This story made me happy. The American Association for the Advancement of Science reckons more than 50% of the stars in the Milky Way could have planetary systems similar to our own. The conclusion that rocky conditions could very well exist on these planets, apparently, means the chances of some kind of life existing beyond Earth is a greater possibility than it was a week ago.
When I was little, I was very much into the extraterrestrial thing. Whether it was watching ET at age 4 or not, I don’t know, but I always thought the idea of life on other planets was an issue of imagination rather than one of blind hope or idiotic faith (and I’ve sure read some idiotic books on the subject over the years.)
By imagination, I mean that I can’t let my imagination be so limited as to think we are the only planet in the whole vastness of space containing things that breathe, eat and shit. That seems at best narrow-minded and at worst arrogant.
So although this new study – which believes there may be hundreds of undiscovered worlds in the outer parts of our solar system – is by no means evidence, it’s exciting.
I’m keeping the imagination open and vivid. And why not? Concrete evidence may not be found in my lifetime, but if billions believe in God, why shouldn’t millions think there is life beyond our planet?
Filed under: Science | Tagged: aaas, aliens, american association for advancement of science, extraterrestrial life, planet, solar system, space
