8
Thursday, September 29,1977
University Daily Kansan
Profs believers in chance of life after Mars
BvDAVE TOPLIKAR
Staff Writer
Darth Vader lives!
At least that's what some "Star Wars" T-shirts say. And they may not be entirely wrong, according to four University of Kansas professors.
"Extraterrestrial life, in my opinion, almost certainly exists somewhere," Thomas Armstrong, professor of physics and astronomy, said recently.
Armstrong said that arguments could be made that the galaxy was teening with the universe.
The galaxy is at least 15 billion years old, he said. If one or two civilizations arose on other worlds that had the capability and the will to colonize, Armstrong said, colonies could be scattered from one planetary system to another. It can even given the transboundary distances involved.
Armstrong said that a critical point was
how long a civilization might last as an advanced civilization before it might destroy itself. He said that humanity, which has risen from primitive forms over a million-year period, was a good example of what could happen.
"IF THE CIVILIZATION survives for another million years, at the pace of development and capability to modify the environment, it's inconceivable to even guess, over a million years, what shape and what abilities civilization might have," he
Armstrong intergalactic travel in so-sufficient spaceships was not impossible.
"It sounds far-fetched and very wild, but when you consider the time scales involved, it's not so unreasonable. One-hundred years is nothing in the history of the galaxy." he
"These arguments suggest to me that
there is a good probability intelligent life,
life, but intelligent life, civilized life, 'he sailed'
into the world.
James Gunn, professor of English and journalism, also believes that ex-
periences should be taught.
*Considering the number of stars in the universe, it is very likely there is intelligent life on earth.*
BUT, GUNN ADDED, it is very unlikely that we will ever come across another being, considering the difficulties of interstellar travel.
I don't think we'll ever meet aliens. It's possible that eventually we may get messages on radiotelescopes from them, however." he said.
Gunn said he wrote a science fiction novel, "The Listeners," in which this happened.
Eugene Bovee, professor of physiology and cell biology, also believes that life in the universe is made up of cells.
"I think there has been enough time for the universe to develop life over and over again in some form. But what that form would be, I haven't the slightest idea," he
Bovee said the existence of life would depend on the environment. The temperature on the earth, he said, was the basis of the operation of life as we know it.
"IN A COLDER climate water freezes
and work work. In a hotter climate it
freezes."
According to some physical chemists, Bovee said, in a cold climate ammonia might serve the same purpose water does in our environment.
"But that would mean the whole life system would have to be related to the physical and chemical characteristics of ammonia instead of water," he said.
Life elsewhere could be based on other substances, he said, such as silicon or
methane, instead of on carbon, as life on earth is based.
"I think we would be greatly startled if we did find some extraterrestrial form of life in seeing what it actually looks like compared to ourselves.
"They'd probably be just as surprised to see what we looked like," he said.
Edward Zeller, professor at the Space Technology Center, said that a few years ago he spent a great deal of time looking for the possibility of a spacecraft could be manufactured in interstellar space.
"We found chemical and physical properties which cause the presence of organic compounds in interstellar and interplanetary space," he said.
Zeller said these compounds were the same type that occur on earth.
"If there is intelligent life in the rest of the universe, and I think that there probably is, in many places, I think that intelligent life is not drastically different from us." he said.
Gov. rides 'death' road
FORT SCOTT (AP)—Governor Robert F. Bennett took a bumpy ride in an 18-wheel tractor-trailer rig yesterday over what stretches of highway in the state of Kansas.
The governor was the guest of Joe Rei, owner of a trucking company at Blue Mountain, Kan., who drove the big truck on the road to the U.S. 69 between Port Scott and Pitbish.
The narrow, hilly, winding road has the reputation as the No.1 highway death trap
Bennett admitted to Rei that the road "could use a little help."
Place an ad
Call 864-4358
presents
"ARTURO"
(Master Magician)
Plus
Fri.
2 Shows
&
nightly
"Only"
Sat.
$1.00
"LUNCH"
11:00-2:00
Mon.-Fri.
Catered
by
Cornucopia
804 W. 24th THE FINEST IN ENTERTAINMENT
843-2000
Son Seals Blues Band
"Son Seals 'Midnight Son' (album) represents a giant step by a major blues talent who, with this record, comes into a commanding style all his own." Rolling Stone
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1
$3.00 General Admission
The Lawrence Opera House
Nairobi Trio in the balcony after midnight
7th and Mass. 843-6276
Dèjà~vu
Boutique
20% off
Dela-vu is a boutique of female apparel and accessories, with an emphasis on quality intimate and casual wear unique to the Lawrence store. You will be offered a 20% discount on all new stock and sale items with this ad or a KU ID.
New shipments are coming everyday, so come in and we're all you experience. Delia vain again.
Some of the major brands we carry are Darixin Male Pleasure (New York Pleasure) Glydons of Holly HLD LEE (Jr., sizes)
New to Lawrence, "Male" (jeans, khaki, cords, jumpsuits, etc. in Junior sizes that really show off the female figure)
843-0808
745 New Hampshire In the Marketplace
open 11-7 p.m.
$100
month
plc The Marinos are looking for a few good men.
You'll also be earning a Marine officer's commission through PLC summer training at Quantico, Virginia.
for a few good college men.
The Marine Corps Officer Selection Team will be on campus Sept. 26, 27, & 28 in Booth 1 of the Kansas Union.
$100 for each month of the school year. It's like a
$900 annual scholarship. If you qualify, you can
earn it as a member of the Marine Corps'
Platoon Leaders Class.
PLC . . . with Air, Ground, and Law options.
For more information call collect (816)374-3031 or 374-3616.
How he c meet
S
B
Be Merc fresh prese