Something I had mentioned a while ago no Tribune that I would link to if I remembered what it was called.
From Wikipedia:
The Fermi paradox can be asked in two ways. The first is, "Why are no aliens or their artifacts physically here?" If interstellar travel is possible, even the "slow" kind nearly within the reach of Earth technology, then it would only take from 5 million to 50 million years to colonize the galaxy. This is a relatively small amount of time on a geological scale, let alone a cosmological one. Since there are many stars older than the sun, or since intelligent life might have evolved earlier elsewhere, the question then becomes why the galaxy has not been colonized already. Even if colonization is impractical or undesirable to all alien civilizations, large scale exploration of the galaxy is still possible; the means of exploration and theoretical probes involved are discussed extensively below. However, no signs of either colonization or exploration have been generally acknowledged.
The argument above may not hold for the universe as a whole, since travel times may well explain the lack of physical presence on Earth of alien inhabitants of far away galaxies. However, the question then becomes "Why do we see no signs of intelligent life?" as a sufficiently advanced civilization could potentially be seen over a significant fraction of the size of the observable universe Even if such civilizations are rare, the scale argument indicates they should exist somewhere and some point during the history of the universe, and since they could be detected from far away over a considerable period of time, many more potential sites for their origin are within our view. However, no incontrovertible signs of such civilizations have been detected.
Interesting
Why is it called the "Fermi paradox" ?
Because the guy who asked the question was called Fermi?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
From the original wikipedia link:
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
An "alternative" look:
Read more @ BBC News
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
argh! I was just highlighting that and just copied that to post on here.
I was going to ask, in reference to it, whether,
if anyone believes that there actually could be aliens out there?
There could be life out there. There could even be intelligent life out there.
The interesting question IMO would be what do it believe?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RGtC2S22Z0]
When I first watched Signs, this was my favourite scene. Now it just makes me laugh.
That humans are scary and more intelligent than them, I hope.
Yeah, they enemy was kind of lame. Good film for a one time viewing though.
heh, I meant more in terms of religion, but the above also asks an interesting question.
If you sent a probe out into the unknown, would you sign post a way for potentially unfriendly life to come back here, or would you point them in a totally different direction?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
In terms of religion...that is an interesting question. The fact that there are other planets out there, Is that at all mentioned anywhere in the Qu'ran or any hadiths?
Do you think there really are actually any planets out there or that it is all an illusion, created by Allah swt, just to test us?
and your second question, I would want to do both, it would be interesting to sign post them to Earth, but if they are potentially harmful, then thats bringing more problems to this world than needed.
"Al hamdulillahi Rabbis Aalameen".
Aalameen = worlds.
Traditionally this has ben translated as this world and the word after death etc, but it could also be translated as other worlds that exist now, as in planets.
AFAIK, the qur'an does not deny the existence of life outside the planet.
And then there is a question over the Jinn. Why are they? where are they? are they on other worlds? Is that like saying intelligent aliens exist?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Aalameen = words.
You mean worlds don't you?
oh.
hmmm. Not really ever thought about Jinns before.
So what does Islam say about Jinns then?
YEah I meant worlds - corrected now.
As for the Jinns - The qur'an says that they exist, that they have free will.
I am not sure if this is hearsay/make-belief or from the qur'an too but I have heard that Earth was their original home, but they were driven out by the angels due to "causing mischief".
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
http://www.inter-islam.org/faith/jinn.html
I thin I knew that before, but I can't find any "reliable" websites about Jinns.
Why haven't WE got into contact with Aliens yet?
“Before death takes away what you are given, give away whatever there is to give.”
Mawlana Jalal ud Din Rumi
Its the other way around. Maybe Earth civilisation is not advanced enough to be able to make contact. but that would not stop any civilisation more advanced to contact us. So why has not happened? Because there is none?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Or because they aren't advanced enough.
“Before death takes away what you are given, give away whatever there is to give.”
Mawlana Jalal ud Din Rumi
If there is intelligent life on other planets, why would the earth be the one which is the most advanced? Other solar systems, planets, stars are older.
While they may not have "made contact" according to the first linked to article, it should be possible to detect transmissions etc at the least.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Maybe we're not good enough for the aliens.
I have one question about all this:
Who cares?
Don't just do something! Stand there.
Or maybe, aliens are already here on Earth but they are just hiding and belnding in. Maybe.
“Before death takes away what you are given, give away whatever there is to give.”
Mawlana Jalal ud Din Rumi
ssshhhh!
are you trying to tell us something?
Do you know why I chose the name the Lamp?
“Before death takes away what you are given, give away whatever there is to give.”
Mawlana Jalal ud Din Rumi
no...
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
I am a TIMELORD!!!!!!!!! I took on the name the Lamp when I "regenerated"!
Just kidding! But seriously, think about it, maybe we have a pre conception on what an alien looks like so maybe we've missed them while they're right under our doorstep.
“Before death takes away what you are given, give away whatever there is to give.”
Mawlana Jalal ud Din Rumi
I have no conception to preconcept.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.