The first rocky “earth-like” world outside our solar system was confirmed this week. Space.com ran this article about the discovery. While this is a landmark discovery in the pursuit of the ultimate prize - the evidence of life beyond our planet - it should come as no surprise. From Copernicus’ revelation that the earth revolved around the sun and not the other way around, to the discovery that our sun is merely an average star among billions upon billions, to the confirmation that planet formation is a common occurence in the universe, a pattern has emerged: that what we thought to be rare or unique, is in fact, commonplace. Consider our own solar system consists of eight planets, one of which is teeming with life. If the odds within our own solar system are one in eight, imagine what's out there in the countless stars of the cosmos. The evidence of extra-terrestrial life beyond our blue and green orb seems inevitable. The Kepler telescope, designed specifically to identify earth-like worlds, becomes operational in 2012. Let’s hope humanity’s greatest discovery is just around the cosmic corner.
Thanks for sharing the interesting news. TV Shows like The Universe have opened my eyes and imagination to the possibilities of Earth-like planets out there in the void, but they've also made me appreciate how unique our fragile little world really is in the greater scheme of things.
ReplyDeleteNice blog. Looking forward to reading more.
With all the paranoid pseudoscience hoopla about 2012 being the end of the world, let's hope any alien civilizations the Kepler telescope's findings might lead us to discover turn out to be friendly and not hostile! :)
ReplyDeleteOr maybe learning that we truly aren't alone might rock people's false sense of reality so much that it might lead to utter chaos here on Earth.
I on the other hand, being an eternal optimist, hope for the best and welcome the possibility of other intelligent live out there among the stars.