Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci

Did life originate on earth?  Life forms of exquisite complexity already were present rather early in the history of the earth.  Then it took maybe half the age of the earth for evolution to progress from bacteria to nucleated cells.  It therefore overwhelms credulity to suppose that early organisms in all their complexity could possibly have evolved in the brief time available before their known appearance on earth.  One must assume that they invaded from space.  In fact, given the early forms, there may have been at least two seedings.  Surely such forms can and do exist in space.  That is the reason that the possibility of life on other planets is contemplated.  Even if that spread to them from earth, it would have to travel through space to get there.

Life is probably ubiquitous.  If life invaded the solar system, the whole galaxy is probably infected.  Given that galaxies come into being within and among other galaxies, the seeds of life must pass from one galaxy to another.  Although galaxies eventually are recycled through black holes where no life could survive, the tiny and numerous particles of primitive life are widely dispersed and are doubtfully ever totally eliminated.  Even if life re-appears from time to time, and in an infinite universe that is inevitable, the only way to eradicate what has come before would be replacement through competition.  One can only speculate on how complete is the distribution of life.  It may even be more characteristically permanent than matter itself which eventually will be destroyed in its turn in the birth of a quasar.

Evolution is a property of life.  Progress towards and achievement of intelligent forms we know is possible because it already exists.  If it exists here it exists elsewhere.  How common suitable habitats for the evolution of intelligence might be is unknown.  If a super-intelligence existed in our galaxy we would almost certainly be aware of it.  We know of no such thing so it most likely is not present.  It appears that we are alone in our galaxy.  Inevitably, however, intelligence exists elsewhere in the universe.  The problems of communication are such that intergalactic contact is virtually impossible and if it ever occurred would only be sporadic.  We do not have it.  The conclusion must be that intelligence occasionally arises in the universe but then in turn eventually disappears.  It is mortal even as we humans are mortal.  But here and there and from time to time in the universe there is intelligence.
      
11 September 2006

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