History of the Universe

Essay 1
Jorge Antonio Perez
As best we can tell, there is almost certainly life of some form elsewhere in the
universe. Organic chemicals and water are not uncommon, being found in comets,
meteorites, and the dust that hangs between the stars. Further, while planets the
size of our earth are difficult to detect when they reside at sufficient distance for
temperatures to be adequate for liquid water, we have every reason to believe they
are relatively common if not completely mundane.
Hence, the probability of intelligence life elsewhere in the universe depends on the
probability that life will arise on a planet with the right conditions for life. This
probability is much harder for us to judge, although as we continue to learn more
about how life formed on earth, itll become easier for us to calculate. If we find
evidence that there was life on Mars or Europa, then life is likely to arise in the right
conditions, and there is definitely life elsewhere in the universe. Given that life
arose on Earth, Id estimate the probability to be relatively high. There is no reason
to expect that Earth is special.
I believe that, if we develop the technology to visit exoplanets, we will definitely find
other life eventually. In all likelihood, some of the life we find will be complex life
multicellular, with a nervous system, and mobility. On a planet with conditions like
those on earth, multicellular organisms can fulfill ecological niches that cant be
fulfilled by single-celled organisms, and animals (in this case defined as
multicellular organisms capable of moving themselves from one place to another)
can fulfill ecological niches that plants cant. Any type of life proliferates given the
opportunity from a simplified evolutionary point of view, thats the only thing life
needs to do to be life. We know that unicellular organisms can evolve into
multicellular organisms; given that it is possible, that it is favorable to do so, and
that evolution is guided by what is favorable, if there exists unicellular life
elsewhere, then there exists multicellular life elsewhere.
Intelligent life, however, is another matter. Probabilistically, it should exist. Theres
no reason to believe that we, humans, are the culmination of intelligent life in the
Universe: Id even argue that its possible that there are species on earth with
intelligence comparable to, if not greater than, our own. Some species of dolphins
and elephants have large brains and large neocortices. Those species display what
appears to be language, complex communication, learned behaviors, a theory of
mind, and in the case of elephants, grief, rituals, and other complex emotions.
Humans only came to dominate the globe because we tend to form complex social
hierarchies, and because we mastered fire, tool use, and agriculture. As far as we
know, elephants dont form social hierarchies of nearly the necessary complexity
(their populations are lower and slower-growing), they tend to migrate, and hands
are better for tool use than a trunk. And Dolphins could never master fire, and
would only be able to use tools with great difficulty.

But if intelligence is not unique to us, then I see every reason to believe that there
are intelligent species elsewhere in the universe. I believe that intelligent life in
general is one of the most beautiful features of the universe, but I dont believe that
we are the culmination of intelligent life. We are not special in that sense. If we ever
encounter and communicate with other civilizations, and I believe we will
eventually, I only hope that they do not judge us too harshly, and that our dreams
of friendship and cooperation rise above our prejudice, our xenophobia, and our
hatred. If other intelligent life knows of the history of our civilization, they have
been wise not to contact us.
It does not matter, however, that were not special; that our intelligence is not
unique. Our worth as a species shouldnt come from a feeling of uniqueness; it
shouldnt come from feeling like the center of everything. In all our thoughts, our
art, our poetry, our music and our science and our literature, we give meaning and
worth to our own existence.