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How Different Might an Alien Intelligence Be From Us?
Understanding and communicating with otherworldly beings
If, and when, we make first contact with an intelligent alien species, we may find ourselves faced with the daunting task of trying to communicate with beings so perfectly strange in relation to ourselves that it’s nearly impossible. In a nearly infinite universe, the possibilities for life are also nearly infinite.
Life has taken many unique paths throughout the history of evolution on our own Earth. The “tree of life” is filled with branches that have grown on for millions, and even billions, of years, while others have only progressed for a few million or hundreds of thousands of years.
What forms might life take on other planets, in other solar systems across our galaxy?
Life as we know it on Earth is only one version of what life could be, and it’s inherently unique because the precise combination of elements, the qualities of our orbit, sun and moon, are unique to Earth. No other planet would be exactly the same, so what will life be like there?
Carbon-based life seems like it be the most common, as it is the fourth most common element in the universe when measured spectroscopically, at 4,600…
