When I was a student in the 1960s almost all scientists believed we are alone in the universe. The search for intelligent life beyond Earth was ridiculed; one might as well have professed an interest in looking for fairies.Contrast that with today! What scientists believe in those matters that cannot be investigated seems to be influenced by fashion and what their peers believe. Of course we didn't know of the existence of any exoplanets (planets orbiting other stars) back in the 60's. But it was always likely that our Sun wouldn't be unique in this respect.
My belief is that intelligent life will be rare in the Universe. Technological civilisations I imagine will be vanishingly rare. I'll make a wild speculative guess at around 100 or so in our galaxy (the Milky Way)?
1 comment:
100 in the entire universe is my guess, which is why we"ll never find them.
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