/sci/ - Science & Math

SUCK IT EINSTEIN!

http://news.yahoo.com/warp-drive-may-more-feasible-thought-scientists-161301109.html

You're thinking about the Fermi paradox, named after Enrico Fermi. It cannot be a "fallacy" though because it is not a statement; it's a question.

Fermi asked:

If there are other intelligent beings in the universe, where are they?

At first glance, the question seems to be an oversimplification of the topic; anyone who is aware of the travel limitations in space may quickly react by saying "Since the universe is so large and if c is the speed limit of the universe, it would make sense that we don't see them flying around everywhere and visiting us."

The real bite in Fermi's question, however, lies in the incredible age of the universe. If you consider how old the universe is and how many opportunities intelligent life has had an opportunity to reach space-faring technology (billions of years before humans), it seems unlikely that, even in the vastness of space, they would not have already populated most of the galaxy. As we observe our current break-neck speed of advancing technology, it is becoming more and more obvious that once a species becomes intelligent and, thus, technological, they will inevitably become space-faring in the blink of an eye.

The vastness of time and space lend credence to both sides of the answer. It's scary, when you think about it. With today's technology that we have RIGHT NOW, we could travel to the nearest star in a few hundred years if we really wanted to... again, on astronomical timescales, it's the blink of an eye. Where are they? Perhaps space is just so vast that, even with many technological, space faring civilizations, most star systems go unexplored. Or maybe we really are alone.

>>4477150

Continuing:

There is also the argument that, if life is so common, where is everybody? The first time I encountered this argument I thought it was nonsense; "everybody" is just out there but limited to the cosmic speed limit, and so are all confined to their own star systems. But, upon further investigation, you'll see that this argument has a little more to it. Considering the statistics that I've already mentioned and the incredible age of the universe, if life and, by extension technological species, is at all a regular occurrence then our galaxy should be positively booming with technological civilizations much more advanced than ours. Even with the cosmic speed limit, it is easy to imagine hundreds of ways that sufficiently advanced civilizations would stick out like a sore thumb to our astronomical observations. But we have no indication of that, whatsoever. It's a little disconcerting.

That's all I have to say about it.

Alright /sci/, I got a challenge for you.

I was just casually gazing at the stars and I noticed a peculiarly bright one.

I'm not even sure if it's a star.

I know the picture quality is pretty shit, but you could you possibly tell me what it is I saw?

Here's your information to work with:
http://tinypic.com/r/28qihl/5
http://tinypic.com/r/28k0vw0/5
http://tinypic.com/r/11h5vo9/5
http://tinypic.com/r/30tgfo7/5

I uploaded them there instead of posting them here because I wanted you to have as much info as possible so every pixel counts.
The pictures where the star (which was unfortunately the only thing bright enough to show up, besides the dimmer star next to it) is at the lower right corner is because I was trying to give some reference... the upper left corners of those pics is approximately where the orion constellation was.

I live in Dallas, Texas...

It was taken approximately at 9:00 PM CST.

Good luck.

Anybody wants to watch some Science stuff together?

Currently playing Cosmos but open for suggestions.

Forgot link last time: http://www.synchtube.com/r/Maxtopia

IIRC madscientist was arrested for animal cruelty a while ago. Does anyone know how soon will he be free again?
picture unrelated

>>2967429
The technology:
http://techland.time.com/2011/04/06/spacexs-falcon-heavy-most-powerful-private-rocket-ever/
http://www.universetoday.com/73536/nasa-considering-rail-gun-launch-system-to-the-stars/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article4799369.ece

The will:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8bIQLiKi3g
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/02/lord-british-wants-to-take-you-to-space-and-hes-closer-th
an-you-think.ars/3

The time (and one of the main kicks in the ass to get it started):
http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/forever-young/manhattan-beach-project-end-aging-2029
http://www.sens.org/sens-research/research-themes
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3329065877451441972#
http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101128/full/news.2010.635.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/nov/28/scientists-reverse-ageing-mice-humans

The economic benefits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_mining
>At 1997 prices, a relatively small metallic asteroid with a diameter of 1 mile contains more than $20 trillion US dollars worth of industrial and precious metals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_Earth_Objects#Near-Earth_asteroids
>As of May 2010, 7,075 near-Earth asteroids are known,[14] ranging in size up to ~32 kilometers (1036 Ganymed).[16] The number of near-Earth asteroids over one kilometer in diameter is estimated to be 500 - 1,000.
http://www.virgingalactic.com/

>>2923779
If you collided Mars and Venus together it would still be just under 1 Earth mass

>>2923780
Parasol around Venus, freeze the atmosphere out, get droids to build factories and railguns on the surface to scoop up the dry ice and jettison it to Mars or some point in the orbit where it can be redirected there

>>2923773
Automated asteroid mining seems like it would be easier, faster, and while not safer, they're fucking robots, who gives a shit.

You're welcome, OP.

You will not live long enough to see this in reality.

I like this one.

>>2327822
I think ti will be possible, but should be mainly used for scientific purposes. Think about what we can do, in terms of discovering the universe. We can populate other planets and not have to worry about dying of age across the way. This totally eliminates the need of generation ships, which were a previous idea. If we colonize other planets/moons, then this scientific breakthrough will be most beneficial. However will it occur within our lifespans? Maybe. If you look at how medical science is rapidly changing, it looks like it may come soon, I myself predict around 2050.

What is the most scientifically convincing but same time exciting science fiction that there is? Literature or movies.

Please tell me some good ones.

>>2049118
This is what I'm playing on. The area I included has less than 15,000 people that could be relocated or given the option of dual-citizenship with free travel across Australian/TRS borders.

Hello, fellow /sci/borgs. I have a question for you.
Is it possible for alien life to develop wheels or tank-like tracks? If yes, how likely would that be?

>>1913627
If you're below 30 I really, really wouldn't worry about it.

There is no evidence either way at this point.
Consider this; if such a technology was invented, there is probably around enough habitable oxygen/nitrogen/water planets for every person to have one to themselves. If not even more. AND THEN THERE'S THE FACT OF THE UNOBSERVABLE UNIVERSE.

So /sci/.

What will you be doing 100 years from now?

>>1778700
Well I have been thinking that moot changed 4chan's webcode to basically make it that it shows samefag when a person quotes their own post. When you did it to mine, that's when that idea stopped becoming viable.

How long before we develop warp drive and make first contact?