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Intelligent Life on Other Planets: A New Perspective of Evolution
1. The Rise of Intelligent Life: Challenges to the "Hard Steps" Model
A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances challenges the long-standing assumption that intelligent life is improbable, with life on Earth as a rare and long-evolving event. Researchers suggest that intelligent life may have developed naturally, contradicting the "hard steps" theory popularized by University of California, Irvine’s astrophysicist Brandon Carter in 1983. Carter’s model posits that the development of complex, intelligent life on Earth was a series of highly unlikely events, requiring vast rare coincidence.
2. The New Favorable Evlouton Earth’s Conditions
The study proposes a framework called "Thin & Tall," or "chedule," arguing that intelligent life may not require a series of improbable events to develop. Instead, it advocates for the idea that life could have evolved logically, as "absolute conditions" on the planet, rather than targeting Earth in specific cycles. The team led by Penn State’s Jason Wright, an astronomer and astrophysicist, emphasizes that the Earth’s atmospheric and planetary evolution are predictable processes. He notes that the " schedule is a natural progression within planetary history, and other planets may achieve similar conditions more rapidly.
3. The Thin & Tall Planets
The study explores how life could have developed on Earth in a more straightforward manner, by referencing the Earth’s natural tendency toward habitability. Key examples include the gradual expansion of photosynthesis in plants, which created an oxygen-rich atmosphere and supported the evolution of animals. This illustrates how life could have emerged as a logical progression rather than needing a series of西部 events.
4. The Role of Folding Conditions
Dan Mills, the study’s lead author, argues that humans and other aerobic life species evolved on Earth in Earth’s own time, not uniquely in the Sun’s history. He bases his reasoning on a geological time scale, rejecting the Sun’s lifespan as a single lucky event. Instead, he highlights the Earth’s unique process of habitability within its own planetary cycle, suggesting that other planets could achieve similar conditions more quickly.
5. Integrating Evolutionary Outlines
The framework also suggests that each evolutionary step is logical, rather than coincidental. For instance, photosynthesis emerging in plant life provided the oxygen-rich atmosphere necessary for animal life. This pattern demonstrates that evolution could proceed as a logical sequence without requiring a series of improbable events. Mills notes that other planets, like Venus, could develop life more rapidly under similar conditions.
6. Summary and Conclusion
In conclusion, the study presents a hopeful outlook for the evolution of intelligent life, particularly on other planets. By emphasizing logical processes and avoiding claims based on vast, accidental events, the findings suggest a more predictable future for life on other worlds. The " Thin & Tall" model offers a framework for understanding planetary evolution and its impact on the likelihood of intelligent life. While Carter’s theory still holds for Earth, this new perspective could revolutionize our understanding of the origins of life across the universe.
