UFOs - real or not, your thoughts?

[Seahorse]

I think there's two main issues here. Is there life elsewhere? Absolutely! We're a tiny rock in the universe and it's extremely unlikely, I think, that we're alone!

As for UFOs over the Earth, I'd be *very* suprised if they're actually beings from another planet but I do think there's all sorts of government/military cr@p that we 'mere mortals' don't get to hear about!

Claire

[Rowan]

Well, don't draw attention to it, or we'll have Men in Black crawling all over the site!

[The Doctor]

Oh, he's been around here! Don't seem to be any recent posts though - then again, I've been a month without posting, and he does have a universe to look after...

Yep, and loads of building jobs around the house, and then a week looking after Pembroke and then camping around Longleat!

Isn't it funny how the various media have hijacked the use of the term 'UFO'?

UFO's DO exist. It is a fact. All it means though is that something is noticed around the sky that is unidentified. Nothing more. It could be an artifact of weather, light, meteor or anything else, but it has not yet been identified.

The media would have you believe that every UFO is some sort of alien space ship ready to pounce, but originally the term merely meant just that!

Incidently, I agree with the comments above, in that the universe is so vast that the chance of there being life somewhere else is significantly large. Whether it has been here, or could even get here, who can say!

[scared55]

To my mind it is inconceivable that this planet's inhabitants represent the only life in the Universe. Further, I find it difficult to believe that we are the only advanced civilisation in the Universe. However - we know for a certainty that we are the only advanced civilisation in our star system and, for all our advances, we are only now saying that a spacecraft launched over 30 years ago may one day reach the limits of our own star system.

The nearest candidate star for a single planet is 10.5 light years away in an expanding universe. The planet is tiny, and its orbit time suggests is to be a very great distance from its star. The nearest star with multiple planets (which increases the likelihood of one being capable of supporting life) is four times that distance link.

Putting aside for a second concepts such as stable wormholes, hyperspace and faster than light travel, the likelihood of intelligent beings crossing those distances on an exploratory mission is, to my mind, remote. The concept of intelligent beings crossing those distances on a regular basis to buzz us or grab a few inbred rednecks is (again, to my mind) a non starter.

But you never know ...

[Rowan]

Maybe WE are the aliens. There's got to be some reason for the extinction of the Neanderthal....

[scared55]

The Neanderthals are not extinct. They are alive and well and living in Swindon on a diet of nicked sweetcorn

[The Doctor]

If I catch them they won't be!

[HeyWayne]

I believe aliens are among us - one of the buggers bit me a few weeks ago (see my blog/postings)!

In all seriousness I think the chances that there are other life forms out there other than us is extremely possible - it just depends on the definition of what "life" is. I do find most UFO "sightings" amusing though - do they really believe that alien lifeforms that travel to Earth need landing lights or headlights to see where they are going? Would we necessarily "see" them anyway? Who says that they "travel" in the same sence that we do?

Found this quite interesting though...http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/st...071275,00.html

[Headfry]

Well said HeyWayne.....I always have the same point of view...
would they really put on the landing lights? and would they just 'flit' around our air space...don't think so
Our imagination must be based on what we know from our life form and environment. A whole new world would be just that....new! totally un-imaginable.
Even colours could be new, if there is such a thing on 'new earth' who knows what wonders there are to find!

[Rowan]

The Neanderthals are not extinct. They are alive and well and living in Swindon on a diet of nicked sweetcorn

Jasper Fforde fan?

[Rowan]

[QUOTE=Headfry;130947]Well said HeyWayne.....I always have the same point of view...
would they really put on the landing lights?

I had a UFO upstairs the other week. Turned out I'd left the landing light on....

[scared55]

Jasper Fforde fan?

Who?

Having said that, I just looked him up on Wikipedia and it looks like I might be if someone buys me some of his stuff for Christmas (if not Fford, Jasper then Ford Transit would be appreciated).

[Headfry]

who is Jasper and what does he do/ did?

[HeyWayne]

Jasper Fforde is one of my favourite authors - a Genius amongst men. I'm hoping for his new book on my birthday next Tuesday!!!

[Headfry]

on what subject ......