Study suggests intelligent life may be common on Earth-like planets

A new study suggests that intelligent life may be common on Earth-like planets, challenging the long-held belief that its emergence is rare. Researchers propose that human evolution is a natural process influenced by environmental conditions rather than a series of improbable events. This new model contrasts with the "hard steps" theory, which argued that complex life required unlikely evolutionary milestones. Instead, the study indicates that the development of intelligent life is a predictable outcome of planetary conditions over time. The research implies that if intelligent life can arise on Earth, it is likely to occur on other similar planets. Ongoing missions, like NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, are searching for signs of life beyond our solar system, potentially supporting this new perspective.