Is There Life on Other Planets?

Is there life on other planets? Most of us, at some point in life, must have pondered over this eternal query. Are we the only ones in the depths of this endless ocean called 'the universe'? Let us try to know about the endless list of possibilities that reside somewhere in the corners of our imagination.

Extraterrestrial life has always been the subject of human expressions in various forms like movies, paintings or popular stories. This topic has been a subject of intense debate, not only among the common people but also the intellectuals around the world. However, one fact clearly stands tall and that is; there is no proof till date that can conclusively state or authenticate the presence of a life form other than that on Earth. Even though there is no evidence, the possibility of a civilization existing somewhere out there, may be worth considering. Crop circles, another phenomenon that has benumbed humans, is thought to have been influenced by the aliens.

The most important factor in determining the presence of life is the environment. If we assume that the conditions such as those on Earth can be created anywhere in the universe or already exist in it, then the idea of life on that planet is almost a certainty. Based on the survival mechanism of human beings, we may be able to predict the possibility of a whole new set of beings similar to us. Human beings need air to breathe, water to drink and food for survival. The availability of these factors is a must for each one of us to sustain on Earth. Hence, there is a lot of curiosity among experts with regard to the planet Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, the moons of Jupiter and Saturn like Europa and Titan respectively, in our solar system. These have been found to have traces of water on their surface. Therefore, there is every chance that life will be able to thrive on these bodies.

The presence of life beyond the solar system is a very contentious matter. There is a section of people who believe that on account of the expanse of the Universe, there must be a planet like Earth that supports life. The issue is a matter of research and speculation. The argument that there could be a planet like Earth, that exists in the realms of the Universe is a very likely event. Considering the sheer expanse of the Universe, we may be tempted to believe in the theory that there is a parallel civilization flourishing somewhere out in the cosmos. The only constraint facing us and perhaps the aliens is that both sides are unaware of a communication mechanism. We, humans have come a long way since our evolution on this planet. But our achievements have not yet been able to make us aware of such an extraterrestrial being (if at all they exist). Similarly, if we again assume that a civilization does exist somewhere out there, even they have a long way to go and actually communicate with us.

The fact remains that so far we have not been able to detect life on other planets but at the same time there is no denying the possibility that it might actually exist!