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Aug 21, 2008, 12:10 PM
| | New Member  | | Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 7
| | | Sending Signals into Space
Sending signals into space continously into space in hopes of contact a good thing or a bad thing?
If the point is to make contact with aliens that have some capability to intepret these signals/intelligence.
How do we know they will be friendly. Why are we taking this chance? It could be hit or miss...they could be helpful or they could be hostile. Why take this chance? Is the reward worth the risk? Its similiar to putting your life's savings on the line and you could lose it all or double it. How many people would be willing to do this? And why is this being done without the public choosing if they want this or not?
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Answers
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Dec 2, 2008, 04:46 AM
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#21
| | New Member
Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Athens
Posts: 7
| Quote:
Originally Posted by albear  by space ship/shuttle/ whatever you want to call it. |  ...I am not asking what the transport will be, but HOW are we going to get there...we will need to travel endlessly for many many light years...it is impossible. |
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Dec 2, 2008, 05:15 AM
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#22
| | Expert
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: On the outside
Posts: 13,299
| Hello man:
Haven't you ever heard of warp power? I know, I know, it's a Star Trek thing.... But, if we're gonna travel out there, THAT'S how we're gonna do it. We're gonna warp spacetime.
excon | |
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Dec 2, 2008, 05:24 AM
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#23
| | New Member
Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Athens
Posts: 7
| Hmm, yes, but we are not going to survive that long to invent warp technology... | |
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Dec 2, 2008, 05:44 AM
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#24
| | Ultra Member
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: UK
Posts: 1,285
| Quote:
Originally Posted by mantooon ...I am not asking what the transport will be, but HOW are we going to get there...we will need to travel endlessly for many many light years...it is impossible. | no it isnt, it will take a very long time yes, at our current level of technology anyhoo, but that doesnt mean that only one crew can do it, if there is a large enough population on the original craft then via reproduction the next generations will make it there and we will have succesfully transported the human race to another hospitable planet | |
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Dec 3, 2008, 12:48 AM
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#25
| | | Science Expert
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK
Posts: 5,237
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Sitkadiver I say we should communicate despite any potential risk. Since Earth is essentially a closed system, and if it isn't, then the solar system is, all closed systems fall towards entropy, then someday we as a race will have to leave the planet. So why not start looking for digs now.
Maybe somewhere out there there is a galatic homeowners union that will allow us to become their new neighbors.
Seriously though, what could really turn out to be cool is if the speed of light can be exceeded by some sort of superlominal signaling device. Then think of the conversations we could have! I know there's a great deal of debate, but the recent BBC report sure sounded exciting. I can only imagine what will be learned at CERN in the next couple decades. | Can you explain what you mean by "essentially a closed system"? I wouldn't say that the Earth or the Solar System were closed systems. | |
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Dec 3, 2008, 07:10 AM
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#26
| | Biology Expert
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 2,057
| The Earth is not a closed system since it is inundated with solar energy, which (among other things) supports life. Plants use solar energy to build sugars and other molecules, and all other living things get energy by eating plants or organisms that eat plants. Earth also loses energy constantly, as heat and light radiate out into space. It loses molecules of atmosphere where the atmosphere meets space.
I don't think the solar system would be considered a closed system either, since material and energy are lost from the solar system. Plus it's movements are influenced by gravitational forces from the rest of the galaxy. I'm sure there's more, but I'm not able to say off the top of my head.
A "closed system" is a theoretical construct for teaching purposes. They don't really exist, I don't think. | |
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Sep 3, 2009, 03:48 AM
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#27
| | Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1
| Is it true that the tv transmissions are to reach the 'border' of our galaxy in 5 months? | |
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Sep 3, 2009, 04:20 AM
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#28
| | | Science Expert
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK
Posts: 5,237
| Quote:
Originally Posted by ruxdeac Is it true that the tv transmissions are to reach the 'border' of our galaxy in 5 months? | No, we are about 25,000 light years from the center of the galaxy, and the galaxy is about 100,000 light years across. So light would take about 75,000 years to reach the closest 'border'. Also, the transmission would have probably dwindled to well below background levels by then. | |
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Sep 3, 2009, 04:23 AM
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#29
| | | Science Expert
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK
Posts: 5,237
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Originally Posted by asking I don't think the solar system would be considered a closed system either, since material and energy are lost from the solar system. Plus it's movements are influenced by gravitational forces from the rest of the galaxy. I'm sure there's more, but I'm not able to say off the top of my head. | The most obvious evidence that it's not a closed system is light from stars  | |
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Sep 3, 2009, 07:07 AM
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#30
| | Biology Expert
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 2,057
| Oh, right, that!
Duh. | |
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