The Prospects for Alien Life on Titan Keep Getting Better

[Caliga]

I dunno, I feel like if we found life on Titan (or any other body in the solar system than Earth) everyone would think it was neat for a few days, and would quickly move on.  Obviously the Timmys would jizz all over the place about it a bit longer, but don't most biologists (exobiologists?) already assume life is not unique to Earth?  So it would merely confirm what they have already anticipated.

[Berkut]

Why would it be so exciting to find bacteria on Titan?  Is there anyone non-retarded out there who still thinks life could only possibly exist on Earth?

It would indicate that life was very common as otherwise it would be highly unlikely for a single planetary system to have developed life twice. Also, given that life is common, we would then wonder why we are so isolated, perhaps life is common but intelligent life rare, perhaps advanced civilisations are very transitory. Just a few crappy bacteria woyuld greatly extend our knowledge on this topic.

Recent human history suggests to me that intelligence doesn't survive mass communication.

[Valmy]

I dunno, I feel like if we found life on Titan (or any other body in the solar system than Earth) everyone would think it was neat for a few days, and would quickly move on.

Yeah? Lots of really important and groundbreaking scientific discoveries receive this treatment. What difference does 'public excitement' make?

[Caliga]

With regard to intelligent life, I would assume any civilizations much more advanced than our own are machine-based only.  I always felt like The Borg was the most likely alien 'race' we'd encounter.  Them, or the little tiny dudes in Batteries Not Included.

[Caliga]

Yeah? Lots of really important and groundbreaking scientific discoveries receive this treatment. What difference does 'public excitement' make?

I dunno, not much I guess.  I'm just trying to say I don't think this would be the epoch-shifting event that I am guessing Tim thinks it would be.

[Valmy]

Yeah? Lots of really important and groundbreaking scientific discoveries receive this treatment. What difference does 'public excitement' make?

I dunno, not much I guess.  I'm just trying to say I don't think this would be the epoch-shifting event that I am guessing Tim thinks it would be.

Oh no it wouldn't be. Just another data point in our exploration of space.

[fromtia]

Why would it be so exciting to find bacteria on Titan?  Is there anyone non-retarded out there who still thinks life could only possibly exist on Earth?

It would indicate that life was very common as otherwise it would be highly unlikely for a single planetary system to have developed life twice. Also, given that life is common, we would then wonder why we are so isolated, perhaps life is common but intelligent life rare, perhaps advanced civilisations are very transitory. Just a few crappy bacteria woyuld greatly extend our knowledge on this topic.

Indeed. We might have to seriously think about Fermis paradox a bit more, as everything we previously thought about the incidence of life in the universe would be proven wrong.

[fromtia]

With regard to intelligent life, I would assume any civilizations much more advanced than our own are machine-based only.  I always felt like The Borg was the most likely alien 'race' we'd encounter.  Them, or the little tiny dudes in Batteries Not Included.

I agree, I think the likelihood is contact with a machine intelligence, or even something drone like. It may very well be profoundly hostile, so we should probably just go quiet over here in a corner until we know whats going on. Greg Bear and Alistair Reynolds both wrote great books on the subject.

Hopefully it will be the Borg, because they were fucking crap and easily defeated.

[The Brain]

Borg = Germans?

[fromtia]

Borg = Germans?

Not as good at fighting.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Or tennis.

[derspiess]

I vote we send Tim there to investigate personally. 

[dps]

I fail to see why this is a good thing.

'Cause if we send Timmay there he won't be here.

[Razgovory]

I fail to see why this is a good thing.

How is it a bad thing? I think it is just a thing.

Great filter.

[Ed Anger]

I vote we send Tim there to investigate personally.

Still too close. Send him to Wolf 359.