For the first time, scientists at the University of Oxford have revealed a theory that can be used to support alien predictions and better understand their behavior. They demonstrate that aliens are conceivably formed by similar procedures and systems that molded humans, such as natural selection.
Sam Levin, a researcher in Oxford’s Department of Zoology, Extraterrestrial Life.”
“In our paper, we offer an alternative approach, which is to use evolutionary theory to make predictions that are independent of Earth’s details. This is a useful approach because theoretical predictions will apply to aliens that are silicon-based, do not have DNA, and breathe nitrogen, for example.”
Considering the aliens have undergone a natural selection process, scientists addressed extra-terrestrial evolution and how complexity will arise in space.
Major transitions occurred due to increased species complexity on the Earth. Transitions occur when a group of separate organisms evolves into a higher-level organism.
Both hypothesis and observational information propose that outrageous conditions are required for significant advances to happen. The study also predicted the biological makeup of complex aliens and offers some insight into what they might look like.
Sam Levin added, “We still can’t say whether aliens will walk on two legs or have big green eyes. But we believe evolutionary theory offers a unique additional tool for trying to understand what aliens will be like, and we have shown some examples of the kinds of strong predictions we can make with it.”
“By predicting that aliens underwent major transitions – which is how complexity has arisen in species on earth, we can say that there is a level of predictability to evolution that would cause them to look like us.”
“Like humans, we predict that they are made-up of a hierarchy of entities, which all cooperate to produce an alien. At each level of the organism, there will be mechanisms in place to eliminate conflict, maintain cooperation, and keep the organism functioning. We can even offer some examples of what these mechanisms will be.”
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“There are potentially hundreds of thousands of habitable planets in our galaxy alone. We can’t say whether or not we’re alone on Earth, but we have taken a small step forward in answering, if we’re not alone, what our neighbors are like.”
Journal Reference
- Levin SR, Scott TW, Cooper HS, West SA. Darwin’s aliens. International Journal of Astrobiology. 2019;18(1):1-9. DOI:10.1017/S1473550417000362