What Would Be Your Reaction If Extraterestial Life Was Discovered?

[Mr Evilwrench]

I'd start waiting for the cookbook.

I classify facts in three categories:

1) Things that have been proven to my satisfaction to be true
2) Things that have been proven to my satisfaction to be false/untrue (those are not the same thing)
3) Things that I do not have the tools or knowledge to place in either 1 or 2.

Things have been known to move from one class to another from time to time.

As far as extraterrestrial life goes, it's a solid #3 at this time. I would be surprised if single celled organisms were NOT found, but I don't have the wherewithal to go find them myself. Complex life, particularly technologically competent life, is orders of magnitude higher up the food chain. The likelihood of meaningful contact with such a species is vanishingly small, but once again I would be surprised if they don't exist. The problem is the meaningful contact. That comes down to proximity, physically, technologically, and culturally.

 

[Dead Duck]

"IT'S A COOKBOOK!"

 

[PapaScout]

"IT'S A COOKBOOK!"

I almost Denny'd that :-P

ETA: If any aliens are reading this please stop by the house to chat or have some tea.

 

[Wolfhound]

ETA: If any aliens are reading this please stop by the house to chat or have some tea.

Miguel and Pedro will be stopping by shortly.

 

[nonobaddog]

A whole thread about what we don't know...

Seems normal enough...

 

[fjw2]

Don't really care as long as they stay away from my fridge.

What if they show up and like beer? All my refrigerators will be soft targets.

 

[PapaScout]

Miguel and Pedro will be stopping by shortly.

They just left. Great guys!

 

[Tactically Fat]

What if they show up and like beer? All my refrigerators will be soft targets.

I'm safe, then. All I have are a few 312 Wheats and about 10 Blue Moons.

 

[hANNAbONE]

One look at the possible DemonCrat Presidential hopefuls causes this :


that's why we don't visit you guys....[no picture sadly]

 

[fjw2]

I'm safe, then. All I have are a few 312 Wheats and about 10 Blue Moons.

As I read that I thought, damn what if they like Jameson or Makers Mark? We could actually establish the first interstellar trade exports.

 

[eldirector]

What if they are alcohol-based life forms? There are more planets with liquid hydrocarbons, than with liquid water. Short-chained alcohols also have properties similar to water, especially at higher pressures but lower temperatures.

Interstellar Bourbon-ites?!?!

 

[nonobaddog]

There are more planets with liquid hydrocarbons, than with liquid water.

Do you have a link for that? Does that mean only our solar system planets or does it include exoplanets?

 

[eldirector]

Do you have a link for that? Does that mean only our solar system planets or does it include exoplanets?

I can likely find a link. The "liquid water zone" is pretty narrow, just looking at our own solar system. The liquid hydrocarbon zone is huge, by comparison.

Unfortunately, the technology to determine exoplanet composition is still pretty new. I only know of a few planets where we have identified ANY atmosphere with certainty.

 

[PapaScout]

I can likely find a link. The "liquid water zone" is pretty narrow, just looking at our own solar system. The liquid hydrocarbon zone is huge, by comparison.

Unfortunately, the technology to determine exoplanet composition is still pretty new. I only know of a few planets where we have identified ANY atmosphere with certainty.

I believe methane falls neatly into the hydrocarbon category : https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/media/methane20060302.html

 

[nonobaddog]

I believe methane falls neatly into the hydrocarbon category : https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/media/methane20060302.html

Yes, I was aware of Titan, which of course is not a planet. Still interesting how they think the methane got replenished.

Kepler can't verify water or hydrocarbons outside of theory since it only detects diameter and mass.

 

[Dead Duck]

'Oregon cow mutilations spark conspiracy theories: 'A lot of people lean toward the aliens'

https://www.foxnews.com/us/conspira...ter-mutilated-cows-found-dead-on-oregon-ranch

 

[nonobaddog]

I think the aliens are little green cows.

 

[NKBJ]

Animal and human abductions and mutilations have been going on and been investigated so many times.
Boils down to no conclusion on whodunnit, make something up, move along.

 

[Tactically Fat]

As I read that I thought, damn what if they like Jameson or Makers Mark? We could actually establish the first interstellar trade exports.

I've got a few oz of Four Roses, a bottle of Buffalo Trace, and a couple bottles of spiced rum. Sufficient?

 

[eldirector]

Animal and human abductions and mutilations have been going on and been investigated so many times.
Boils down to no conclusion on whodunnit, make something up, move along.