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Are We Alone?

Date: Jun 27 2008

Themes: Pop Culture

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Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

UFO
asinine

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

As covered in life as Earth is, we know that many of the surrounding planets are lifeless. But is there intelligent life somewhere else in the universe? Or are we all alone?

Ever since space was discovered, people have wondered, “Is there anybody out there?” Many people claim to have met aliens from other planets, and people claim that the governments of the world cover up contact with other races of beings. But the people who say those things could be insane. At this point, the jury is out. Listen to Marni and Amanda wonder what’s out there in the heavens.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Amanda

Marni: So I was just listening to David Bowie, “Is there life on Mars?”

Amanda: Again?

Marni: It got me thinking, “Is there life on other planets?” What’s your take?

Amanda: I think there probably is.

Marni: It seems very asinine that we could be the only ones in this whole solar system.

Amanda: Absolutely. There’s got to be life on other planets in the solar system and what about that whole phenomenon, that famous drawing that every single person who has seen this particular alien has drawn? The depiction is the exact same, right?

Marni: The little gray man?

Amanda: Yeah, the little gray with the little eyes. That many people all over the world drawing the same image? There’s something there.

Marni: Well, yeah. I believe in it. I like to go there. I believe in other life forms. I don’t know that I necessarily believe that they’re as adorable as that, because they’re kinda cute, those drawings.

Amanda: Who knows what they look like? Like in films like Aliens...

Marni: Well, you know. The films definitely take it to different levels, but there was Close Encounters, which I just recently saw, that whole Steven Spielberg fascination with aliens…

Amanda: Right. War of the Worlds.

Marni: Yeah. But just the concept of there being other life people have had contact with…I believe it.

Amanda: I actually think it’s pretty close-minded not to think that would exist.

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Discussion

Most people are too busy with life here on Earth to spend much time wondering if there are extraterrestrials and UFOs. Marni starting thinking about aliens because of a David Bowie song that wonders if there’s life on Mars.

Amanda thinks that Earth has been visited by space aliens because many people who claim to have seen aliens all draw a similar picture of them: small, gray, big eyes. But Marni thinks those drawings are too cute to be real.

There are a lot of movies made about aliens, from action movies with mean aliens to family movies with nice ones. Marni and Amanda agree that there are probably other life forms out there…even though they have no idea what they look like.

What do you think? Is the Earth the only planet with life in the universe?

Comments

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ola3

Ukraine

Yes, it's interesting about the pictures, I also see the aliens look exactly like that! I think there is life not only on the other planets but around us as well.

marcular

China

there are many things unknown to us.

sue.lao@163.com

China

I agree with you!

iris20512

Taiwan

yeah, that's what I thought~

iris20512

Taiwan

I do believe that there are some other creatures on earth ~ I mean there is something exist …We can't deny that just because we can't see or didn't see it ~ right?

ufo2myl

Spain

No, it's very huge think that we are alone. There are lots of planets and it's illogical to think it. Maybe are different of us because they live in others conditions, but surely WE AREN'T ALONE.

KatrinaJoy1989

Philippines

i dont think so. there are lots of things happening on earth like no one can explain why did it happen,..just think about this, when ur outside of d earth all u can see are the planets the stars and whatsoever could it have.. but u try to look closer, remove all the planets u can see dark sorroundings, u can never tell if where does that dark will end, so i guess there are other planets or life that has had formed there..

orlandomingues

Brazil

I agree with the final discution.

I belive there is live out there, but I don't belive aliens look like these little green men with big eyes that people draws.

I think universe is too big, so it's foolish to think Earth is the only planet with life.

orlandomingues

Brazil

I belive there is life out there. But I don’t belive on this drawing about an alien like a little green men with big eyes. And Don’t ask me how they look like so…

rathi

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

The possible existence of other creatures we do not know and do not know that it exists in the world (on the ground or in outer space) Everything possible

Nasim

India

Hey you folks who disbelieve in aliens…do u believe in science. If u do then u should know life onn earth originated from inanimate objects. If that’s so why can’t if originate on any other planet. In fact the theory by Scientist Leslie Orgel states life came to earth from other planets.
In fact there is an equation to calculate the number of intelligent civilizations in this universe. It is called Drake’s equation Which reads something like this.And yes I AM NOT JOKING. Check out wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake%27s_equation
The Drake equation states that:
N = R* * fp * ne fl * fi * fc * L
where:
N is the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible;
and
R is the average rate of star formation in our galaxy
fp is the fraction of those stars that have planets
ne is the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets
fℓ is the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop life at some point
fi is the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop intelligent life
fc is the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space
L is the length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
The number of stars in the galaxy now, N, is related to the star formation rate R by
N* = Integration of [Rdt] 0 to tg
,
where Tg is the age of the galaxy. Assuming for simplicity that R is constant, then N* = R* Tg and the Drake equation can be rewritten into an alternate form phrased in terms of the more easily observable value, N.[2]
So the final equation turns out to be
N = N * fp * ne * fl * fi * fc * L/tg

mgorki_tuyen

Viet Nam

i think maybe : have! that is secret which belong to our thought!

snello

Saudi Arabia

There are no such creatures as ''aliens' ..

snello

Saudi Arabia

Wow, what a nice coincedence!!!!

I was just this article today on Yahoo latest science news page and I picked this article tilted

''Will NASA Ever Find Life on Mars? '' .. and was discussing it with my friend..

both me and my friend agreed that theare is NO life but here on Earth..

Earth is the only breathing planet, I think.

And if there was an evidence that there is a life out there.. that'd be STUNNING << I stole this word from the author. : P

here's the link to the article…..enjoy :)

wow.. i really like it when things like this happens..THUMPS UP TO NICE COINCEDENCES.. :p

snello

Saudi Arabia

Wow, what a nice coincedence!!!!

I was browsing through Yahoo latest science news page, today, and picked this article tilted

''Will NASA Ever Find Life on Mars? '' .. and was discussing it with my friend..even… it's a good one .. :)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080627/sc_space/willnasaeverfindlifeonmars;_ylt=AphrcBdA2eiM3llqoG5Kc_gPLBIF

both me and my friend agreed that there is NO life but here on Earth..

Earth is the only breathing planet, I think.

And if there was an evidence that there is a life out there.. that'd be STUNNING << I stole this word from the author. : P

Enjoy reading the article.. :)

wow.. i really really like it when things like this happens..THUMBS UP TO NICE COINCEDENCES.. :p

yoss91

Morocco

for me i think that there are not other being. in the other planet because all religions told us the in the world there is an alone being intiligent .who is the humainbody