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Search for aliens poses game theory dilemma (old but interesting piece)
New Scientist ^ | December 12, 2012 | Jacob Aaron

Posted on 10/05/2019 12:05:15 PM PDT by DoodleBob

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To: PIF

I Imagine an attack with advanced alien technology against earth would be as simple as a GMO virus. Much cheaper and easier than a single nuke to accomplish.


41 posted on 10/05/2019 1:27:01 PM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: PIF

We have signals that are 70-80 light-years out from earth. A star-faring race with FTL that picks them up in our present will figure out that we’re close whether it’s in a straight line from one point or triangulate from two points a few light-years apart, not “millions.” Signal strength, the variety, anything they can unscramble, will tell them some things about us before they ever lay optics on us.

If a FTL civilization knows about us now, it’s as good as always having known. We can’t yet stop whatever they want to do about, to, or with us. If they’re that bad-ass, they’ll just dust us off the planet. If they want to deal, they have an advantage. Yeah, so what? We work it out or work on it.

_First Contract_ was a very interesting read about earth’s first contact with star-faring alien races. There are reasons aliens may not want to eradicate us. At least not right away. Especially if they can get everything they want by not having to.


42 posted on 10/05/2019 1:28:25 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: BenLurkin
We got 'em here, too. Except ours are better.


43 posted on 10/05/2019 1:31:53 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: DoodleBob
SENDING messages into deep space could be the best way for Earthlings to find extraterrestrial intelligence, but it carries a grave risk: alerting hostile aliens to our presence.

Until you learn how many nuclear power plants are required to generate the power levels necessary for sending signals inter-stellar distances.

44 posted on 10/05/2019 1:32:18 PM PDT by fso301
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To: BradyLS
In Carl Sagan’s book _Contact,_ he points out that we’ve been broadcasting television signals into the cosmos since the 30s. It’s only gotten worse since.

None of those signals generated on Earth will be intelligible at inter-stellar distances.

45 posted on 10/05/2019 1:35:07 PM PDT by fso301
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To: jeffc

In Sagan’s book, they receive signals from outside the solar system. Basically, an alien civilization returns to earth some of the first TV signals that earth broadcast. Among them the ‘36 Olympics. But I imagine they picked a lot more. But it was enough for communication to continue.

I read the book and saw the movie once. The premise that sets up the book is what stuck with me the most. The rest is an interesting read. Naturally, the aliens learn more about us than we do about them because they hold all the advantages in communication.

I really enjoyed the movie Arrival that came out a few years ago. I thought the ending weak. But quite strong until then.


46 posted on 10/05/2019 1:36:46 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: Bitman; Brilliant
Do you really believe that if a civilization did exist out there that they had a 100,000 year lead over us on the technology curve that they would be worried about a mere 4.5 light years?

Which means there's nothing out there.

47 posted on 10/05/2019 1:37:09 PM PDT by fso301
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To: Larry Lucido
The fake ‘Rock Ridge’ from blazing saddles


48 posted on 10/05/2019 1:38:26 PM PDT by Vaquero ( Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill yo u.)
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To: BradyLS
We could go silent. But we have decades of unregulated signals moving outward that could be picked up for a long time to help refine their search.

But that won't happen because signals from earth won't reach out that far.

49 posted on 10/05/2019 1:40:27 PM PDT by fso301
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To: Vaquero

Look glorp, it’s a potemkin Galaxy !


50 posted on 10/05/2019 1:42:48 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: fso301

Your logic is sound—unfortunately, there is no natural law that we talking apes have the ability to understand the universe in any correct way.

I think we are totally clueless—and future generations will laugh at our stupidity the way we laugh at cargo cults or sun worshippers.

We wouldn’t recognize aliens if they were growing under our feet.

But—we humans have always excelled at one thing—ignorant arrogance.


51 posted on 10/05/2019 1:44:26 PM PDT by cgbg (Vote Trump or you will _be_ Trump)
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To: cgbg

I’m gonna read it for a third time.
When you consider Dr. Steven Greer has already briefed over 1,000 people in govt. from cia directors on down on what is really going on even talking about a “signal” is so backward its hardly relevant.
I wonder if anyone here has ever heard of the Phoenix lights.


52 posted on 10/05/2019 1:53:18 PM PDT by rodguy911 (Maga: USA supports Trump. Home of the Free because of the brave.)
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To: rodguy911

Skeptics always say—”Well, if there are aliens, why don’t they land on the White House lawn.”

Does flying over it count? ;-)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1952_Washington,_D.C._UFO_incident


53 posted on 10/05/2019 2:04:30 PM PDT by cgbg (Vote Trump or you will _be_ Trump)
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To: BradyLS

Well as long as the alien isn’t named Sarris.......


54 posted on 10/05/2019 2:11:38 PM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
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To: American in Israel

I Imagine an attack with advanced alien technology against earth would be as simple as a GMO virus. Much cheaper and easier than a single nuke to accomplish.


Can’t be sure that some humans might either escape or be immune. Solar nova solves the problem. As does physics alteration or dimensional strikes.


55 posted on 10/05/2019 2:45:21 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: cgbg
unfortunately, there is no natural law that we talking apes have the ability to understand the universe in any correct way.

Why is the assumption always that an alien civilization is automatically far more advanced than we primitive Earthlings? Who is to say Planet Earth doesn't harbor the most advanced carbon based life in the universe?

56 posted on 10/05/2019 2:47:01 PM PDT by fso301
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To: BradyLS

Triangulation does not work in this instance - sorry I forget the reasons but no. There has to be a specific location such as spiral arm coordinates, solar references, Solar type, near by stars and type. Etc. Radio location is too uncertain and too slow. Specific location needed hence ‘unmanned’ disguised scouts like the ones just passing through the system.

Smart aliens would never “lay eyes” on us. No need. A causal strike would take place from some location many light years away.


57 posted on 10/05/2019 2:51:25 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: cgbg

“Science already knows nature of reality, only the details remain to be filled in.”

Right out of 1950s science. Not much has changed.

But countless anomalies lie all over the Earth that cannot be filly explained without sounding foolish, or on detailed examination just plain wrong. We hardly have any idea what happened and who the players were in the Old Egyptian Kingdom let alone things that happened thousands of years prior.


58 posted on 10/05/2019 3:02:43 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: fso301

It is my assumption (and I can make a bunch of arguments for it)—but as ignorant talking apes we can’t know for sure.

I am just very suspicious of the psychology of human arrogance—and I think we are getting the wrong answers by asking the wrong questions.


59 posted on 10/05/2019 3:04:38 PM PDT by cgbg (Vote Trump or you will _be_ Trump)
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To: Bitman

If we were traveling 1% of the speed of light it would take us 450 years to get to the closest star. And 1% of the speed of light is more than 100 times faster than the fastest satellite we’ve ever put up. Why would any civilization waste its resources on such a thing even if it were possible? I am not at all convinced that technology can overcome any obstacle if you give it time.


60 posted on 10/05/2019 3:13:38 PM PDT by Brilliant
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