> While finding intelligent life would be great, finding any life is nearly as great.
That would actually be worrisome. If we found and detected microorganisms on nearby planet e.g 12 light years away from earth, then that means we are probably headed for extinction.
The reason is the theory of the Great Filter. Given that we have not been able to observe any kind of activity outside of our solar system, it means that either life is rarer than we think or that entire civilisations go extinct pretty quickly.
If we find microorganism on a nearby planet, the logical conclusion is that life is not as rare as we think but evolved civilisation such as ours simply go extinct in a relatively short amount of time.
That would actually be worrisome. If we found and detected microorganisms on nearby planet e.g 12 light years away from earth, then that means we are probably headed for extinction.
The reason is the theory of the Great Filter. Given that we have not been able to observe any kind of activity outside of our solar system, it means that either life is rarer than we think or that entire civilisations go extinct pretty quickly.
If we find microorganism on a nearby planet, the logical conclusion is that life is not as rare as we think but evolved civilisation such as ours simply go extinct in a relatively short amount of time.
The Great Filter may be ahead of us.