I had never heard of the Fermi Paradox before... either way, it turns out it's an urban legend:

I’d like to explain why the so-called Fermi paradox is mistaken, based on my deep-dive research on the topic, because this mistake had inhibited the search for E.T., which I think is worthwhile.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com...radox-is-not-fermi-s-and-it-is-not-a-paradox/

 

@cmartinez

Found this in your link ...

He suggested “a self-replicating universal constructor with intelligence comparable to the human level.”

It's pretty arrogant to think that interstellar travellers intelligence is "comparable" to humans. I would think they were far more intelligent as they have already solved interstellar travel while us mere humans only dream of such things.

Does anyone think humanity would survive in a battle between them and an interstellar being? I tend to think interstellar travelers would think earthlings are too damm primitive to visit.

 

I would think they were far more intelligent as they have already solved interstellar travel while us mere humans only dream of such things.

While the above is a compelling rhetorical argument -- one wonders where humanity would currently stand had development of such technology been our primary and sustained focus? - Had it been central to a common and devoutly practiced 'religion', so to speak (as is not an unreasonable presumption of said hypothetical 'xenoculture')? -- One hesitates to conflate modality with general advancement much less intellect! -- The 'advantages' held by such beings need reflect nothing more than do those enjoyed by social insects...

Just a thought

Best regards
HP

 

Whether you believe in extraterrestrials or not, I find it interesting that Tesla mentioned receiving these signals over a century ago, and was regarded as a lunatic. Now scientists are suggesting something very similar.[/QUOTE]

I'd guess most folks back then even could accept the existence of aliens. It was likely the journalists as usual who know little of anything except how to whittle a stick and pluck a chicken who started the lunatic thing. Even today there are Islamic mullahs who give no credit to science. They insist the world is flat and held down by mountains at the edges.

 

@cmartinez

Found this in your link ...

It's pretty arrogant to think that interstellar travellers intelligence is "comparable" to humans. I would think they were far more intelligent as they have already solved interstellar travel while us mere humans only dream of such things.

Does anyone think humanity would survive in a battle between them and an interstellar being? I tend to think interstellar travelers would think earthlings are too damm primitive to visit.

Yeah it's like when they put in the glorious new highway passing by our small town and someone commented that the only reason anybody stops here is to use the toilet and ask directions. And then people just can't think outside the box so we have all this starwars blasters going on.

 

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/sp...ical-radio-waves-deep-space-baffle-scientists

Why can't there be some means of communication superior to radio we haven't discovered? How about mind projected thought where physical distance has no meaning? But oh that's nonsense as we all know and no place for scientific thinking.

 

Lots of possibilities. My first response to Alien contact is why would they care unless there was something unique on this planet that was not seen on countless billions of others if life is everywhere in the universe or it could be that Aliens have visited and found no signs of intelligent life on Earth.

Well they might want to visit us to harvest genetic materials. Not that they couldn't fabricate it themselves but there could be political or religious obstacles so they come here. Then long ago learning the craft of genetic manipulation they start with a human body. Then mix in different genetic stuff from another race of beings. In this way they can build any type of being the want to suit their needs. So we have the greys. Or maybe we came from the greys.

 

How about mind projected thought where physical distance has no meaning?

Why would such "signals" not be governed by the laws of relativity?

 

It was likely the journalists as usual who know little of anything except how to whittle a stick and pluck a chicken who started the lunatic thing.

---Emphasis added---

+10000 regarding journalists! -- even so called 'science correspondents' -- I never cease to be amazed/appalled at their unabashed ignorance, intellectual laziness, and, frankly, base stupidity! - nor do they improve

That said, I must confess to being unaware of compelling evidence supportive/admissive of 'extraterrestrial intelligence' -- The inability to prove a negative is proof of absolutely nothing! --- Crediting a concept merely because it 'seems reasonable' is folly at best...

Best regards
HP

 

Why would such "signals" not be governed by the laws of relativity?

c is the rule that currently guaranties our loneliness in the universe. Damn you c, damn you to hell.

 

...our loneliness in the universe

Drollery aside, if that prospect indeed troubles you, why so?

Sincerely, best regards
HP

 

Drollery aside, if that concept indeed troubles you, why so?

Sincerely, best regards
HP

I like science fiction stories of aliens, FTL travel with sub-space communication and think it would be neat if our rules of physics allowed that but alas, we seem to be stuck to roaming the local stars on-board artificial planets on boring journeys centuries in duration. If c really is the limit of information then we are stuck in the little sandlot.

 

c is the rule that currently guaranties our loneliness in the universe. Damn you c, damn you to hell.

Instantaneous communication has yet another, related problem: simultaneity.

Two events are simultaneous only if they occur at the same time and place. How can I now have a conversation with someone 1,000,000 light years away if we can't even agree as to what now is?

 

The inability to prove a negative is proof of absolutely nothing! ---

Perhaps a better choice of words would be: absence of evidence, is not evidence of absence.

If c really is the limit of information then we are stuck in the little sandlot.

Then again, maybe there could be a workaround for interstellar travel.

 

Perhaps a better choice of words would be: absence of evidence, is not evidence of absence.

Then again, maybe there could be a workaround for interstellar travel.

I know but the requirements to make it work are the scientific equivalent of having a magic potion of unicorn tears, pixie dust, and dragon wings prepared by angels on the head of a pin contracting space in front of it and expanding space behind it. Mathematically possible under general relativity but physically impossible under quantum mechanics .

 

Perhaps a better choice of words would be: absence of evidence, is not evidence of absence.

Indeed it would be if: (lack of proof = lack of evidence) ⇔ (lack of evidence = lack of proof)

Best regards
HP

 

I know but the requirements to make it work are the scientific equivalent of having a magic potion of unicorn tears, pixie dust, and dragon wings prepared by angels on the head of a pin contracting space in front of it and expanding space behind it. Mathematically possible under general relativity but physically impossible under quantum mechanics .

yes... of course you're right (except you forgot to mention the eye of a cyclops )... but seriously now, at least it's a start. I highly doubt we'll see superluminal travel in our lifetimes (even of quantum particles) but maybe, just maybe, not all is lost yet.

 

yes... of course you're right (except you forgot to mention the eye of a cyclops )... but seriously now, at least it's a start. I highly doubt we'll see superluminal travel in our lifetimes (even of quantum particles) but maybe, just maybe, not all is lost yet.

--Emphasis added--

Then too, there may be 'shortcuts' --- Ever mentally 'play about' with a Mobeus strip or a Klien bottle?

 

--Emphasis added--

Then too, there may be 'shortcuts' --- Ever mentally 'play about' with a Mobeus strip or a Klien bottle?

One never knows... I just love the way some scientists think. For instance, one of the scientists involved in the most recent experiment designed to detect dark matter stated that if nothing was found with this upgraded and more advanced technology, then we'd be in for a treat, because the only way to explain the anomaly would be through the discovery of new laws of physics.
Imagine... the guy's excited about the prospect of a negative result!

 

...experiment designed to detect dark matter...

There is a reason they cannot find it. Einstein was correct about his 'greatest mistake'.