I think you might be onto something, Fran. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=are-aliens-among-us
On May 7, 11:10 am, frantheman <[email protected]> wrote: > Much as I enjoy SF scenarios with good or bad aliens suddenly turning > up to throw all kinds of spanners into the works (and I've been a > serious SF junkie since I first discovered the metier as a kid), I > have to agree with you on this one, Slip. > > Our planet has been sending out artificial electromagnetic radiation > for less than 100 years - at a strength which could be dectected at a > distance of more than a couple of light years for much less than that, > probably since the mid 50s. So we're talking about a bubble of space > with a radius of 50 light years (since c is the speed of radio, TV, > EMP, etc. signals leaving our planet). So, given the size of our > Galaxy (radius 50,000 ly and average thickness 1,000 ly), around > 0.00001% of the galaxy can conceivably know that we are (possibly) > there (if they are looking and their instruments are very accurate and > sensitive [after all, they have to filter our signals out from the > chaotic electromagnetic kaleidoscope of the sun, many magnitudes > greater than those which we produce]). > > How many alien civilizations are out there? Those interested can check > out the Fermi paradox or, maybe better, the Drake > equation.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equationis a good introduction to > the subject. Depending on the values given to the different variables > defined by Drake, different figures are obtained concerning how many > communicative technological civilizations are present in the Galaxy at > any one time. One of the most optimistic suggests 5,000. Taking this > estimate, there's a 0.5% chance that one of them is within the 50 ly > bubble. Then, of course, there are further questions - do they travel > in interstellar dimensions and, if so, how fast? Even with FTL drives > (let's say a factor of 10), they'd have to have set out straight after > receiving the first discernable signals to be capable of reaching us > any time soon. > > All of Drake's variables are subject to intense discussion. However, > one estimate in the wikipedia article, where the setting of each > variable is at least discussed, reaches the conclusion that there are > 2.31 communicative technological civilizations present in our galaxy > at any one time. In that case, them darn aliens sure are a long way > away. > > Unless, of course, they're already here. Given a lot of things going > on around here, from George W. to gabby's posts (;-)), I'm sometimes > pretty sure they are! > > Francis > > On 7 Mai, 15:01, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > What if switching names is a schizophrenia indication? Think of the > > implications, the ramifications, the alienation from the alien > > nation. > > > Truth is that any aliens approaching our solar system to the point of > > our ability to detect presence would be more light years away than we > > have time left to live. > > > On May 7, 7:30 am, nupur rana <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > why is neone not bothered about the aliens..... wat if you people get > > > eaten......or turned into playmates for giant alien babies....... > > > > On Thu, May 7, 2009 at 1:44 PM, [email protected] <[email protected]> > > > wrote: > > > > > Umm imagine golf in near zero gravity! Splendid. > > > > > On 6 May, 16:16, "pol.science kid" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > what about aliens......and animals.. and sports...... > > > > > > On May 6, 7:55 pm, Chris Jenkins <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > Hopefully trash would be broken down to its molecular state and > > > > reassembled into useful goods, a la Star Trek. > > > > > > > [ Attached Message ]From:"pol.science kid" > > > > > > <[email protected]>To:"\"Minds > > > > Eye\"" <[email protected]>Date:Wed, 6 May 2009 05:48:59 -0700 > > > > (PDT)Local:Wed, May 6 2009 5:48 pmSubject:[Mind's Eye] Re: Space > > > > Community > > > > > > > where will you throw the trash? i mean we already have a trash belt > > > > > > orbitting earth puncturing our satellites.... and how will you > > > > > > decide > > > > > > who goes there? what if they all die! what if they get kidnapped by > > > > > > aliens and have weird experiments done on them... and will they keep > > > > > > animals there.... will there be money thre.what kind of > > > > > > economy....socialist or capitalist?will they have > > > > > > sports..... and i think the community will be > > > > > > called ' > > > > > > Astro hippies'.cool huh... > > > > > > > On May 6, 12:45 pm, iam deheretic <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > As my mind has been dwelling on the idea of a viable self > > > > > > > supporting > > > > space > > > > > > > community some where in asteroid belt where it would harvest > > > > > > > asteroid > > > > for > > > > > > > the raw materials to expand the base . Now my idea involves the > > > > community > > > > > > > being entirely self supporting with out the aid of any government, > > > > very much > > > > > > > a private enterprise. > > > > > > > > I keep wondering just how it would be referred to on earth? > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > > ( > > > > > > > ) > > > > > > > I_D Allan- Hide quoted text - > > > > > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
