US scientists find potentially habitable planet near Earth

[bytor2112]

More about Gliese 581 here

QUOTE]WASHINGTON (AFP) – US astronomers said Wednesday they have discovered an Earth-sized planet that they think might be habitable, orbiting a nearby star, and believe there could be many more planets like it in space.

[NeuroTypical]

dibs! I called it first!

[Dravin]

Interesting. I suggest it be officially renamed to Bob.

[FunkyTown]

I'm not living on some stupid planet called Gliese 581!

And this isn't some joke, Dravin. We can't just name it willy-nilly! It has to be something that encourages rehabitation to this wondrous world.

I suggest Super-happy-fun-timeisberg.

[dorave]

Send the progressives and all the liberals there, all of em, and then see who has a better planet in a 100 years time.

[Melissa569]

Well, there's York, and there's New York. There's Hampshire, and New Hampshire. Delhi and New Delhi. I guess there could be Earth, and New Earth, lol.

Its nice that they found it, but I doubt any of us would be able to move there any time soon. Travel wise, we're barely limping around out own solar system right now, and NASA is almost broke. Its gonna be a while. We also need to find out if this planet matches us in gravity, temperature, pressure, air, etc.

Interesting idea for future generations though.

[MarginOfError]

Send the progressives and all the liberals there, all of em, and then see who has a better planet in a 100 years time.

Well, since you have to spoil the fun in everything by spouting off your ideology--

On conservative earth, everyone would be wealthy, but no one could breathe the air or drink the water.

On liberal earth, everyone would be scraping by, but you could still survive without the assistance of respiratory devices and you'd be able to drink the water directly from the source.

Neither sounds all that perfect to me. Maybe we should just work together?

Well, there's York, and there's New York. There's Hampshire, and New Hampshire. Delhi and New Delhi. I guess there could be Earth, and New Earth, lol.

Its nice that they found it, but I doubt any of us would be able to move there any time soon. Travel wise, we're barely limping around out own solar system right now, and NASA is almost broke. Its gonna be a while. We also need to find out if this planet matches us in gravity, temperature, pressure, air, etc.

Interesting idea for future generations though.

Gravity doesn't matter so much. As long as Earth 2.0 is the biggest thing around, we'll stick to it. It might result in the development of a few muscles, but nothing too major. The other things you mention could be an issue though.

[FunkyTown]

So... What? You're volunteering to move there?

I recall that you admitted to being a socialist some time ago, after all. Just a sec... Lemme check my signature.

Yep!

On a related to the original topic note, I'm excited by this. Since the world doesn't spin, it would mean the habitable part of the world for us would most likely be a thin ring, but that's still neat.

Makes me wonder what sort of life might be out there and whether or not diseases and bacteria from earth might affect it, or vice versa. After all, no natural immunities on either side would be created, yet.

Send the progressives and all the liberals there, all of em, and then see who has a better planet in a 100 years time.

[Dravin]

On a related to the original topic note, I'm excited by this. Since the world doesn't spin, it would mean the habitable part of the world for us would most likely be a thin ring, but that's still neat.

On the other hand it should make solar collection plants really effective, no night cycle on the day side means you aren't losing 8 hours a day in an production and some number of hours of losing peak production. Assuming the atmosphere cooperates.

I suggest Super-happy-fun-timeisberg.

Think about what the weather segment of the news (or even the entire news cast) could be named, I suggest, "What about Bob?"

[Just_A_Guy]

Maybe we should just work together?

That's just crazy talk.

[pam]

On the other hand it should make solar collection plants really effective, no night cycle on the day side means you aren't losing 8 hours a day in an production and some number of hours of losing peak production. Assuming the atmosphere cooperates.

Think about what the weather segment of the news (or even the entire news cast) could be named, I suggest, "What about Bob?"

Why a name like Bob? What a silly name.

[LadyZephyr]

What about the people that might all ready be there?

[FunkyTown]

What about the people that might all ready be there?

If there's one thing I've learned from Star Trek: everyone in the universe speaks English, and if they don't? They're evil and should be wiped from the universe.

It's only fair.

[Dravin]

We'll just do what we've traditionally done when encountering strange new cultures, kill or otherwise take advantage of them and steal their land.

[MarginOfError]

We'll just do what we've traditionally done when encountering strange new cultures, kill or otherwise take advantage of them and steal their land.

But don't worry. We'll give them a nice, habitable plot of land on which they may continue their own culture (so long as we find it agreeable). Mars would be perfect for such a people. Oh, and we'll give them lots of alcohol too.

[Dravin]

But don't worry. We'll give them a nice, habitable plot of land on which they may continue their own culture (so long as we find it agreeable). Mars would be perfect for such a people. Oh, and we'll give them lots of alcohol too.

You forgot the caveat that we don't at some point want the land we set aside for them too. In which case we get to go back to step one and repeat, the universe is a big place though, I'm sure we could find something we'd never want in a million years... like maybe New Jersey?

Edited September 30, 2010 by Dravin

[NeuroTypical]

If they ever let me name the suns of a binary star system, sun A will be called Kwitcherdam, and sun B will be named Behlee-Ayk-Inn.

[dorave]

Hit a sensitive nerve did I?

We really should add a 'hug' tab to the forums.

[TL10]

Interesting. I suggest it be officially renamed to Bob.

Really, I was thinking Naboo or Vulcan.

[Misshalfway]

If there's one thing I've learned from Star Trek: everyone in the universe speaks English, and if they don't? They're evil and should be wiped from the universe.

It's only fair.

Oh Funky! Thank God he made folks like you! Jokes like these make my life worth living.

[Moksha]

dibs! I called it first!

There will be missionary opportunities for many. Best submit your application now.

[curtishouse]

There will be missionary opportunities for many. Best submit your application now.

This reminds me of an old South Park episode LOL