3 ms·

"Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chem

• Buttons840 8y ago
  Every once in a while we see a headline that says something like "There are more planets than we previously thought", or "There are more galaxies than we previously thought". When people see these they often conclude that the odds that life exists elsewhere are greater than previously thought, but it's also perfectly logical to see those headlines and concludes that the odds of life forming are lower than previously thought, because (per Fermi) "Well then where is everyone?" Look at the math: odds of life existing elsewhere = (10^n planets) / (10^(-m) odds of life forming on a planet) We don't know what `n` and `m` are. It may be that `m` is much larger than than `n`. Yes, the number of planets is very large, but the odds of life forming is apparently very small. It may be that there is a very large number of planets, but a very very very very small chance that life would form on a planet.
  • bena 8y ago
    We're still working out how to get to Mars. Currently it will take close to a year. The longest time someone has spent in space has been just over a year. It is not easy. It is not quick. Even if we travel at the fastest possible speed, it takes 4 years to get to the next star. So, where are they? Too far away to reach. The assumption that these problems are possible to overcome is a big one.
• jobigoud 8y ago
  The Universe is old. Really old.