely be very different from human beings.
I strongly disagree, and here is why:
In order to be able to develop a space faring technology, the race developing it must be able to conceive, transmit, and understand certain concepts. They must also have the ability to use mathematics and posses a written and spoken language. Right off the bat we can eliminate animalistic life forms.
Since developing any kind of technology requires spontaneity, creativity, and innovation, we can safely eliminate any kind of life that has a hive mind mentality. Such as insects.
They must also be tool users. This means they must be able to design, build, use, and maintain their tools and technology. Thus we can assume that they would have opposable thumbs. This eliminates... Well, anything that doesn't have opposable thumbs.
We know that in order to survive in space they would need to provide their own atmosphere needs. And due to such mundanities as atmospheric pressure, temperature, and so forth we can assume that the atmosphere on board their ship or ships is far different from what's on their planet. So we can assume that they would have to be available to survive in a variety of environments. This eliminates anything cold blooded, or any aquatic lifeforms.
We know that they would have to be mobile enough to move freely through their environment, especially in the cramp quarters that exists on space ships. This eliminates plantoids. This also pretty much eliminates anything that is not bipedal. This also effectively eliminates anything with tails or an abundance of limbs or wings.
We also know that regardless of whether they're from the next solar system over or the far side of the galaxy they must still live in this universe. Which means that they are subject to the same laws of physics that we are. So this eliminates psychic abilities or what not.
Scientists recently-ish determined that much of the universe probably harbors life of one sort or another. If it's animalistic in nature, then if some of the strange and baffling creatures that call earth home is any indication then it can be just about anything.
But if it's intelligent life, maybe even one with a space faring civilization what then? What can we assume about it? A few sad individuals on the forums might say that we can't assume anything because we only have one data set to learn from and that it can be anything. That alien life would most likely be very different from human beings.
I strongly disagree, and here is why:
In order to be able to develop a space faring technology, the race developing it must be able to conceive, transmit, and understand certain concepts. They must also have the ability to use mathematics and posses a written and spoken language. Right off the bat we can eliminate animalistic life forms.
Since developing any kind of technology requires spontaneity, creativity, and innovation, we can safely eliminate any kind of life that has a hive mind mentality. Such as insects.
They must also be tool users. This means they must be able to design, build, use, and maintain their tools and technology. Thus we can assume that they would have opposable thumbs. This eliminates... Well, anything that doesn't have opposable thumbs.
We know that in order to survive in space they would need to provide their own atmosphere needs. And due to such mundanities as atmospheric pressure, temperature, and so forth we can assume that the atmosphere on board their ship or ships is far different from what's on their planet. So we can assume that they would have to be available to survive in a variety of environments. This eliminates anything cold blooded, or any aquatic lifeforms.
We know that they would have to be mobile enough to move freely through their environment, especially in the cramp quarters that exists on space ships. This eliminates plantoids. This also pretty much eliminates anything that is not bipedal. This also effectively eliminates anything with tails or an abundance of limbs or wings.
We also know that regardless of whether they're from the next solar system over or the far side of the galaxy they must still live in this universe. Which means that they are subject to the same laws of physics that we are. So this eliminates psychic abilities or what not.
via JREF Forum http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=264858&goto=newpost
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