Multiple hypotheses originated from the human mind from time to time, and a reasonable number of them revolutionized the human generation as well as this universe. Scholars and scientists nourished one such hypothetical concept or belief about the extraterrestrial life in our galaxy or beyond it. It is hypothetical life that may exist on other celestial bodies in the universe other than our earth. In other words, extraterrestrial life is such life that did not originate from the earth and may exist outside the ground. The phase and stage of such life may range from unicellular prokaryotes to complex living beings. These living beings may have intelligentsia like sapiens, or it is also possible that they are sapiens alike existing somewhere else in the universe. In addition, it is also speculation that such living beings may be more advanced and developed than sapiens on the basis of intelligence, culture, and evolved civilization. All these concepts strongly need an evidential basis, but till today they are solely hit and trialed like ideas by the concerned scholars and scientists. However, such conceptual presentation has deep roots in the Drake equation, which argues about the existence of a different number of such active civilizations in the universe having communicating power and capacity. Additionally, no concrete evidence in bodily form validated this hypothesis.
Furthermore, all these imaginings are hypothetical and fall under the umbrella of exobiology, i.e., the science dealing with life outside the earth. It is also quite interesting that it is science without subject matter, i.e., proof of life in space and other celestial bodies. More precisely, we can claim that such concepts revolve around science fiction instead of walls of a real and concrete world adorned with existential evidence. However, the idea and search for extraterrestrial life have opened new horizons of discussion for humanity. The top-ranking among them is to estimate and understand basic features, characteristics, and requirements of life. While the fundamental question relates to searching and finding the answers to questions like what life is and what package of specific attributes can be entitled as life on other heavenly bodies (Cohen).
Of course, the answers to such types of questions cannot be found with authenticity and cent percent confidence based on some universal law. However, the research by the scientists and astronauts may take multiple dimensions to estimate the life evidence on other heavenly bodies in Milky Way Galaxy or beyond that galaxy. These bases may include scientific investigations on global measurements of earth’s ionosphere, the aptitude of human evolution on the planet, and finally, the existential evidence on a biochemical basis. Meanwhile, global measurements of the earth’s ionosphere need space data of upper layers in the solar system. In addition, it may lead the experts towards the role of galactic environment and solar system interaction in space for the origin and progress of life. At this point, the exobiology may overlap with astrobiology to investigate the attributes necessary for the origin of life. Further, evolution refers to all those processes required to maintain and keep organism functions collaborative in case of complex life. The complexity level of life on other celestial bodies, if it exists, can be judged and observed based on the evolution concept.
Furthermore, life evidence in space can be estimated and scientifically judged on a biochemical basis. Taking earth as an example, it requires water as the base of life. Other than water, the six bio elements and basic life detecting compounds like ammonia and hydrocarbons can play an active role in the existence of life or living organisms. In all these twenty-nine elements and compounds, carbon takes the central role of having tetravalent characteristics. This unique chemical composition of carbon atoms makes it appropriate evidence of life’s existence on other planets, i.e., exotic life. Keenly relying on these concrete bases, researchers speculate and validate either extraterrestrial life can exist or not on other planets. These bases determine the life existence in our solar system. Other than the solar system and Milky Way galaxy, we have significantly less information to estimate the life in other galaxies in the universe. So, scientists’ main concern deals with our planetary solar system searching and finding life evidence (Summers et al.).
In this context, several planets in our solar system have provided some vague to dim evidence regarding which we can predict the existence of life or adaptability of life at them. For example, Mars is considered the most appropriate place to support life due to evidence of liquid water, brine solutions in amalgamation with methane gas. Such evidence may predict the past time on Mars having warm and wet features. Similarly, Mercury is another most appealing and attractive planet in this context. According to some NASA reports, multiple pieces of shreds of evidence of water ice were found on Mercury in a spatial expedition in recent years. Scientists predict that life may exist even in the form of microorganisms, or it may become habitual for life. Another celestial body on the same list is Venus. Here two concrete pieces of evidence predict life. The first one is Venus’s atmosphere full of carbon dioxide, and the second one is the temperature that ranges from 450-47 °C. Here striking of light to erupt volcanic activity and ideas of the abiotic process provide little hope about the existence of life. In addition, no extraterrestrial life evidence is found on other heavenly bodies like Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, etc.
In a nutshell, we can say that the extraterrestrial life and evidence of its existence on other celestial bodies is a hypothesis having imaginations. Still, no concrete evidence is there either to believe it or vehemently deny it.
Work Cited
1Cohen, Erik. “Extraterrestrial life, stellar civilizations, and aliens.” Space Tourism. Emerald Publishing Limited, 2019.
2Summers, Ryan, et al. “Using Claims and Evidence to Support the Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Teacher Reflections Following an Interdisciplinary English—Science Argumentation Unit.” Integrative and Interdisciplinary Curriculum in the Middle School. Routledge, 2020. 67-86.
Worksheet
Q1: What is the title of your essay?
Answer:
Extraterrestrial Life- Existing Life Evidence in Space
(Extraterrestrial life is a hypothetical concept to search and find life on celestial bodies other than earth. Scientists and scholars speculate about it, but still, no concrete evidence can be found to support the existence of life in space. Various bases are there to research the subject matter in the best interest of human generation in the way of progress and development.)
Q2: What were your sources?
Answer: There are two sources, and both of the sources are at this moment are mentioned at the end of the essay titled ‘Work Cited’. These are required sources according to the given instructions.
Q3: Discuss the validity of each one of your sources. Be sure to make comments regarding credibility, bias, timeliness (when was your cited reference written/updated?), and information content.
Answer: My first used source is an article published in 2019 in the tourism social science series under ‘The Space Tourism Volume 25’. It is a detailed article giving necessary information about the origin and concept of extraterrestrial life. The work is based on a scientific basis having predictions and speculations about the source of life in space.
Similarly, the second source used is another article, having been selected for the curriculum of a course. The article addresses various dimensions and evidence of life in space, i.e., other heavenly bodies. It was published in 2020.
Q4: How did you search for these sources? What was the process you went through to find the sources?
Answer: For both of these two sources, I consulted www.google.com. Huge information and articles were there, but for more precise and reliable information, I used to consult NASA’s official website as well as visit the following website for scholarly articles and works. https://theconversation.com/global/topics/extraterrestrial-life-1453.
Q5: Is the topic of your paper controversial? Is it possible you would find conflicting information on this topic? Which of your sources would be more reliable for information and how could you tell?
Answer: Yes, the topic is controversial. There is a lot of conflicting information regarding the case because the subject matter can neither be validated nor denied. There is no concrete evidence to support life in space. Similarly, one has no solid arguments for rejecting such hypothetical concepts and ideas of scientists. However, I found the first source reliable because of its valid argumentation presented in a comprehensive way.
