Kepler-444 and the Chances of Life Elsewhere in the Universe

   The biggest of bangs just had a little bang. Scientists say the Big Bang occurred 13.8 billion years ago. And, now news from a few days ago says we've found a planetary system revolving around a star called Kepler-444 that is 11.2 years old, a system with planets smaller, but not massively smaller than the earth.

   It's got the sky watchers buzzing. They're reasoning, I believe, that if planets this close in size to that of the earth existed that long ago, it increases the chances of life elsewhere in the universe. I haven't yet learned the logic, but it may be that the weight or size of the planet has something to do with how far the planet is from its sun, and that determines how hot the climate is and whether life can be nurtured.

   Now, all this presupposes that life here on earth -- life that requires the temperatures we have -- is the only life possible. No such thing as a creature evolving that could live at 1,000 degrees below zero and no chance of it living at 1,000 above. 

   It also seems the theorists do not believe there are element other than those here on earth: helium, mercury, etc. I wonder if there is a connection there. I wonder if that means that since the elements on earth are the only ones, then those elements dictate that life can only survive in the range of temperatures found here on earth.

   One of the sub-theories of evolution, is that life adapts to its environment. I guess it cannot adapt to or be spawned in real extreme temperatures.