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BryceSloan

The resolution is primarily addressing the existence of interstellar life.  The Pro/For must advocate for the following:  Life can exist in either our Solar System or other Solar Systems.  The Con/Against must advocate for the following:  Life cannot or does not exist on foreign planets.  Science must be used as evidence or a framework.  Religion is unacceptable as a framework or evidence because it is mostly single sided and biased.

The last round will be the voters.  In that round, you will be telling the audience/judges why you see you won the round.

Happy debating and good luck debaters 

BryceSloan

“I think we're going to have strong indications of life beyond Earth within a decade, and I think we're going to have definitive evidence within 20 to 30 years. We know where to look. We know how to look. In most cases, we have the technology and we’re on a path to implementing it.” Ellen Stofan, NASA chief scientist (ibtimes.com)

Today I stand in firm Affirmation of the following resolution:  Could life exist on other planets/moons?

First, we need to clarify what makes something living.  It first needs to complete the 7 characteristics of living organisms;
- Responsiveness to their environment.  (Being able to react to changes in their ecosystem.)
- Growth and change.
- Ability to reproduce.
- Have metabolism and breathe.
- Maintain homeostasis.
- Being made of cells.
- Passing traits onto offspring.
(ck12.org)

Also, the three component must exist on said planet/moon for life to be possible;
- Organic molecules.  (Carbon, Hydrogen, Silicon, Nitrogen, etc.)
- Liquid molecule.  (Water, Ethane, or Methane)
- Energy source.  (Solar energy, thermal energy, or friction)
(Organic Molecules Source)

Contention 1:  Possible life in our very own Solar system.
Io, Europa, Titan, and Enceladus.  What do these four celestial bodies have in common?  They are all moons of gas giants.  What else you may ask?  They are all candidates for hosting extraterrestrial life.  They all have an energy source (Io and Europa obtain energy from the friction caused by the gravitational pull from Jupiter), they have a liquid molecule (Water, ethane, and methane), and they all have organic molecules.  Even though they are far away from our Solar System's star, they all can have the ability to host life.  (Source)
Take a look at Mars.  We have observed there to be frozen water on Mars.  Also to add on, Mars is on the edge of the goldie locks zone, the habitable zone.  Frozen water, an ancient core, remnants of an atmosphere, and being in the habitable zone could make Mars a possible candidate for life, or ancient life.  Scientists are currently trying to figure out a way to terraform Mars itself.