I take the same approach toward UFO as Carl Sagan did. There are many explanations as to why a UFO might be sighted. Why should we accept outlandish explanations for them? Just my Opinion.
Because its not 1 person in this case. Because its 6 in total. On 2 different times. And because If you dont take them serious, you disrespect their work experience.
No, I am not trying to avoid the question. But it is like asking me why I don’t believe the ocean is green because someone saw some green water one day. The scientific method does not operate that way. We don’t see something and make massive generalizations based on one observation or even many. I don’t think you realize just how remote it is to have UFO turn out to be intelligent beings. Sure, it is possible but millions of other explanations are much more compelling. Have you seen my Tedx talk? If not, I suggest you take a look and let me know what you think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nCOhrYV7eg&t=286s
daniellezito0630 says:
I have always thought to myself that there MUST be some other forms of intelligent life in our universe because of how vast it is. My opinion is still somewhat the same, but I find it intriguing that there needs to be so many specific events in order for life to be created. The idea that our galaxy was created from a a supernova that enriched the original solar nebula with different elements such as aluminum 26, causing it to collapse is something I had never heard of before listening to this talk. I think the proof, being the allende meteriote, is actually a bit of a shocking discovery.
The topic of evolution is one I’ve always been interested in. The understanding that species with a larger body mass yet smaller brain mass can dominated species that exist with the opposite dimensions gives insight into the understanding that evolution doesn’t solely work in the route of increasing intelligence but in the past has worked to increase the physical attributes of species. Occurrences like this can lead to extinction which is also another explanation of the possibility of potential life on other planets going extinct before we could discover them.
A part of me does agree with the idea that we can’t find other life because it doesn’t exist. It is true that it the steps to create life are so extensive and specific, it’s more than a one in a million chance to form life. I still believe that there has to be life out there somewhere, but these topics definitely made me question a little more about the true possibility of other life existing.
The professor explains why he believes there is no other intelligent life in the universe except for on planet earth. He starts by explaining the big bang theory which occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago and how there was only hydrogen and helium (that’s it). We would then get all of the other elements that we need from a Supernova which is the death of a giant star that forms all of the elements on our periodic table minus hydrogen and helium. Then there must be a Solar Nebular, which is a gaseous cloud that must collapse which in turn forms our solar system.
Then the professor explains brain mass vs body mass and shows a chart with fish, amphibians and reptiles as one group, mammals as another group, then dinosaurs and primates in their respective groups. Fish were basically at the bottom, mammals in the middle and primates at the top. He explains that evolution does not always select the brightest creatures to rule, hence the dinosaurs. On the chart, they have a very large body mass, but a very small brain mass, however, they were very successful and ruled the earth for approximately 135 million years before being killed off by a meteorite which covered the earth in ash/darkness for months.
After the destruction of the dinosaurs, mammals flourished which brings us to the third event. Mammals spread-out throughout earth and started living in trees in the jungles. Which brings us to the East African rift zone which started tearing Africa apart approximately 10 million years ago and has been ripping Africa apart ever since. This event turned the area arid and dry which caused the primates to come down out of the trees to live on land and the creatures started to develop amazing size brains. About 7 million years ago a fossil was found in east Africa that was walking upright, had bi-pedal motion and a brain about the size of a chimpanzee.
The professor closes with stating that the reason Sedi is having problems finding intelligent life is because the events it took for us to be here are very specific. The events have to take place at the right time to be successful and while there are many of these events going on, it is not the exact formula required to create another planet like earth. Then the professor leaves us with, Life is very very rare and precious.
You present a strong argument into how we as people now dominate the earth. Not being a science major I can say your video was easy to follow and understand and you presented your topic very well. The steps and stages that it took to get where we are today is no small feat by any means. While we may be able to show there is no other intelligent life in our galaxy, I do not believe we are the only intelligent life period. I believe people want to believe that we are a dominant species because some probably wouldn’t be able to understand or come to grips with the fact that there may be another more intelligent species out there. If I have learned one thing through my years it is that history repeats itself. If we look at our own earths history, we will see that catastrophic events have shaped the earth into what it is now and I believe it is only a matter of time before we are faced with a catastrophic event just as the dinosaurs. Will that be the end of of time on earth? I do believe that somewhere in the universe there is intelligent life such as ours if not more intelligent and maybe we haven’t been able to find it yet because we as people are not ready to.
This TED talk explains a theory behind why there is no other life in the universe. The first step in that journey comes when we learn about the Big Bang Theory, and how it only created two elements. The others occurred from Supernova collapses. These explosions released new elements into the universe and they were absorbed into the gas cloud forming that eventually would congeal and become the Earth.
Next the video goes into an in-depth description of the relative brain mass to body mass of all living creatures that have walked the planet. He says that the primates have large brains for their body size; the amphibians, fish, and birds have a small brain size; and that dinosaurs have tiny brains in comparison to their size.
Dinosaurs once ruled the planet; but with a very small window of opportunity, a meteorite knocked them off their throne. This statistically significant event allowed for the humans to rise to power.
In addition to those two events, an arid desert in Africa forced primates to leave the trees and become bipedal. For all of these evolutions to occur the world has to be just so. He believes that the world is just so, and perhaps there may be other worlds that are, but even if there aren’t there is plenty of mystery and beauty right here on earth.
Comments
People often ask me my opinion on the origin of the universe because I hang out with philosophy majors and drunks. I am not one for controversial subjects because I am not arrogant enough to think I know what the best answer for everyone is all of the time. When I do ponder the subject, I accept the fact that it is all so much bigger than me. It is important to have perspective to be happy in reality.
I was raised in a Catholic family with two parents who had completed Master’s degrees. The way my mother reconciled any discrepancies between her faith and the facts was to find ulterior motives for her faith based decisions. If she couldn’t imagine Jesus turning water into wine she would focus instead on the message of giving without having enough.
I use a similar strategy to explain the origin of the universe. Simply put – If there is intelligent life it does not matter because we can not yet travel to meet it. If there is not intelligent life that does not mean that none can be created. I don’t concern myself with it because it is not going to change my life in any way. If some want to explore and break those walls I am happy to cheer them on and excited to see what they discover!
When I look at the puzzle pieces of the world – from my life, to politics, countries, health, family… I see a series of choices, not scientific facts. Science is beautiful because it is clean, but life is messy and doesn’t often make much sense.
I have summarized the video into bullet points. I feel like this is the main and most important ideas.
Intelligent life is extremely improbable to occur to due the rare and specific.
Three examples of these statistically improbable events Will be given.
We have to go back to the Big Bang theory (not to the TV show). Big Bang theory: 13.8 billion years ago. Only Hydrogen and Helium existed in the universe.
Supernovae (the death of a star) spread the rest of the elements in the universe.
First improbable event: an element-enriched gas cloud was created leading to the creation of our solar system. Our system is almost 5 billion years old.
Aluminum caused the cloud to collapse on itself creating the solar system as we know it. (So many improbable events)
Second improbable event: related to the graph of Log Brain Mass and Log Body Mass. It is more likely to find intelligence in the higher brain mass section of the graph.
Dinosaurs have a large body mass with low brain mass, they’re not as intelligent as they are portrayed to be.
A 10 kilometers meteor struck earth, eliminated dinosaurs, spread ash all over earth, caused the earth atmosphere to darken, eliminated 70% of life. If meteor was a kilometer bigger it would have eliminated all life, if it was smaller it wouldn’t have killed the dinosaurs.
Primates had to evolve in east Africa in order for them to make it.
life is precious. everyone is precious.
Dear professor,
Your closing point was truly inspiring. Also, it made me think of the endless alternative possibilities of what could have happened instead of our existence. You put up a very good argument as to why we are alone. However, in the milky way, which is a relatively small galaxy, there are 100 billion stars. The way WE evolved and came to existence is one way. It is more than likely for other methods to exist. Therefore, the chance might be more probable than we think it is. At the end of the day, our technology cannot prove our theories, yet.
Another possibility as to why we might be alone is we come later during the life of the galaxy. There might have been intelligent life out there, but then it died before we came to existence.
Intelligent life is extremely improbable to occur to due the rare and specific.
Three examples of these statistically improbable events Will be given.
We have to go back to the Big Bang theory (not to the TV show). Big Bang theory: 13.8 billion years ago. Only Hydrogen and Helium existed in the universe.
Supernovae (the death of a star) spread the rest of the elements in the universe.
A supernova happened close enough to our solar nebula to cause it to collapse.
Allende Meteorite had Calcium Aluminate traces that are believed to originate from the collapse of the solar nebula.
First improbable event: an element-enriched gas cloud was created leading to the creation of our solar system. Our system is almost 5 billion years old, using the CAl found in Allende Meteorite.
Mg 26 was found in the meteorite, also. Mg 26 is the decay product of Al 26.
Dinosaurs have a large body mass with low brain mass, they’re not as intelligent as they are portrayed to be.
Second improbable event: A 10 kilometers meteor struck earth, eliminated dinosaurs, spread ash all over earth, caused the earth atmosphere to darken, eliminated 70% of life. If meteor was a kilometer bigger it would have eliminated all life, if it was smaller it wouldn’t have killed the dinosaurs.
Third improbable event: Primates had to evolve in east Africa in order for them to make it. Had they been in North America, for example, we wouldn’t have been here right now.
life is precious. everyone is precious.
Dear professor,
Your closing point was truly inspiring. Also, it made me think of the endless alternative possibilities of what could have happened instead of our existence. You put up a very good argument as to why we are alone. However, in the milky way, which is a relatively small galaxy, there are 100 billion stars. The way WE evolved and came to existence is one way. It is more than likely for other methods to exist. Therefore, the chance might be more probable than we think it is. At the end of the day, our technology cannot prove our theories, yet.
Another possibility as to why we might be alone is we come later during the life of the galaxy. There might have been intelligent life out there, but then it died before we came to existence.
Also, you mentioned that CAl was found in a meteorite, with the oldest date we found so far. So, now we use that date as the age of our solar system. I don’t understand how we can assume that’s the age of the solar system. What if there were older parts from the solar system that we never found. Or, what if this meteorite came in from another solar system, other than ours. How can we make such an assumption in science?
Professor I would not rule out the possibilities of us being the only humans in the galaxy or any type of living human being. That is just a really bold statement because we are currently living in a universe that is expanding. NASA’s Kepler Mission Announced one of its largest collection of planets that was discovered just recently in May of 2016. Within that article it says 550 could be rocky planets like Earth, and nine of those are in habitable zone. Perhaps we are the first intelligent life form within the universe, and these Earths are in their early stages of creating life. Now imagine if you are able to take the smartest human and enhance their genetics by few percent, that new being, would think we are incredible stupid and we would be nothing in front of them. We would look like our closest genetic partners (the chimpanzee) in front of them. So for us to even encounter extraterrestrial life to me seems far-fetched of and idea, because they simply do not have anything to gain from us, or they simply do not care as much as we do to contact other life forms.
Alwani I just wanted you to know that the universe is expanding as you say but our galaxy is not. My comments were directed at the chance of finding life in our galaxy.
I believe that Ted Talks are the best way to breach a topic that is not easily conversed in everyday society, or in classes or lecture halls. This is because the information brought to us from these talks can be eye-opening, thought provoking, and even life-changing. The concept of being alone at a universal standpoint is hard to accept when most people, especially at the targeted college age, cannot even accept being alone in a relationship standard. The creation of the universe is something that we all were forced to learn about in our Elementary school days, picking at old gum under the tables as the teacher described the rotation of the planets around the sun. Listening to this, which was, quite honestly, the first educated explanation of our solar system and its creation that I have listened to since then, led me to many thoughts.
First off, I don’t think that it is possible that we are alone. This is due to the belief that everything happened in doubles. Male and Female. Up and Down. This idea has caused me to think that our universe was created at the opposite end of another; possibly, the beginning of ours is the end of another. Did previous life exist in a similar situation and came to a demise while our universe came to creation? Did they find habitable planets outside of their own and start anew? These are the questions that are in my mind that prevent me from fully accepting our solidarity.
Secondly, if we are alone in the universe, and quite possibly the only intelligent life form, what does that mean for the future of human kind? While this topic is being expanded on by scientists trying to breach other planets, that solution is still not possible, and under much research. As we wear away Earth, are we defining our title as the only “intelligent” life form in the universe?
All in all, this was a brilliant watch. Dangerously enticing, fascinating, and leaving me with something to ponder.
I am a bit lost with your comment concerning Up and Down and Male and Female. Everything does not happen in doubles as far as I can tell. Al-26 decays to just Mg-26. Evaporation of water leads to steam. Where are the doubles? I am really baffled by your response.
Your second point does not seem like a point. The future of humankind has nothing to do with whether we are alone or not as far as I can tell. The future of humankind will probably be the same in either case because we will probably never be able to interact with intelligent life if it is out there — the distances are too far. Do you see my points?
I think evolution is a battle of both intelligence and size. Watching this taught me a lot of interesting events I had barely any knowledge about. I have a strong opinion that we were given out digits of brain power, motion movement, vision, etc., to yes be capable of living in tree’s, but to also further develop these capabilities over time. These capabilities were first meant to used to survive and interact with the earth around us. Over time we have found to place our physical and intellectual capabilities into bigger ideas such as the cause of diseases. We continuously need to advance our sense, but as the earth continuously developed from what it once was.
I very much agree life is very rare. I think a great way to think of this is making it comparable to earth. Our planet is uniquely different compared to the rest of the universe. Look at Mars and how much more our planet is complex. It was these well timed events that let earth create itself and the existence of humans the other plants were left with out.
So sedi is searching for life for fifty four years and has yet to find it? You said these improbable events have occurred to explain this. I think it is pretty mind blowing how a super nova ( explosive star) and a nebula were the reasons for our intelligence to exist. A nebula was enriched by a super nova and was forced to collapse. This all sound very much practical to me all until you bring up the discussion about Al 26 and Mg 26. What I fear is how to how do we know the resources we use to study our universe today are significantly altered? After all you do say Al 26 is no long existing. While yes you say Al 26 is now Mg 26, how do you know a million other things weren’t once something else? Are we aware that fossil and other utilized researchable artifacts could in some way shape or form be altered and leading our discoveries is obscurely the wrong direction? Im very curious HOW we know 7-10 million year that is took aluminum to turn into Mg 26. What type of scientific procedures is able to discover that. I think that is incredible we have the knowledge to study that.
The second improbable event you talked about ( body mass compared to brain mass) is a unique idea to me I didn’t expect would be a topic of discussion. Dinosaurs high body mass but low body mass is a major point discussion really helped me see another link in the creation to our intelligence. Their size was indeed over bearing and would take mammals down. If it wasn’t for their destruction it is CRAZY to think I would maybe not even be able to type right now!!
I enjoyed reading your comment. You are correct, there is no way we can absolutely know what happened in the past. But what we can do is go into the laboratory and create the isotope Al26 and watch it decay to Mg26. We can also determine its half life which tells us how long it will take to completely decay away.
I think that bringing up the idea of, “How do you know a million other things weren’t once something else?”; while I have never considered this before, this is an interesting concept to me. Science is based on research and in and out of field studies. I imagine that in the beginning, as chemicals and the periodic table were being brought together, this was not considered. Now, as scientists have this in mind, I am sure that the technology has improved to calculate these types of faults in an in-lab study. Still, though, that leads me to question what we won’t discover thousands of years down the line, that we might be missing now? Great point!
I wouldn’t rule out other life forms in the galaxy. If we were formed out of well timed events, with just the right conditions, why isn’t just as probable or improbable that similar well timed events happened in another system which resulted in a life forms similar to ours?
I agree with this. The idea that this creationalistic situation happened means that there is a likely chance that it will happen again, or has happened in the past. To think that we are alone in the universe seems almost ignorant of basic fact: I find it hard to believe that we are the creation of an off-chance situation.
Marc
How do you comment cmdr. David Fravor and 5 of his Colleagues siteings during 2004 Nimitz incident?
I take the same approach toward UFO as Carl Sagan did. There are many explanations as to why a UFO might be sighted. Why should we accept outlandish explanations for them? Just my Opinion.
Because its not 1 person in this case. Because its 6 in total. On 2 different times. And because If you dont take them serious, you disrespect their work experience.
with all respect, crop circles, yeti, etc. have all been shown to be made up. People do lie and sometimes the consort to lie.
Sounds like you are avoiding the question ?
No, I am not trying to avoid the question. But it is like asking me why I don’t believe the ocean is green because someone saw some green water one day. The scientific method does not operate that way. We don’t see something and make massive generalizations based on one observation or even many. I don’t think you realize just how remote it is to have UFO turn out to be intelligent beings. Sure, it is possible but millions of other explanations are much more compelling. Have you seen my Tedx talk? If not, I suggest you take a look and let me know what you think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nCOhrYV7eg&t=286s
I have always thought to myself that there MUST be some other forms of intelligent life in our universe because of how vast it is. My opinion is still somewhat the same, but I find it intriguing that there needs to be so many specific events in order for life to be created. The idea that our galaxy was created from a a supernova that enriched the original solar nebula with different elements such as aluminum 26, causing it to collapse is something I had never heard of before listening to this talk. I think the proof, being the allende meteriote, is actually a bit of a shocking discovery.
The topic of evolution is one I’ve always been interested in. The understanding that species with a larger body mass yet smaller brain mass can dominated species that exist with the opposite dimensions gives insight into the understanding that evolution doesn’t solely work in the route of increasing intelligence but in the past has worked to increase the physical attributes of species. Occurrences like this can lead to extinction which is also another explanation of the possibility of potential life on other planets going extinct before we could discover them.
A part of me does agree with the idea that we can’t find other life because it doesn’t exist. It is true that it the steps to create life are so extensive and specific, it’s more than a one in a million chance to form life. I still believe that there has to be life out there somewhere, but these topics definitely made me question a little more about the true possibility of other life existing.
Marc
How do you comment cmdr. David Fravor and 5 of his Colleagues siteings during 2004 Nimitz incident?
The professor explains why he believes there is no other intelligent life in the universe except for on planet earth. He starts by explaining the big bang theory which occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago and how there was only hydrogen and helium (that’s it). We would then get all of the other elements that we need from a Supernova which is the death of a giant star that forms all of the elements on our periodic table minus hydrogen and helium. Then there must be a Solar Nebular, which is a gaseous cloud that must collapse which in turn forms our solar system.
Then the professor explains brain mass vs body mass and shows a chart with fish, amphibians and reptiles as one group, mammals as another group, then dinosaurs and primates in their respective groups. Fish were basically at the bottom, mammals in the middle and primates at the top. He explains that evolution does not always select the brightest creatures to rule, hence the dinosaurs. On the chart, they have a very large body mass, but a very small brain mass, however, they were very successful and ruled the earth for approximately 135 million years before being killed off by a meteorite which covered the earth in ash/darkness for months.
After the destruction of the dinosaurs, mammals flourished which brings us to the third event. Mammals spread-out throughout earth and started living in trees in the jungles. Which brings us to the East African rift zone which started tearing Africa apart approximately 10 million years ago and has been ripping Africa apart ever since. This event turned the area arid and dry which caused the primates to come down out of the trees to live on land and the creatures started to develop amazing size brains. About 7 million years ago a fossil was found in east Africa that was walking upright, had bi-pedal motion and a brain about the size of a chimpanzee.
The professor closes with stating that the reason Sedi is having problems finding intelligent life is because the events it took for us to be here are very specific. The events have to take place at the right time to be successful and while there are many of these events going on, it is not the exact formula required to create another planet like earth. Then the professor leaves us with, Life is very very rare and precious.
Professor,
You present a strong argument into how we as people now dominate the earth. Not being a science major I can say your video was easy to follow and understand and you presented your topic very well. The steps and stages that it took to get where we are today is no small feat by any means. While we may be able to show there is no other intelligent life in our galaxy, I do not believe we are the only intelligent life period. I believe people want to believe that we are a dominant species because some probably wouldn’t be able to understand or come to grips with the fact that there may be another more intelligent species out there. If I have learned one thing through my years it is that history repeats itself. If we look at our own earths history, we will see that catastrophic events have shaped the earth into what it is now and I believe it is only a matter of time before we are faced with a catastrophic event just as the dinosaurs. Will that be the end of of time on earth? I do believe that somewhere in the universe there is intelligent life such as ours if not more intelligent and maybe we haven’t been able to find it yet because we as people are not ready to.
Summary
This TED talk explains a theory behind why there is no other life in the universe. The first step in that journey comes when we learn about the Big Bang Theory, and how it only created two elements. The others occurred from Supernova collapses. These explosions released new elements into the universe and they were absorbed into the gas cloud forming that eventually would congeal and become the Earth.
Next the video goes into an in-depth description of the relative brain mass to body mass of all living creatures that have walked the planet. He says that the primates have large brains for their body size; the amphibians, fish, and birds have a small brain size; and that dinosaurs have tiny brains in comparison to their size.
Dinosaurs once ruled the planet; but with a very small window of opportunity, a meteorite knocked them off their throne. This statistically significant event allowed for the humans to rise to power.
In addition to those two events, an arid desert in Africa forced primates to leave the trees and become bipedal. For all of these evolutions to occur the world has to be just so. He believes that the world is just so, and perhaps there may be other worlds that are, but even if there aren’t there is plenty of mystery and beauty right here on earth.
Comments
People often ask me my opinion on the origin of the universe because I hang out with philosophy majors and drunks. I am not one for controversial subjects because I am not arrogant enough to think I know what the best answer for everyone is all of the time. When I do ponder the subject, I accept the fact that it is all so much bigger than me. It is important to have perspective to be happy in reality.
I was raised in a Catholic family with two parents who had completed Master’s degrees. The way my mother reconciled any discrepancies between her faith and the facts was to find ulterior motives for her faith based decisions. If she couldn’t imagine Jesus turning water into wine she would focus instead on the message of giving without having enough.
I use a similar strategy to explain the origin of the universe. Simply put – If there is intelligent life it does not matter because we can not yet travel to meet it. If there is not intelligent life that does not mean that none can be created. I don’t concern myself with it because it is not going to change my life in any way. If some want to explore and break those walls I am happy to cheer them on and excited to see what they discover!
When I look at the puzzle pieces of the world – from my life, to politics, countries, health, family… I see a series of choices, not scientific facts. Science is beautiful because it is clean, but life is messy and doesn’t often make much sense.
I have summarized the video into bullet points. I feel like this is the main and most important ideas.
Intelligent life is extremely improbable to occur to due the rare and specific.
Three examples of these statistically improbable events Will be given.
We have to go back to the Big Bang theory (not to the TV show). Big Bang theory: 13.8 billion years ago. Only Hydrogen and Helium existed in the universe.
Supernovae (the death of a star) spread the rest of the elements in the universe.
First improbable event: an element-enriched gas cloud was created leading to the creation of our solar system. Our system is almost 5 billion years old.
Aluminum caused the cloud to collapse on itself creating the solar system as we know it. (So many improbable events)
Second improbable event: related to the graph of Log Brain Mass and Log Body Mass. It is more likely to find intelligence in the higher brain mass section of the graph.
Dinosaurs have a large body mass with low brain mass, they’re not as intelligent as they are portrayed to be.
A 10 kilometers meteor struck earth, eliminated dinosaurs, spread ash all over earth, caused the earth atmosphere to darken, eliminated 70% of life. If meteor was a kilometer bigger it would have eliminated all life, if it was smaller it wouldn’t have killed the dinosaurs.
Primates had to evolve in east Africa in order for them to make it.
life is precious. everyone is precious.
Dear professor,
Your closing point was truly inspiring. Also, it made me think of the endless alternative possibilities of what could have happened instead of our existence. You put up a very good argument as to why we are alone. However, in the milky way, which is a relatively small galaxy, there are 100 billion stars. The way WE evolved and came to existence is one way. It is more than likely for other methods to exist. Therefore, the chance might be more probable than we think it is. At the end of the day, our technology cannot prove our theories, yet.
Another possibility as to why we might be alone is we come later during the life of the galaxy. There might have been intelligent life out there, but then it died before we came to existence.
Intelligent life is extremely improbable to occur to due the rare and specific.
Three examples of these statistically improbable events Will be given.
We have to go back to the Big Bang theory (not to the TV show). Big Bang theory: 13.8 billion years ago. Only Hydrogen and Helium existed in the universe.
Supernovae (the death of a star) spread the rest of the elements in the universe.
A supernova happened close enough to our solar nebula to cause it to collapse.
Allende Meteorite had Calcium Aluminate traces that are believed to originate from the collapse of the solar nebula.
First improbable event: an element-enriched gas cloud was created leading to the creation of our solar system. Our system is almost 5 billion years old, using the CAl found in Allende Meteorite.
Mg 26 was found in the meteorite, also. Mg 26 is the decay product of Al 26.
Dinosaurs have a large body mass with low brain mass, they’re not as intelligent as they are portrayed to be.
Second improbable event: A 10 kilometers meteor struck earth, eliminated dinosaurs, spread ash all over earth, caused the earth atmosphere to darken, eliminated 70% of life. If meteor was a kilometer bigger it would have eliminated all life, if it was smaller it wouldn’t have killed the dinosaurs.
Third improbable event: Primates had to evolve in east Africa in order for them to make it. Had they been in North America, for example, we wouldn’t have been here right now.
life is precious. everyone is precious.
Dear professor,
Your closing point was truly inspiring. Also, it made me think of the endless alternative possibilities of what could have happened instead of our existence. You put up a very good argument as to why we are alone. However, in the milky way, which is a relatively small galaxy, there are 100 billion stars. The way WE evolved and came to existence is one way. It is more than likely for other methods to exist. Therefore, the chance might be more probable than we think it is. At the end of the day, our technology cannot prove our theories, yet.
Another possibility as to why we might be alone is we come later during the life of the galaxy. There might have been intelligent life out there, but then it died before we came to existence.
Also, you mentioned that CAl was found in a meteorite, with the oldest date we found so far. So, now we use that date as the age of our solar system. I don’t understand how we can assume that’s the age of the solar system. What if there were older parts from the solar system that we never found. Or, what if this meteorite came in from another solar system, other than ours. How can we make such an assumption in science?
Professor I would not rule out the possibilities of us being the only humans in the galaxy or any type of living human being. That is just a really bold statement because we are currently living in a universe that is expanding. NASA’s Kepler Mission Announced one of its largest collection of planets that was discovered just recently in May of 2016. Within that article it says 550 could be rocky planets like Earth, and nine of those are in habitable zone. Perhaps we are the first intelligent life form within the universe, and these Earths are in their early stages of creating life. Now imagine if you are able to take the smartest human and enhance their genetics by few percent, that new being, would think we are incredible stupid and we would be nothing in front of them. We would look like our closest genetic partners (the chimpanzee) in front of them. So for us to even encounter extraterrestrial life to me seems far-fetched of and idea, because they simply do not have anything to gain from us, or they simply do not care as much as we do to contact other life forms.
Alwani I just wanted you to know that the universe is expanding as you say but our galaxy is not. My comments were directed at the chance of finding life in our galaxy.
I believe that Ted Talks are the best way to breach a topic that is not easily conversed in everyday society, or in classes or lecture halls. This is because the information brought to us from these talks can be eye-opening, thought provoking, and even life-changing. The concept of being alone at a universal standpoint is hard to accept when most people, especially at the targeted college age, cannot even accept being alone in a relationship standard. The creation of the universe is something that we all were forced to learn about in our Elementary school days, picking at old gum under the tables as the teacher described the rotation of the planets around the sun. Listening to this, which was, quite honestly, the first educated explanation of our solar system and its creation that I have listened to since then, led me to many thoughts.
First off, I don’t think that it is possible that we are alone. This is due to the belief that everything happened in doubles. Male and Female. Up and Down. This idea has caused me to think that our universe was created at the opposite end of another; possibly, the beginning of ours is the end of another. Did previous life exist in a similar situation and came to a demise while our universe came to creation? Did they find habitable planets outside of their own and start anew? These are the questions that are in my mind that prevent me from fully accepting our solidarity.
Secondly, if we are alone in the universe, and quite possibly the only intelligent life form, what does that mean for the future of human kind? While this topic is being expanded on by scientists trying to breach other planets, that solution is still not possible, and under much research. As we wear away Earth, are we defining our title as the only “intelligent” life form in the universe?
All in all, this was a brilliant watch. Dangerously enticing, fascinating, and leaving me with something to ponder.
I am a bit lost with your comment concerning Up and Down and Male and Female. Everything does not happen in doubles as far as I can tell. Al-26 decays to just Mg-26. Evaporation of water leads to steam. Where are the doubles? I am really baffled by your response.
Your second point does not seem like a point. The future of humankind has nothing to do with whether we are alone or not as far as I can tell. The future of humankind will probably be the same in either case because we will probably never be able to interact with intelligent life if it is out there — the distances are too far. Do you see my points?
I think evolution is a battle of both intelligence and size. Watching this taught me a lot of interesting events I had barely any knowledge about. I have a strong opinion that we were given out digits of brain power, motion movement, vision, etc., to yes be capable of living in tree’s, but to also further develop these capabilities over time. These capabilities were first meant to used to survive and interact with the earth around us. Over time we have found to place our physical and intellectual capabilities into bigger ideas such as the cause of diseases. We continuously need to advance our sense, but as the earth continuously developed from what it once was.
I very much agree life is very rare. I think a great way to think of this is making it comparable to earth. Our planet is uniquely different compared to the rest of the universe. Look at Mars and how much more our planet is complex. It was these well timed events that let earth create itself and the existence of humans the other plants were left with out.
So sedi is searching for life for fifty four years and has yet to find it? You said these improbable events have occurred to explain this. I think it is pretty mind blowing how a super nova ( explosive star) and a nebula were the reasons for our intelligence to exist. A nebula was enriched by a super nova and was forced to collapse. This all sound very much practical to me all until you bring up the discussion about Al 26 and Mg 26. What I fear is how to how do we know the resources we use to study our universe today are significantly altered? After all you do say Al 26 is no long existing. While yes you say Al 26 is now Mg 26, how do you know a million other things weren’t once something else? Are we aware that fossil and other utilized researchable artifacts could in some way shape or form be altered and leading our discoveries is obscurely the wrong direction? Im very curious HOW we know 7-10 million year that is took aluminum to turn into Mg 26. What type of scientific procedures is able to discover that. I think that is incredible we have the knowledge to study that.
The second improbable event you talked about ( body mass compared to brain mass) is a unique idea to me I didn’t expect would be a topic of discussion. Dinosaurs high body mass but low body mass is a major point discussion really helped me see another link in the creation to our intelligence. Their size was indeed over bearing and would take mammals down. If it wasn’t for their destruction it is CRAZY to think I would maybe not even be able to type right now!!
I enjoyed reading your comment. You are correct, there is no way we can absolutely know what happened in the past. But what we can do is go into the laboratory and create the isotope Al26 and watch it decay to Mg26. We can also determine its half life which tells us how long it will take to completely decay away.
I think that bringing up the idea of, “How do you know a million other things weren’t once something else?”; while I have never considered this before, this is an interesting concept to me. Science is based on research and in and out of field studies. I imagine that in the beginning, as chemicals and the periodic table were being brought together, this was not considered. Now, as scientists have this in mind, I am sure that the technology has improved to calculate these types of faults in an in-lab study. Still, though, that leads me to question what we won’t discover thousands of years down the line, that we might be missing now? Great point!
I wouldn’t rule out other life forms in the galaxy. If we were formed out of well timed events, with just the right conditions, why isn’t just as probable or improbable that similar well timed events happened in another system which resulted in a life forms similar to ours?
I agree with this. The idea that this creationalistic situation happened means that there is a likely chance that it will happen again, or has happened in the past. To think that we are alone in the universe seems almost ignorant of basic fact: I find it hard to believe that we are the creation of an off-chance situation.