aliens

Neapolitan · 10-24-2013, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Charlie

Maybe dimensions are limitless and inside each and every atom or quark is an infinite number of universes housing an infinite number of lifeforms. Indeed if the universe is, as some scientists believe, infinite then aliens are a certainty. Indeed in an infinite universe everything that can happen has happened and has happened an infinite number of times, even something as unlikely as a monkey typing out the complete works of Shakespeare by randomly hitting keys on a typewriter. In an infinite universe all odds are 100%.

What do you mean 100%?
You honestly don't believe that a monkey knows how a typewriter works - how to strike the keys one at a time, how to change a ribbon, etc - let alone have a working knowledge of English language - spelling, sentence structure, punctuation etc - and also have a keen sense of drama to write such stories?
Preposterous! Even in this universe the odds were nill that Shakespeare himself type out the complete works of Shakespeare. For he lived a full two and a half centuries before such an invention!

Mr. Charlie · 10-24-2013, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

What do you mean 100%?
You honestly don't believe that a monkey knows how a typewriter works - how to strike the keys one at a time, how to change a ribbon, etc - let alone have a working knowledge of English language - spelling, sentence structure, punctuation etc - and also have a keen sense of drama to write such stories?
Preposterous! Even in this universe the odds were nill that Shakespeare himself type out the complete works of Shakespeare. For he lived a full two and a half centuries before such an invention!

Haha. Forget whether monkeys know how to change a ribbon. It's like this: is it likely that a monkey would change the ribbon correctly and type out known words? Of course not. Is it possible? Yes. And in an infinite universe everything that can happen does hapen and happens an infinite number of times. It's mathematics. Imagine the universe as a huge lego kit consisting of trillions and trillions of pieces; in an infinite universe those pieces are arranged in every way possible an infinite number of times, and every arrangement of those pieces plays out in every way possible an infinite number of times.

It's explained here: Q: In an infinite universe, does everything that’s possible have to happen somewhere? | Ask a Mathematician / Ask a Physicist

And if you have the time, check out this BBC documentary about infinity. It's well worth 60 minutes of your life: