The Divergent Evolution: Do Aliens Have To Look Like Us?

Be sure don't miss the opposite Theory: Would Life Really Develop Differently On Another Planet? The Convergent Evolution
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One of the main lines of thought in contemporary astrobiology is that extraterrestrial intelligent life will be very similar to us in many ways, especially when higher levels of organization are considered. This is because the processes that give rise to life are assumed to operate independently of the environment, and also because physics severely limits the variety of feasible options. Therefore, the probability that intelligent life is evolving elsewhere in the cosmos may be very high, although the probability that it is humanoid in type may be very low. The truth is that we know very little. For example, we do not know if Earth was the lucky winner of a cosmic lottery or if life has appeared elsewhere in the universe. We do not even know if a hypothetical ET would follow the same laws that we know on the only planet that definitely supports life. There is little doubt that physical and chemical laws apply throughout the universe, but there is not the same certainty about biological laws. Frankly, if we were to encounter life on another planet, we might not even be able to recognize it. In short, our first contact with advanced aliens might be a blow to our self-esteem as we face, who knows, a more intelligent species than our own. But if that first contact ever happens, we should be prepared for another twist: the aliens may be so different from us that they won't even realize that we are sentient.

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Credits: Nasa/Shutterstock/Storyblocks/Elon Musk/SpaceX/ESA/ESO/ Flickr

Video Chapters:
00:00 INTRODUCTION
02:27 THE TWO VIEWS
03:04 THE ANTROPHOMORPHIC VIEW
09:30 EXOTIC BIOLOGY

#insanecuriosity #divergentevolution #aliens

[InsaneCuriosity]

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[josephchandler]

I'm of the opinion that extraterrestrials would probably be more familiar than different. For example eye with binocular vision and bilateral symmetry make sense. I'm also just as convinced that whatever extraterrestrial exist wont look like the descendant of an arboreal mammal that is optimized for distance running and for throwing. We humans are rather unique in that way. Additionally it is almost guaranteed that we would not find another extraterrestrial species attractive. Perennially enlarged breasts are an extremely uncommon feature even among mammals which are only the dominant order due to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.

[infoscholar]

Consider that the cell, the tiny building block of which every living organism is constructed, is likely a unique product of Earth's particular environment. Alien life, in all likelihood, wouldn't be cell-based. That's how different they might be from us; in all likelihood, they would be utterly foreign to anything we can concieve.

[Amadeu.Macedo]

The variety of planets across the universe must be significantly large. The creatures who may have emerged in some of these worlds would have evolved so differently that it is nearly impossible to conceptualize their morphological, physical, and biological structures. Since humanity has not yet encountered another sentient species, it is absurd to self-centrically assume that intelligence would necessarily require humanoid anatomy. In order for sentience to emerge, the creature necessitates a number of "limbs, " for locomotion (2, 4, or 6) one or two of which would necessitate "digits" that would include something equivalent to our opposable thumbs.
While it is plausible that sentience could develop on an aquatic planet, such species would, most likely, never be poised to set in motion technological societies, given their inability to use (or even imagine the need for) fire, without which combustion would never happen...

[Triliton]

I like Enders Game. Where the alien race, only found out that we humans were sentinent in the end of a long war. The aliens in the movie were far from human alike, more like insects.

[mospeada]

I believe the main take here is not so much intelligence, but whether intelligent species are capable of construction and if so, would they look similar. Possibly creatures with four arms and/or legs, or Octopi may be something to consider.

[Bearkat]

I think the fish shape may be common, because we see it even at extreme pressures and temps here on Earth. But land animals I’m not sure, gravity would be a big factor, from centers of gravity (size/mass), number of limbs, and fauna size (amount of food). I tend to think we’re just early/all the “rares” are true, but who knows; I sure hope we get at least a legitimate hint of something in my lifetime.

[jasontoddman]

1:20 - Narrator: If life were to appear on another planet, we might not be able recognize it.
*(scene shows a giant snarling spider looking at the viewer is a distinctly unfriendly manner)*
Me: Oh *hell* no. I'd recognize *that* as alive alright. and If I want to stay alive myself I ain't going anywhere near that thing! Just because it *might* be intelligent doesn't mean it might not also want to eat me! And I ain't interested in finding out one way or the other either!

[jssomewhere]

I'm with the old biologists. Not that I don't think we can find life that is completely different we can, and like crows, dolphins, elephants, and many others they can be intelligent without being technologically using beings. Okay dolphins ect... are still like us but they will never build things that can take them off the planet. I'm not totally sure that tool users would need to be predators. I think it would speed things up make it easier, yet the attributes of grass and plant eaters could be overcome allowing advancement beyond just smarter than the other critters. They would also need to be able to communicate complex ideas. So what ever form of communication they use will need to go beyond just a general picture. They will need math. We exchange ideas verbally and in writing. Both these skills require hands with a lot of dexterity and the ability to make enough different sounds to allow very complex and specific ideas to be committed. They will need to live long enough to be able to pass their ideas from one generation to the next. If the ideas are complex and there are many it will take a certain amount of time for the youth to learn the knowledge acquired in the past. Then to advance additional time is needed to form new ideas and add those. So only living as long as a cat or dog will allow advancement but it will take a very long time. Also if we can only communicate on the level of a cat or dog then all advancement will need to be done by individuals and all learning will need to come about by seeing the things that have been done in the past then figuring out how it can be made better o. Your own as it will be difficult to pass on complex ideas.

So in the end this life we seek may initially look very different but once we look harder I think we will find that though they are rearranged many of the same traits do appear. The biggest will be how their communication is different from ours. If it is very different how will we communicate with them beyond pure math.

[Fiilis]

Imagine having six legs. Go try buy pants.

[Seventeen_Syllables]

I think this means that in that one movie with technologically advanced whales, they were whales for political reasons since whales would not likely develop technology due to a lack of thumbs, among other things.

[alikazmi]

Seams divergent evolution to be a feasible option subjected to laws of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology. Genetic mutation is quite possible.

[aaronheaton]

This channel stated that the laws of physics remain the same anywhere in the universe.
How does this channel know that? 3:43
Also, advert overload.

[mikeburkhart]

Only human arrogance makes us believe all intelligent life MUST look like us. Even on Earth there are intelligent life forms that look nothing like us...think whales.

[joshDilley]

Love the vocabulary in this video!! ❤#yolo

[patclark]

I think the clip kept switching back and forth alternatively pronouncing a word both "ze nobiologist" and "x obiologist"

[gwijiofficial]

What piano piece is in the last section?? I got drawn to it.. help awt

[fernandochaves]

If they exist, they are very different, but with many things in common. Hardly humanoid, but some familiar features (common to all animal life, not only humans).

[adrianokury]

The key word here is TECHNOLOGICAL. We have intelligent animals her in our planet, like octopuses, crows and dolphins, but they appear to be incapable of producing tech due to extreme specializations. I find it impossible for us to meet intelligent horses like in Gulliver, just because the horses are too extremely specialized for one thing. Also birds, who sacrificed the upper limbs for flight, and now? How can the manipulate thing only with the beak? Cephalization, some sort of symmetry, sense organs, manipulating appendages, all seem to be highly probable. So, yes, I think we would surely recognize a sentient/sapient alien for what they are.

[crouton]

Spoiler for the book, but I really enjoyed the aliens in Project Hail Mary.