Is there anybody out there?

Is there anybody out there? Probably not, according to a scientist from
the University of East Anglia.

A mathematical model produced by Prof Andrew Watson suggests that the
odds of finding new life on other Earth-like planets are low, given the
time it has taken for beings such as humans to evolve and the remaining
life span of the Earth.

Structurally complex and intelligent life evolved late on Earth and it
has already been suggested that this process might be governed by a
small number of very difficult evolutionary steps.

Prof Watson, from the School of Environmental Sciences, takes this idea
further by looking at the probability of each of these critical steps
occurring in relation to the life span of the Earth, giving an improved
mathematical model for the evolution of intelligent life.

On Apr 16, 10:18

On Apr 17, 1:18 am, "Robert Karl Stonjek" bigpond.net.au>
wrote:

I find it hard to believe that we have enough information to
know:

- What steps are truly required to produce intelligent life.

- What caused each step to occur on earth.

- What the probability of any step occurring is - either on
earth or in a different environment.

- What is a habitable planet for other possible biochemistries.

- How many habitable planets there are.

On Apr 18, 10:34

Robert Karl Stonjek wrote:

An argument could be made that Earth throughout its history has not been
a very life friendly place. From bombardment by asteroids to sporadic
spasms of hyper-volcanic activity spewing huge amounts of methane and
other greeenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Solar luminosity
increasing by 30%%. Snowball earth. The Permian, KT and many other mass
extinctions. Periodic ice ages. Drifting continents.

On 2008-04-21, dkomo comcast.net> wrote:

On Apr 21, 12:50

Tom Hendricks wrote:

On Apr 21, 10:50

Anthony Campbell wrote: