Other Solar Systems

[columbia]

I disagree that life sustaining planets are rare.

Based on the planets we know the most about (those orbiting the Sun), its a 10% chance.

The other planets discovered outside our solar system are as large or larger than Jupiter because we cant yet see the close orbiting, water rich planets.

How do you know that our solar system is a typical solar system? I think that's a big assumption. We have found hundreds 'hot Jupiters' and our solar system doesn't have any. The Nebula Theory says large amounts of gasses (Like oxygen & hydrogen for water) wouldn't have time to condense close to a star in the 'green zone'. Even if you have another earth you may not get intelligent life.

The topic of 'hot Jupiters' is a fascinating one.
According to the Nebula Theory gas giants couldn't form that close to their parent star so they had to form farther out and migrate inward. And then what? How did they stop and park in a stable orbit? Probability and orbital mechanics are against it.

Uranus is an amazing topic. I might put something together on it later.