The best and most interesting news ever!

Astronomers have found the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System dubbed a new "super Earth" in a solar system called the Gliese 581 system, and there is three planets including this Super Earth and a 15 Earth-mass planet (Gliese 581 orbiting even closer to the parent star, and an eight Earth-mass planet that lies further out (Gliese 581 d). The bad news is that this Exoplanet 20 light years away which would take a long time to get to. The scientists have said that the estimated temperature of this Super Earth to be between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius which would make water there if there is, liquid. Which could very well harbour life.

The scientists have also said that the planet could well be rocky like our Earth or all fill with oceans. This is so exciting and amazing. I hope this could be the start of finding new life forms outside our known species.



^ An artists impression of what it looks like through the lens.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6589157.stm

I knew I recognized the name. I actually posted a topic on this way back when it was first announced or whatever.

Lost Earth

But yeah, interesting stuff. =).

You can never know if scientists are making this up or not.

Uh, sure you can.

Step 1: Go to observatory
Step 2: Look at new planet
Step 3: ????
Step 4: PROFIT!!!

It really isn't all that hard.

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I heard about them finding the smaller one closer to the dwarf star quite a while ago (4-5+ months), but I didn't realize that they had found a whole string of them. This is quite interesting.

Sounds like it's time to nuke it from orbit, just in case.

Face huggers everywhere!

But you're right on one part. Because it could hold life, there is a high risk of being exposed to viruses and bacteria that out bodies have no way to fight.

As well, the effect of our presence on the local environment could be devastating.

Yeah, but how many republicans are honestly going to think that way? I think Bomb pretty much summed it up... I can hear it now, "If it harbors life, then they aren't Americans... If their not Americans they're terrorists."
Ow
...

I think I just died a little inside... Nope, just an aneurysm...

But I digress, the ramifications of our presence on an alien planet could be catastrophic, not only on any indigenous life forms, but on ourselves, and any flora, not to mention, as Ibanez Player stated, we have no immunity for alien viruses and bacteria... and don't forget that the most likely life form on any alien planet is microscopic.. Who knows how our bodies would react to exposure to any foreign stimuli of that nature, or if our space-suits would have an adverse reaction on the environment... (see, I can be serious when I want to... Oh and that terrorist joke at the beginning was because our leaders are typically suspicious of everyone... No offense meant to those in other countries..)

To me, if we ever do find other lively planets in the very far future, I think Earth will become the “America” of the galaxy, trying to protect or assimilate other lesser planets that would rather be left alone. As for those who try to show even the slightest little threat, BOOM!

That, or if this whole global warming thing isn’t complete BS after all, Earth may become the “Mexico” of the galaxy instead, with us trying to seek refuge on other said planets. Ha, that’ll bring a whole new meaning to “illegal alien”.

Seriously though, this is an awesome find. They’re also now saying that they finally found some water in Mars’ soil, among other weird things. By the way, how many other possible Earths have been found in all so far?

There have been a few alerts in the past as far as I rememeber, but this seems to be the most credible one. Although it would be disastrous in certain ways. Humans are by nature a warlike species, and even if we do find life elsewhere and try to befriend it, something bad is bound to happen. Look at what we've done to ourselves for example. If we can bring up wars over such strange quarrels among ourselves, integration with new life forms will be tough.

I have a simple solution to the problem of foreign disease and what not. Offer some sort of incentive to those willing to settle the planet. People who are poor (and there are plenty on this world) could benefit from being the first on a new world. Though make them aware of the risks involved. I mean there's gotta be a chance that at least some of the population would develope immunities, then our scientist could get to work on innoculating future settlers. I mean, when the white man came to the Americas, foreign diseases had an effect on the indiginous population, but they are still around.

This may seem callous, but when a man is faced with starvation, or a chance to have a better life, despite the risks, he might take it. If informed of the dangers than only he is responsible.

It's fascinating, but freaky at the same time. If there is life there, advanced enough to equal our planet, or even make us look primitive; I'm sure our useless world leaders would trigger a war with them. Even if they came in peace. As a society, many of us cannot even accept simple things such as different clothing styles/music tastes...so there's no way we'd be able to handle something like mingling with a foreign species sadly.

Well, from my own religious background, I think this is very viable. We believe in endless creations and endless life. So, another plannet. Cool!!!

I always figured that if there was life that wanted to contact us, they would instead of us contacting them We're too wrapped up in other things like "Global Warming" (crock of hooey if you ask me) to try and talk to other peoples.

anyone else think that we humans are probably the strongest military force in this part of the universe? i mean our nukes could probably wipe out any hostile race we come across, right? i certainly hope so.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but...we lack the technology to defend ourselves against an attack from another planet. I doubt a missible would do much good once it's up in space, since knowing our luck; it's get stuck in the pull of gravity and crash back down. As for global warming, it's definitely something we should all be worrying about - because even it if won't affect us that much, it'll certainly affect other generations of our families.

...but yeah. I doubt we would survive any form of 'alien' disease. We can't find a cure for some diseases already, so I doubt something from another planet could be stopped except through quarantine and...extermination of the infected. >_>