If there are aliens, what will they look like?

bdhsfz6 · Mar 1, 2022

BravoXray said:
Since the UFO thread got closed, I'm interested in what others think intelligent aliens might look like.

Personally, I'm inclined to to think that if they evolved on a planet similar to Earth, they would look somewhat like us, bi-laterally symmetrical, Heads with two eyes for binocular vision, one or more limbs with hands and fingers to be able to manipulate objects, and two or maybe four legs. While there may be intelligent races that have evolved in seas on other planets that look like fish, whales or big jellyfish, they aren't going to be able to develop or build interplanetary space ships or propulsion systems.
Evolution on this planet over a few hundred millions years has seemed to have settled on this body format for a great number of species, so it must have inherent advantages for survival.
While there are species like whales, Orcas and Dolphins that may be intelligent and live in social groups, their bodies have not allowed them to develop any technology that they can manipulate. Other species like ants live in large social groups and can cooperate to use objects and materials as tools and raw materials, but aren't individually intelligent.

What are your thoughts on this?
And PLEASE, keep your religious views on this subject out of the conversation.

strantor · Mar 1, 2022

tradosaurus said:
Let's keep science fiction to the movies, where it belongs. I read lots of science fiction books but understand that the universe as we are told by the NAZA shamans is nothing more than CGI and cartoons.

If there can't be any science fiction in thread with a title like this one has, then what can there be? Anybody have scientific data on this topic? Anyone? No?

bcp · Mar 1, 2022

The panspermia theory just moves the problem of the origin of life from Earth to some other place.

Bruce

Cougsfan · Mar 1, 2022

I am of the opinion that science and religion must in the end agree. There is only one truth. Religious teachings that refute proven science are merely superstition. On the other hand as we learn more, old science is continually refuted by new science. Our grasp of, even our ability to grasp the totality of science is quite limited. (We ain't nearly as smart as we think we are)

Dftodd · Mar 1, 2022

tradosaurus said:
Let's keep science fiction to the movies, where it belongs. I read lots of science fiction books but understand that the universe as we are told by the NAZA shamans is nothing more than CGI and cartoons.

Science and science fiction go hand in hand on some fronts.

Science fiction come up with the ideas, and a scientist figures out how to make it work.

Doughknob · Mar 1, 2022

Cougsfan said:
I am of the opinion that science and religion must in the end agree. There is only one truth. Religious teachings that refute proven science are merely superstition.

Yep. I could actually point out many of such agreements.

And your “teachings” statement begins to get at something very much missing in modern organized religion.