Nocturne

[Kagatob]

Originally Posted by gotrocks [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The most likely explanation for why our 'infinitely complex' planet came to be is not as divine as you seem to think. More likely than not the reason why things work the way they do (ie, perfect distance from the sun, handy placement for the moon, ecosystems set up the way they are) is simply that this is the optimal configuration for life. There are billions of planets in the universe, and we developed on one of them because even if the chances of the perfect conditions for life are .0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000001 percent, it had to happen somewhere, and it happened here and therefore we are here as well. i can't remember what this theory is called, but I'm sure it would be pretty simple to find as it's pretty popular.

Drake's equation?

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where:
N = the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible (i.e. which are on our current past light cone);
and
R* = the average number of star formation per year in our galaxy
fp = the fraction of those stars that have planets
ne = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets
fl = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop life at some point
fi = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop intelligent life (civilizations)
fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space
L = the length of time for which such civilizations release detectable signals into space