It always amazes me to see scientists talking about the universe as if it still exists as we see it. But consider:
- When we look at our own sun, we are not seeing the sun as it is now, but as it was some 8 minutes ago.
- When we look at the nearest star, we are not seeing it as it is, but as it was some 5 years ago.
- When we look at the nearest galaxy, we are not seeing it as it is, but as it was some 2 million years ago.
- Our very own milky way galaxy is some 100,000 light years in diameter, with the center around halfway that distance from us.
So anything beyond, say, 10,000 light years (still well within our galaxy) may no longer exist at all! and we could have no idea about it (or can we?). All we see are "residual" lights from heavenly bodies as they existed eons ago. It's not far-fetched to think that we might actually be alone in the universe because the universe may no longer exist!
Even if the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI) finally gets to receive signs of intelligent life from some star or galaxy, what use would it be if it means that it was transmitted thousands or millions of years ago?
So it's entirely possible that
we are alone in the universe!
When I read in the Bible of the time when a third of the stars (Rev 8:12) would disappear, I think that it's entirely possible that they've long been gone and what we see right now is just the residual light still reaching us. When that's gone, then it would be as if a third of the stars do disappear, with the rest probaby following closely so that we have a new heaven and a new earth.
Gerry
Observing universe shortens its life
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