Intelligence: A Rare Cosmic Commodity

[Mugu]

By John D. Ruley

Advanced ground and space-based telescopes are discovering new planets around other stars almost daily, but an environmental scientist from England believes that even if some of those planets turn out to be Earth-like, the odds are very low they'll have intelligent inhabitants.

In a recent paper published in the journal Astrobiology, Professor Andrew Watson of the University of East Anglia describes an improved mathematical model for the evolution of intelligent life as the result of a small number of discrete steps.

Evolutionary step models have been used before, but Watson (a Fellow of England's Royal Society who studied under James Lovelock, inventor of the "Gaia hypothesis") sees a limiting factor: The habitability of the Earth (and presumably, other living worlds) will end as the sun brightens. Like most stars, as it progresses along the main sequence, the sun's output increases (it is believed to be about 25 percent brighter now than when the Earth formed). Within at most 1 billion years, this will raise the average temperature of the Earth to 50 degrees C, rendering the planet uninhabitable.

Four major steps

Applying the limited lifespan to a stepwise model, Watson finds that approximately four major evolutionary steps were required before an intelligent civilization could develop on Earth. These steps probably included the emergence of single celled life about half a billion years after the Earth was formed, multicellular life about a billion and a half years later, specialized cells allowing complex life forms with functional organs a billion years after that, and human language a billion years later still.


Complete article

[annabanana]

1. And how would we be sure we could RECOGNIZE an

alien intelligence? hmmm?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. If humans are the epitome of evolution the universe is in trouble.

However, thinking that we are does prove that whatever other intelligent life exists, we are surely the most egomaniacal.

We think we're important only because we tell ourselves we are.

[Echo In Light]

3. Agreed. It's self serving bullshit

[Fumesucker]

4. With sufficient technology..

Moving planets in their orbits is doable.

The basic concept was figured out in science fiction at least two or three decades ago.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1154784.stm

Mankind will soon have the ability to move the Earth into a new orbit, say a team of astronomers. The planetary manoeuvre may more than double the time life can survive on our planet, they believe.

Our Sun will increase its brightness in the next billion years or so, and if the Earth stays in its present orbit it will be fried and all life eliminated.

Using the well-understood "gravitational sling shot" technique that has been employed to send space probes to the outer planets, the researchers now think a large asteroid could be used to reposition the Earth to maintain a benign global climate.

It is an "alarmingly simple" technique, the astronomers say. It could ensure humanity's survival and even allow our descendants to alter our Solar System to move moons and planets to make new Earths.

[Bush_MUST_Go]

5. We can't even find intelligent life in Washington, DC