Rick,
Comparing a 4 minute mile and light years is ridiculous. The varience in homosapiens you are talking about is non-existent when you compare that to cosmic terms. By the way, I did a 6 minute mile.
Plants do make their own energy, but they still need sun, water, and nutrients. They are not independent. Helium is too inert, so it would not be a good candidate for using in living system.
Under the laws of physics, nothing can travel the speed of light except light, therefore nothing can travel faster. I know there are tons, of things we can't hear or see, but when you are talking about light years and cosmic legths, they dwarf any comparison to high frequency sound waves or x-rays.
There is probably a planet somewhere in this vast universe that has life, but it is impossible for them to be able to travel that far given the laws of physic and chemistry of life.
And Virgins are the top choice in this universe.
And one more thing, I don't believe in God. I'm atheist. I know my physics, chemistry, and especially my molecular biology, that's what my beliefs are based on.
choner