Do you have a link that would indicate the methane content would have been higher than trace amounts?

No I don't have a link other than the one just provided by Julie. This idea is really out of my fields and any specific knowledge that I have in Geology, Chemistry and Atmospheric Science.

I have postulated in the past--more as a question--as to wether or not intelligent life needs a moon to provide spin stabilization, tidal lock and hence the tides in order to provide for the formation of intelligent life. I was thinking that maybe this collision should be added to requirements for intelligent life formation. I am asking for informed opinion.

New information..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/29/alien-planets-confirmed-1000_n_4012175.html

Number Of Alien Planets Confirmed Beyond Our Solar System Nears 1,000, Data Shows

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The universe wastes nothing, it's simply transferred.
Lynn

Lonely Alien Planet Discovered Without a Parent Star

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rOZZ
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All very true but not a one that would sustain Human life if we were to go there. Let's keep looking though.

Extra-Terrestrial Life: Good or Bad News?

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rOZZ
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We lost Kepler...

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rOZZ
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Exoplanet tally soars above 1,000

The number of observed exoplanets - worlds circling distant stars - has passed 1,000.

Of these, 12 could be habitable - orbiting at a distance where it is neither "too hot" nor "too cold" for water to be liquid on the surface.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24549384

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The universe wastes nothing, it's simply transferred.
Lynn

Keep in mind that temperature is one of perhaps 2 dozen parameters that must be in a narrow range for intelligent life (like us) to form. Reports of estimates of tens of billions of habitable planets in the Milky Way are way way off base. I predict that we will never find another planet like Earth that would support life as we know it. Would such a planet support us if we went there ?

I am eagerly staying tuned in to this search. In time we will be able to answer whether or not more of the essential characteristics are present.

We could start by spending more time in Alpha Centauri where it's relative proximity would present the easiest chance for close inspection.

For now I will keep my interest up but will remain an agnostic on this subject for the time being.

Strange Super-Earth Planet Has 'Plasma' Water Atmosphere

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rOZZ
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I think that we should promote a proper definition of "Habitable Planet". I propose the definition as: We could go there, breathe the atmosphere and live out a normal life expectancy with no artificial methods of providing an enclosed living environment.

This could be called a "Type 1" habitat

Type 2 could provide for life underground or in a shelter.

Type 3 may require living in a dome-like structure and manufacturing a breathable atmosphere.

and so on--what do you all think.


I think that we do ourselves a dis-service to trumpet billions of "Habitable Planets" in the Galaxy since we haven't yet found a one and may never do so.

There could also be life in the clouds of Jupiter-like planets or in the clouds of planets like Venus...

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rOZZ
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Exoplanet Count Blasts Through the 1,000 Barrier

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Earth wouldn't have qualified as a 'Type 1' planet back in the time of the dinosaurs due to low oxygen levels (10 to 18%) compared to around 21% today. The air was breathable back then but I wouldn't say it was conductive to a normal life expectancy.

By the strict 'Type 1' definition I too would be surprised to find any truly habitable planets.

OTOH, planets that could support earth like life (i.e. carbon/water based) are probably plentiful. With Earth as an example, where life is even remotely possible it finds away to exist and I see no reason why that would be any different on other worlds. And if life exists then the potential for intelligent life exists.

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I believe that they are plentiful in the Universe. But per Galaxy--maybe only a very few. As we develop the means to look out to say 1000 light years we can test this. If we can measure things like atmosphere composition, ground temperature, orbit eccentricity, magnetic field, ozone presence, water and land mixture, stable spin and so on then we will know more.

Assuming that we are doing a proper job of listening via SETI--we should have heard anyone out to maybe 100 light years and more by now. Thus we may conclude that if there are "Habitable" planets out at these distances, then the inhabitants have not progressed to the point of having developed electronics a few hundred years ago.

The discovery of a seventh planet around the dwarf star KIC 11442793 could be a record, according to two separate teams of researchers.

The system bears some similarities to our own, but all seven planets orbit much closer to their host star, which lies some 2,500 light-years from Earth.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24642603



The universe wastes nothing, it's simply transferred.
Lynn

How about this as an idea? Send out a probe in the most likely direction for finding a planet that could support life with as many sensors and instruments as possible that could detect "life signs". On the way out of our solar system aim it back toward earth periodically and find out how far out it can detect the evidence of life here. If it can't find life here then it isn't going to be likely that we can detect life, intelligent or not, elsewhere. If it does continue to find evidence of life here then we will begin to have a gauge of how far out our instruments can find life elsewhere.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Astronomers believe that the universe is expanding - that all points in the universe are getting farther apart all the time. If that is the case, any intelligent being would be gone.
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The universe wastes nothing, it's simply transferred.
Lynn

Astronomers believe that the universe is expanding - that all points in the universe are getting farther apart all the time. If that is the case, any intelligent being would be gone.
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The universe wastes nothing, it's simply transferred.
Lynn

Depends on how far away the intelligent being is. If in our general neighbourhood (say within 1000 LY) then the effects of universal expansion would require billions, or maybe even trillions, of years to become evident.

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Astronomers believe that the universe is expanding - that all points in the universe are getting farther apart all the time. If that is the case, any intelligent being would be gone.
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The universe wastes nothing, it's simply transferred.
Lynn

Depends on how far away the intelligent being is. If in our general neighbourhood (say within 1000 LY) then the effects of universal expansion would require billions, or maybe even trillions, of years to become evident.

Maybe intelligent life got swolled up by black holes. Maybe Not. But I love the whatifiness of the question. I hope extraterrestrial life exists. Right now it's not looking good.

And if life exists then the potential for intelligent life exists.

I agree completely. And the time it takes to evolve into an intelligent species is a bagatelle in astronomical terms...

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