Are We Alone Research Paper

Are We Alone?

For thousands of years, it was thought that the Earth was the center of the universe. Today, even a young child knows that idea is false. As knowledge increases, so does the understanding that the Earth is not as unique as previously thought. There are billions of other planets out there, and odds are that a significant amount are comparable to Earth. If a planet as insignificant as Earth can develop a vast and diverse number of organisms, it is logical to assume that life could take root somewhere else in the universe.

The unfathomable size of space lends credence to the theory that life almost certainly evolved somewhere else in the universe. The Earth is a single planet orbiting a standard sized star. The sun has seven other

These bacteria are the only organisms ever found that can exist solely off of the electrical energy given off by electrons; they have no need for oxygen or carbohydrates, which are requirements for all other life on Earth. In normal metabolism, electrons are taken from an energy source, normally some kind of carbohydrate, and release spent electrons to an acceptor, usually oxygen. However, these bacteria simply take electron from the environment and release them to surrounding rocks. The discovery of this unique form of life supports the idea that life can exist on planets formerly thought to be uninhabitable.

Where in the universe might aliens be found? The common theory today is that life requires water, the basis of all living things on Earth (Wall). It very well may be that this is the case; water has many unusual properties that make it an exceptionally versatile substance, so it is plausible that water is a requirement for life. As a result of this theory, scientists have been focusing their search on planets with signs that indicate that there is water present or was present at some point in the past. Two such places exist in this very solar system: the red planet Mars and Jupiter’s icy moon named Europa