Reply #9: FOUR probable water sources in our solar system alone! FOUR! [View All]

Earth, Mars, Europa, and now Enceladus--with Enceledus showing atmosphere with water vapor, volcanic plumes of water erupting from its surface (forming Saturn's E-ring), and water probably only 10 meters below the surface. It's very cold on the surface (minus 200-300 F), but below the surface extreme forms of life could exist, such as exist at extreme temperatures on earth.

The odds for other life in our solar system--for other life in our galaxy, for life in other galaxies, and for sentient life as being abundant in the universe--just took an astronomical leap, so to speak. The odds have been dramatically increasing over the last several years, with the discovery of planets outside of our solar system, circling other stars in our galaxy. There are billions and billions of stars in our galaxy, and billions and billions and billions of galaxies in the visible universe. The numbers are mind-boggling.

FOUR sources of water in this relatively miniscule environment (our solar system). It almost has to be everywhere. We tend to be a bit myopic here at DU, what with our nation falling to pieces--and concerns about our species even being able to survive the Bush junta (let alone fufill our heart's desire as the wanderingest species we know of, from the first step out of Africa, round the globe, and all the way to the moon). We must take care and see to the just and peaceful organization of our own country, and try to return it to the fold of lawful nations. Clearly, that is our first duty. But still...

...I feel such joy at this discovery, and I commend it to you, especially if you tend to despair at the current political scene. Let yourself think big sometimes, and lo-o-o-o-o-o-ong term. What is all this about? And what is our individual part in the furtherance of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness among all sentient beings?

:think: :woohoo: :think: