OK. If there's intelligent extraterrestrial life out there, where is it? Given enough time and a certain level of technology, the colonisation of the galaxy is a given. So where are they?
A brief internet wander might be in order to fully acquaint yourselves with the impact of this statement.
(Think stellar engineering, von neumann swarms).
Originally posted by ivangriceOne explanation that seems rather plausible to me is that development of technology always increases the internal tension in a civilization to a degree that it will cause the (self)destruction of that civilization. Not a nice view but worth looking at.
OK. If there's intelligent extraterrestrial life out there, where is it? Given enough time and a certain level of technology, the colonisation of the galaxy is a given. So where are they?
A brief internet wander might be in order t ...[text shortened]... his statement.
(Think stellar engineering, von neumann swarms).
Fjord
Originally posted by Dissident DanMaybe! But after reading this interview you may change your mind.
Well, there are time and space limits (depending on where the aliens come from and when their habitat was formed) to intersolar contact. Stars are pretty far apart.
http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=939&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
Fjord
Originally posted by ivangriceWelcome to RHP Ivan.
Sorry if this has been covered before (I'm a newcomer here), but Fermi's Paradox - is there a resolution?
We have discussed this before. The discussion has always come down to "Drakes equation." It boils down to the fact that if half the stars in our galaxy have planets, there are probably about a hundred civilizations equal to ours floating about in the milky way. Give a billion or take nintey-nine.
How many Stars have planets? How many planets exist in the "Life" zones? How many of these develop life? How often does life evolve to intelligence? How many of these develop technology? How many technological civilizations can escape their world or develop technology sufficient to communicate with us?
A lot of guess work.
Personally.. seeing how pernicious life is on earth... I believe we are one of tens of thousands of civilizations. I also don't think "warp speed" is possible. We are alone. Ten thousand civilizations spread amongst the stars of our galaxy... is the same ratio as being one of two people on earth and hoping to make contact by walking at random and yelling out loud.
I'm forever praying to everyone elses god ('cause I don't have one for myself) that my true parents are aliens and that they'll come and take me away from this decripid rock.
But, if I was an alien I'd avoid earth with a 2 lightyear barge pole. Let's be honest: Earth is a shit-hole just waiting to implode.
Unless I was a teenage alien, then I'd come down here and leave crop circles...just to fuck with everyone's minds.
Yes, but one would hope that an alien nation of sufficient advancement (is that a real word, or did i just make it up?) would be enlightened enough to not need aid workers, and would possibly be alarmed by what we need them for.
For another example from literature, see Iain M Banks' Culture books. Especially the novelette in 'The State of The Art' collection. In that the Culture, a large, almost utopic (another made up word?) civilisation, do visit the Earth covertly and decided it's to screwed up for them to Contact. I'd tend to agree with them.