First-ever video of lightning taking place outside the Earth!
@justdroppingby (296)
Philippines
April 16, 2010 11:16am CST
Sometimes something happens that just humbles us and makes us realize that we might just not be the center of all existence. And the space probe Cassini just managed to do that - by capturing the first-ever video of extraterrestrial lightning taking place in, guess what - the planet Saturn.
Lightning storms have long been observed in Saturn, mostly via radio, and this is the first time that an actual video footage has been taken of the phenomenon. Now lightning isn't really proof of extraterrestrial life, but somehow it's proof that the dynamics of weather on Earth is pretty much the same on other planets. Or at least it's proof that our scientists have some of their universal theories on weather right. Whatever the case, it's kind of a wake-up call to everyone that maybe - just maybe - there might be a planet out there that hosts evolved life, and right at this moment [some of] its inhabitants are stranded in the middle of a lightning storm just like on Earth (and in Saturn, and in many other planets probably?)
I've always wanted to believe that there's life outside Earth. Do you think that humanity will be able to discover that in our lifetimes?
5 people like this
10 responses
@amorlife1 (370)
• South Africa
16 Apr 10
Gosh, the universe is infinite. And if God chose to, He could have had life on a planet on every billionth galaxy out there. There would be no way for us to find that out. But I choose to believe that we are the only planet that sustains life.
Unless you watch Stargate SG1 which is a great show that depicts that there is life on so many different planets out there, all of who originated from earth...
@justdroppingby (296)
• Philippines
16 Apr 10
That's the thing...with technology advancing so fast, ain't it grand just to think that somehow, someday we might just have the proper tools be able to detect signs of life out there?
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (57914)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Apr 10
I don't doubt the possiblity of life on other planets, and I belive that there are probably other life forms. Planets are large, and you never can truely explore every crevis even though some have tried on mars. With the space program seemingly taking a step back the posibility of us finding it in our lifetimes isn't all that positive-looking.
1 person likes this
@justdroppingby (296)
• Philippines
18 Apr 10
Yeah, I've heard some things about Obama's NASA visit and proposed budget cuts to the program. Can't really blame the guy though. When the economy's tough, I guess you have to keep your feet more firmly planted on the ground and tend to more pressing things at hand in the planet..
@chiepao (714)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
Hi justdroppingby, first of all I would like to thank you for sharing this very wonderful information. When I saw it on my email, I never doubted on reading your post. I'm interested in these kind of stuff. I personally want to believe that there is life outside earth and would be hopeful that someday it would be proven true. Though there are still no hard evidences of life outside earth, there are lots of things possible to happen. Could you send me a link of the video? :)
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
Wow, an actual lightning in another planet. I bet the scientists were really thrilled when they saw it. I think it's just reasonable to believe that there's life in other planets. The universe is a very big place that we can't even imagine how big it is. There's bound to be another planet that has life. I hope I get to see the day when humans discover other intelligent beings in other planets.
@justdroppingby (296)
• Philippines
18 Apr 10
yeah, me too... just hope said intelligent aliens aren't adversarial (i've seen too many alien movies since birth, lol)
@merlinsorca (1118)
• United States
16 Apr 10
That's something very interesting to have on video! But, I don't think that this event is anything too surprising. There are great lightning storms that happen on another planet, Jupiter. It just hasn't been captured on footage. The storms are very similar, and that shows that our Earth is not special (which I think should already be accepted by now). Now I hope we will be able to develop technology that lets us go far out there to look for life.
However, the Fermi Paradox comes into mind. If Earth is not special and there is supposed to be so much life out there, why haven't we seen any evidence of it? With billions or trillions of planets in the galaxy there are bound to me many planets that support life and many species that become intelligent. So, why is there no evidence? Anyway, I believe that we will one day discover life (hopefully intelligent) on other planets.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Apr 10
thats really wonderful that they could video that, and maybe there are people on other planets that have had electric storms too, and maybe
one day soon we will discover that we are indeed not alone in this
universe. yes I do think there may be life on other planets and someday'we we will know for sure. what a thrilling experience that
would be. I too have always felt that there is life outside earth.
@voldrox (7191)
• India
17 Apr 10
Looking at it in a scientific point of view, there are so many millions of galaxies in this universe and the chances of having a planet similar to life sustaining conditions like our planet is very high, there might be life forms out there, and it makes me wonder too, but i doubt if we are ever going to find that out or come into to contact with extraterrestrial life forms which are intelligent.
@arakawaii (270)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
The creations of GOD is too big for us to discover in our lifetime, what we see should be the one for us to see, and I know GOD is the almighty and his creation is unmeasured.
