We are still unsure whether aliens exist or not. With millions of planets in the universe, finding life is like finding a needle in a haystack. But scientists are still confident that aliens could simply be a planet away!
So we have to ask ourselves, how do aliens look like exactly? To answer this question, we have to go back to the basics. For life to occur on any planet, environmental conditions must be favorable. We have to look for planets that have liquid water, carbon, and for the most, oxygen.
Even if these compounds exist, it’s still difficult to figure out how aliens will turn out.
There are a lot of variations that can occur in any given species. Animals can come in different sizes, colors, and limbs.
With this in mind, it can be quite difficult to determine which features can be prevalent for carbon-based entities throughout the universe.
Making A Guess on Aliens
Nevertheless, scientists usually rely on a process known as convergent evolution to determine exactly how a species will turn out. This term refers to the evolution of particular traits such as limbs or even eyes over several years leading to the separation of a particular organism.
A good example is the evolution of the eyes. Over the years, these particular trait has experienced evolution thousands of times independently, ranging from insects all the way to human beings.
Nevertheless, we can’t really be sure whether aliens have eyes or not. That’s because all animals on planet earth have one common ancestor. Which means that all life on earth is closely tied together.
Additionally, the evolution of eyes is usually common in a planet that orbits close to the sun, and not a dark planet.
The Chemistry Behind It
Apart from evolution, we also have to look at the area of physics and chemistry. Plenty of animals on this planet require energy to perform physiological activities that extend life.
Water in liquid form is especially important in the performance of physiological reactions. Moreover, carbon is a crucial element in the development of life as it is the building block behind complex molecules which come together to form an organism.
That being said, there are also other liquids out there that are essential in the development of an organism. These include substances such as liquid methane. Moreover, there are other chemicals that can be used in the formation of complex molecules such as silicon and nitrogen.
One thing that scientists can be certain of is that if aliens do exist, they will be a product of natural selection just as we are.
