Question Aliens and the UN

[jedidia]

People used to think going over 50 mph would kill you, and thought heavier then air flight was not possible.

We have a big difference here, though. The assumption back then was mostly due to "common sense" (most people just could not imagine going that fast) and religious superstition (the steam engine as an infernal machine).

There was however not a single serious scientist that would have supported the notion. There were enough animals RUNNING at above 50 mph that proved that a biological organism is not only fit to endure, but even to produce such speeds.

The FTL-thingy is a bit different... we simply don't know ANYTHING that goes above the speed of light, and the theory of special relativity shows quite clearly that the light-barrier cannot be broken by conventional means (simply going faster).

So if there is a solution to FTL, it has to be found in an area of science that we have not discovered yet (parallel dimensions, hyperspace, wormholes and all that stuff). It is pretty much proven that going faster than light physically in our universe is not possible. Wheather or not someone will discover a means in an area we might not even know about yet is very speculative, but it could happen. If there IS a possibility, I'm confident that sooner or later somebody will find it. But the possibility exist that nature indeed forbids us to cheat us through this one...

 

[Moonwalker]

Also, people used to think the earth is flat. Today we know it is a giant ball. So what?

We know the speed of light for more than 300 years already. And today we know that matter doesn't go that fast, and why. But in the deepness of the universe, even the speed of light actually is nothing. It travels ~50.000 years from the center of our galaxy until it reaches our solar system. And this is still a short distance.

A look into the universe always is and will be a look into its past. No matter if something moves with the speed of light or not. Just like the earth is not flat, and certainly won't become a giant cube or whatever

 

[Urwumpe]

It travels ~50.000 years from the center of our galaxy until it reaches our solar system. And this is still a short distance.

The center is only 25,900 light years away. And as it is a black hole, it does not emit light itself.

Also, it is likely the Milky Way follows the 700:1 rule, so the Milky way is only 700 times heavier than it's central black hole - it is really mostly nothing.

 

[Moonwalker]

The center is only 25,900 light years away. And as it is a black hole, it does not emit light itself.

Also, it is likely the Milky Way follows the 700:1 rule, so the Milky way is only 700 times heavier than it's central black hole - it is really mostly nothing.

But light still needs to travel ~50.000 years to cross about the half of our galaxy

 

[Urwumpe]

But light still needs to travel ~50.000 years to cross about the half of our galaxy

Well, approximately. But it is not like this makes the Galaxy especially huge.

The light already needs 17,000 years just to reach the surface of the sun. (Speed of light is constant only in vacuum)

The sun needs about 2.5 million years just to go around the Galaxy and travels at 225 km/s (800,000 km/h). That is greatness!

Also: 50 years ago, we did not know that there is a Black Hole in the center of all galaxies. Let alone, had been sure Black Holes are more than just a theoretical anomaly.

 

[Artlav]

Why the assumption that the aliens will come to us, more, the assumption that they will come in space ships?

 

[Eagle]

Why the assumption that the aliens will come to us, more, the assumption that they will come in space ships?

Well this is under the assumption that these aliens are from a planet that requires an atmosphere and thus require some form of ship or suit to keep them alive. And the view of space ships is that they have to get here somehow and laboratory teleportation (or similar effects) isn't really being seen as viable at this moment.

So the answer is: because that's how we imagine we would get here.

So its entirely possible for aliens to prism here butt naked, and there have been a few Twilight Zone episodes about this.

 

[Usquanigo]

If by "aliens" we're talking Xenomorphs, and by US we're talking current reality and not the manufactured stereotype claim everyone loves to banter about, then the response would be to feed people to the queen and her face huggers in order to show support for an atlernative way of life, meanwhile, the mindless leftist drones on the street would try to bully anyone who pointed out how screwed up such a thing really is, and accuse them of being all kinds of things, including specist (? a take on racist lol).

 

[Eagle]

The light already needs 17,000 years just to reach the surface of the sun. (Speed of light is constant only in vacuum)

I've always thought that fact is a bit disingenuous. Its the calculated average time for photons to get out, but its because the photons are being absorbed and emitted through the sun's plasma. The photons we see were emitted primarily from the hot and excited photosphere.

Besides, H fusion has a different spectrum from a star's nearly blackbody radiation.

But that's just me.(FYI it takes neutrinos about 8 min to get here from the center of the sun)

 

[Artlav]

. ...A gust of wind that sounded like any other swept across the busy street. Some dust fell of the wall. A sound shacked the pavement. No one was looking at the corner where chaos of matter turned into order, revealing an alien shape that looked like busy human. The shape walked around the corner, being yet unnoticed, as people on one side seen a man appear from behind a corner, and people on the other side saw a man disappear behind a corner.
. As always on this weird planet, the inhabitants missed yet another miracle they were often thinking about looking for. Why they believe the reason always must precede the result? What they don't know the reasons for they believe not to exist...

 

[Ghostrider]

But light still needs to travel

Not anymore. Nowadays it does all its business through the Internet.

 

[bujin]

What they don't know the reasons for they believe not to exist...

Believe not to exist, or do not believe exists?

 

[Artlav]

Believe not to exist, or do not believe exists?

"I don't know how it could possibly work, therefore it is impossible" - kind of statements.

 

[Usquanigo]

Not anymore. Nowadays it does all its business through the Internet.

:lol:

 

[bujin]

"I don't know how it could possibly work, therefore it is impossible" - kind of statements.

Ah, I see.

I have no idea how the telly works, so therefore the television is an impossible object.

 

[Usquanigo]

I have no idea how the telly works

The Telly doesn't work. He's been dead for a long time now.

 

[RisingFury]

Why the assumption that the aliens will come to us, more, the assumption that they will come in space ships?

Because it makes for a fun StarGate SG-1 or Atlantis episode.

Hollywood has been feeding us the idea of space ships destroying Earth for years to entertain our darkest fears - that our technology is very primitive and we can't do much to stop them.

I do believe that it's highly unlikely that if intelligent life exists beyond Earth, that they will visit us at all, or if they do, that they'll come in ships.

Ironically, something like the StarGate would be far more likely:

 

[bujin]

The Telly doesn't work. He's been dead for a long time now.

Ah, y'know what? That explains a lot! :lol:

 

[jedidia]

Also: 50 years ago, we did not know that there is a Black Hole in the center of all galaxies.

Hell, I didn't know it even now... you got me some reading about that? sounds rather interesting!