The Fermi Paradox - Are We Alone in the Universe

[Conservomax]

Hah. No, I didn't even notice that, had I, I would have changed it to greens.

[StriperSniper]

.

[longshadow]

Fermi Paradox Redux

[dangus]

I had a personal interest in studying the origin of life when I was in college. At the Smithsonian, I plugged my (admittedly fantastically subjective) guesses into their Fermi computer. Know how many intelligent races my guesses predicted in the universe? 2.

Fermi's dilemma present evidence for their not being *hordes* of intelligent races. If there are a relatively small number, which evolved only, say, on 3rd-generation (and therefore, recent) stars, we could be outside of each other's "cone of light."

The "cone of light" refers to the area that can be travelled to within the Universe (presuming the speed of light as maximum speed). Since much of the Universe is speeding away from us at just about the speed of light, the area of the cone of light is finite, and less than the area of the Universe (OK, "volume" is the correct term here, not "area"). Since, over time, this area grows steadily larger as time progresses away from the point of origin, the area appears conical when plotted in a 4th dimension chart.

[taxed2death]

My 2 cents. We'll never leave the solar system without knowledge / use of time travel.

Strapping ourselves to an oversized party favor (rocket)won't get us too far.

We'd be better served trying to learn how to travel between different dimensions.

[Conservomax]

Here is the source, a Prof a U of Oregon.

http://zebu.uoregon.edu/

[COBOL2Java]

Very interesting read. Thanks.

I tend to go along with resolution III "They do not exist". I like to think that, in a sense, Adam and Eve were meant to colonize the universe, but unfortunately for us, they screwed the pooch (to borrow a phrase from "The Right Stuff").

[usadave]

So what Fermi immediately realized was that the aliens have had more than enough time to pepper the Galaxy with their presence. But looking around, he didn't see any clear indication that they're out and about. This prompted Fermi to ask what was (to him) an obvious question: "where is everybody?"

Lack of "money". It's expensive to travel throughout the Galaxy.

[FreedomFarmer]

Special this week:

Schrodinger's Cat Litter in the large box,

at all locations, simultaneously...

[Conservomax]

Actually, It will probably be the only way for a while. The paradox states taht Intelligent life would take several hundred thousand years to colonize the galaxy.

[Delta 21]

~~ classic ~~

[Monty22]

They also used the incorrect form of 'too'.

'While interstellar distances are vast, perhaps to vast to be conquered by living creatures with finite lifetimes'

grrr, that one makes me nuts.

[DoctorMichael]

Bump for later pondering.

[dangus]

"Takes only one ET to break embargo."

Hmmm... aliens *normally* don't wish to communicate with us, but occasionally break an embargo. Explains why:
* Despite their mastery of the universe, the aliens who actually do contact Earth are such lousy pilots as to crash into Roswell, etc. They prolly stole a spacecraft thinking it looked easy to fly.
* Only aliens to break embargo are socially deviant... explains why they seem so fascinated with rectal probes.
* They seem to prefer areas filled with other deviants.

[Delta 21]

UFO's, Ancient Astronauts, Alien Artifacts: all fall under the heading of proposals that aliens are here now (and they call themselves Republicans)

...i caught that.....

[snarkpup]

My favorite theories as to why they don't seem to be out there:

• The Krell Theory (from "Forbidden Planet"). Technology evolves to the point where any insane individual can wipe out civilization on a whim.

• The Type-13 Planet Theory (from "Lexx"). Technology advances until an experiment in a high-energy physics lab damages the fabric of space-time and causes the planet to contract to an ultradense object the size of a pea.

• The Lyekka Theory (also from "Lexx"). Like the "killer robot" theory, but a civilization's radio signals are heard by beings who are not evil but simply looking for yummy planets with lots of tasty things.

[RadioAstronomer]

The paradox states taht Intelligent life would take several hundred thousand years to colonize the galaxy

The Rub is in the replication process and creating enough delta-V to not only escape the surface of the planet/moon used for replication, but also the star that planet/moon is in.

[RadioAstronomer]

Since we have been radiating narrowband EM into space for only a short time, why do you think anyone even knows we exist?

[Congressman Billybob]

The quick answer to the Fermi Paradox is the Mead Caveat. The great antropologist, Margaret Mead, proposed that the way we should deal with vastly inferior societies when we discover them, is to leave them alone. This principle is also empodied in the Federation Charter (Star Trek).

If there are well-advanced civilizations "out there," we are barbarians compared to them. And when I look at the 20th Century history of wars on Earth, I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. And if that is the view, it would make absolute sense for THEM to steer clear of US until we GROW UP.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Congressmen, Humorists, Burglars -- All of Us in the Trade."

[brbethke]

...all fall under the heading of proposals that aliens are here now (and they call themselves Republicans)...

Yes, we do. And now that you've discovered our secret, we have to kill you.