Earth-like planets may be more rare than thought

Nature Magazine ^ | 30 July 2004 | Philip Ball

[PatrickHenry]

Opinions certainly seem to vary on this topic.

[PatrickHenry]

Science list Ping! This is an elite subset of the Evolution list.
See the list's description in my freeper homepage. Then FReepmail me to be added or dropped.

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

"rarer"?

[Bikers4Bush]

All I know is that if space is infinite then there has to be at least one.

[ECM]

There was a book written on this very topic a few years back, but the name escapes me at the moment.

[ZULU]

"Even then, the wobble is detectable only for giant planets, which are those about as big as Jupiter.."

So what does this tell them about the existance of earth-sized planets? Zippo.

In all the millions of galaxies, each with millions of stars, its hard to believe that whatever conditions were conducive to the formation of life here did not also occur elsewhere.

[RockinRight]

Creationist arguments aside, its hard to say really if another Earth could develop somewhere.

[RightWingAtheist]

I wonder if Martin beer is any relation to the great german astronomer Wilhelm Beer.

[Dead Corpse]

110 out of BILLIONs of stars in one galaxy alone and they are already throwing in the towel? Sheesh... we just got started!

Do these knotheads never stop to think that there may be as many different processes for planet formation as there are dust clouds coalescing into stellar nebula? That each may be radically different from the next depending on the ratio and composition of elements contained therein?

That just because one person uses Nestle and I use Hersey's that the end result couldn't still be one darn tasty chocolate chip cookie?

Don't they teach logic any more?

[P-Marlowe]

In all the millions of galaxies, each with millions of stars, its hard to believe that whatever conditions were conducive to the formation of life here did not also occur elsewhere.

The condition for the formation of life is everywhere in the universe. Indeed it transcends the universe. It is God's creative power. Someday soon you will come face to face with that power.

[RUCKUS INC.]

Big News, the longer we study the Universe the more it invariably points to a Creator who designed this little "happenstance" called Earth.

[Cincinatus]

Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe.

[RUCKUS INC.]

Just read your bio, it's nice to see a TULIP-er on FR.

[thecabal]

Would you mind quoting me the scripture that proves there are no other earthlike planets in the universe? I don't remember seeing that.

[Little Ray]

Alchemy of the Heavens?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385472137/qid=1091212578/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-0276543-3117500?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[ECM]

That would be the one--thanks!