Yes, I think Extraterrestrial life exists. I believe in the Infinite universe, or at least that the universe has no set bounds of distance. With that belief, I just can't see any way that something as Obstinate as life would appear in just one small part of it. The problem with infinity is that while it leaves open infinite possibilities, it also tends to leave large gaps between them. I dont think that we'll ever make contact with other life, but to think of the possibility that the only reason we hadn't heard anything was because no one was listening just seems too stupid to me. If we ever heard anything, it'll only serve as a way to tell everyone that we arent all that special after all. The distances are too great for us to, with what we're listening on, ever really make "contact", and if we ever hear anything it means that whoever sent it is, by that time, long gone. Ultimately, we will always be alone in the universe, but I think it is a nice thought to have that maybe there is or was someone else out there.
I like the idea of having a beacon for our planet. With the speed of light what it is, we'd be gone before any negative consequences could come of it. Stick it on the moon next to the "Kilroy was Here" written in the dust. Let some passer-by know that someone else once bothered to exist.
As for SETI@home, well it's not like I'm using my unused proccessor cycles, now is it? |