A great big universe

It is estimated that there are about 200 billion to 400 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. About 7 percent of them are stars like our own sun, with planets where life could evolve. It happened here, and probably happened out there also. That would mean 14 billion to 28 billion solar systems like ours in this galaxy alone where life could evolve. The universe has about 200 billion galaxies. If God created the universe for life, he was most redundant.

Stars like ours have planets—a natural part of solar evolution. If each of these stars has 10 planets, and evolved like our solar system did, it is not fanciful to imagine that a certain percentage of these stars will have a planet like Earth. How many planet Earths could there be in our galaxy if 1 percent of such stars has an Earth-like planet where life could evolve? That would be 140 million to 280 million. Somebody help me; surely not that many!

We should send out robotic probes in every direction with instructions to call back and tell us what they are finding. Our galaxy is 100,000 light years across. Planet Earth will not be habitable for much longer. We must find new homes before the Earth becomes uninhabitable. These probes will have to be completely robotic. Other civilizations will be doing the same—looking for planets to colonize in order to save their species. If history is any guide, there will be wars in the heavens.

Somebody tell me if I am wrong. What could we do differently? Jesus said, “Love God, and love thy neighbor as thyself,” because each living being is the temple of the God who loves us, and who we should love in return.

RUUD DuVALL

Fayetteville