Is There Life Out There?

Crop circles, Area 51, and unidentified flying objects are always sparking the interest of the media and movie makers. But does life really exist on other planets? You have learned that planets have to be just the right distance from a Sun-like star to support life. If a planet is too close, it can be too hot, and it a planet is too far away, it can be too cold. Some scientists call Earth the "Goldilocks planet" after the popular children's tale. Learn more about the search for extraterrestrial life by viewing the video segment Are We Alone? from eMediaVA℠.

Do you think that humans on Earth are the only intelligent life in the universe? Do you believe that it is worth funding scientific investigations to find out? Why or why not? Post your ideas to the discussion board. Then, return to the topic several times over the next few days to read your coursemates' posts. Reply to at least two of them, making sure to offer new insights, ask questions, and encourage further conversation.

Before you begin, access the Extraterrestrial Intelligence Discussion Rubric to make sure that you include all of the items required for full credit. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please attach a Works Cited document to your initial post. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing any resources that you used.