Michael,

“Nature does nothing without a purpose?” Surely you’re not suggesting intelligence in microbes? I can accept that we may be blind to processes that we cannot see and ignorant of those things that we can see, but, again, I see no need for a watchmaker.

And I’ve not read of any evidence that any potential alien life needs be extinct.

I think that it’s incontrovertible that we will become extinct, even if only though the evolutionary process. I don’t believe that we can say that we’re unique in this Universe — it’s an awfully big place.

And I’ve yet to hear/read of fractal patterns ruling life-forms. Deviant nature — snowflakes, etc., yes, but large mammals? Noooo...

I’m not certain that I would call ‘swarming’ a higher degree of intelligence. Canada Geese fly in formations for several reasons; none because of a developed intellect. No, I don’t believe in any types of collective-consciousness amongst humans, at all; that idea is in the gutter of the paranormal, to me. And I certainly don’t believe that matter-energy can become self-aware. Gutter-al, again.

There is nothing — no accepted theories or hypotheses — that suggests a binary Universe. Quite the opposite! The more that we learn about Universal curve-balls the more the theoretical dimensions we include to attempt to explain the queer nature the space beyond. And, lest we forget, maths and physics and (quip) universal astro-sciences are only halfway out of the womb. Newton is a recent cousin, Einstein our granddad, Hawking the older brother.

Nature doesn’t “make” us evolve; you’re, again, creating intelligence where there is none. We see patterns because they offer comfort, not because they always (or, even more frequently than not) exist. Certainly there are statistical patterns and probabilities — but I don’t think that we’re smart enough to predict an evolutionary pattern of the future development of a bird’s bill, much less any sort of of a reasoned universal truths.

I ‘get it:’ You desire patterns (just as the faithful desire miracles from saints, as peoples are gladdened to be a part of the 50%) because you want meaning. But there isn’t meaning; maths and physics attempt to explain the rudiments of that which exists, usually shy about positing that which will be. Gemologists don’t predict 900-carat diamonds, but are in awe when one is mined. Astrophysicists can’t predict finding one black hole larger than any yet discovered but can only say that there might be even larger black holes in the Universe.

I didn’t watch the video, but I will. If it convinces me that ELEs are more likely than not, I’ll reply.