/sci/ - Science & Math

Recommend your friend or whoever read the book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (NOT any of the movies). They cover this stuff quite well under the guise of satire. The probability is not zero, but rather very small. It is quite unlikely that it would happen, but it is conceivable that it could happen.

Actually, life coming about is far more likely than your friend thinks. The issue is they have not heard of all the lab studies and tests that have taken place to prove this point. Scientists have long been able to create all the building blocks of life in extremely simple (and abundant) conditions. The only wonder is that the life has existed for so long. Evolution explains how even the most simple forms of life can eventually lead up to creatures as complex as we are.

Then the trouble will shift to not having your friend immediately dismiss the argument because of the word "evolution". Instead, try to explain the process and avoid that specific work altogether. Only when they accept the basic logic and at least admit it is plausible should you mention the word.