Alien life, likely or unlikely?

I think I will start off with a simple topic and one everyone has come to know over the years. Alien Extra-Terrestrial life. Before you scoff, I must note that this is not to promote a conspiracy or rumours, such as Area 51 and Roswell. Whether they are true or not is irrelevant, we are going to look at this topic with hard facts and pure science to deduct whether or not these life forms might or might not exist at all. Perhaps having a clearer idea on the possibilities of an Alien visit or a deep-space exploration, to find other life forms at the other end of the Galaxy.

I will start of with a thought. What makes the human body? We know since the birth of modern science that our bodies are made of bone and tissue. What makes these bones and tissues are cells. These cells are very hard workers where the perform a myriad of tasks by keeping the body alive and healthy. But when you look closer you will find that these cells are also made up of interesting particles, call atoms. These atoms are very diverse making them the building blocks for everything you see in front of you and around you. The computer screen, the keyboard, even the cup of coffee in your hand, are all made of these very small particles called atoms. These atoms behave in such a way when put together will give you molecules which are so varied and allow for almost seemingly infinite variations, from plastic bags to cars, to food and medicine, molecules are the combined form of atoms doing their job to sustain life and to provide materials and matter throughout the universe.

Atoms are categorised into special configurations and these are called elements, assuming you have heard of carbon and oxygen, gold and neon. These are all atoms, but they all behave so very differently, they all have different properties which contribute matter in different ways.

The human body is comprised of only a certain amount of some atoms. Being O (Oxygen) 65%, Carbon (C) 18%, Hydrogen (H) 10%, Calcium (Ca) 1.5%, Potassium (K) 0.35%, Nitrogen (N) 3%, Sulfur (S) 0.25%, Sodium (Na) 0.15%, Magnesium (Mg) 0.05% and (Copper, Selenium, Fluorine, Iodine, Chlorine, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt,Molybdenum and Zinc 0.70%)
Trace elements, Lithium, Aluminium, Vanadium, Bromine, Arsenic, Strontium, Silicon and Lead.

These all play a special part in the biological systems that take place in our bodies, from moving to metabolic action.

These are the elements which make up the entire human body, from these atoms being created from the fusion reactions by the sun (The creation of new elements) are dispersed among a stars reach, travelling through the galaxy and subsiding on planets and moons (These elements will be and have been seen on other planets, some more than others) and remain, waiting for the conditions of life to be right for life to begin. Our planet as we know as Earth resides in a special place in out Solar System, call the Goldilocks region or Zone (Taken from the 3 little bears story), where the conditions are "Just" right for life to flourish and simple organisms to proliferate.

To get where we are today has taken millions of years, from simple celled organisms to the complex organic species known as the Homo-Sapien. With this information, we now need to understand that these "Alien" Species need to follow the same rules Nature has set for us and with that information alone we can determine the possibility of Alien life on other systems and planets.

There is a lot of controversy on the external features of an Alien. What will they look like?, how advanced are they?, can they speak in a language we can decipher or understand?, Do they understand science like we do, do they wish to hurt us or to just understand other extra terrestrials like we would want to. These questions can never be answered until we actually make contact with them. Some say they will look grey and have red eyes like a fly and a large head. A typical and cliche image of extra terrestrial life perhaps, but a valid one. Others will say they will look similar to us, inhibiting the same chemical make-up of elements and forces, due to the universal laws of nature that made us, must apply to them also, as they will need to inhabit a Goldilocks zone as we do as well. Others will argue that many species are still insects or even microbial life. These are all valid points and are all very plausible.


This is a serious topic which could play a valuable part in human history. People today discard Aliens and their existence as we have not seen any hard evidence of such creatures. But if contact were to be made would have a permanent impact de railing our knowledge of the universe and bringing the human race to the next level of consciousness.


Feynman