The fact that only a decade ago ? we knew of no planets and now we know of approx 200 tells me that we may be in for many surprises contrary to what we believed only years ago
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The numbers of Suns (300 billion approx per gallaxy) in the number of gallaxies (how many billions of gallaxies in the observable Universe let alone the non observable Universe...to me means the numbers are such that indeed intelligent life will be not unusual. It would be unusual to find there was none other than ours. How we find that for a fact I have no idea, however to see ourselves as the only intelligent life is a little self centred and takes little account of the numbers of places there are in the Universe.. if we are the only ones what does that mean.. are we charged with seeing that intelligent life continues..and it is then all up to us..what a responsibility..when we go, (become extinct and we will) is that the end..I hope not and I doubt if intelligence dies when we become extinct...and yes we will become extinct..its like thinking of dieing it happens to everyone and it happens to us... somehow we often forget the finallity of it all. But think of the numbers and the chances of in all there is we are the only ones..if we are we are indeed the most special species in the Universe
.. Now I can believe that of myself but the whole human population I dont know
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alex
alex