Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Jeffersons Ghost

(15,235 posts)
Wed Sep 20, 2017, 11:13 PM Sep 2017

Here is an interesting hour long movie with a realistic quote:

Well no, according to the eminent physicist Stephen Hawking. "If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans," Hawking has said in a forthcoming documentary made for the Discovery Channel. He argues that, instead of trying to find and communicate with life in the cosmos, humans would be better off doing everything they can to avoid contact. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/apr/30/stephen-hawking-right-aliens

Stephen Hawking (shown here in 2008) has been vocal about fears that an advanced alien civilization might wipe out humanity.
Credit: NASA/Paul Alers

Since at least 2010, Hawking has spoken publicly about his fears that an advanced alien civilization would have no problem wiping out the human race the way a human might wipe out a colony of ants. https://www.space.com/29999-stephen-hawking-intelligent-alien-life-danger.html

Here is the interesting Science Fiction movie, on the same topic, which originally appeared on television.

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Here is an interesting hour long movie with a realistic quote: (Original Post) Jeffersons Ghost Sep 2017 OP
The movie "Battleship"... PoiBoy Sep 2017 #1
Although this image is a poor example; what about more focused signals sent to satellites? Jeffersons Ghost Sep 2017 #4
Hawking's position is a bit puzzling. longship Sep 2017 #2
Further support of your realistic approach exists in other logical conclusions Jeffersons Ghost Sep 2017 #6
What if WE are the seed of life in the universe? yallerdawg Sep 2017 #3
I think it plausible that we are the first and there's nobody else out there. Kaleva Sep 2017 #5
What if the wrong people answer? HERE'S ANOTHER MOVIE! Jeffersons Ghost Sep 2017 #7

PoiBoy

(1,542 posts)
1. The movie "Battleship"...
Wed Sep 20, 2017, 11:38 PM
Sep 2017

..kinda made me think like that... stop sending those signals out into deep space, you guys..!!! lol..!!!






Jeffersons Ghost

(15,235 posts)
4. Although this image is a poor example; what about more focused signals sent to satellites?
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 05:36 PM
Sep 2017

Last edited Thu Sep 21, 2017, 06:31 PM - Edit history (1)



Many communications satellites are in Geostationary High Earth Orbit, making them easy to find for technicians at television and radio stations. Also, certain types of military satellites orbit even higher, for various reasons. A High Earth Orbit is a geocentric orbit with an altitude entirely above a geosynchronous orbit (35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi) Signals sent to and from these satellites are more powerful and focused: However, an advanced life form on a distant planet might utilize extremely sensitive reception equipment.

Here is a beautiful image captured by a NASA radio telescope:



Not only deliberate signals are sent into deep space but also accidental signals are sent from Earth. Space creatures could possess the technology to at least detect the source of both types of signals.

longship

(40,416 posts)
2. Hawking's position is a bit puzzling.
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 03:29 AM
Sep 2017

First, every physics we know says that interstellar travel is not only difficult in the extreme, but totally impractical. It's the whole rocket equation business. This is basic physics that Hawking should be able to solve in his head. What it says is that the energy required for interstellar travel imposes a rather severe penalty on those who would attempt it. Such are the distances between stars, let alone the distances between intelligent life forms.

Then, there's the time for communications. Of course, Hawking knows this, too. I just do not understand his position on communicating with putative aliens when a one way communication would likely take centuries, or even millennia, depending on their distance from us.

It's a puzzlement to me. I say broadcast away. The chances it will be received is next to nil anyway. The chances that it will be received within our lifetime is slim. Such are the distances in our galaxy.



BTW, interesting Outer Limits episode. I liked it.

Jeffersons Ghost

(15,235 posts)
6. Further support of your realistic approach exists in other logical conclusions
Fri Sep 22, 2017, 02:49 PM
Sep 2017

The nearest planets, orbiting within a distance similar to Earth's orbit around Sun, are trillions (1,000,000,000,000 = one trillion) of miles away. The first planet, of this kind, was confirmed in 1992, according to some websites. Water, which appears necessary in sustaining life, has not been detected on any of these Earth like planets. The five closest planets orbiting around distant stars are extremely brief, compared to Earth, which completes orbit around the Sun (a star named Sol) in about 365 days.

Even microscopic life needs time to adjust to dramatic changes, which occur during dry seasons and rainy seasons. In other areas Summer climates are much warmer than Winter conditions. Not only plants but also animals need time to adjust to profound variations in the weather. Spring and Fall allows complex life forms a chance to adjust and reproduce, before weather conditions become harsh.

Evidence of the closest Earth-like planets was produced decades ago, in many cases. In other cases, light - the fastest moving phenomenon known - was emitted from these planets centuries ago. Plenty of large asteroids and comets roam through the universe; and any of these newly detected, distant planets could have been destroyed by a large meteor last week. If intelligent life existed on a planet before impact with a large meteor, those creatures are either destroyed or technologically impaired after a relatively common collision. Not only travel but also communications to or from these distant planets is unlikely.

Even so, the sheer number of Earth-like planets, orbiting around distant stars, is so staggering that theorizing life exists on other planets is the most reasonable assumption. Based on Kepler space mission data, astronomers reported, on November 2013, there could be about 40 billion Earth-sized planets orbiting in the habitable zones around Sun-like stars and red dwarfs in the Milky Way. The Milky Way is a relatively small part of the universe.

Most likely, there is life on other planets; but if highly evolved space creatures discovered life on Earth they would conclude - due to the way humans treat other life and the planet - that there is no intelligent life on Earth. Which intelligent life form would really find a use for increasing polluted oceans, on a planet where people appear to be doing everything possible to accelerate Climate Change, while denying that it exists? Who wants to spend their precious time attempting to communicate with fools?


cartoon furnished courtesy of https://www.pinterest.com/explore/calvin-and-hobbes-quotes/

yallerdawg

(16,104 posts)
3. What if WE are the seed of life in the universe?
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 06:59 AM
Sep 2017

What if this planet is the tiny ember in the vastness and our "destiny" is to overcome time and space and our own physical impossibilities?

What if we knock and knock, and nothing answers?

What movie is that?

Kaleva

(36,298 posts)
5. I think it plausible that we are the first and there's nobody else out there.
Thu Sep 21, 2017, 11:12 PM
Sep 2017

At least in our own galaxy.

Jeffersons Ghost

(15,235 posts)
7. What if the wrong people answer? HERE'S ANOTHER MOVIE!
Fri Sep 22, 2017, 08:45 PM
Sep 2017

Last edited Fri Sep 22, 2017, 10:09 PM - Edit history (2)

What if we find time travelers, instead of space travelers, after knocking on Heaven's door?

&list=RDrnKbImRPhTE&index=1

A 20th century scientist, Albert Einstein, developed the Theory of Relativity. The Theory of Relativity is difficult to understand, but scientists claim to have confirmed the equation, E = mc2. This theory says that space and time are - in fact - aspects of the same thing.

In 1905, Albert Einstein determined the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and the speed of light - in a vacuum - was independent of motion. This is The Theory of Relativity, which introduced a new framework for physics and proposed new concepts of space and time.

Then, Einstein spent 10 years attempting to include acceleration in the theory and published his Theory of Relativity, in 1915. He determined that massive objects cause a distortion in space-time, which is felt as gravity.

"Gravity" is a natural law; not a theory, which was proven by Sir Isaac Newton, in 1687, in a document named Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy).

Newton's laws of motion are three physical laws, which laid the foundation for classical mechanics. They describe the relationship between a body and motion responding to those forces.

(1) Every object moves in a straight line unless acted upon by a force.
(2) The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force exerted and inversely proportional to the object's mass.
(3) For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Finally, let's meet some time travelers, in an interesting movie:

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Movies»Here is an interesting ho...