Saguaro Wanderings: Seeing 2012 (#7)

For your consideration: as suffix to the prior entry, let us momentarily consider another recent entry in the Lastest Discovery category . . .

The deeply penetrating Keck telescope has recently discovered more evidence that this particular universe of ours is populated with millions, if not billions of other planets beyond our humble solar system. Now the search is on to unearth observations of rocky spheres which revolve around suns at such as distance as to never long be either too cold or too hot — but rather in a narrow orbital circuit (the so-called inhabitable zone) such that surface and atmospheric temperatures are suitable for water to exist. In such cases the presumption is there is H20, life can arise from the ooze and take form.

Thus, a plethora of unknown species and their representatives on such wet planets might well be patiently awaiting to be encountered.

I've long thought it a disturbing case of acutely-human-centered anthropological conjecture that Life Elsewhere would look something akin to life as we currently know it on Earth (from a species point of view). What might a creature evolved from sulfur, say, appear to be to us? A yellow mound of moving powered mustard?

Perhaps instead other carbon-based aliens have evolved, comprised of vast stretches of connected molecules, creating multi-cellular life forms, just as we are. Who knows: our interstellar neighbors might turn out to be water creatures . . . strange things can happen when enough spherical objects closely congregate and congeal.