An interesting thought I had that may be worth discussion.
Macharius Send a noteboard - 29/09/2011 07:22:01 PM
I just read an article where it was postulated that one third of Sun-like stars host warm, water-bearing planets. Using the Milky Way as the obvious example, a minimum estimate of 200 billion stars of which 7.6% are G-classified (our Sun is a G) yields 15 billion stars with potentially Earth-like planets. At 13 billion years old, I find it inconceivable that there isn't intelligent life elsewhere in the galaxy.
Jump to Fox's new Terra Nova TV show, and more relevently the discussion on the TV/Movies board. Living on a planet without fossil fuels means that the only way to extract energy is to burn things, turn a water/wind mill, etc. until you're able to refine fissionable or create solar panels.
Taken together, I have to wonder if one reason we haven't seen other intelligent life already is because the energy available to make the transition from low-tech energy sources to anything more capable is precluded by the necessity for fossil fuels to serve as an intermediary energy source.
Think about it: how likely is heavy industry - metallurgy in particular - and the following technological society to even be possible if the best you can do is lighting a wood fire?
Jump to Fox's new Terra Nova TV show, and more relevently the discussion on the TV/Movies board. Living on a planet without fossil fuels means that the only way to extract energy is to burn things, turn a water/wind mill, etc. until you're able to refine fissionable or create solar panels.
Taken together, I have to wonder if one reason we haven't seen other intelligent life already is because the energy available to make the transition from low-tech energy sources to anything more capable is precluded by the necessity for fossil fuels to serve as an intermediary energy source.
Think about it: how likely is heavy industry - metallurgy in particular - and the following technological society to even be possible if the best you can do is lighting a wood fire?
An interesting thought I had that may be worth discussion.
29/09/2011 07:22:01 PM
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I definitely agree with the first part.
29/09/2011 08:32:33 PM
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why do you think only those options would be available?
29/09/2011 08:35:53 PM
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Well just look at the history of Earth. And the cultural/advancement disparity would be FAR greater. *NM*
29/09/2011 08:58:52 PM
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Could be cultural domination.
29/09/2011 09:32:18 PM
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In one particular space opera, it's a mix and probably the best situation possible for humans.
29/09/2011 10:21:42 PM
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Unless their advancement is so great they are VERY ethically enlightened, her fears seem valid.
30/09/2011 03:04:40 AM
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I think I've met a few aliens...
30/09/2011 01:31:55 AM
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Those know it all holier than thou all powerful vegan aliens are SO annoying.
30/09/2011 06:40:30 AM
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The big issue is energy density, IMHO.
30/09/2011 02:53:39 AM
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That's so perfect.
30/09/2011 06:43:31 AM
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I still agree with the view they are unlikley to intentionally punish us.
30/09/2011 09:35:13 AM
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We really have no idea how rare advance technologies societies are
30/09/2011 02:00:56 PM
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That's a really good point.
30/09/2011 04:34:28 PM
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The doomsdays options don't really hold up well though
30/09/2011 05:22:57 PM
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hmmm
30/09/2011 07:51:42 PM
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Yeah but that's just a variant of "Highly advanced aliens who for some reason are totally stupid"
30/09/2011 10:21:34 PM
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I didn't mean to imply that were not talking to us because they looked down on us
01/10/2011 01:07:02 AM
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Re: I didn't mean to imply that were not talking to us because they looked down on us
01/10/2011 02:50:42 AM
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of course I can't say, that was my point
30/09/2011 07:42:55 PM
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Re: If life formed, why might there not be fossil fuels equivalent to, or greater than, our own? *NM*
01/10/2011 03:16:23 AM
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