“Space Exploration and the Search for Alien Life” were the topics that showered Oxnard College’s auditorium this week as Professor Steven R. Van Hook spoke to a student and faculty audience.
A newspaper columnist, radio show host and having taught sociology courses at University of California, Santa Barbara, Hook is a research scientist in the field of astronomy.
He opened the presentation talking about the depth of the universe, how many galaxies and stars there are and provided statistics of how long it would take to reach the nearest galaxies from our solar system. He went on saying that other life forms could exist in the depths of the universe.
“With so much planets, galaxies and stars out there, the probability is good that there are other creatures out there,” said Hook. “We just have to wait for the (aliens) to respond.”
He said that NASA has built a rocket to detect Earth-like planets from a survey of 200 nearby stars and that astronomy scientist are figuring out ways to communicate with terrestrials (if they exist) by sending pictures, written documents and films all showing Earth life.
Hook included that if alien life forms do exist, they must have at least some of the same basic features, abilities and principles humans possess (eyes, ears, a form of communication, having family bonds/ relationships, economic systems, ability to reproduce, religion and philosophy).
Near the end of the presentation, Hook showed the audience pictures on how scientists believe such alien life forms would look like.
“If there are aliens, they will most likely have ears, eyes and a method to communicate like we do,” said Hook. “They might just have a few alterations.”
“This was a good lecture,” said 23-year-old Ricardo Gomez, majoring in film at Oxnard. “I’ve always wondered if aliens are out there in space and I’m hoping very soon we’ll find out.
Candace Gentry, a 20-year-old math major at Oxnard, said she liked the presentation.
“It would be interesting if we one day discover that we are not alone in this huge universe,” said Gentry. “Surely there must be something.”
