Trying to Locate Extraterrestrial Life

Imagine that out of the infinite stars and planets in the vast universe, only one solitary planet can sustain life. Heavily disputed arguments have arisen about whether humans are the sole intelligent beings in the universe. Scientists continuously search for the answer, but the search has not as yet yielded positive results. Billions of dollars have been spent in research, causing controversy about whether scientists should invest in the hunt for extraterrestrial beings. Due to inadequate technology, humans cannot currently identify whether extraterrestrial life exists, leading to arguments that scientists should refrain from searching for them.

Findings on Earth and other planets suggest extraterrestrial life could live in outer space, further encouraging scientists to proceed with their research. Discovering water is a great step for finding habitable planets. According to new studies, “Mars had a shallow pool of briny water on its surface long ago, NASA said in announcing what could be the strongest evidence yet that the now-dry Red Planet was once hospitable to life. ‘If we are correct in our interpretation, this was a habitable environment,’ Mr. Squyres said. These are the kinds of environments that are very suitable for life” (Bridges). Little evidence proves beings live on Mars now, but this dried up water source provides strong proof that Mars could have inhabited life in the past. Water is a key element of survival, and can also house marine life. Marine life could have simply died out when the water dried up. If Mars was truly inhabited by extraterrestrials long ago, then scientists cannot rule out living beings on any other planet in the universe, and must continue searching. Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons houses...

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...h sides of the extraterrestrial life debate have frightening results. People could either be alone with no one to save them from themselves, or there could be life humans would have to save themselves from.

Works Cited

Bridges, Andrew. "Mars Even More Likely to Have Hosted Life." Geelong Advertiser: n. pag. Student Research Center. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.

Chandler, David L. "The New Search for Alien Intelligence." Astronomy Sept. 2013: n. pag. Student Research Center. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.

Fecht, Sarah. "The Case for Alien Life." Popular Mechanics July-Aug. 2013: n. pag. Student Research Center. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.

Jackson, Ellen. Looking for Life in the Universe: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Boston: Houghton, 2002. Print.

Smith, Howard A. "Alone in the Universe." American Scientist July-Aug. 2011: n. pag. Student Research Center. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.