1st August 2010, 10:05 AM
A gas giant probably cannot support life itself, but if the conditions are right, it could host moons which are capable of life to some, more recognizable, degree.
One thing, though, is that a planet probably does need to be roughly similar in many aspects to Earth if it is to resemble it in ways significant to us. Smaller planets are less capable of doing important things like generating sufficient gravity and magnetic fields capable of creating a useful atmosphere.
Honestly, if you sit back and really examine things, the fact that we exist is miraculous. If any one of literally hundreds (maybe thousands) of variables in temperature, magnetic field, atmosphere, &tc. were different, life would not be possible. And, for all the diversity life has displayed on this planet, for all the countless millions of species, only one tiny twig of the entire tree developed sapience, this itself a result of innumerable accidents which happened to go our way.
It's what makes me believe that intelligent, spacefaring life is exceedingly rare in this universe, on a per-capita basis, and why I hold the conceit that human beings are, in fact, a special grade of existence.
One thing, though, is that a planet probably does need to be roughly similar in many aspects to Earth if it is to resemble it in ways significant to us. Smaller planets are less capable of doing important things like generating sufficient gravity and magnetic fields capable of creating a useful atmosphere.
Honestly, if you sit back and really examine things, the fact that we exist is miraculous. If any one of literally hundreds (maybe thousands) of variables in temperature, magnetic field, atmosphere, &tc. were different, life would not be possible. And, for all the diversity life has displayed on this planet, for all the countless millions of species, only one tiny twig of the entire tree developed sapience, this itself a result of innumerable accidents which happened to go our way.
It's what makes me believe that intelligent, spacefaring life is exceedingly rare in this universe, on a per-capita basis, and why I hold the conceit that human beings are, in fact, a special grade of existence.
YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER
WE STAND AT THE DOOR
WE STAND AT THE DOOR