I can research what we know about life elsewhere in the universe, starting with an analysis of our solar system. From what you know and what you’ve researched, do you think there is life on another planet/solar system? Do you think there is intelligent life? Support your answer.
What I did:
My essay shows facts that support and don't support the question of whether intelligent life exists in the universe. In my conclusion I state my opinion of whether I believe this intelligent life exists.
My essay:
It has always been a matter of interest as to whether or not life exists in our universe. TV shows and movies depict little green Martians as this "other life form." Still scientists are constantly looking for a sign as to whether or not we are the only living creatures. Socrates, a philosopher, once said "As for me, all I know is that I know nothing." Scientists on Earth could spend an eternity looking for other life forms and answers in our universe, but in the end, we have not even begun to discover the secrets our universe holds.
For a planet to be able to sustain life there are certain qualities it must obtain. Mars orbits the sun in the habitable zone which means that it is in an area of the sun that allows it to have water on it's surface. Still, the thin atmosphere provides little protection against the solar winds and keeps Mars from having water on it's surface for along period of time. The water that stays on the surface has been shown to be too acidic to support life.
Some discoveries on Mars do point towards the possibility of life, intelligent or not. Recently a chemical called methane was found orbiting the Martian atmosphere. When burned in the presence of oxygen, it is known to create water and carbon dioxide, two chemicals found on earth. Another chemical called formaldehyde was found and this chemical is made up of a carbon atom, a oxygen atom, and two hydrogen atoms. Though Mars is supposedly geographically dead, scientists believe that these chemicals may be replenished by the volcanoes on Mars or a rock called serpentinization that is found in Earth's mantle.
"As for me, all I know is that I know nothing." This applies to me and everyone else in the world. When asked the question of whether or not intelligent life exists among our universe, I would say no. I don't believe that this possibility is likely with the information I have collected. If you were to look at all the theories of the universe, almost all of them mention that people were put on earth, but none mention another planet with intelligent life. From what I believe, we are alone is our universe.
My problems:
My biggest problem I had when doing this product was finding websites that would be reliable and weren't fake.
Bibliography:
"Formaldehyde - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde>.
"Mars - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars>.
"Methane- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane>.
"NASA - Home." NASA - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://www.nasa.gov>.
Peplow, Mark. "Formaldehyde Found on Mars." www.nature.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2011. <www.nature.com/news/2005/050225/full/news050221-15.html>.
"Planetary habitability - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_habitability#A_s
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