Whitechapel - Stephen Hawking says we're fucked2013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/
Lussumo Vanilla & Feed Publisher
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234260#Comment_2342602010-04-27T05:13:14-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Argoshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=7792
According to Stephen Hawking, there are almost certainly intelligent lifeforms out in the beyond. He also says that like us, they are or have depleted their planet's resources, so any contact with ...
Hawking believes that contact with such a species could be devastating for humanity.
He suggests that aliens might simply raid Earth for its resources and then move on: "We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach."
He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: "If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans."
Linky Link]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234269#Comment_2342692010-04-27T05:47:16-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00helloMullerhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=560
I think this is what Hawking has been saying for years. That if we would ever be visited by beings that can actually travel in space, we, by default have the short stick, and therefore should be very ...
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234272#Comment_2342722010-04-27T06:01:41-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Flabyohttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1306
It's also the plot of Independence Day.
What?
What?]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234278#Comment_2342782010-04-27T06:53:37-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00stationhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=5156
He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”.
I bet Sagan is spinning in his grave.
He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. I bet Sagan is spinning in his grave.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234280#Comment_2342802010-04-27T06:58:05-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Fauxhammerhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=27
You're talking like Roddenberry lied to us. That's kids' stuff!
Crazy stuff!
Crazy stuff!]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234281#Comment_2342812010-04-27T07:01:18-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Verissimushttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=3379
I think it's a bit premature to say that they would be hostile. Human have at many times in their history been hostile to other cultures, but why would the same be true for an advanced race of ...
Also I don't think such an advanced alien arce would have to rely on planetary energy sources to sustain themselves; couldn't they use, ehmmm, stardust??]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234283#Comment_2342832010-04-27T07:12:58-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Argoshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=7792
That's what I was thinking. If alien races are advanced enough to be able to make the trip to find us, they've probably figured out ways to sustain themselves. Another thing I was thinking of, is ...
In any case, I found it interesting to hear that this was what he had to say.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234285#Comment_2342852010-04-27T07:21:44-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00longtimelurkerhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=7739
If an alien race can conquer intergalactic travel, they surely would have the technology to harness energy from stars and mine raw materials from vacant planets.
An invasion would have only one ...
An invasion would have only one purpose: to make human slaves.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234286#Comment_2342862010-04-27T07:24:38-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Andre Navarrohttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1561
It's an interesting point Hawking is making, but while it's likely intelligent life developed in other parts of the universe, it's unlikely those parts are anywhere near us, and like Argos said, an ...
And this is assuming those aliens are roughly like us. Within the realm of universal things such as Math, there's still a lot of variety in how a civilization could develop: their moral code, the conditions in their planet (which will shape their evolution), etc.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234292#Comment_2342922010-04-27T07:41:05-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00MementoMorihttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=5213
Oh they've made contact with us already, but as a sign of they advanced intelligence they chose to ignore us.
]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234294#Comment_2342942010-04-27T07:47:38-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00longtimelurkerhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=7739
"what use could we be to them?"
There is always a market for cheap labor. Our opposable thumbs and storytelling abilities would be the best assets. And by storytelling, I mean the ...
There is always a market for cheap labor. Our opposable thumbs and storytelling abilities would be the best assets. And by storytelling, I mean the ability to command and instruct others to perform complicated tasks. Animals can't do that.
"there's still a lot of variety in how a civilization could develop: their moral code, the conditions in their planet (which will shape their evolution), etc"
Agreed. Totalitarian agriculture dominates on our planet because the hunting/gathering societies couldn't grow fast enough to compete. An intergalactic race would have to win out over other cultures to reach that advanced stage. What it would look like? It would have to be totalitarian, meaning everyone within the culture must join it or perish. And it would have to be the intergalactic equivalent of modern agriculture: growing its own sustenance and ruthlessly killing anything that competes with it. In the long run, pacifist and/or nontotalitarian cultures would be conquered or assimilated.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234299#Comment_2342992010-04-27T08:09:25-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Flabyohttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1306
This is assuming that the species we're talking about is of a higher intelligence, rather than just being space locusts... (I play far too much Warhammer 40k)
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234301#Comment_2343012010-04-27T08:11:59-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Argoshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=7792
Oh God space locusts would be terrifying
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234302#Comment_2343022010-04-27T08:12:13-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00rickiep00hhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2930
And that they're not sentient fungi that want to drive us mad for no real reason... (I read way too much Lovecraft)
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234303#Comment_2343032010-04-27T08:13:01-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00warrenellishttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2
they want to touch our bums
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234307#Comment_2343072010-04-27T08:29:54-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Verissimushttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=3379
they want to touch our bums
If that's true, then Hawking must mean we're literally fucked...
they want to touch our bums
If that's true, then Hawking must mean we're literally fucked...]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234310#Comment_2343102010-04-27T09:05:46-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Fauxhammerhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=27
Hey, it's not cheating if they're not Terran!
oontz oontz oontz oontz
oontz oontz oontz oontz]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234316#Comment_2343162010-04-27T09:37:36-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00IsaacSherhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1930
There's a Kids In The Hall skit this reminds me of, but I can't get to YouTube from work.
"Our Great Leader is nothing more than a demented ass-freak! The only thing we've determined with ...
"Our Great Leader is nothing more than a demented ass-freak! The only thing we've determined with these anal probes is that one out of ten of these humans doesn't seem to mind it so much!"
"...Do you want to see my collection of Ass Photography?"
"NO."]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234317#Comment_2343172010-04-27T09:39:28-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Justin Jordanhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2789
"There is always a market for cheap labor"
Yes, but it's not especially plausible that travelling across the universe to grab slaves would be an economic proposition. It doesn't seem ...
Yes, but it's not especially plausible that travelling across the universe to grab slaves would be an economic proposition. It doesn't seem especially like that aliens capable of crossing vast interstellar distances would not be capable of creating robots to do the labor or, failing that, simply clone one of us for their needs.
"In the long run, pacifist and/or nontotalitarian cultures would be conquered or assimilated. "
Not really. All of that assumes a finite amount of space and resources, which is the issue here on Earth. Once they're capable of intergalactic travel, they could simple ignore any culture that doesn't want to get involved. Likewise an all consuming culture isn't necessarily necessary to getting off the planet. Which assumes that they have different cultures to begin with.
Which is the problem with trying to anticipate extraterrestrial life - anything is possible. Maybe they would come and rape us all to death because that's the greatest good in their culture. Maybe their perception works at the quantum level and they would never realise that we even existed. There's no particular reason to believe what Hawking does.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234318#Comment_2343182010-04-27T09:42:58-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00SteadyUPhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=5302
I'm rooting for Gah Lak Tus, myself.
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234323#Comment_2343232010-04-27T09:51:25-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00mister hexhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=4411
Also, wasn't one of the points he made that any "alien life" we encountered would likely be microbes and/or bacteria? Which makes the scenario more likely of us dying from Space Aids like ...
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234325#Comment_2343252010-04-27T10:12:42-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00longtimelurkerhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=7739
"simply clone one of us for their needs"
You're right! I forgot about cloning! And they could probably reprogram us to go along peacefully.
"All of that assumes a finite ...
You're right! I forgot about cloning! And they could probably reprogram us to go along peacefully.
"All of that assumes a finite amount of space and resources"
You're right! Space is infinite! On to the next planet, Ensign. These Terrans watch far too much DANCING WITH THE STARS.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234334#Comment_2343342010-04-27T11:01:03-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Brent Wilcoxhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1653
All he did was spew one of the oldest ideas in science fiction, straight from HG Wells. But since he's Steven Hawking, Discovery Channel reaped a bonanza of publicity. I saw the part of the program ...
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234335#Comment_2343352010-04-27T11:09:56-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00StefanJhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=961
"The want to touch our bums."
Just our bums if we're lucky.
* * *
As for the roaming rapacious nomad scenario . . . I dunno.
The scaling doesn't work out.
Interstellar travel ...
"The want to touch our bums."
Just our bums if we're lucky.
* * * As for the roaming rapacious nomad scenario . . . I dunno.
The scaling doesn't work out.
Interstellar travel is hard. Really expensive in terms of energy.
And once you're out there . . . tens of billions of stars, the vast majority of them red dwarfs circled by ice and rubble. Ice and rubble which with the help of nanotechnology can be efficiently harvested and processed and turned into whatever you want: Fuel, food, new habitats.
The cost of tracking down habitable planets with civilization in them just to save a little effort at harvesting . . . just doesn't seem to work out.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234336#Comment_2343362010-04-27T11:11:46-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00MGhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=8659
How many ant colonies get wiped out in a strip mining operation?
How many tree frogs die when a forest gets cut down?
Any culture that can travel across the ridiculous gaps between star systems ...
How many tree frogs die when a forest gets cut down?
Any culture that can travel across the ridiculous gaps between star systems is going to be so far ahead of us technologically they would be like something out of the bible. But scarier.
Lets even assume they're the same size as us, even roughly. Their ships could be the size of the moon and they're conscious gas clouds who see earth as some shimmering h2O saturated speck. Maybe they just pass by, even then they could kill us all simply trying to communicate using methane exchange or noise so loud it deafens anyone who hears it. That lovely burst of UV radiation that means "HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE GALACTIC HUGGING SOCIETY" that gives everyone exposed aggressive stage 4 pancreatic cancer?
If you've been out in the wilderness, where things like wolves and bears and wolverines will kill you, you learn very quickly not to make too much of spectacle of yourself. That brass plaque on Voyager may look like a take-out menu to some beastie out there.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234349#Comment_2343492010-04-27T12:45:14-07:002010-04-27T12:46:09-07:00oldhathttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=75
It must be the fact that I've been catching up with Doctor Who (starting with the Eccelston run) but I couldn't help but think of the WWIII storyline in which these aliens plan to nuke the world and ...
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234356#Comment_2343562010-04-27T13:08:17-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00James Cunninghamhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2925
I don't get Hawking's line of reasoning at all. Even in the solar system, resources are for all intents and purposes as close to infinite as to make very little difference to a race capable of ...
Or pretty much what StefanJ said. :)]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234360#Comment_2343602010-04-27T13:26:05-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00MGhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=8659
@James Cunningham:
Ever read a book called "Under the Skin" By Michel Faber? Features these aliens who come to earth to harvest humans as a delicacy. Not even a necessary food item, just ...
Ever read a book called "Under the Skin" By Michel Faber? Features these aliens who come to earth to harvest humans as a delicacy. Not even a necessary food item, just something tasty for the upper class. They barely regard the humans they kidnaps, geld, stuff full of hormones and chemicals and then "harvest" as anything more than cattle. Their perception of sentience is completely different from ours.
Humans as the Poo-Poo platter.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234361#Comment_2343612010-04-27T13:26:52-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00StefanJhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=961
Going Way Back:
Olaf Stapledon's Star Maker is a sort of theologically themed future history of life in the galaxy. An astrally project earth man visits all sorts of worlds in crisis. Many die ...
Olaf Stapledon's Star Maker is a sort of theologically themed future history of life in the galaxy. An astrally project earth man visits all sorts of worlds in crisis. Many die off, unable to cope with the challenges of industry, environment, or their own alien-human nature.
But some races figure things out and become "utopian," in a Wellsian-socialist fashion. Some of these are laid back and respectful of other races; they have a Prime Directive thing going. But others are ideological nut-jobs. Stapledon calls them the Perverts. They roam the galaxy in moving planets, trying to convert other races to their idea of righteous utopian thinking. Galactic neoconservatives. At one point they start using nova bombs on solar systems who inhabitants don't see it their way.
Freeman Dyson acknowledges getting the idea for "Dyson Spheres" from Star Maker.
I'd be willing to bet that Hawking read the book too.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234362#Comment_2343622010-04-27T13:28:13-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Solariohttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=58
Why are we listening to a theorethical physicist on matters of sociology, political philosophy and prehaps zoology and biology? I understand that he could have an interesting viewpoint, but he isn't ...
And why do we always assume that social intelligence is completely non-existent in technological advanced species?]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234391#Comment_2343912010-04-27T17:50:36-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00city creedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=4530
Is he really worrying about this?
godsakes keep him away from Anathem.
godsakes keep him away from Anathem.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234393#Comment_2343932010-04-27T18:36:07-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Brendan McGinleyhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=93
Unless space virii have RNA, I'm really curious to see how they intend to infect us.
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234396#Comment_2343962010-04-27T19:18:18-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00MGhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=8659
@citrusseed
Hawking will worry about what he wants to worry about. Hu-man.
Hawking will worry about what he wants to worry about. Hu-man. ]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234404#Comment_2344042010-04-27T20:14:45-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Zie87http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=8800
I doubt they would travel all they way to earth for resources, for all the reasons stated previously in this thread. However I reckon they might travel past us, on the way too and from somewhere. We ...
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234455#Comment_2344552010-04-28T04:01:49-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Redwyndhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=653
@Justin Jordan & James Cunningham;
I would like to point to two theories: first, the conservation of energy, then the so-called "life zone" around some stars. (Also, I am not a ...
I would like to point to two theories: first, the conservation of energy, then the so-called "life zone" around some stars. (Also, I am not a scientist, so if my references aren't exact, don't jump on me.)
The idea of conservation of energy is that there is a finite amount of energy, or its alternate state mass (E=mc^2, after all), in any closed system. This universe very probably is a closed system, if the Big Bang Theory is correct, and therefore there is a finite amount of energy. Let's say, for argument's sake, that 75% of the energy in the universe it taking the form of matter. Then 90% of that is in the form of the theorized dark matter, leaving us with 7.5% in "normal" matter. Of this, probably 99.99% is the stuff of stars and gas giant planets. Then from what's left over, of the mass of a planet like Earth, we'd figure that, what, 0.0000001% is useful in any kind of interstellar tech? As you can see, we're rapidly approaching a point where resources are very, very scarce, even when you're looking a starting point of all the energy/mass in the universe. I'm modeling this argument after the Drake Equation, of course.
Second part to this: if like is most likely going to arise on a planet with liquid water, then that life will be most well adapted to a level of heat similar to that of Earth. Well, heat in space is expensive to maintain - no system is completely free from heat radiation, so it needs to be constantly replenished, consuming fuel or energy of some kind. The ISS does this through solar power, but that approach just isn't feasible in deep space, the light is just too diffuse. This kind of loss would be enormous, and would occur over a number of years (our closest neighbor is 40 years away, at the speed of light, but statistically any visitors would likely be coming from somewhere else, see Drake Equation), with each additional kilo of fuel for life-support requiring still more fuel to propel, then stop, then propel, that additional fuel. Rather than carry and consume the fuel to mine in the Kupiter Belt, they'll be coming here first, because that will be most hospitable to them.
Now, I've dropped a whole lot of "probably"s out of all that, since its all conjecture on all our parts and it makes for awkward writing, but I'm sure you get the point. Also, its worth noting that the conservation of energy rule is the whole problem we're having here on Earth right now: peoples, governments, corporations, and institutions not yet having come to grips with the implications that we live in a closed system, and that we already have essentially all the resources we'll ever get from this planet, and that there isn't another place for a dump or a city just over the next hill.
@Solario;
Hawking is about as qualified as anyone else is, because no one else has anything better to go on. The problem with trying to predict how an intelligent alien species will behave is that we know nothing about their hardware, their brains. Its been shown that certain parts of human behavior are based in our brains, coded into the very structure of them - aggression and territorial behaviors, which are very much still a part of our lives, come from the "reptile brain", or the evolutionary vestiges of our distant past. Its quite possible that the aliens we encounter will have similar brains, but what if they evolved directly from reptiles, and overlaid the neocortex (higher functions, consciousness) directly onto the reptile complex, and did not develop a mammalian sense of tribe and communality? They'd behave in many ways like a mob family, working together for the dominant's gain because their higher functions see the benefit, but constantly infighting, jockeying for position and privilege, and what's more to the point, destroying everything they can't control and turn to their own benefit, so that it can't become a threat to them. Without some idea of how their brains are structured, we've no idea.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234469#Comment_2344692010-04-28T06:06:56-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Ben Klumasterhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2723
On the other hand, long before a species is ready to travel between stars it'll have access to the whole contents of its solar system. What's significant in that is how it changes the ratio of ...
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234566#Comment_2345662010-04-28T11:53:39-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Rootfireemberhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1551
What's the chance of an alien/invasive species NOT being a disaster when entering a new ecological zone?
Even without it attempting harm, there would be the problem of diseases it might have, or ...
Even without it attempting harm, there would be the problem of diseases it might have, or crud from it's homeland that might take a shine to our environment, or somehow be dangerous to us. If they are so much more advanced than us, hell, who'se to say we won't end up on the market as a pet/food/novelty sex toy for some alien species that presumes we're not really 'sentient' anyway because we look odd to it or think and behave differently? What if they couldn't recognize our language as a language?
Even if they are friendly or meant to be friendly, I think things could accidentally go wrong very fast.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234584#Comment_2345842010-04-28T12:51:39-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00SteadyUPhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=5302
@James
I don't get Hawking's line of reasoning at all. Even in the solar system, resources are for all intents and purposes as close to infinite as to make very little difference to a race capable ...
I don't get Hawking's line of reasoning at all. Even in the solar system, resources are for all intents and purposes as close to infinite as to make very little difference to a race capable of interstellar travel.
Think of it as the difference between a furnished apartment and an unfurnished one. =)]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234588#Comment_2345882010-04-28T12:59:12-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00icelandbobhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=5250
]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234611#Comment_2346112010-04-28T14:32:22-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00MGhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=8659
@icelandbob:
This is brilliant.
This is brilliant.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234617#Comment_2346172010-04-28T14:49:41-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00gaveedrahttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=724
isn't this a standard trope of science fiction? but since an intellectual says it it has more credence?
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234664#Comment_2346642010-04-28T16:47:13-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00Argoshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=7792
I just think it's interesting to actually hear it come from someone like him, because usually you're hearing otherwise. As for it being the trope of science fiction, well that's the thing, it's ...
Also, Icelandbob, pure win.]]>
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234668#Comment_2346682010-04-28T16:58:09-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00William Georgehttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=7366
This is all assuming these aliens have evolved the same emotions motivations we have. For all we know, they could have evolved to touch every bum they can find in the universe and then move on.
Stephen Hawking says we're fuckedhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=8137&Focus=234713#Comment_2347132010-04-28T22:50:02-07:002013-05-21T05:18:33-07:00James Cunninghamhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2925
I would like to point to two theories: first, the conservation of energy, then the so-called "life zone" around some stars. (Also, I am not a scientist, so if my references aren't exact, ...
I would like to point to two theories: first, the conservation of energy, then the so-called "life zone" around some stars. (Also, I am not a scientist, so if my references aren't exact, don't jump on me.)
The idea of conservation of energy is that there is a finite amount of energy, or its alternate state mass (E=mc^2, after all), in any closed system. This universe very probably is a closed system, if the Big Bang Theory is correct, and therefore there is a finite amount of energy. Let's say, for argument's sake, that 75% of the energy in the universe it taking the form of matter. Then 90% of that is in the form of the theorized dark matter, leaving us with 7.5% in "normal" matter. Of this, probably 99.99% is the stuff of stars and gas giant planets. Then from what's left over, of the mass of a planet like Earth, we'd figure that, what, 0.0000001% is useful in any kind of interstellar tech? As you can see, we're rapidly approaching a point where resources are very, very scarce, even when you're looking a starting point of all the energy/mass in the universe. I'm modeling this argument after the Drake Equation, of course.
My working theory (and it could be utter crap, seeing as it deals with future tech so far beyond the curve I can't even guess at how utterly wrong I am) is that any aliens that can wander from star to star have pretty much mastered energy manipulation. Stars put out more energy per second than we know what to do with, and that's taking into account estimated energy usage for things like rearranging a solar system.
So, let's say aliens are similar enough to use to want roughly the same things, otherwise they'd probably pass on by. I just think it would be easier to build a planet or three in their equivalent to Mars's orbit, guide it in slowly to a comfy spot, and start terraforming. They can use fancy quantum entanglement doohickeys to transmit heat energy from sun to planet, peel necessary gases from any handy gas giants they've got about, play with nanobots to create whichever elements are necessary for what they need to build (including gases, now that I think on it), etc.
I need to re-read Keith Laumer's The Infinite Cage, which I think I read maybe once back in high school. Sure, the universe is a closed system, but so incredibly huge and packed (very loosely) with such a vast amount of stuff that there's no we can consider it a cage. It's simply beyond our ability to be restrained by, and the aliens would have to be beyond our perceptual abilities to escape that limitation.
Hopefully that also equates to them not finding us tasty. Maybe some of those enzymes they add to our feed are to make us digestible.]]>
]]>