More info:

>snip<

Data from Nasa's Cassini probe has analysed the complex chemistry on the surface of Titan, which experts say is the only moon around the planet to have a dense atmosphere.

They have discovered that life forms have been breathing in the planet’s atmosphere and also feeding on its surface’s fuel.

Astronomers claim the moon is generally too cold to support even liquid water on its surface.

The research has been detailed in two separate studies.

The first paper, in the journal Icarus, shows that hydrogen gas flowing throughout the planet’s atmosphere disappeared at the surface. This suggested that alien forms could in fact breathe.

The second paper, in the Journal of Geophysical Research, concluded that there was lack of the chemical on the surface.

Scientists were then led to believe it had been possibly consumed by life.

Researchers had expected sunlight interacting with chemicals in the atmosphere to produce acetylene gas. But the Cassini probe did not detect any such gas.

Chris McKay, an astrobiologist at Nasa Ames Research Centre, at Moffett Field, California who led the research, said: “We suggested hydrogen consumption because it's the obvious gas for life to consume on Titan, similar to the way we consume oxygen on Earth.

"If these signs do turn out to be a sign of life, it would be doubly exciting because it would represent a second form of life independent from water-based life on Earth.”

Professor John Zarnecki, of the Open University, added: “We believe the chemistry is there for life to form. It just needs heat and warmth to kick-start the process.

“In four billion years’ time, when the Sun swells into a red giant, it could be paradise on Titan.”

They warned, however, that there could be other explanations for the findings.

But taken together, they two indicate two important conditions necessary for methane-based life to exist.

This is really exciting newa because heretofore everyone believed that only carbon / water life could exist.

With these new findings it appears that the universe could be teeming with life.

Life on this planet is made for life on this planet,Life on another planet would be made for that planet,It wouldn't have to have the same air and water we have.It just stands to reason that were not the only thing in this hole solar system.

Of course, the reason for a lack of acetylene and hydrogen could also be that it just wasn't there in the first place ................

Oh right, I forgot about that.
My quick views.

* Creator God:
I don't know and you don't know either, period.

* Life elsewhere in the Universe:
I don't know but math and logic say YES. A simple equation
shows that at least 10,000,000,000 (ten billion) planets in
the known universe are capable of producing "our type" of
carbon based life, and this is excluding silicon & ammonia
based lifeforms and conscious energy (proven to exist, yet
still unexplained, by science since the 1950's), yikes.

I always liked the saying (can't remember who said it) that it was the height of conceit to think that we were the only life in the entire universe.  As Stimpy said, the odds are just against us being alone.

As far as what it could look like, I remember seeing on some science type show that it most likeley wouldn't be in any form familiar to us, even if it did develop on a similar type planet.  On a planet with a radically different environment?  Could end up with super intelligent Jello!

John_D FSO wrote on 06/07/10 at 08:30:01:

Well,...there's always room for Jello...

...and speaking of farts.. ...