If we haven't been "visited" before (a not unreasonable assumption IMHO), then we certainly have to wonder if we ever will be. I mean, this presumed much-more-advanced-other-civilization is already inexcusably late, is it not? Forget about the FTL problem, there's been more than enough time for "slower" ships/probes to have been-here-and-back any number of times. Just how many more billions of years do we care to give these "trailblazers"?
Kilrathi War Casualties
- Thread starter Ladiesman^
- Start date
With *our* understanding of light travel, it may perhaps be impossible to go faster than light from *our* prospective simply cause we do not yet have the technology. In 1947, it was common thought and belief that there was no way to go byond the speed of sound. The "Brick wall in the sky" or "Demon" as Chuck Yager put it, was broken. Took a few test pilots and test craft to do it, but it was broken. The same can be said for light speed travel and byond. If aliens visited this world centuries ago with that kind of technology then, no telling what they have now, and they could easily *hide* themselves from our radar and other scanning sattelites and ground based systems. If the US and the world were as space hungry as it was in the 60's, its very possible that after the moon landings and probes to Mars, we would have better space technology today, but funds for research and development went to other things.
But we cant apply our understanding of light speed travel and say that it is impossible outright. Granted there is no way we can achieve even absolute light speeds with current hardware. But a highly advanced civilization that has that capability wont just give it up to an undisciplined race like mankind is. If they did, we would have all the dictators and *Hitlers* of the world doing a real fine job of trashing everything in sight just for pittifull power struggles and world dominance. If I were the aliens, I would not want to risk having such an advanced piece of hardware fall into the wrong hands, and on Earth, there are millions of *wrong hands*.
RFB
But we cant apply our understanding of light speed travel and say that it is impossible outright. Granted there is no way we can achieve even absolute light speeds with current hardware. But a highly advanced civilization that has that capability wont just give it up to an undisciplined race like mankind is. If they did, we would have all the dictators and *Hitlers* of the world doing a real fine job of trashing everything in sight just for pittifull power struggles and world dominance. If I were the aliens, I would not want to risk having such an advanced piece of hardware fall into the wrong hands, and on Earth, there are millions of *wrong hands*.
RFB
Ladiesman^
Spaceman
Maybe Aliens are afraid of us, too. Perhaps they recieve our broadcast signals and watch stuff like Independance Day, Mars Attacks, hell, even Star Trek. Perhaps the aliens don't understand this is entertainment, much like the premise of "Galaxy Quest". Perhaps these aliens are seeing use seemingly beat the caca out of other aliens and they're all like "Whoa, these guys are tough!"
Or maybe they do have no intrest. Just like how we contacted aliens in Star Trek. Until we had warp drive there was no reason to visit us.
Or maybe...just maybe...they are preparing for the invasion...
There was another theory put forward in the Heritage Trilogy, by Bill Kieth, that there are certain "predatory species" that arise, and figure that they have to destroy anybody else at a certain technological level before those people become a threat. So the reason we haven't heard from aliens is because they've all been stomped down by these predatory types.
Note, I do not necessarily believe this; I think it might be a possibility, but there are a whole lot of possibilities.
Note, I do not necessarily believe this; I think it might be a possibility, but there are a whole lot of possibilities.
Bandit LOAF
Long Live the Confederation!
But... that's just a bunch of sci-fi cliches...
Mekt-Hakkikt
Mpanty's bane
That is too funny.
Besides, when people said there was no way to break the sound barrier, they just didn't think...it was very possible, you just have to keep accelerating your aircraft...and watch your hull temperature, as well as your fuel temp...friction heats you up mighty quick.
Unless you utilize tachyons, which I don't think have been heavily studied, you can't really go faster than light...
Unless you utilize tachyons, which I don't think have been heavily studied, you can't really go faster than light...
if aliens do travel between the stars they might have allready have visited us and found nothing worth thier attention. just some plasmodial soup, or giant reptiles, or a bunch of rodents scrambeling after a major catastrophy (what killed the dinosaurs).
look how long we have been here and compare it to the age of the earth. our civilisation is about two seconds long. somthing to think about.
look how long we have been here and compare it to the age of the earth. our civilisation is about two seconds long. somthing to think about.
mpanty
Keen Commander
Eh eh... you're talking about the Fermi Paradox $tormin...
Indeed, it summarizes into one simple question: "If aliens exist, how come we haven't heard/seen any of them yet?"...
In theory, the total number of civilizations able to communicate with us is given by the famous Drake Equation:
N = R* × fp × ne × fl × fi × fc × L
Where,
N = The number of communicative civilizations
The number of civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy whose radio emissions are detectable.
R* = The rate of formation of suitable stars
The rate of formation of stars with a large enough "habitable zone" and long enough lifetime to be suitable for the development of intelligent life.
fp = The fraction of those stars with planets
The fraction of Sun-like stars with planets is currently unknown, but evidence indicates that planetary systems may be common for stars like the Sun. more info
ne = The number of "earths" per planetary system
All stars have a habitable zone where a planet would be able to maintain a temperature that would allow liquid water. A planet in the habitable zone could have the basic conditions for life as we know it. more info
fl = The fraction of those planets where life develops
Although a planet orbits in the habitable zone of a suitable star, other factors are necessary for life to arise. Thus, only a fraction of suitable planets will actually develop life.
fi = The fraction life sites where intelligence develops
Life on Earth began over 3.5 billion years ago. Intelligence took a long time to develop. On other life-bearing planets it may happen faster, it may take longer, or it may not develop at all. For more information, please visit Dr. William Calvin's "The Drake Equation's fi"
fc = The fraction of planets where technology develops
The fraction of planets with intelligent life that develop technological civilizations, i.e., technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space.
L = The "Lifetime" of communicating civilizations
The length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
(source: http://www.seti-inst.edu/science/drake-bg.html )
The equation yields different results, depending on the scientists...
Some claim 10,000, others 50,000.... some even drop to 50!!!
But indeed, if there are that many communicative civilizations in the universe.... how come we haven't seen trace of them yet?
Indeed, it summarizes into one simple question: "If aliens exist, how come we haven't heard/seen any of them yet?"...
In theory, the total number of civilizations able to communicate with us is given by the famous Drake Equation:
N = R* × fp × ne × fl × fi × fc × L
Where,
N = The number of communicative civilizations
The number of civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy whose radio emissions are detectable.
R* = The rate of formation of suitable stars
The rate of formation of stars with a large enough "habitable zone" and long enough lifetime to be suitable for the development of intelligent life.
fp = The fraction of those stars with planets
The fraction of Sun-like stars with planets is currently unknown, but evidence indicates that planetary systems may be common for stars like the Sun. more info
ne = The number of "earths" per planetary system
All stars have a habitable zone where a planet would be able to maintain a temperature that would allow liquid water. A planet in the habitable zone could have the basic conditions for life as we know it. more info
fl = The fraction of those planets where life develops
Although a planet orbits in the habitable zone of a suitable star, other factors are necessary for life to arise. Thus, only a fraction of suitable planets will actually develop life.
fi = The fraction life sites where intelligence develops
Life on Earth began over 3.5 billion years ago. Intelligence took a long time to develop. On other life-bearing planets it may happen faster, it may take longer, or it may not develop at all. For more information, please visit Dr. William Calvin's "The Drake Equation's fi"
fc = The fraction of planets where technology develops
The fraction of planets with intelligent life that develop technological civilizations, i.e., technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space.
L = The "Lifetime" of communicating civilizations
The length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
(source: http://www.seti-inst.edu/science/drake-bg.html )
The equation yields different results, depending on the scientists...
Some claim 10,000, others 50,000.... some even drop to 50!!!
But indeed, if there are that many communicative civilizations in the universe.... how come we haven't seen trace of them yet?
Originally posted by mpanty
Eh eh... you're talking about the Fermi Paradox $tormin...
Indeed, it summarizes into one simple question: "If aliens exist, how come we haven't heard/seen any of them yet?"...
In theory, the total number of civilizations able to communicate with us is given by the famous Drake Equation:
N = R* × fp × ne × fl × fi × fc × L
Where,
N = The number of communicative civilizations
The number of civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy whose radio emissions are detectable.
R* = The rate of formation of suitable stars
The rate of formation of stars with a large enough "habitable zone" and long enough lifetime to be suitable for the development of intelligent life.
fp = The fraction of those stars with planets
The fraction of Sun-like stars with planets is currently unknown, but evidence indicates that planetary systems may be common for stars like the Sun. more info
ne = The number of "earths" per planetary system
All stars have a habitable zone where a planet would be able to maintain a temperature that would allow liquid water. A planet in the habitable zone could have the basic conditions for life as we know it. more info
fl = The fraction of those planets where life develops
Although a planet orbits in the habitable zone of a suitable star, other factors are necessary for life to arise. Thus, only a fraction of suitable planets will actually develop life.
fi = The fraction life sites where intelligence develops
Life on Earth began over 3.5 billion years ago. Intelligence took a long time to develop. On other life-bearing planets it may happen faster, it may take longer, or it may not develop at all. For more information, please visit Dr. William Calvin's "The Drake Equation's fi"
fc = The fraction of planets where technology develops
The fraction of planets with intelligent life that develop technological civilizations, i.e., technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space.
L = The "Lifetime" of communicating civilizations
The length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
(source: http://www.seti-inst.edu/science/drake-bg.html )
The equation yields different results, depending on the scientists...
Some claim 10,000, others 50,000.... some even drop to 50!!!
But indeed, if there are that many communicative civilizations in the universe.... how come we haven't seen trace of them yet?
Maybe its because we as humans, apply human understanding of how the universe works, which may be totally incorrect. Or perhaps they are waiting for humans to develop more socially. Maybe they dont want to contact us for fear of mass hysteria that would develop on Earth. If they did contact us, that will bring chaos to every religious group in the world. But who is to say they havent contacted us already? What if the governments of the world have a secret pact to keep things quiet till society *does* get to a point where not everyone is itching to get behind the stick of a fighter and start blowing away indiscriminately at everything that moves. And right now, there would be no shortage of trigger happy volunteers.
RFB
Bandit LOAF
Long Live the Confederation!
You're confusing reality with Star Trek: The Next Generation. Provide facts, not "WE AS HUMANS MUST DEVELOP BEFORE WE CAN CONTACT THE BEAUTIFUL ALIENS! PEACE AND LOVE!". That's *not* an argument.
Naw, they have money...it still costs to do business...they're just bulling when they say they don't have money...
Didn't we go over the fact that it would only be SOME governments that had contact with aliens, and even that's unlikely? If aliens have contacted us, it'd either be like the Vorlons in B5 (abducting humans, like Sebastian, without the majority knowing) or like MiB, with only a select group of humans having contact with aliens.
Didn't we go over the fact that it would only be SOME governments that had contact with aliens, and even that's unlikely? If aliens have contacted us, it'd either be like the Vorlons in B5 (abducting humans, like Sebastian, without the majority knowing) or like MiB, with only a select group of humans having contact with aliens.