NASA Spies Earth-Like (Well, A Little Bit Bigger Than Earth) Planet in Habitable Zone

Usually they only spot gas giants and very, very heavy terrestrial-type planets, because such things are hard to see, and you can only "see" them by the shadows they make when they cross their sun, or their gravitational effects.

They say this one is just a bit heavier than earth... well, a fair bit heavier, but not gigantic, and it's in the habitable zone, not too close to its star, not too far.

So: Who's comin' with me?

Astronomers have spotted the closest thing yet to the first true 'Earth twin’ -- a small planet orbiting the bright star Kepler 452, at a distance where liquid water could exist.

You have to remember, the media always lies, and the media knows nothing about science -- so be prepared for some disappointment on that "earth twin" claim.

It may be the closest to earth yet found outside of our system, but it's not super-close.

...
"It is the first terrestrial planet in the habitable zone around a star very similar to the Sun," says Douglas Caldwell, an astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California.
The alien world is 60% larger than Earth and orbits its star at a distance similar to that between Earth and the Sun. The star itself lies 430 parsecs from Earth, in the constellation Cygnus.

60% larger wouldn't translate to exactly 60% more gravity, because the planet's radius is bigger too, but it would be, like, guessing, about one and half earth's gravity -- so, not superfriendly to human bone and muscle, though I guess if you went to fat camp there you'd come back pretty buff.

Or, like, dead, from your spine collapsing or something.

Still, there is hope.

Graphic taken from Nature -- no rights claimed

Update: There is no hope. Scientists report an emission coming from the planet:

READY

FOR

HILLARY

Might As Well Throw Up This Old Tab: Black sky mining.

Posted by: Ace at 08:18 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 So we stay here and send Hillary et al. there. Problem solved.

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at July 23, 2015 08:20 PM (iuQS7)

2 Do they have any illegal aliens?

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at July 23, 2015 08:20 PM (Ii765)

3 It's ruled by a race of stumpy dwarves in walkers.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at July 23, 2015 08:20 PM (rwI+c)

4 If I'm not a planet, then that's not a planet either.

Posted by: Pluto at July 23, 2015 08:21 PM (8ZskC)

5
Get off my lawn!

Posted by: R2D2 at July 23, 2015 08:21 PM (OiFtZ)

6 Good evening, y'all!

Posted by: Michael the Hobbit at July 23, 2015 08:21 PM (0RdKg)

7 That's no planet.

Posted by: Obi Wan Kenobi at July 23, 2015 08:22 PM (8ZskC)

8 Only 1400 light years from earth. Hard to get to? That's a fact.

Posted by: Jack at July 23, 2015 08:22 PM (53CCM)

9 PRO TIP: Beware of the drum sands.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 23, 2015 08:23 PM (8ZskC)

10 No Paolo the Cuckmaker?

Posted by: Donald Trump at July 23, 2015 08:23 PM (oFCZn)

11
Beam me up Scotty!

Posted by: Captain Kirk at July 23, 2015 08:23 PM (OiFtZ)

12 A planet like earth!! We'll get there any day now!!! Eleventy!

Posted by: The MSM at July 23, 2015 08:23 PM (53CCM)

13 Gravity is something we take for granted that will be the killer for long term human "colonies" on other planets or wherever. Long term, too little is bad and too much is bad. 1.5g would be a killer.

I don't know what the tolerance is (no one really knows, not enough data), but the tolerance is likely very tight, long term. Ie, 1g +/- tiny number.

Really, you're talking a technology level capable of genetically re-engineering humans to stand different gravity.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 08:24 PM (dvuhZ)

14 I thought NASA was busying itself with sucking up to muslims. What's it doing looking for planets?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 23, 2015 08:24 PM (8ZskC)

15 I'd say the gravity is about 17% higher than the Earth, presuming the same consistency.

Posted by: John P. Squibob at July 23, 2015 08:24 PM (DQZLr)

16 It's Earth-like in the same way that Hillary is human-like.

Posted by: some random meathead at July 23, 2015 08:25 PM (cNtqS)

17 Yeah, not so much. They found what they think is a planet 60% larger than earth base don the gravitic disturbances where they believe it is, and are speculating its earth-like based on its location around a star.

But since we really don't know much about what stars other than the Sun are like in very much detail, or what the livable orbit is beyond some theory, its basically just a report about a blip in the sky.

What we know about astrophysics is about the same as what a medieval monk knew about cellular biology.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 23, 2015 08:25 PM (39g3+)

18 The author of the article probably used parsecs instead of light years is because 450 parsecs is a smaller number, and how many people know what a parsec is?

3.261 light years = 1 parsec.

Posted by: Jack at July 23, 2015 08:25 PM (53CCM)

19 I'd say the gravity is about 17% higher than the Earth, presuming the same consistency.

You're full of shit.

Posted by: Isaac Newton's Slide Rule at July 23, 2015 08:25 PM (8ZskC)

20 It's a trap!

Posted by: Jack at July 23, 2015 08:26 PM (53CCM)

21 And the orbits look a bit like

sex confetti.

Posted by: some random meathead at July 23, 2015 08:27 PM (cNtqS)

22 Hmm..

Posted by: mynewhandle at July 23, 2015 08:27 PM (AkOaV)

23 If it's sun is bigger, it is possible that the planet is hotter and therefore couldn't sustain life?

Or will Dems move there after they ruin the remaining red areas of our country only to vote in more Dems?

Posted by: Iasonas at July 23, 2015 08:27 PM (DU875)

24 Brought to you by the same science that says the sky is falling

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at July 23, 2015 08:27 PM (Ii765)

25 SMASH!

Posted by: Giant Agnes Moorehead at July 23, 2015 08:27 PM (Ui7Rt)

26 Update: There is no hope. Scientists report an emission coming from the planet:

READY

FOR

~~HILLARY~~ HITLERY

Posted by: Remake of Contact starring Hillary! as Jodie Foster at July 23, 2015 08:27 PM (/xCkt)

27 I'm taking bids for lakefront property.

Posted by: Slapweasel (Cold1) at July 23, 2015 08:27 PM (OQ9R7)

28 Posted by: Giant Agnes Moorehead at July 23, 2015 08:27 PM (Ui7Rt

That was a great Twilight Zone episode.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 23, 2015 08:28 PM (8ZskC)

29 The ignorance, it burns.

Posted by: Richard Fineman at July 23, 2015 08:28 PM (53CCM)

30 I'd say the gravity is about 17% higher than the Earth, presuming the same consistency.

You're full of shit.
Posted by: Isaac Newton's Slide Rule at July 23, 2015 08:25 PM (8ZskC)

Go stuff yesself up Sir Isaac's ass.

Sideways.

Posted by: John P. Squibob at July 23, 2015 08:29 PM (DQZLr)

31 Want some tranya?

Posted by: Ron Howard's Really Ugly Kid at July 23, 2015 08:29 PM (cNtqS)

32 Gravity is a product of mass, not size. A planet 60% larger in size than Earth but at the same density would have equal gravity.

Now, I know it's not that simple-- a certain mass is required in order to maintain enough gravity to hold a planet together-- but this relationship leads to some rather mind-blowing facts (my favorite is that, despite its size, Saturn's density is so relatively small that if you could have a water-filled bathtub large enough, Saturn would float: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/sun_and_planets/saturn)

Posted by: Dave at Garfield Ridge at July 23, 2015 08:29 PM (MT63T)

33 First we'll mine/log Earth, then Kepler 452!

Posted by: Sasquatch, the trans-Wookie Original at July 23, 2015 08:30 PM (iAAo4)

34
I was abducted by a green space alien and sexually molested for days, but the FBI wouldn't touch the case because I'm a girl.

Posted by: Sir Edmund Hillary Rodham Clinton at July 23, 2015 08:30 PM (OiFtZ)

35 On Earth 2 my boobs hit the ground at age fifteen.

My ass too.

Posted by: Earth 2 Hillary! at July 23, 2015 08:30 PM (KUa85)

36 That's just it. They don't know what this thing is made out of. They don't know if it even has solid mass or is gas. They don't know if it has water, or an atmosphere even. This stuff is kind of fun to think about but the information is so itty and insignificant its like guessing what a traffic sign says with a telescope from ten miles away. Its kinda reddish in this light, maybe stop?

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 23, 2015 08:30 PM (39g3+)

37 Well, of course that is the signal. It was transmitted 1400 years ago, when she was middle aged.

Posted by: Phelps at July 23, 2015 08:31 PM (QTqVd)

38 despite its size, Saturn's density is so relatively small that if you could have a water-filled bathtub large enough, Saturn would float:

That's stupid. You'll never find a bath tub that big. Mine barely holds me and Dr. Jill Biden.

Posted by: Joe Biden at July 23, 2015 08:31 PM (8ZskC)

39 Well, are we going or not?!?

Posted by: exdem13 at July 23, 2015 08:31 PM (ry4ab)

40 The Bloom County guy was obsessed with Trump in the 1980s. No wonder he came out of retirement.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at July 23, 2015 08:31 PM (+4uXG)

41 8 Only 1400 light years from earth. Hard to get to? That's a fact.
Posted by: Jack at July 23, 2015 08:22 PM (53CCM)

Then we better get cracking.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 08:31 PM (sdi6R)

42
Yes yes there are bound to be other planets with life of some form or another.
Now keep your eyes on the ball here on earth because shit is getting real!

Posted by: The Fucking Truth at July 23, 2015 08:32 PM (LPHFE)

43 Posted by: Dave at Garfield Ridge at July 23, 2015 08:29 PM (MT63T)

You said it for me. Thing could be made of pumice. Or uranium. No telling 'til you get there...

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:32 PM (H0mwZ)

44 Can you see the American flag?

Posted by: Sheila Jackson Lee, (D)umbass at July 23, 2015 08:32 PM (8ZskC)

45 Have a planetary scientist who goes to our church and he gave a talk the other day.

Earthlike planets are ubiquitous he says.

We have only been able to observe a very very tiny portion of the sky and everywhere we look we find planets. Lots of them.

So this one I am not sure why it is news other than it is the smallest yet detected in the "habitable zone" which is a thing but not really all that special.

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 08:32 PM (2Ocf1)

46 Well since planets either tend to be rocky or gassy, I'm guessing 60% larger is going to be pretty heavy. I mean there aren't many tiny gas planet, right.

Posted by: I got no clue but I can hazard a guess at July 23, 2015 08:33 PM (q177U)

47 Mmmm thanks Dave. Can you go fix me a sandwich now while I smoke this cigarette.

Posted by: The margins at July 23, 2015 08:33 PM (z/Ubi)

48 where liquid water AND HOT GREEN ALIEN WOMEN could exist.

I mean, why not go for broke?

Posted by: some random meathead at July 23, 2015 08:33 PM (cNtqS)

49 If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?

Kinda creepy....

Posted by: I got no clue but I can hazard a guess at July 23, 2015 08:33 PM (q177U)

50
I loved ET's sex finger, especially when he manipulated my cooter and made me feel loved and wanted instead of abused by the likes of the right wing conspiracy.

Posted by: Sir Edmund Hillary Rodham Clinton at July 23, 2015 08:34 PM (OiFtZ)

51 Kepler-452b's mass is about 5x earth and it's surface gravity is about 2g, based on the current planetary models. The 60% larger figure is radius, based on the same models. It is about 1.05au distance from its star

The star is however, much older than Sol and (again, according to models), the planet should be receiving about 10% more energy from the star, meaning it is likely too hot.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 08:35 PM (dvuhZ)

52 Heh...the Earthlings are now facing the Hillary test.

We'll see if they can pass this one. Should be worth more than a few laughs...

Posted by: The Space Aliens at July 23, 2015 08:35 PM (iAAo4)

53 49
If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?

*cough*

Posted by: Planned Parenthood at July 23, 2015 08:35 PM (cNtqS)

54 That the mass is that high and that close to the sun bugs me. I'm thinking sub-Neptune / super-Venus.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at July 23, 2015 08:35 PM (AVEe1)

55 The star is however, much older than Sol and (again, according to models), the planet should be receiving about 10% more energy from the star, meaning it is likely too hot.

Not too hot for me.

Posted by: Paolo at July 23, 2015 08:36 PM (8ZskC)

56 With my body armor I was about 25% heavier. 60% would be debilitating.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at July 23, 2015 08:36 PM (+4uXG)

57 Black Sky Matters.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at July 23, 2015 08:36 PM (W5DcG)

58 In 2800 years we get a message:

OF COURSE THEY WILL CHEAT AND BUILD WEAPONS

AND OUR EMPEROR DEMANDS MORE OF YOUR 'GAME OF THRONES'

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:36 PM (H0mwZ)

59 Restart of the Delta second stage.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 08:36 PM (sdi6R)

60 If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?

Kinda creepy....
Posted by: I got no clue but I can hazard a guess at July 23, 2015 08:33 PM (q177U)

Not to worry.

I'm always here.

Posted by: Stalker Earth on the Opposite side of the Sun at July 23, 2015 08:36 PM (KUa85)

61 Barsoom!

Posted by: John Carter of Mars at July 23, 2015 08:36 PM (cmBvC)

62 if I remember right, Super-Earths are a pretty common category of planet.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 23, 2015 08:36 PM (8ZskC)

63
#AlienLifeMatters!

Posted by: The Galaxy Police at July 23, 2015 08:37 PM (OiFtZ)

64 44 Can you see the American flag?
Posted by: Sheila Jackson Lee, (D)umbass at July 23, 2015 08:32 PM (8ZskC)

------------------

It might tip over and sink, so don't plant a flag!

Posted by: Hank Johnson at July 23, 2015 08:37 PM (iAAo4)

65 Well since planets either tend to be rocky or gassy, I'm guessing 60% larger is going to be pretty heavy. I mean there aren't many tiny gas planet, right.

Who knows? Again, at these distances and with the tools we have, and the information at our disposal, its 90% guesswork.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 23, 2015 08:37 PM (39g3+)

66 I'm always here.

Posted by: Stalker Earth on the Opposite side of the Sun at July 23, 2015 08:36 PM (KUa85)

Not going by 'Gor' anymore, then?

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:37 PM (H0mwZ)

67
Hey Pluto, pull my finger!

Posted by: Mars at July 23, 2015 08:37 PM (OiFtZ)

68 I remember not all that long ago the first confirmed planet and now there are thousands.

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 08:38 PM (2Ocf1)

69 Got to remember though that earth size and in the habitable zone is only part of the equation. The moon is also extremely important.

Posted by: Buzzion at July 23, 2015 08:38 PM (uf6bx)

70 "FERMI PARADOX"

Posted by: I got no clue but I can hazard a guess at July 23, 2015 08:38 PM (q177U)

71 the planet should be receiving about 10% more energy from the star, meaning it is likely too hot.

I can't believe Exxon ruined another planet already.

Posted by: Michael Mann brings the Science at July 23, 2015 08:39 PM (3/iRt)

72 I am pretty sure the first ship to leave for this planet will be greeted by their progeny, who passed them in a ship faster by an order of magnitude. Even the closest planets.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at July 23, 2015 08:39 PM (+4uXG)

73 Heh, the error bars on the mass of Kepler-452b are 2 earth masses. That is, Kepler-452b could be anywhere from 3 to 7 earth masses.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 08:39 PM (dvuhZ)

74 Remember the Drake equation?

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 08:39 PM (2Ocf1)

75 If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?

Kinda creepy....

To paraphrase the BC comic strip, the reason intelligent life hasn't contacted us is because it's intelligent life.

Posted by: John P. Squibob at July 23, 2015 08:39 PM (DQZLr)

76 Obviously this planet is populated with great scientific minds who do not have to put up with foolish resistance and disbelief in their brilliant theories.

Posted by: Neil DeGrasse Tyson at July 23, 2015 08:39 PM (cNtqS)

77 George Takei calls for more funding to probe Uranus

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at July 23, 2015 08:40 PM (oVJmc)

78 Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we're it.

Their is no life, simple or complex anywhere else in the universe.

When you dwell on how improbable all of this is, you'll come to understand that fact.

Posted by: Kreplach at July 23, 2015 08:40 PM (PaAcR)

79 What is a gas giant really like? If I were standing on one, would there be anything to stand on?

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 08:40 PM (SXV4L)

80 Engine shutdown. About a nine minute coast until spacecraft separation.

In case you missed it in the last thread, this is WGS-7, a military communications satellite.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 08:40 PM (sdi6R)

81 I am pretty sure the first ship to leave for this planet will be greeted by their progeny, who passed them in a ship faster by an order of magnitude. Even the closest planets.

Let me get this down. That's great stuff.

Posted by: George McFly at July 23, 2015 08:40 PM (8ZskC)

82 We just have to (!): pixy won't let me post coexist.

Posted by: John Carter of Mars at July 23, 2015 08:41 PM (cmBvC)

83 I'm not sure a gas giant would hold together at that size; as Dave pointed out above; it takes a minimum level of gravity to hold a planet together, and with that low a density it probably wouldn't stay together.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 23, 2015 08:41 PM (39g3+)

84 A planet 60% larger in size than Earth but at the same ~~density~~ mass would have equal gravity.

Density is mass per unit volume.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 08:41 PM (laMCB)

85 Are zere leetle gihrles on zee new planet?

Posted by: Roman Polanski at July 23, 2015 08:41 PM (8ZskC)

86 Not going by 'Gor' anymore, then?
Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:37 PM (H0mwZ)

Well, I used to go by Antichthon.

but, these days I identify as Chelsea.

Posted by: Stalker Earth on the Opposite side of the Sun at July 23, 2015 08:41 PM (KUa85)

87 60 If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?

They wouldn't let down their cloak for people made of meat.

http://www.terrybisson.com/page6/page6.html

Posted by: BourbonChicken at July 23, 2015 08:42 PM (+4uXG)

88 If you follow Kurzweils equations on intelligence then we kinda have to be the most intelligent life in the universe because of his Moore's law look at it, intelligence even a little bit older would have expanded to a point we would have run into it.

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 08:42 PM (2Ocf1)

89 Hillary! and Bernie can lead the B Ark to the new world.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 08:42 PM (XYw4l)

90 if I remember right, Super-Earths are a pretty common category of planet.

They are.

The Kepler 'scope has found a bunch of them transiting stars. The ones I've read up on are all classed as "sub Neptunes" because they're yuuuge (based on the size of the eclipses). They're generally too hot, too; but that's just because if we see them transit, they're probably very close to the star.

Still... that also tells me that "super-Earths" seem likely to be in that Venus-to-Neptune range: massive atmospheres, and ultrahot surfaces. Especially if they're on the inner side of the habitable zone.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at July 23, 2015 08:42 PM (AVEe1)

91 I remember not all that long ago the first confirmed planet and now there are thousands.

Well until we get better equipment and visit these systems, its still a matter of speculation. Informed speculation, but still.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 23, 2015 08:43 PM (39g3+)

92 I say I'm a Boltzmann brain and none of you people even exist.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 23, 2015 08:43 PM (8ZskC)

93 I think we should send all the libs and camel jockey's to check it out first.

Posted by: Infidel at July 23, 2015 08:43 PM (uwhQG)

94 48 where liquid water AND HOT GREEN ALIEN WOMEN could exist.

I mean, why not go for broke?
Posted by: some random meathead at July 23, 2015 08:33 PM (cNtqS)

Of course, they'll all weigh like 250 pounds.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 08:43 PM (sdi6R)

95 Hillary! and Bernie can lead the B Ark to the new world.

Yes, please!

Posted by: marketing executives, hairdressers and telephone sanitizers at July 23, 2015 08:44 PM (cNtqS)

96 76 Obviously this planet is populated with great scientific minds who do not have to put up with foolish resistance and disbelief in their brilliant theories.
Posted by: Neil DeGrasse Tyson at July 23, 2015 08:39 PM (cNtqS)

Well, let us know when you get one of your own, 'kay?

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 08:44 PM (ueOgE)

97 >>> Only 1400 light years from earth. Hard to get to? That's a fact.

something just occurred to me.

You all know, I trust, that if you can get to a large enough fraction of light speed, time slows down to a crawl, and while, from the earth's frame, your journey might take 5000 years, for you, it might only be 10?

So, the thing that always made me hate that is -- well, you leave the world permanently; you would never see earth again, or, at least, not the earth you remembered.

But assuming you went with a group of people you liked -- family, some friends --

at this point, I have to say, saying FUCK YOU to earth sounds kinda *right* to me, no?

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:44 PM (dciA+)

98 Dejah Thoris would have the bigger boobies, yes?

Posted by: John Carter of Mars at July 23, 2015 08:44 PM (cmBvC)

99 Water is also pretty plentiful out there. It's everywhere, too.

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 08:44 PM (2Ocf1)

100 Well until we get better equipment and visit these systems....

...and get really, really old, or break some fundamental laws of nature..

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 08:45 PM (laMCB)

101 Hey everybody.

Well, on the topic, did anyone here see "Interstellar"??

Two questions if you did:

(1) was it good?
(2) better or worse than "Gravity"??

Posted by: qdpsteve at July 23, 2015 08:45 PM (ntObR)

102
Of course, they'll all weigh like 250 pounds.

How much of that would be boob?

asking for a friend.

Posted by: some random meathead at July 23, 2015 08:45 PM (cNtqS)

103 Of course, they'll all weigh like 250 pounds.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 08:43 PM (sdi6R)

Death. By snu snu

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:45 PM (H0mwZ)

104 Ehh. It's not so great. I astral projected myself and there's not a Pizza Hut on the whole damn planet.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 08:46 PM (xeaQ7)

105 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_40307_e

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at July 23, 2015 08:46 PM (AVEe1)

106 @97. Dude, have you ever looked at your hand?

I mean, really looked at your hand?

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 08:46 PM (2Ocf1)

107 We're about to Fermi Paradox ourselves. When the Muslims take over, there won't be anymore space exploration, maybe no radio signals. We'll just go all quiet. Sad, really.

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 08:46 PM (ueOgE)

108 Good lord, Gravity was a travesty, at least if one believes in the basic laws of physics.

Posted by: John Carter of Mars at July 23, 2015 08:46 PM (cmBvC)

109 ...and get really, really old, or break some fundamental laws of nature..

Laws? They're more like guidelines.

Posted by: Albert Einstein at July 23, 2015 08:46 PM (8ZskC)

110 Top speed of Enterprise-A is what 512 light years? Of course at Warp 9 Scotty is thinking of taking a shillelagh to Kirk to save his poor bairns.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 08:46 PM (XYw4l)

111 The artist's conception of Kepler-452b kinda looks like a Yes album cover.

*puff puff*

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 23, 2015 08:46 PM (jR7Wy)

112 @101 yes and yes

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 08:47 PM (2Ocf1)

113 But assuming you went with a group of people you liked -- family, some friends -

Not feasible. I'd have to get some friends.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 23, 2015 08:47 PM (8ZskC)

114 We're about to Fermi Paradox ourselves. When the Muslims take over, there won't be anymore space exploration, maybe no radio signals. We'll just go all quiet. Sad, really.

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 08:46 PM (ueOgE)

There'll be lots of waves. A lot of them will be in the microwave spectrum, though

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:47 PM (H0mwZ)

115
NASA Spies Earth-Like Planet in Habitable Zone

No! There is nothing there! Ssssssstay away!

Posted by: British Space Lizard Monarchists

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at July 23, 2015 08:47 PM (kdS6q)

116 Of course, they'll all weigh like 250 pounds.
Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 08:43 PM (sdi6R)

Yes, but they'll be taller than Hamburg Parking Garage tall!

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 08:47 PM (laMCB)

117 ""Or, like, dead, from your spine collapsing or something."

The sofa would be taking most of the strain, like here on earth.

Posted by: Dirks Strewn at July 23, 2015 08:47 PM (QdAXQ)

118 Well, on the topic, did anyone here see "Interstellar"??

Two questions if you did:

(1) was it good?
(2) better or worse than "Gravity"??

(1) I'd rate it about a "C+" on DVD (where you can fiddle with the sound-editing, which was "F" level in the cinema).
(2) Worse. Gravity was an "A".

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at July 23, 2015 08:48 PM (AVEe1)

119 Density is mass per unit volume.
Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 08:41 PM (laMCB)

I was told there would be no science on this blog.

Posted by: mynewhandle at July 23, 2015 08:48 PM (AkOaV)

120 "Well, are we going or not?!?"

Sure, but we need to pack extra snacks.

Posted by: Jebediah Kerman at July 23, 2015 08:48 PM (+azJs)

121 You all know, I trust, that if you can get to a large enough fraction of light speed, time slows down to a crawl, and while, from the earth's frame, your journey might take 5000 years, for you, it might only be 10?

Until we get close to that speed, its all just guesswork and math. Might be something completely unpredictable and unknowable that changes how it works that we find out.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 23, 2015 08:49 PM (39g3+)

122 Dibs on it.

Posted by: Dirks Strewn at July 23, 2015 08:49 PM (QdAXQ)

123 "I was told there would be no science on this blog. "

Smart military blogs always have a little science.

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 08:49 PM (+azJs)

124 As far as intersteller travel goes, we're like cavemen thinking of going to the moon. An interstellar spacefaring civilization would have to be at the "Type II" level, which is a (logarithmic) scale based on energy/power capabilities. A type II can manipulate and engineer at solar power levels. That is, they can make an *control* shit that has "engines" that put out power equal to the output of the fucking sun.

A type III does it the galactic power level, the energy output of an entire fucking galaxy. At that level, you are God almighty. The laws of physics are but a trifle, you can essentially make your own laws of physics when you can control energy at that level (you're not really breaking any laws, it just looks like to those of us at low energy, weak field limit of physics)

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 08:49 PM (dvuhZ)

125 >>>If you follow Kurzweils equations on intelligence then we kinda have to be the most intelligent life in the universe because of his Moore's law look at it, intelligence even a little bit older would have expanded to a point we would have run into it.

there's a great essay about this:

Either this bloggy version of it http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html

or this more formal speculation

http://www.nickbostrom.com/extraterrestrial.pdf

because we have not seen any other intelligent life, there can only be three possibilities:

1. We're alone (there are no others)

2. We're first (no one has beaten us to EM transmissions)

3. We're fucked (civilizations rise, but there is a "Great Filter" that tends to wipe them out a few hundred years after technological achievement -- which waits in our future)

See also Nemesis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemesis_(hypothetical_star)

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:49 PM (dciA+)

126 Send the Sodomites. Outside of Sci-Fi when people claim contact with supposed space aliens it usually involves anal probing.

Posted by: OTB at July 23, 2015 08:50 PM (ShdUd)

127 Spacecraft separation confirmed! WGS-7 is on its own. A successful launch of Delta IV.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 08:50 PM (sdi6R)

128 49 If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?

Kinda creepy....
Posted by: I got no clue but I can hazard a guess at July 23, 2015 08:33 PM (q177U)

Our Benefactors (The Combine) don't yet have a resonance cascade to use to get to Earth.

Posted by: Dr. Wallace Breen (proven a**hole) at July 23, 2015 08:50 PM (wZ2hu)

129 This is one of my favorite topics to discuss.

Want to know why we have not yet been contacted by E.T.?

The distances are literally (shut up Joe Biden) astronomical!

And no. there are no faster than light spacecraft.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at July 23, 2015 08:50 PM (1ijHg)

130 @101 Interstellar

I liked it quite a lot. It's basically 2001 where the humans actually have emotions. Nice shout-outs to 2001 as well. Some really unbelievable bits, of course, but the message of love and hope and just not giving in was very positive. Stunning special effects and good Zimmer score.

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 08:51 PM (ueOgE)

131 1. We're alone (there are no others)

2. We're first (no one has beaten us to EM transmissions)

3. We're fucked (civilizations rise, but there is a "Great Filter" that tends to wipe them out a few hundred years after technological achievement -- which waits in our future)

Or maybe we're just quarantined.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 23, 2015 08:51 PM (8ZskC)

132 OK, everybody. You have to remember that what we are seeing right now is information that is 1400 years old. We were still in the dark ages at that time.

Their is no life, simple or complex anywhere else in the universe.

I have to disagree. I think life is going to be everywhere.
We are looking for life on a terrestrial basis. There are annual methane blooms on Mars that we have no idea what causes that, but methane emissions could indicate even a simple biological life form.

Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 08:51 PM (9iR5/)

133 120 "Well, are we going or not?!?"

Sure, but we need to pack extra snacks.

Posted by: Jebediah Kerman

We have to fly past the very hot sun, so we'll have to go at night. (Rimshot) Try the veal.

Posted by: Dirks Strewn at July 23, 2015 08:51 PM (QdAXQ)

134 Black sky mining? Yeah, we did some.

Posted by: The Old Negro Space Program at July 23, 2015 08:52 PM (yPsNs)

135 I think we ought to go there and bury a mysterious monolith on their moon. You know, freak them the fvck out.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 08:52 PM (F9tiH)

136 Or maybe we're just quarantined.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 23, 2015 08:51 PM (8ZskC)

The Tyranids got everyone else

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:52 PM (H0mwZ)

137 But assuming you went with a group of people you liked -- family, some friends --

at this point, I have to say, saying FUCK YOU to earth sounds kinda *right* to me, no?

Posted by: ace

Yeah but your spaceship would have to be just insanely awesome. Huge like 3 aircraft carriers with lots of different environments and hobbies and things to keep you busy at least twice the length of the oneway trip.

Because what if you get there and in a month or so it's like "yeah the planet's surface is kinda like Yellowstone , remember Yellowstone?" and every gets bored and votes to go home to see what's left of Yellowstone.

Posted by: some random meathead at July 23, 2015 08:53 PM (cNtqS)

138
We can't even go to the moon.

Posted by: wth at July 23, 2015 08:53 PM (wAQA5)

139 The chicks must have like really thick legs...and tiny mambos, because gravity.

Posted by: Badda Bing at July 23, 2015 08:53 PM (BjKDP)

140 Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:49 PM (dciA+)

Or maybe the Dominion just hasn't yet discovered the stable wormhole in to the Alpha Quadrant.

Never know.

Posted by: mynewhandle at July 23, 2015 08:53 PM (AkOaV)

141 "Until we get close to that speed, its all just guesswork and math. Might be something completely unpredictable and unknowable that changes how it works that we find out."

We're a little better off than *just* math. We've done time dilation experiments with atomic clocks, and they're showing us exactly what we expect to see. Also, if it didn't work like that you'd have a hard time explaining effects like gravity lenses.

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 08:54 PM (+azJs)

142 John, Boulder and Agent J, thanks.

And Cicero: there was a comedian years ago who said, probably the reason Earth has never been contacted is that we're considered the Alabama of the universe.

(I know, cheap shot at a perfectly decent group of folks, but I admit I chuckled.)

Posted by: qdpsteve at July 23, 2015 08:54 PM (ntObR)

143
What does the M in M-Class planet mean?

a) Mirage
b) Mammoth
c) Boobs
d) Maranatha
e) Mostly Nice

Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 08:54 PM (fvMOw)

144 Let's finish fukking this planet up before we start a new one. Shouldn't be long now.

Posted by: Dirks Strewn at July 23, 2015 08:54 PM (QdAXQ)

145 As David Brin described humans, we are 'Wolflings' in the universe.

Or like Ambassador Kagu said, humans are just quaint savages in the backwaters that only a few in academia are even aware of.

Perhaps the Beserkers have not found us. Yet.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 08:54 PM (XYw4l)

146 publius is referring to this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale

I liked Vernor Vinge's take in "A Fire upon the Deep". "... and the Power was aboard, with milliseconds to spare"

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at July 23, 2015 08:54 PM (AVEe1)

147 We have to fly past the very hot sun, so we'll have to go at night. (Rimshot) Try the veal.

-
Don't go that way. It's a speed trap. There's a Solar Patrol mountie hiding behing Mercury.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 08:54 PM (F9tiH)

148 128 49 If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?

-------------

Well, they all got to the point where they could leave the planet and travel, and when this happened, they all built and hopped aboard some big space ships, proclaiming, "It's about time we left this joint." Then they accelerated to a fraction of the speed of light, forgetting about all the dirty snowballs and stray hydrogen atoms out there.

And that was the end of them.

Ain't space exploration fun?

Posted by: The Oort Cloud at July 23, 2015 08:55 PM (iAAo4)

149 >>>And no. there are no faster than light spacecraft.

radio travels at lightspeed and doesn't seem to tecnologically difficult; why don't we hear their stupid radio programs, their dumb pop music?

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:55 PM (dciA+)

150 The Tyranids got everyone else
Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:52 PM (H0mwZ)

Cute.

Posted by: The Reapers at July 23, 2015 08:55 PM (wZ2hu)

151 Hat trick to C.S. Lewis for the quarantined thing.

But seriously. How long have we been "modern?"

A couple of hundred years? How long have we been "nuclear?"

70 years?

There may have been billions and billions of earths that have come and gone already. And the many that might be receiving our weak broadcasts (too bad Skinimax is on cable) may be just too many parsecs away to respond before our twilight.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at July 23, 2015 08:55 PM (1ijHg)

152
So when we get there and ask: "Take me to your leader."
Will they reply: "Try the golf course."
???

Posted by: wth at July 23, 2015 08:55 PM (wAQA5)

153 49 If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?

Please repeat your last transmission.

Posted by: Cylons at July 23, 2015 08:56 PM (cNtqS)

154 2. We're first (no one has beaten us to EM transmissions)

There's actually a fourth possibility (kind of a subset of #2), which is that we're NOT first, but the distances to the nearest intelligent-life- supporting planets are so vast that their transmissions have not reached us or are too far down into the noise to be recognizable as signal.

In other words, we're all developing radio at about the "same time" in cosmic timescale terms, but we can't hear each other because we're too far away from each other.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 08:56 PM (laMCB)

155 >>>Yeah but your spaceship would have to be just insanely awesome. Huge like 3 aircraft carriers with lots of different environments and hobbies and things to keep you busy at least twice the length of the oneway trip.

i mostly am on the computer IRL, I hate to say. Give me a gym and the occasional movie, and a big library, and oh yeah, a woman, and I'll be okay.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:56 PM (dciA+)

156 What does the M in M-Class planet mean?

a) Mirage
b) Mammoth
c) Boobs
d) Maranatha
e) Mostly Nice
Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 08:54 PM (fvMOw)

I'm going with c, Boobs, Alex.

Posted by: Sean Connery at July 23, 2015 08:56 PM (AkOaV)

157 i'm not leaving the planet voluntarily

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at July 23, 2015 08:56 PM (0O7c5)

158 Einstein/Rosenberg bridge FTW!
Theorized that worm holes could happen. And remember that Einstein himself said that while his Theory of Relativity postulated that black holes could exist, he didn't think nature would allow them.

Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 08:57 PM (9iR5/)

159 Posted by: The Oort Cloud at July 23, 2015 08:55 PM (iAAo4)

Heh. Two civilizations arise, light years apart. They build, screw things up, and finally think, "Screw this, we're outta here."

They build giant spaceships, load their entire species, fly across light years of space, only to discover... Each other's effed up homeworlds.

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:57 PM (H0mwZ)

160
What does the M in M-Class planet mean?
Posted by: Soothsayer

Mmmmm good. Mmmm good.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at July 23, 2015 08:57 PM (kdS6q)

161 97 >>> Only 1400 light years from earth. Hard to get to? That's a fact.

something just occurred to me.

You all know, I trust, that if you can get to a large enough fraction of light speed, time slows down to a crawl, and while, from the earth's frame, your journey might take 5000 years, for you, it might only be 10?

So, the thing that always made me hate that is -- well, you leave the world permanently; you would never see earth again, or, at least, not the earth you remembered.

But assuming you went with a group of people you liked -- family, some friends --

at this point, I have to say, saying FUCK YOU to earth sounds kinda *right* to me, no?

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:44 PM (dciA+)

Problem. You think you are doing that and then you wind up on Ascension. It's on Netflix if you didn't catch it when it aired. It's not bad.

Tricia Helfer. Mmmmmmm

Posted by: Buzzion at July 23, 2015 08:57 PM (z/Ubi)

162 >>>There's actually a fourth possibility (kind of a subset of #2), which is that we're NOT first, but the distances to the nearest intelligent-life- supporting planets are so vast that their transmissions have not reached us or are too far down into the noise to be recognizable as signal.

yeah but i'm sure you've read the estimates, assuming there are about 200,000 life-bearing planets in our galaxy alone, SOME should have hit EM-band level of tech, and several should be close enough (in terms of Time/Distance) that we should have heard them.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (dciA+)

163 148 Isn't that why we have deflector dish/array?

Posted by: John Carter of Mars at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (cmBvC)

164 I think I read something recently that said radio and TV transmissions do not in fact travel indefinitely through space.

But I did read it on the internet, so who knows.

Posted by: Iasonas at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (DU875)

165 153: Actually, our own SETI searches wouldn't detect our own transmissions so far, were they on some other world thousands of light years away. They are too weak (unless we beamed it directly at who was listening).

Basically our RF energy radiates inverse square from the earth.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (dvuhZ)

166 Fictional starship - which would you want?

BSG-75
Original Galactica
Normandy
Enterprise-A or -D
Space Cruiser C57D

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (XYw4l)

167 "Want to know why we have not yet been contacted by E.T.?"

Maybe they could but there's no reason to - they've got us listed as "mostly harmless".

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (+azJs)

168 Give me a gym and the occasional movie, and a big library, and oh yeah, a woman

Correction: make that "a spaceship the size of 6 aircraft carriers".

Posted by: some random meathead at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (cNtqS)

169 I liked Gravity, but Interstellar is the best movie I saw last year. YMMV.

Gravity was small in scope, relative to the setting. Interstellar was sooooo ambitious, to deconstruct 2001 ASO and build something new. It just seems a little unfair to compare the two.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at July 23, 2015 08:59 PM (+4uXG)

170 Fermi's Paradox doesn't take into account that a species has to invent interstellar travel before they invent the Holodeck.

Posted by: the last invention at July 23, 2015 08:59 PM (3/iRt)

171 Escapism, sure. I'll take Montana, a Harley, Line Gost, and a bagful of bacon and JD.

Posted by: Feh at July 23, 2015 08:59 PM (Uk9e2)

172 i would guess he picked "M" as it's the middle letter of the alphabet (well, one of the two middle letters) and M suggests medium.

He was suggesting, unconsciously, the idea that this is a middle planet, not too big, not too small, not too hot, not too cold.

I think it's a pretty brilliant unconscious suggestion because I got that idea myself.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:59 PM (dciA+)

173
What was Blake's 7 ship's name? I'll take that one.

Or a Scaran dreadnaught.

Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 08:59 PM (fvMOw)

174 Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (XYw4l)

No Firefly?

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 09:00 PM (H0mwZ)

175 BSG-75
Original Galactica
Normandy
Enterprise-A or -D
Space Cruiser C57D
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (XYw4l)

Enterprise D.

Holosuites.

Posted by: mynewhandle at July 23, 2015 09:00 PM (AkOaV)

176 I got yer emission right here!

And, anyway.. I ain't going to no planet where I will be heavier! I want a plant that reduces my weight by 20% at least! So.. keep lookin', NASA!

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at July 23, 2015 09:00 PM (UpGcq)

177 ace,

by the time we hear from them, they will already be dead.

or we

or both.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at July 23, 2015 09:00 PM (1ijHg)

178 radio travels at lightspeed and doesn't seem to
tecnologically difficult; why don't we hear their stupid radio programs,
their dumb pop music?

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:55 PM (dciA+)
----------Because we may be looking in the wrong part of the electromagnetic spectrum, or the signals may be drowning in the background noise of the galaxy.

Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 09:00 PM (9iR5/)

179 Gotta walk da pooch.

Night 'rons.

Don't leave Earth without me.

Posted by: some random meathead at July 23, 2015 09:01 PM (cNtqS)

180 "Actually, our own SETI searches wouldn't detect our own transmissions so far, were they on some other world thousands of light years away. They are too weak (unless we beamed it directly at who was listening). "

And this may just be a phase we're going through. Eventually communications will all be either through fiber or short-range spread spectrum. You won't be able to pick it out from background radiation from Pluto, let alone Ceta Alpha VI.

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 09:01 PM (+azJs)

181 I find it highly improbable that there is other life out that, and if there is that it is in any way similar to life on earth.

Posted by: mynewhandle at July 23, 2015 09:01 PM (AkOaV)

182 Interstellar?

I like Maleficent much, much more.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at July 23, 2015 09:01 PM (1ijHg)

183
I think it's a pretty brilliant unconscious suggestion because I got that idea myself.

Heh. Who can argue with that.

Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 09:01 PM (fvMOw)

184 Bourbon, thanks.

Posted by: qdpsteve at July 23, 2015 09:02 PM (ntObR)

185 >>>ace,

by the time we hear from them, they will already be dead.

or we

or both.

...

but there should be many of them. we can afford to lose some of them.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:02 PM (dciA+)

186 Secundus, several different authors have kinda done that.

Niven with the Pak Protectors fleeing the exploding center of the galaxy and a wasteland of a home planet to conquer other worlds.

Steve White in the In Death Ground universe has a species fleeing its home world because the star is going nova. Travel sublight and end up invading Terran and Tabby worlds.

And there are a few others that are dancing around the edges of memory.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:02 PM (XYw4l)

187 I think I read something recently that said radio and TV transmissions do not in fact travel indefinitely through space.

But I did read it on the internet, so who knows.
Posted by: Iasonas at July 23, 2015 08:58 PM (DU875)

Considering you can't get a terrestrial emission to travel that far I think the idea that our "accidental" transmissions are going to be detected from far away planets as extremely remote.

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:02 PM (c2krM)

188 143
What does the M in M-Class planet mean?

a) Mirage
b) Mammoth
c) Boobs
d) Maranatha
e) Mostly Nice
Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 08:54 PM (fvMOw)

f) Mostly Harmless.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 09:02 PM (sdi6R)

189 158 Einstein/Rosenberg bridge FTW!
Theorized that worm holes could happen. And remember that Einstein himself said that while his Theory of Relativity postulated that black holes could exist, he didn't think nature would allow them.
Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 08:57 PM (9iR5/)

Wormholes and black holes are two different things. Black holes are so dense that even photons (light particles) can't reach escape velocity at the speed of light. Tidal forces (difference in gravitation effect on your head and feet) would tear you apart if you tried to enter one.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 09:02 PM (laMCB)

190 >>>I think it's a pretty brilliant unconscious suggestion because I got that idea myself.

Heh. Who can argue with that.

...

i didn't mean it that way, I meant I think that was his intent, because he did unconsciously suggest that to me.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:02 PM (dciA+)

191 166

The one that has double D of 9, without Lameway.
Otherwise known as 7 of 9 and Janeway.

Posted by: John Carter of Mars at July 23, 2015 09:02 PM (cmBvC)

192 ace,

You fuck up. You trusted Carl Sagan.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (1ijHg)

193 Any advanced alien species out there, one that might be remotely capable of intersteller travel, will not be using radio for comms. I have no idea what they'll be using, but we can't hear it because we don't know what it is. Imagine cavemen awash in our own modern signals. They are literally immesed in something they cannot see and aren't the slightest bit aware of.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (dvuhZ)

194 "background noise of the galaxy"

you mean, like, rap?

Posted by: Feh at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (Uk9e2)

195 Holosuites?

Actually in Star Trek: the Animated Series the original USS Enterprise had a holographic rec room.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (XYw4l)

196 There's actually a fourth possibility (kind of a subset of #2), which is that we're NOT first, but the distances to the nearest intelligent-life- supporting planets are so vast that their transmissions have not reached us or are too far down into the noise to be recognizable as signal.

-
A fifth possibility is that they've intercepted our broadcasts of the Kardashians and they want to make damn sure we can't find them.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (PJ1RU)

197 would tear you apart if you tried to enter one.

Challenge accepted.

Posted by: Paolo at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (3/iRt)

198 the planet should be receiving about 10% more energy from the star, meaning it is likely too hot.

Posted by: publius

So just send the Inuits.

*dusts hands*

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (VY8H5)

199 Heh. Two civilizations arise, light years apart. They build, screw things up, and finally think, "Screw this, we're outta here."

They build giant spaceships, load their entire species, fly across light years of space, only to discover... Each other's effed up homeworlds.
Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 08:57 PM (H0mwZ)

----------------

Boobs. You have to consider boobs for this one.

The civilization that is coming from Kepler 452 has lived under 2g (or thereabouts) gravity and so their womenfolk have had a need for much stronger support for their boobs. And when they make it to Earth, everyone notices how much more perkier the ladies of Kepler 452 are!

Posted by: The Oort Cloud at July 23, 2015 09:04 PM (iAAo4)

200 Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 09:01 PM (+azJs)

Subspace radio is the answer. I can help you with that.

Posted by: Uhrura at July 23, 2015 09:05 PM (laMCB)

201 >>>Tricia Helfer. Mmmmmmm

Posted by: Buzzion at July 23, 2015 08:57 PM (z/Ubi)<<<

Toaster frakker!

Posted by: Cmdr. Adama at July 23, 2015 09:05 PM (z9azR)

202 171 Escapism, sure. I'll take Montana, a Harley, Line Gost, and a bagful of bacon and JD.
Posted by: Feh at July 23, 2015 08:59 PM (Uk9e2)

I have a JD, and it's brought me nothing but debt and misery. Oh,wait. You mean the good kind of JD.

Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at July 23, 2015 09:05 PM (yxw0r)

203
149 >>>And no. there are no faster than light spacecraft.

radio travels at lightspeed and doesn't seem to tecnologically difficult; why don't we hear their stupid radio programs, their dumb pop music?
Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:55 PM (dciA+)

Well isn't the idea that there are aliens out there eagerly waiting to find out if Giligan is ever going to get off the island pretty well debunked? I remember reading an article about how by the time our radio/television transmissions reach the edge of our solar system they're pretty much background noise and you can actually pick them up. So if that's true then if there is an alien civilization at our level or ever was then their signals aren't going to be reaching much beyond their own system either.

I'm not sure how much farther something like SETI reaches though.

Posted by: Buzzion at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (z/Ubi)

204
49 If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?
.........................................
They are obviously far more advanced than us and have trained their females to not talk while making sammiches.

Posted by: wth at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (wAQA5)

205 I'm not sure this place is on earth.

Posted by: Badda Bing at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (BjKDP)

206 They build giant spaceships, load their entire species, fly across light years of space, only to discover... Each other's effed up homeworlds.

Kind of like the Spaniards' visit to the Yucatan.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (AVEe1)

207 A fifth possibility is that they've intercepted our broadcasts of the Kardashians and they want to make damn sure we can't find them.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (PJ1RU)

We're the interplanetary equivalent of Florida. Interstellar Twitter (Twinterstellar?) has #EarthPeople trending 24/7

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (H0mwZ)

208 >>>the planet should be receiving about 10% more energy from the star, meaning it is likely too hot.

GLOBAL WARMING YOU GUYS

but seriously, 10% more heat? You're turning down a new earth because it's like Phoenix all year round?

Sheesh, what a bunch of complainers. This is the astronomical equivalent of "sharp elbows."

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (dciA+)

209 "I come in peace with Wonderbras. Show me your women."

Posted by: Feh at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (Uk9e2)

210 A fifth possibility is that they've intercepted our broadcasts of the
Kardashians and they want to make damn sure we can't find them.

That is the same argument already posted, that we are the hillbillies of the galaxy.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (1ijHg)

211 Dang, bad sock link in my nic. Not trying to be all racey raciss.

But OTOH, Sheila Jackson Lee is an idiot.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 09:07 PM (laMCB)

212 Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at July 23, 2015 09:05 PM (yxw0r)

I see what you did there.

Posted by: Iasonas at July 23, 2015 09:07 PM (DU875)

213 @125 3. We're fucked (civilizations rise, but there is a "Great Filter" that tends to wipe them out a few hundred years after technological achievement -- which waits in our future)
Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 08:49 PM (dciA+)

This one.

The sheer number of places where there is loquid water even in our own solar system strongly suggests the likelihood of multiple places that could support microbial life. Earth is not the only place where life could live. For it to be the only place life arose strikes me as quite the hubristic thought. And the likelihood that we are the first advanced civilization seems ridiculous as well. Given what we know about cosmic history, there's been the right mix of elements for carbon-based life for a loooong time, many billions of years.

So the odds wouldn't favor us being the only or even first civilization. So where is everybody? Fermi showed that even without FTL travel, you can plausibly colonize the entire galaxy in tens of millions of years, a tiny fraction of the Sun's life.

So that leaves the Great Filter.

My favorite filters are descending back into a pre-spaceflight state (allahu akbar! Or perhaps some viral apocalypse like airborne Ebola that wipes us out), or going all Singularity and becoming cybernetic/machine intelligences that don't need to expand to obtain new resources. Like the Matrix, but hopefully a little less icky. Turn us all into computer brains, plant us on asteroids and comets, and why bother going anywhere else?

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 09:07 PM (ueOgE)

214 Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 09:02 PM (laMCB)
-------------
I'm pretty aware of the effects of gravity associated with a black hole. What I said was that Einstein did not think nature would allow it to exist. What I was alluding to was the Einstein/Rosen bridge. It would allow for the existence of worm holes and therefore a path through space/time.

Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 09:08 PM (9iR5/)

215 They are so quiet?

Cause they are upper-class Brits.

They won't talk to us until we have been formally introduced.

Alas. No Vulcans to do the introductions.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at July 23, 2015 09:08 PM (1ijHg)

216 "Any advanced alien species out there, one that might be remotely capable of intersteller travel, will not be using radio for comms. "

If a civilization is 1000 light years from us, the question isn't whether they use radio communications *today*, it's whether they used that technology 1000 years ago. Also, we should be able to detect the ones that use radio even if they don't have interstellar travel figured out.

Given the sheer numbers involved here if there are other civilizations out there we should be able to see something.

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 09:08 PM (+azJs)

217 Sheesh, what a bunch of complainers. This is the astronomical equivalent of "sharp elbows."

Posted by: ace
------------------------------
Heh.
"Her second toe is longer than her big toe!

Posted by: The Chi at July 23, 2015 09:09 PM (EfRAJ)

218 Kepler-452 needs women.

Posted by: SETI finally gets a message at July 23, 2015 09:09 PM (wAQA5)

219 So, that Einstein-Rosenburg Bridge in "Thor" wasn't complete bullshit?

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at July 23, 2015 09:09 PM (1ijHg)

220
Ace, did you see Interstellar, yet?

Watch it!

Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 09:09 PM (fvMOw)

221 Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (dciA+)

You're anticipating dry heat. It could be like Louisiana all year round

Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 09:09 PM (H0mwZ)

222 Cheri- if you are lurking, I sent an email.

Posted by: Infidel at July 23, 2015 09:10 PM (uwhQG)

223 the planet should be receiving about 10% more energy from the star, meaning it is likely too hot.

Posted by: publius

Or, you know, just land AT A FUCKING POLE.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 09:10 PM (VY8H5)

224 yaaa , but.

Sharknado vs. The Hoff (David Hasslehoff) Bobble Head
by Sharnado
Link: http://amzn.com/B00W0LP9BC

Posted by: Garbone at July 23, 2015 09:10 PM (9dH/8)

225 207 A fifth possibility is that they've intercepted our broadcasts of the Kardashians and they want to make damn sure we can't find them.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (PJ1RU)

We're the interplanetary equivalent of Florida. Interstellar Twitter (Twinterstellar?) has #EarthPeople trending 24/7
Posted by: Secundus at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (H0mwZ)

Why does everyone assume that we are the most trashy or dumbest of the sentient species? Who knows, there could be a whole universe of perverted low life scum bags out there. Let's go and find out!

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:10 PM (c2krM)

226 We should send Randy Quaid to go check it out. Just to be safe.

Posted by: The Chi at July 23, 2015 09:10 PM (EfRAJ)

227 213
My favorite filters are descending back into a pre-spaceflight state (allahu akbar! Or perhaps some viral apocalypse like airborne Ebola that wipes us out), or going all Singularity and becoming cybernetic/machine intelligences that don't need to expand to obtain new resources. Like the Matrix, but hopefully a little less icky. Turn us all into computer brains, plant us on asteroids and comets, and why bother going anywhere else?
Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 09:07 PM (ueOgE)

Once sexbots are invented, all technological progress immediately and permanently ceases.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 09:10 PM (sdi6R)

228 I wonder how differentiated humans will become as we spread out into the solar system and beyond. I would imagine some tweaking done to compensate for higher/lower gravity, radiation, atmospheres, etc., plus cybernetic augmentation.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 23, 2015 09:10 PM (jR7Wy)

229 "... and oh yeah, a woman, and I'll be okay. "

So... you want it to be *better* that real life.

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 09:11 PM (+azJs)

230 Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 09:08 PM (9iR5/)

Ack, sorry. Didn't mean to be pedantic.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 09:11 PM (laMCB)

231 My favorite filters are descending back into a pre-spaceflight state (allahu akbar! Or perhaps some viral apocalypse like airborne Ebola that wipes us out), or going all Singularity and becoming cybernetic/machine intelligences that don't need to expand to obtain new resources. Like the Matrix, but hopefully a little less icky. Turn us all into computer brains, plant us on asteroids and comets, and why bother going anywhere else?
Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 09:07 PM (ueOgE)

Does this unit have a soul?

Posted by: geth robot at July 23, 2015 09:11 PM (wZ2hu)

232 223 Polacks can be hard to find.

Posted by: John Carter of Mars at July 23, 2015 09:11 PM (cmBvC)

233 Focus on the moon for starters. By 2315, it should be full of gay bars, reality TV shows, and baby liver outlets.

Posted by: Feh at July 23, 2015 09:12 PM (Uk9e2)

234 192 ace,

You fuck up.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at July 23, 2015 09:03 PM (1ijHg)

You been here one owa! You go home now!

Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at July 23, 2015 09:12 PM (yxw0r)

235 @166
Give me the Enterprise refit any day of the week. My God, what a beautiful ship.

Although, a star destroyer would do it for me as well.

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (ueOgE)

236 Does this unit have a soul?

Posted by: geth robot at July 23, 2015 09:11 PM (wZ2hu)

*Raises Gauss rifle*

Posted by: Necron at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (H0mwZ)

237 Posted by: geth robot at July 23, 2015 09:11 PM (wZ2hu)

All your bases are belong to us.

Posted by: The Borg at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (laMCB)

238

that drudge link to "caught on camera"
is pretty damning

illegals carrying in, who knows what, and loading it, crossing into the US

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (qCMvj)

239 re: Radio transmissions.

Those who are saying they are spreading through the universe are assuming a few things. That the thousand Watt radio station's signal makes it out of the atmosphere still intelligible. That nothing like dust clouds or other radio sources on the same frequency don't interfere. That as it spreads like a faint ripple across the vast ocean of the galaxy it finds a planet where the ripples can be recognized as something more than noise.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (XYw4l)

240 Oh, crap, those stupid Earth assholes have figured out where we are. If they ever get anywhere near us, blow their ship to bits.

We've been passing snacks (like popcorn, but not really) and watching those Earthlings fucking things up for the past 100 years. It's been entertaining watching these shitty beings screw themselves over, but that doesn't mean we want them anywhere near us.

Although we might want to figure out how to kidnap that mental defective named DeGrasse Tyson, just so our scientists can make fun of him.

Posted by: Residents of Kepler 452 System at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (+XMAD)

241 Finally, a thread where I can fully engage the warp drive, and Mrs. Old Blue wants me to go grill a couple of steaks. A man just can't catch a break.
Later Morons!

Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (9iR5/)

242 OT: The cops raided a California pot farm and who did they find? War hero Bowe Berg Bergdahl.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 09:14 PM (F6QFZ)

243 238

that drudge link to "caught on camera"
is pretty damning

illegals carrying in, who knows what, and loading it, crossing into the US
Posted by: artisanal 'ette at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (qCMvj)

It's okay, they vote Democrat.

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:14 PM (c2krM)

244
Right now I'm into watching old Buck Rogers episodes. It's very 1980's. Very cool.

Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 09:14 PM (fvMOw)

245 216: And 1000 years ago (actually, I prefer to think of "now" as when light can get here -- if something is outside our lightcone, it is "elsewhere", not now -- but it's all a convention you can freely choose), their EM signals were too weak to be detectable. They advanced and we'll never hear them if and until we develop whatever they're using.

I don't dismiss the arguments that advanced life may well be rare, at least in our Galaxy, but I don't yet think it can be ruled out.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 09:14 PM (dvuhZ)

246 I believe others mention this previously but could you imagine meeting aliens and the first question they ask is "so what did you do when Jesus came to your planet?"

Posted by: Buzzion at July 23, 2015 09:14 PM (z/Ubi)

247 OT: The cops raided a California pot farm and who did they find? War hero Bowe Berg Bergdahl.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 09:14 PM (F6QFZ)

Who's Obama gonna swap to get him out of jail?

Posted by: Necron at July 23, 2015 09:15 PM (H0mwZ)

248 @227 Once sexbots are invented, all technological progress immediately and permanently ceases.
Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 09:10 PM (sdi6R)

Probably the species, too, IYKWIMAITYD.

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 09:15 PM (ueOgE)

249 242 OT: The cops raided a California pot farm and who did they find? War hero Bowe Berg Bergdahl.
Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 23, 2015 09:14 PM (F6QFZ)

Is that some kind of karma?

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at July 23, 2015 09:16 PM (laMCB)

250 >>>Any advanced alien species out there, one that might be remotely capable of intersteller travel, will not be using radio for comms. I have no idea what they'll be using, but we can't hear it because we don't know what it is.

but they would have gone through a radio phase, surely, and would have broadcast EM for hundreds of years.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:16 PM (dciA+)

251 Who's Obama gonna swap to get him out of jail?

Posted by: Necron

Charles Mason. Duh.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 09:16 PM (VY8H5)

252 civilizations rise, but there is a "Great Filter" that tends to wipe them out a few hundred years after technological achievement -- which waits in our future

Wouldn't have to wipe them out. Just wipe them out technologically. Or stagnate them.

How many humans have we sent off-earth since 1969?

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 23, 2015 09:16 PM (2lndx)

253
Is obama setting us up for a Red Dawn type of invasion?

Who's to say that a small, well-armed army hasn't been steadily streaming across the border for years and setting up 'camps' all over the USA right in plain sight.

Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 09:17 PM (fvMOw)

254 252 civilizations rise, but there is a "Great Filter" that tends to wipe them out a few hundred years after technological achievement -- which waits in our future

Wouldn't have to wipe them out. Just wipe them out technologically. Or stagnate them.

How many humans have we sent off-earth since 1969?

True, we could just export liberalism to them and watch them collapse on their own.

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:17 PM (c2krM)

255 "Right now I'm into watching old Buck Rogers episodes. It's very 1980's. Very cool."

Erin Grey. Very hot.

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (+azJs)

256 That planet is 60% larger than Earth like I'm 60% larger than life.

Posted by: Bill Clinton at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (3GFMN)

257 252
How many humans have we sent off-earth since 1969?
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 23, 2015 09:16 PM (2lndx)

Plenty.

Just not very far.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (sdi6R)

258 Buzzion you should really go read Poul Anderson's High Crusade. Middle Age Saxons on Crusade who get kidnapped by aliens. Except the aliens don't figure on how ornery those monkey boys are. So the humans basically inherit a star traveling civilisation that the Christian Middle Ages is overlaid. But they have lost the nav coordinates back to Earth. And then an Earth ship finds one of the Crusader planets.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (XYw4l)

259 209 "I come in peace with Wonderbras. Show me your women."
Posted by: Feh at July 23, 2015 09:06 PM (Uk9e2)

We laugh at your Wonderbras. Our females have 6 breasts and they're all perky, even the ones that are 150 earth years old.

Posted by: Residents of Kepler 452 System at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (+XMAD)

260
Judging by 99% of the space syfy movies I see, we should not let the aliens know we are here.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (ODxAs)

261 >>>Wouldn't have to wipe them out. Just wipe them out technologically. Or stagnate them.

yes, but either way, it's bad news for us. A great filter that reduced us to pre 1800 tech would be pretty murderous.

plus there wouldn't be any good shows on

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (dciA+)

262 Although, a star destroyer would do it for me as well.
Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (ueOgE)

Well, if star destroyers are an option, I'll go for an ImpStar Deuce.

Posted by: mynewhandle at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (AkOaV)

263 241 Finally, a thread where I can fully engage the warp drive, and Mrs. Old Blue wants me to go grill a couple of steaks. A man just can't catch a break.
Later Morons!
Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 09:13 PM (9iR5/)
----
It is true what they say...Women are from Omicron Persei 7, men are from Omicron Persei 9.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (jR7Wy)

264 >>>Judging by 99% of the space syfy movies I see, we should not let the aliens know we are here.

freeman dyson says we should be very quiet and stop assuming aliens are awesome and just want to give us cures for diseases.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:19 PM (dciA+)

265 yes, but either way, it's bad news for us. A great filter that reduced us to pre 1800 tech would be pretty murderous.

plus there wouldn't be any good shows on
Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (dciA+)

Could you imagine modern day american society suddenly having to go back to technology from the 1800s?

Heh.

Posted by: mynewhandle at July 23, 2015 09:19 PM (AkOaV)

266
Yeah, "Wilma." She's a colonel.

Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 09:19 PM (fvMOw)

267 ...but they would have gone through a radio phase, surely, and would have broadcast EM for hundreds of years.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:16 PM (dciA+)

Video killed the radio star.

Posted by: Buggles at July 23, 2015 09:19 PM (laMCB)

268 i hate when drudge links to info wars.......ugh.....

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at July 23, 2015 09:20 PM (0O7c5)

269 What we need is a ship with a black hole containment drive that allows for interdimensional travel.

Posted by: Insomniac at July 23, 2015 09:20 PM (mx5oN)

270 Ace I mentioned this in an earlier thread but I got a redirect to the App Store again today. And I checked to see what ads were on the page. One of them was actually for the app that I was directed too. So that could be part of what is going on.

Posted by: Buzzion at July 23, 2015 09:20 PM (z/Ubi)

271 "freeman dyson says we should be very quiet and stop assuming aliens are awesome and just want to give us cures for diseases. "

It's a cookbook!

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 09:20 PM (+azJs)

272 One more thought before I rush off. How many of you are aware that time on GPS satellites has to compensate for the speed that they are traveling through space? If the time factor wasn't compensated for, the directions your GPS device gives you would be hundreds of miles off.

Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 09:20 PM (9iR5/)

273 I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world because they'd never expect it.
Deep Thoughts

Posted by: AC at July 23, 2015 09:20 PM (TzeLs)

274 Other sci-fi writers have already enunciated it, but we won't ever be contacted by 'aliens.'

Robots, drones, and or some variant thereof; sure.

Space hates biological things.

Humans won't ever be a space-faring species.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 09:21 PM (VY8H5)

275 Because of the inverse square law, all of out terrestrial radio signals become indistinguishable from background noise at around a few light years from earth. For a civilization only a couple hundred light years away. trying to listen to our broadcasts would be like trying to detect the small ripple from a pebble dropped in the Pacific ocean off the coast of California - from Japan.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at July 23, 2015 09:21 PM (W5DcG)

276 OT: The cops raided a California pot farm and who did they find? War hero Bowe Berg Bergdahl

Ha, did it happen if the MSM doesn't report it?

Seems TGF's plans are falling apart. One can hope.

Posted by: Infidel at July 23, 2015 09:21 PM (uwhQG)

277 252
Wouldn't have to wipe them out. Just wipe them out technologically. Or stagnate them.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 23, 2015 09:16 PM (2lndx)

"We control matter because we control the mind. Reality is inside the skull. You will learn by degrees, Winston. There is nothing that we could not do. Invisibility, levitation--anything. I could float off this floor like a soap bubble if I wished to. I do not wish to, because the Party does not wish it. You must get rid of those nineteenth-century ideas about the laws of nature. We make the laws of nature."

"But you do not! You are not even masters of this planet. What about Eurasia and Eastasia? You have not conquered them yet."

"Unimportant. We shall conquer them when it suits us. And if we did not, what difference would it make? We can shut them out of existence. Oceania is the world."

"But the world itself is only a speck of dust. And man is tiny--helpless! How long has he been in existence? For millions of years the earth was uninhabited."

"Nonsense. The earth is as old as we are, no older. How could it be older? Nothing exists except through human consciousness."

"But the rocks are full of the bones of extinct animals--mammoths and mastodons and enormous reptiles which lived here long before man was ever heard of."

"Have you ever seen those bones, Winston? Of course not. Nineteenth-century biologists invented them. Before man there was nothing. After man, if he could come to an end, there would be nothing. Outside man there is nothing."

"But the whole universe is outside us. Look at the stars! Some of them are a million light-years away. They are out of our reach forever."

"What are the stars?" said O'Brien indifferently. "They are bits of fire a few kilometers away. We could reach them if we wanted to. Or we could blot them out. The earth is the center of the universe. The sun and the stars go round it."

Winston made another convulsive movement. This time he did not say anything. O'Brien continued as though answering a spoken objection:

"For certain purposes, of course, that is not true. When we navigate the ocean, or when we predict an eclipse, we often find it convenient to assume that the earth goes round the sun and that the stars are millions and millions of kilometers away. But what of it? Do you suppose it is beyond us to produce a dual system of astronomy? The stars can be near or distant, according as we need them. Do you suppose our mathematicians are unequal to that? Have you forgotten doublethink?"

--George Orwell, "1984"

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 09:21 PM (sdi6R)

278 You mean a technological Carrignton Effect that kills Siri and Tiwtter.

I would need to stock up on popcorn.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:21 PM (XYw4l)

279 yes, but either way, it's bad news for us. A great filter that reduced us to pre 1800 tech would be pretty murderous.

plus there wouldn't be any good shows on
Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:18 PM (dciA+)

Allahu akbar!

Posted by: High-Altitude Nuclear Explosion at July 23, 2015 09:21 PM (wZ2hu)

280 "On May 13, 2015, two leading experts on the subject of asteroid mining held a podcast for Raw Science TV: "

Wait a minute - how can we have "experts" on space mining when nobody has ever done any space mining. Unless they are like climate change "experts".

Posted by: bergerbilder at July 23, 2015 09:21 PM (+jijM)

281 >>>Ace, did you see Interstellar, yet?

Watch it!

...

i read a bit of Kip Thorne's "The Science of Interstellar." Alas, it contained many spoilers, so I stopped reading it.

I'll watch Interstellar when it's on one of the pay tv channels I have.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:21 PM (dciA+)

282
Judging by 99% of the space syfy movies I see, we should not let the aliens know we are here.
..............................................
I agree. I agree.

Posted by: guy who plays Scientist Black Dude at July 23, 2015 09:22 PM (wAQA5)

283 >>>ce I mentioned this in an earlier thread but I got a redirect to the App Store again today. And I checked to see what ads were on the page. One of them was actually for the app that I was directed too. So that could be part of what is going on.

which app?

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:22 PM (dciA+)

284 Call me when we find the planet with the Popplers.

(or the snu-snu chicks)

Posted by: Philip J. Fry at July 23, 2015 09:22 PM (z9azR)

285 Bertram re: #239

We are on the same wavelength you might say.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:22 PM (XYw4l)

286 From the SETI FAQ page:

"
If an extraterrestrial civilization has a SETI project similar to our own, could they detect signals from Earth?

In general, no. Most earthly transmissions are too weak to be found
by equipment similar to ours at the distance of even the nearest star.
But there are some important exceptions. High-powered radars and the
Arecibo broadcast of 1974 (which lasted for only three minutes) could be
detected at distances of tens to hundreds of light-years with a setup
similar to our best SETI experiments."
So turn that around -- you can figure SETI can't "hear" beyond a couple of hundred light years.
And I was just reading. Our signals are getting weaker, as we get more efficient. Even now, just after 100 years, we are leaking far less inverse square RF energy from the planet.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 09:23 PM (dvuhZ)

287
So you probably already know there's a tesseract in Interstellar?

And you can safely assume it is used to explain a lot.

Posted by: Soothsayer of the Righteous And Harmonious Fists at July 23, 2015 09:23 PM (fvMOw)

288 "Humans won't ever be a space-faring species. "

"Ever" is a very long time. Even without FTL technology we could probably colonize other planets, but it would take a very, very long time and the people at Earth by the time you established a colony might not be the same species any more.

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 09:24 PM (+azJs)

289 Judging by 99% of the space syfy movies I see, we should not let the aliens know we are here.
---------
Stephen Hawkings says the very same thing. Movies like ET, Starman, and others all presume that the ET's are going to be benevolent. Movies like Predator or Alien may be more the norm.

Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 09:24 PM (9iR5/)

290 >>> Because of the inverse square law, all of out terrestrial radio signals become indistinguishable from background noise at around a few light years from earth. For a civilization only a couple hundred light years away. trying to listen to our broadcasts would be like trying to detect the small ripple from a pebble dropped in the Pacific ocean off the coast of California - from Japan.

I take what you say as true. However, what I think SETI does is scan for a long period on one star. It collects all radio signals, then looks for patterns. It can't just hear a radio show -- that information would have been lost -- but it can, in theory, find patterns in a signal indicating that it is more than random radio noise.

I assume; or what the hell are they bothering to scan for?

SETI has scanned hundreds of stars; I assume they have some idea of how to separate manufactured radio signals from background noise.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:25 PM (dciA+)

291 246 I believe others mention this previously but could you imagine meeting aliens and the first question they ask is "so what did you do when Jesus came to your planet?"
Posted by: Buzzion at July 23, 2015 09:14 PM (z/Ubi)

That would be so funny.

"We threw a huge party for Jesus and gave him presents. Not much, I'm sure you Earthlings did much better."

I also like to amuse myself by imagining the alien spokesman addressing the UN or a group of real and pseudo scientists, including Dawkins and Nye, and opening with "Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ!"

Posted by: Residents of Kepler 452 System at July 23, 2015 09:25 PM (+XMAD)

292 288 "Humans won't ever be a space-faring species. "

"Ever" is a very long time. Even without FTL technology we could probably colonize other planets, but it would take a very, very long time and the people at Earth by the time you established a colony might not be the same species any more.
Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 09:24 PM (+azJs)

Radiation is another problem. As of yet we don't have anyway to suitably protect against it.

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:25 PM (c2krM)

293 >>>So you probably already know there's a tesseract in Interstellar?

And you can safely assume it is used to explain a lot.

...

well don't give away too much. I am aware there is some kind of wormhole, yes.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:26 PM (dciA+)

294 Off alien sock!

Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at July 23, 2015 09:26 PM (+XMAD)

295 From the SETI FAQ page:
"Our signals are getting weaker, as we get more efficient. Even now, just after 100 years, we are leaking far less inverse square RF energy from the planet."

Posted by: publius

Good thing alien civs are restricted to RF signals.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 09:26 PM (VY8H5)

296
283 >>>ce I mentioned this in an earlier thread but I got a redirect to the App Store again today. And I checked to see what ads were on the page. One of them was actually for the app that I was directed too. So that could be part of what is going on.

which app?

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:22 PM (dciA+)

A game called vega conflict. But in the past I've also been directed to draft kings and uber. It just happened that this time I actually thought to check and see what ads were on the page.

Posted by: Buzzion at July 23, 2015 09:26 PM (z/Ubi)

297 Hillary, with legs wide open.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at July 23, 2015 09:26 PM (TF10X)

298 I wonder how differentiated humans will become as we spread out into the solar system and beyond. I would imagine some tweaking done to compensate for higher/lower gravity, radiation, atmospheres, etc., plus cybernetic augmentation.

It all be on silicon substrate, the DSPs will make it easy to adapt to pretty much anything.

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 09:26 PM (2Ocf1)

299 So: Who's comin' with me?

Oh, my!

Posted by: Sulu at July 23, 2015 09:27 PM (Dwehj)

300 children gone camping with the other grampa . falls to bed exhausted

Free at last for two days almost..(already guzzled 1/2 bottle of wine) amuse me -or not.

and may we send the left and all the politicians of the world to this new earthy place?
polease!?

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:27 PM (nqBYe)

301 Soon!

Posted by: Planet Hillary at July 23, 2015 09:27 PM (z9azR)

302 If we ever find evidence of other technological life, my guess would be some sort of artifact left behind as they were passing through long ago. Something like the 2001 monolith, or space alien McDonalds wrappers. Maybe a shoggoth buried in the ice in Antarctica for 30 million years.

We left memorial plaques and trash on the Moon, and put messages on the Voyagers and Pioneers that are leaving the solar system. All those things will far, far outlast our species, in all likelihood.

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 09:27 PM (ueOgE)

303 If earth planets are so common, how come the galaxy is so quiet?

Kinda creepy....

Posted by: I got no clue but I can hazard a guess at July 23, 2015 08:33 PM (q177U)

Global warming

Posted by: TheQuietMan at July 23, 2015 09:28 PM (DiZBp)

304 This topic is both incredibly interesting and incredibly boring at the se time.

While it's fun fantasizing about life, intelligent or not, on other planets, the sheer enormity universe and distances and time involved preclude us from ever encountering it.

There is also the fact of the sheer improbability of it all.

And the question is never answered.

Why something and not nothing?

Posted by: Kreplach at July 23, 2015 09:28 PM (PaAcR)

305 Once we are digital intelligence, the whole speed of light mass time dilation thing won't matter.

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 09:28 PM (2Ocf1)

306 Various sub-light ways to cross the void.

Slowboats full of computers, robots, and fertilized eggs hoping they find a useable world. Which is how Humanity colonized many planets in Niven's Known Space series, like Wonderland and We Made It. Or the manga 2001 Nights about one such ship, when it was made into an OVA the story was expanded.

Or generation ships where whole generations will live and die in space. Ship of Shadows won a Hugo about such a ship that suffered a catastrophe and the people forgot they were on a generation ship. Or the anime Mega Zone 23 where the people are kept ignorant of the fact they are on a generation ship.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:28 PM (XYw4l)

307 I see that asteroid mining article has Greg Benford quoted in it. Took me a minute to remember the name, then it hit me - the author of the only book I have put down before finishing with the intention to never pick it up again.

"Foundations Fear"

One of the worst SF novels I've ever read.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at July 23, 2015 09:29 PM (xSCb6)

308 The new Earth must be called Gaia and those on planet Earth must listen to its beckoning calls.

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:30 PM (nqBYe)

309 SETI has scanned hundreds of stars; I assume they
have some idea of how to separate manufactured radio signals from
background noise.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:25 PM (dciA+)
--------True. But they've also scanned less that one percent of the sky.

Posted by: Old Blue at July 23, 2015 09:30 PM (9iR5/)

310 There is also the fact of the sheer improbability of it all.

Balderdash.

Posted by: John Titor at July 23, 2015 09:30 PM (Dwehj)

311 This is the only planet in the entire universe with life. We need to get off this rock and out there.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at July 23, 2015 09:30 PM (rwI+c)

312 "Ever" is a very long time. Even without FTL technology we could probably colonize other planets, but it would take a very, very long time and the people at Earth by the time you established a colony might not be the same species any more.

Posted by: Ace's liver

Indeed 'ever' is, and here's the fart-knocker trap I included in that comment:

Species and biological nomenclature is an ever-changing thing.

I'm only positing that homo sapiens won't be the homo cosmo 1.0 or even the Minx 0.264.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 09:31 PM (VY8H5)

313 Agent J - Niven's World of Ptaavs. An alien in a spacesuit trapped in a stasis field. For eternity.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:31 PM (XYw4l)

314 "Radiation is another problem. As of yet we don't have anyway to suitably protect against it. "

That really depends on your engineering assumptions. You can shield out the radiation using a layer of water or perhaps a strong magnetic field. Right now we don't have the technology to loft millions of tons of water toward another star, but that's not an insoluble problem.

Posted by: Ace's liver at July 23, 2015 09:31 PM (+azJs)

315 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow!_signal

Some people say we already found something. Or it was just random.

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 09:31 PM (2Ocf1)

316 Here is the Delta IV launch of the WGS-7 military communications satellite earlier tonight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC_yL6f0Pfs

With four solid rocket motors, the vehicle went from zero to Mach 1 in 33 seconds. That is hauling ass. Most orbital launches take about a minute or so.

Posted by: rickl at July 23, 2015 09:31 PM (sdi6R)

317 Grump, Heck No , They need to get off this Rock and go find Gaia

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:31 PM (nqBYe)

318 g'early evenin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at July 23, 2015 09:31 PM (KCxzN)

319
Only 1400 light years from earth. Hard to get to? That's a fact.

Posted by: Jack at July 23, 2015 08:22 PM (53CCM)

Just think. The planet's star might have blown up 1000 years ago, but we don't know about it because the light is still 400 or so light years away from being visible.

So the damned thing might not exist at all.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 23, 2015 09:32 PM (egLDQ)

320 We really need a manned mission to Mars.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at July 23, 2015 09:32 PM (rwI+c)

321 o -sure, this blog isn't about me. and here i thought you all would give a shit i have Two (almost days off)

fine nevermind.
slams door in huff

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:33 PM (nqBYe)

322 >>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow!_signal

What the...??!?!

Posted by: Charlie Sheen In His Nerd Glasses at July 23, 2015 09:33 PM (dciA+)

323 @313 read Ptavvs long ago. Liked Protector also. Soured on Niven after meeting him at a signing...

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 09:33 PM (ueOgE)

324 I want the Aurora from the Frontiers Saga. Blink and you are there...Screw that Linear travel stuff...

Posted by: Garbone at July 23, 2015 09:34 PM (9dH/8)

325 isn't Earth 2 where all the golden age DC superheroes live?

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at July 23, 2015 09:34 PM (FVCd0)

326 We really need a manned mission to Mars.

With a flag?

Posted by: Sheila Jackson Lee at July 23, 2015 09:34 PM (Dwehj)

327 isn't Earth 2 where all the golden age DC superheroes live?
Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at July 23, 2015 09:34 PM (FVCd0)

living off the hearts and livers of fresh babies?

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:35 PM (nqBYe)

328 yes, but either way, it's bad news for us. A great filter that reduced us to pre 1800 tech would be pretty murderous.

No argument there.

plus there wouldn't be any good shows on

The community theater production of Supersize Me should be interesting.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 23, 2015 09:35 PM (2lndx)

329 Paraphrasing from the SETI FAQ:

They are looking, basically, for narrow band signals, a carrier wave at frequencies they *think are likely for ET to use*. imagine turning the dial, slowly, hearing nothing but static, then hearing a squeal at a certain narrow band on that dial.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 09:35 PM (dvuhZ)

330 Sharks make excellent vehicles for space travel.

Posted by: Shit I learned from Sharknado III, Vol III at July 23, 2015 09:35 PM (z9azR)

331 The Wow! Signal wasn't an extraterrestrial cat video.

It doesn't count.

Posted by: Weapons Grade Stupidity at July 23, 2015 09:36 PM (kqGWM)

332 Life as it exists now is highly evolved.

The first life forms would have been much simpler and pretty sucky at staying alive.

The first life would have been able to replicate, poorly and inefficiently, but as time went by natural selection would have made them better and better at it.

Posted by: eman at July 23, 2015 09:36 PM (MQEz6)

333
We really need a manned mission to Mars.
...............................
I thought they needed women.

Posted by: wth at July 23, 2015 09:36 PM (wAQA5)

334 Oh great - Sharknado IV - Sharks in Space!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:36 PM (XYw4l)

335 The Tesseract of Murph's room was 75% real sets. You can find awesome pictures of it.

"Or generation ships where whole generations will live and die in space. Ship of Shadows won a Hugo about such a ship that suffered a catastrophe and the people forgot they were on a generation ship. Or the anime Mega Zone 23 where the people are kept ignorant of the fact they are on a generation ship."

I guess WALL-E wasn't the first.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at July 23, 2015 09:36 PM (+4uXG)

336 Resistance is futile.

Posted by: The Hillary Collective!!11!! at July 23, 2015 09:37 PM (Dwehj)

337 I read a short story once where the plot was that for millions of years, the Earth has been moving through a part of space that basically dampened down the speed of light. Then one day, we started to leave that field, with interesting results.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at July 23, 2015 09:38 PM (rwI+c)

338 333
We really need a manned mission to Mars.
...............................
I thought they needed women.
Posted by: wth at July 23, 2015 09:36 PM (wAQA5)

Mars needs men like a fish needs a bicycle.

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:38 PM (c2krM)

339 Call me when we find the planet with the Popplers.

I am finally watching this series, on Netflix, and just hit the Popplers episode this evening!

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 23, 2015 09:39 PM (2lndx)

340 >>> I read a short story once where the plot was that for millions of years, the Earth has been moving through a part of space that basically dampened down the speed of light. Then one day, we started to leave that field, with interesting results.

I don't think it' the same, but in Larry Niven's Known Space, it's kind of similar: the speed of light only applies in the vicinity of a "singularity" (like... any star, actually). His premise is that the speed of light stops operating when you're some arbitrary distance awat from the sun.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:39 PM (dciA+)

341 i think we should send all the New and improved sexually strange peoples there. and see how it looks in 40 years.

Fem:No way can you touch me, Did I see you looking at me?

Men are creepy

unless they are Boy girls than Wow are they magnificent!

extinct in __?

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:40 PM (nqBYe)

342 *searches the bookshelves*

Ship of Shadows by Fritz Leiber. 1969. Won the Hugo in the category shorter than a novel at the 28th in Heidelberg in 1970.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:40 PM (XYw4l)

343 "Or generation ships where whole generations will live and die in space.

=====

book of the long sun FTW

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at July 23, 2015 09:40 PM (Cq0oW)

344
Oh great - Sharknado IV - Sharks in Space!!!!!!!!
......................................
Forget space, send 'em to San Francisco first.
Sharknado IV, Let the Squealing Begin!

Posted by: wth at July 23, 2015 09:40 PM (wAQA5)

345 "332 Life as it exists now is highly evolved."

You'd think that but consider Megan McCain.

"The first life forms would have been much simpler and pretty sucky at staying alive. "

So would she if she'd didn't have money and help.

Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at July 23, 2015 09:40 PM (+XMAD)

346 Life hass de-volved

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:41 PM (nqBYe)

347 We still haven't figured out how to make propulsion without mass transfer, if it is even possible at all.

Posted by: bergerbilder at July 23, 2015 09:41 PM (+jijM)

348 @345 And boobs.

Don't forget boobs.

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 09:42 PM (2Ocf1)

349 343 "Or generation ships where whole generations will live and die in space.

=====

book of the long sun FTW

Stuck for an eternity in space with nerds. Its the 1974 Star Trek convention all over again.

- Futurama

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:42 PM (c2krM)

350 I read a short story once where the plot was that for millions of years, the Earth has been moving through a part of space that basically dampened down the speed of light. Then one day, we started to leave that field, with interesting results.

Posted by: Grump928(C)

Oooh, g-damn, I've been thinking about that sort of thing for awhile.

There's a Russian physicist that posited *gravity* isn't a universal constant. Which is slightly more believable in a sci-fi sense; light is pretty much universal no matter where we look. Gravity on the other hand?

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 09:42 PM (VY8H5)

351 345 "332 Life as it exists now is highly evolved."

You'd think that but consider Megan McCain.

"The first life forms would have been much simpler and pretty sucky at staying alive. "

So would she if she'd didn't have money and help.
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at July 23, 2015 09:40 PM (+XMAD)

Well, yeah, things are not obliged to evolve.

Posted by: eman at July 23, 2015 09:42 PM (MQEz6)

352 mass transfer of energy?

hell i can do that when i'm mad.

(screams)
nothing happens.

see

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:42 PM (nqBYe)

353 Life hass de-volved

Are we not men?

Posted by: DEVO at July 23, 2015 09:43 PM (2Ocf1)

354 The strength of a signal dissipates at the square of the distance travelled, which is why the only radio signals we get from space are from things like massive stars. Any civilization wouldnt need a signal that strong, using that form of communication, to air that day's Xebu Limbaugh-9 talk show. Or even dubstep

Posted by: A.G. at July 23, 2015 09:43 PM (fef5a)

355 well...I'm not i can't speak for you.

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:43 PM (nqBYe)

356 >>>There's a Russian physicist that posited *gravity* isn't a universal constant. Which is slightly more believable in a sci-fi sense; light is pretty much universal no matter where we look. Gravity on the other hand?

huh? you think the G gravitational constant might vary in different places...?

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:43 PM (dciA+)

357 Posted by: DEVO at July 23, 2015 09:43 PM (2Ocf1)

All no! It's DEVO!

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:44 PM (c2krM)

358 304 why something and not nothing?

We exist. Intelligent life is possible. And life itself seems to have started about as early as possible on Earth, with microfossils going back perhaps 3 billion years. With a billion plus galaxies with a few hundred billion stars each, and lots of those stars with planets, how can we be alone?

I prefer the principle of mediocrity, that we are one of many intelligent species in the universe, to thinking we are the sole lords and ladies and not-quite-sures of all Creation.

And on that note, I've got to go to bed so I can make life short and miserable for sporting clays tomorrow morning. Good night, Horde.

Posted by: Agent J at July 23, 2015 09:44 PM (ueOgE)

359 fcol, is everyone gonna get Physics on me?

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:44 PM (nqBYe)

360 No wonder it won the Hugo, here is the opening sentence and paragraph.

"Isslot! Fffool! Lushshsh!" hissed the cat and bit Spar somewhere.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:45 PM (XYw4l)

361 read a story once where the astronauts were in cryosleep and going to alpha cantauri

they get there and there's a big welcoming from all these humans, as they had developed FTL in the intervening years but couldn't get to them. so they were waiting.

the astronauts didn't like what humanity had become so they got back in and went elsewhere.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at July 23, 2015 09:45 PM (Cq0oW)

362 We really need a manned mission to Mars.
...............................
I thought they needed women.
********

I'm pretty sure it was MILFs specifically.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at July 23, 2015 09:45 PM (xSCb6)

363 did i admit to almost failing physics?

no i didn't ever admit to that.

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:45 PM (nqBYe)

364 book of the long sun FTW

I was minded of the Canadian series The Starlost

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starlost

Posted by: Grump928(C) at July 23, 2015 09:45 PM (rwI+c)

365 the astronauts didn't like what humanity had become so they got back in and went elsewhere.

In many ways, this is the story of Barack Obama.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 23, 2015 09:46 PM (2lndx)

366 sighs, ok i will go express my silliness elsewhere i can tell you guys are committed to serious conversation.

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:46 PM (nqBYe)

367
I was minded of the Canadian series The Starlost

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starlost
Posted by: Grump928(C) at July 23, 2015 09:45 PM (rwI+c)
---
Now why would you remind anyone of The Starlost?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 23, 2015 09:47 PM (jR7Wy)

368
I'm close to being a woman.

Posted by: Bruce Jenner at July 23, 2015 09:47 PM (9mTYi)

369 bet if i shook my boobs it would be different.

but fine.

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:47 PM (nqBYe)

370 with modern IVF embryos can be frozen in a jars for years before being implanted. I imagine the Japanese can create a freaky ass robot to raise up some test tube kids to colonize.

Posted by: Garbone at July 23, 2015 09:47 PM (9dH/8)

371 you think the G gravitational constant might vary in different places...?

I think the theory is that gravity is the long dismissed "ether" that the light waves travel on. Where the gravity is .. thicker, light moves faster, and the reverse.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at July 23, 2015 09:48 PM (rwI+c)

372 Do you think there might be ethanol on this planet? Asking for a friend.

Posted by: Ready For Hillary!!11!! at July 23, 2015 09:48 PM (Dwehj)

373 >>>I am finally watching this series, on Netflix, and just hit the Popplers episode this evening!

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 23, 2015 09:39 PM (2lndx)<<<

Popplers are great, especially when washed down with a nice glass of Slurm.

Posted by: Slurms McKenzie at July 23, 2015 09:48 PM (z9azR)

374 no really i'm leaving.

ok

tears run down chees.
alright

love you all have a great night!

I'm gonna!

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:48 PM (nqBYe)

375 anyone read James Corey's the Expanse series,?

Posted by: admiral marcus at July 23, 2015 09:49 PM (0u/CC)

376 is everyone gonna get Physics on me?
Posted by: willow
----------------

I would..., but I'm dead.
Which is too bad, because I would be throwing the BS flag left and right on the self-promoting 'scientists' you poor people hear so much from these days.

Posted by: Dr. Richard Feynman at July 23, 2015 09:50 PM (9mTYi)

377 1000:1 it won't be habitable.

Never even mind not having had a Great Oxygen Catastrophe because they didn't evolve cyanobacteria, I predict the atmosphere will either be a 100-bar Venusian soup or a Martian wisp.

No liquid water, no life, probably not even a surface Man could walk on without head-to-toe protective gear.

The full power of the weak anthropic principle has barely begun to be observed.

Posted by: TallDave at July 23, 2015 09:50 PM (74ZYB)

378 Hey, If anybody spots a Prius on Kepler 452 --Then I think we can put Hillary down as a mortal lock in 2016.

Posted by: Lower Class person whose opinions need to be guided at July 23, 2015 09:50 PM (7GI9v)

379 There's a Russian physicist that posited *gravity* isn't a universal constant. Me

huh? you think the G gravitational constant might vary in different places...?

Posted by: ace

Me? No? Others trying to square expansion and dark matter *and* dark energy.

Others, maybe only one person, does.

But I thinks it's slightly more believable in a sci-fi sense than a variable speed of light*.

*absent introduction of deliberate methods.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 09:50 PM (VY8H5)

380 you did mention shaking boobs, which seems to have been a false claim.

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:51 PM (dciA+)

381 There's a small window of opportunity to send a probe to Sedna, which will reach perihelion in 2076. Establishing a foothold on this TNO with an orbit of over 11,000 years would be an interesting way to explore space!

http://tinyurl.com/oy97p2t

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 23, 2015 09:51 PM (jR7Wy)

382 Posted by: TallDave at July 23, 2015 09:50 PM (74ZYB)

What that guy said.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at July 23, 2015 09:51 PM (xSCb6)

383 So to go back to Kurzweil if you figure that intelligence has a doubling periodicity similar to Moore's law, then intelligence is always seeking new ways to expand and proliferate. A doubling is a hyperbolic function. Like that grain of rice on a chessboard thing.

So you don't have to be too many cycles down the way to be immensely bigger.

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 09:52 PM (2Ocf1)

384 The full power of the weak anthropic principle has barely begun to be observed.
Posted by: TallDave at July 23, 2015 09:50 PM (74ZYB)

Aaa, that's what the emperor said to Luke and look what happened to him.

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:52 PM (c2krM)

385 I also like the theory, and I use that loosely, that genes are not the determiner of our development, but are the receiver for the life waves that life emits. So each species is receiving the wave of their particular species. If you have a mutation, the signal changes a tiny bit. Get enough of the same mutation and the signal spreads the change.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at July 23, 2015 09:52 PM (rwI+c)

386 >>>Me? No? Others trying to square expansion and dark matter *and* dark energy.

Others, maybe only one person, does.

...

hm, i'll search for this

Posted by: ace at July 23, 2015 09:52 PM (dciA+)

387
I'm close to being a woman.
Posted by: Bruce Jenner at July 23, 2015 09:47 PM (9mTYi)
...................................
Sorry. Next!!!

Posted by: Mars at July 23, 2015 09:52 PM (wAQA5)

388 well sure, but i also mentioned slamming doors.

I could do both but it's hard to do so when i'm talking to myself.

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:52 PM (nqBYe)

389 Garbone, they already wrote and created an anime on that premise

https://youtu.be/jftzZJpzz1M

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 09:53 PM (XYw4l)

390 *I'm* reading your silliness, willow. Enjoy the respite from kid duties!

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at July 23, 2015 09:53 PM (iuQS7)

391 388 well sure, but i also mentioned slamming doors.

I could do both but it's hard to do so when i'm talking to myself.
Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:52 PM (nqBYe)

Try shaking your boobs.

Posted by: StrawMan at July 23, 2015 09:54 PM (c2krM)

392 Okay ladies, everybody agitate their racks on Ace's command. For science.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 23, 2015 09:54 PM (jR7Wy)

393 Elisabeth! whew I am, I love them so, But truthfully i need adult interaction.

If i hear one more time , but i don't wanna sleep I'm not tired or Chicken mcnuggets i really will cry.

What is it about kids and fake chicken pieces?

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:56 PM (nqBYe)

394 Do NOT let that last comment get me willowed.

Nood gunman.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 23, 2015 09:57 PM (jR7Wy)

395 Wait. NASA has spies?

Posted by: blaster at July 23, 2015 09:57 PM (2Ocf1)

396 shakes rather dimunitive breasts at the other clowns.

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 09:58 PM (nqBYe)

397 Oh wait I didn't even see this:

Scientists cannot measure the mass of Kepler-452b directly, but modelling suggests that the planet is five times as massive as Earth

Okay then, zero chance it's habitable, and near-zero chance it could support any life whatsoever, even if it had oceans and they were deliberately seeded. Carbon-based chemistry is just too delicate and nothing else has the requisite combinatory potential.

Posted by: TallDave at July 23, 2015 09:58 PM (74ZYB)

398 Kepler 452b: No Fatties.

Posted by: JSchuler at July 23, 2015 09:58 PM (6i4P9)

399 anyone read James Corey's the Expanse series,?

No, but I read Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson. It didn't end very well.

Posted by: bergerbilder at July 23, 2015 09:59 PM (+jijM)

400 That's it! THAT'S where I parked the Basestar!

Posted by: Brother Cavil, by the Pale Moon light at July 23, 2015 09:59 PM (m9V0o)

401 THAT'S where I parked the Basestar!
----
is That what they call It these days?

Posted by: willow at July 23, 2015 10:01 PM (nqBYe)

402 Theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana. Two dead, one is the shooter. Movie was Trainwreck. Shooter described as "older white man."

Posted by: Country Singer at July 23, 2015 10:01 PM (nL0sw)

403 I thought you were pining all your hopes on the Eris mission?

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 10:01 PM (XYw4l)

404 well it might have a moon or two, that supports life, Yavin Endor, come to mind, if it's about Jupiter size,

Posted by: admiral marcus at July 23, 2015 10:01 PM (0u/CC)

405 Just ponder how big the Milky Way Galaxy is. Imagine the Milky Way is scaled down so that its diameter is that of the continental US. Imagine the pinwheel overlaid on a map of the US. How big is our solar system on that scale?

Take a quarter and throw it on the ground somewhere in Tennessee. That's our solar system out to Pluto, that little quarter circling around the center (and bobbing up and down a little along the z-axis).

And the Galaxy is but a fly speck on a fly speck in the observable universe.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 23, 2015 10:02 PM (dvuhZ)

406 403 I thought you were pining all your hopes on the Eris mission?
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 10:01 PM (XYw4l)
---
But Sedna's HEO is just so freaky.

And I have many Eris missions planned.

*shifty eyes*

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 23, 2015 10:03 PM (jR7Wy)

407 btw, M stands for Minshara, which means planets with a similar atmosphere, roughly the same size as earth, that could easily support life,

Posted by: admiral marcus at July 23, 2015 10:05 PM (0u/CC)

408 Am I going to have to talk to Mars about you Eris???

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 10:05 PM (XYw4l)

409 Fictional starship - which would you want?

GNS Honor Harrington, after the Apollo II upgrade

Posted by: The Seals at July 23, 2015 10:07 PM (brIR5)

410 And the Galaxy is but a fly speck on a fly speck in the ~~observable~~ universe.

Posted by: publius

*hefts up over-sized jeans with suspenders... *
And here's your problem.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 10:09 PM (VY8H5)

411 If we could just get to Kepler 452 and throw up a Stonehenge replica and then scoot back home and turn on the telescope and sit back and watch THOSE little Keplerites go batty trying to figure it all out. Problem is ....they are probably sitting there now on K452 watching US doing the same thing.

Posted by: Lower Class person whose opinions need to be guided at July 23, 2015 10:09 PM (7GI9v)

412 409 Fictional starship - which would you want?
---
Barbarella's -- it has wall-to-wall-to-ceiling shag.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 23, 2015 10:10 PM (jR7Wy)

413 With or without the shaggable Barbarella included?

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 23, 2015 10:12 PM (XYw4l)

414 For planets with the same density, surface gravity is proportional to the diameter (or radius). I assume "60% larger" refers to diameter, not mass; because the article says it's about 5 times as massive as earth. (Actually 5 times the volume equates to about 1.7 times the diameter.) Anyway, if the planet has the same density as the earth, and its diameter is 60% greater, then its surface gravity would also be 60% greater.

Posted by: bof at July 23, 2015 10:13 PM (Bu4wL)

415 >>Fictional starship - which would you want?

GNS Honor Harrington, after the Apollo II upgrade

Posted by: The Seals

I'm not sure that qualifies as a singular 'starship.'

RULES???!

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 23, 2015 10:18 PM (VY8H5)

416 READY
FOR
HILLARY
Don't go! Don't go! How to Serve Mankind... it's a bar-mixology guide!!! Don't go!!!

Posted by: andycanuck at July 23, 2015 10:18 PM (kivUY)

417 >>> I read a short story once where the plot was that for millions of years, the Earth has been moving through a part of space that basically dampened down the speed of light. Then one day, we started to leave that field, with interesting results.

Brain Wave by Poul Anderson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_Wave

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at July 23, 2015 10:22 PM (W5DcG)

418 So when do Male Feminists let the space aliens bang their wives

You know, for #SCIENCE

Posted by: kbdabear at July 23, 2015 10:37 PM (GrXXa)

419 We are either alone or we are not both ideas are terrifying... Arthur C Clark

Actually I am waiting for my new overlords.

Posted by: drunkinmesa at July 23, 2015 10:42 PM (FUKWF)

420 I don't trust aliens. They're into freaky shit. It's all about cattle mutilations and anal probing with those guys.

Posted by: otho at July 23, 2015 10:44 PM (d8udV)

421 409
Fictional starship - which would you want?

Put me down for the Heart of Gold.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at July 23, 2015 10:45 PM (HalrA)

422 Actually I am waiting for my new overlords.

Posted by: drunkinmesa at July 23, 2015 10:42 PM (FUKWF)

I'm all for surrendering to the first UFO that comes by, as long as they're looking to conquer instead of exterminate. They couldn't do any worse of a job running the place, if they're advanced enough to be doing interstellar travel.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at July 23, 2015 10:47 PM (HalrA)

423 I read something interesting about what makes earth special: the tectonic plates that keep things circulating. In addition to all the other things that make the earth uniquely habitable, it's the plates, that are highly unlikely to be found.

Posted by: Auntie Doodles at July 23, 2015 11:05 PM (teYv/)

424 Assuming the new planet, "Earth Twin", is 60% larger in radius, five times more massive, and made of the same stuff, all we need do is calculate the force exerted on a mass (person) on Earth and compare it to the force exerted on that same mass on Earth Twin.

Newton's Gravitational Equation is
Fg=(G*m1*m2)/d-squared [radius^2 in this case].

If G=6.673E-11,
mEarth=5.972E24,
mMe=81.6466, and
rEarth^2 is 4.0589641E13,
then Fg=802N.

If mEarthTwin=2.986E25 and
rEarthTwin^2 is 6.49434256E13, then
Fg=2,505N.

Then 2,505/802=3.125 so gravity on Earth Twin should be 3.125 times that of Earth's.

Yes? No? Maybe?

Posted by: LexiRedLion at July 23, 2015 11:33 PM (FWfvK)

425 424: You made an error somewhere, but I'm too lazy to find it. There's no need to actually calculate the gravitational forces, just look at the ratios of those forces. We just need to take the ratio of 'g' the acceleration at the surface which goes as m/r^2. So we want (m2/r2^2)/(m1/r1^2), which works out to be the ratio of masses over the square of the ratio of radii.

We thus have 5/(1.6^2) = 1.95. Or approximately 2 earth g.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at July 24, 2015 12:45 AM (dvuhZ)

426 You're right, I did make an error. I effed up the new planet's radius & square. It's exactly as you say: 1.953125 times that of Earth's. Thanks!

Posted by: LexiRedLion at July 24, 2015 01:37 AM (FWfvK)

427 Hey guys, the bigger problem is the atmospheric and aquatic pressures that result from the higher gravity. These drive big variances in chemistry and the forces experienced by geological processes-- plate tectonics are going to be horrifyingly destructive on a planet with 5x Earth mass, you're probably looking at total subduction on millennial scales.

Why is Venus so hot? It's not because of the greenhouse effect -- the Venusian night lasts two months but the temperature barely changes at all -- it's because of adiabatic compression and the equilibrium temperature.

The Earth is in a very delicate balance that is probably exquisitely tuned for life. We probably wouldn't even exist if not for little things like the Faint Young Sun Paradox.

Posted by: TallDave at July 24, 2015 11:01 AM (74ZYB)

428 94
48 where liquid water AND HOT GREEN ALIEN WOMEN could exist.

I mean, why not go for broke?

Posted by: some random meathead at July 23, 2015 08:33 PM (cNtqS)

Of course, they'll all weigh like 250 pounds.
*
*
On a planet with 2x Earth gravity, even Susan Oliver and Yvonne Craig would weigh 250!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 24, 2015 11:14 AM (QrB1r)

429 361
read a story once where the astronauts were in cryosleep and going to alpha cantauri

they get there and there's a big welcoming from all these humans, as
they had developed FTL in the intervening years but couldn't get to
them. so they were waiting.

the astronauts didn't like what humanity had become so they got back in and went elsewhere.
*
*
Sounds like an early A.E. van Vogt. If it's the same one, there was a mention of how the humans on Alpha Centauri didn't like the smell of the astronauts.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 24, 2015 11:18 AM (QrB1r)

430 340
>>> I read a short story once where the plot was that for
millions of years, the Earth has been moving through a part of space
that basically dampened down the speed of light. Then one day, we
started to leave that field, with interesting results.

I don't think it' the same, but in Larry Niven's Known Space, it's
kind of similar: the speed of light only applies in the vicinity of a
"singularity" (like... any star, actually). His premise is that the
speed of light stops operating when you're some arbitrary distance awat
from the sun.

*
*
In Niven's KS stories, the idea is that if a ship in faster-than-light travel, hyperspace, gets too close to a singularity, it -- the ship, I mean -- disappears. Same thing happens with black holes and any other high gravity gradient. I don't think he's ever suggested that the speed of light changes, merely that the hyperdrive can't work near a sun.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 24, 2015 11:21 AM (QrB1r)

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