Hey all,
This is my first topic ever on ATS, so I hope it goes well
Any way, I was just wondering. It is generally accepted age of the Earth is around 4.55 billion years (plus or minus 1%). The age of mankind is ruthly
30,000 to 50,000 yrs, so, presuming this is all true (we all know science can be wrong sometimes), is it not possible that there was intelligent life
on this very planet before mankind ever evolved?
I understand that much of the 4.55 billion yr life span of Earth and the Solar system may have been the developing stage and that life may not have
even got started many billions of yrs after, but it is still possible that there could have been intelligent life before us, there was certainly
sufficient time for life to occur and evolve in to something intelligent.
The reasons they no longer exist? Maybe they destroyed themselves, a meteorite, comet or asteroid collided with the Earth destroying them and other
life (its theorized that it happened many times before), or just maybe, they upped and left - it is a possibility, presuming they existed.
The reaons we can not find any evidence of their existence? The World has changed significantly over the many millions of yrs. I'm sure any evidence
has been destroyed, or maybe, there is evidence, but we have attributed it to something created by mankind? There are other reasons, and I'm sure
many of you will bring them up.
I guess this exact same arguement can be used with any other planet in our solar system. Maybe life sprung up on many planets at any time throughout
their history, but we destroyed by the many changes planets, galaxies and Universes have gone through.
I believe it is very intriguing just to imagine life right in our own back yard, even if it was destroyed.
Also, what if life comes in many different forms, and not just what we know to exist today and the known past ie. carbon based, etc.
I'm certainly interested in your thoughts and idea's in regards to the above