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Is ‘Oumuamua an alien spacecraft? First scans show no signs of technology

theguardian.com

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Re: Is ‘Oumuamua an alien spacecraft? First scans show no signs of technology

#31

Post by Unbeliever69 »

yoodenvranx wrote: post #25
cantrip wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno I think if it were an alien spacecraft we should just keep our heads low and not draw any attention to it. Our first window of opportunity might be our last.

This reminds me of Liu Cixins "The the body problem"-triology. If you haven't read it yet you should have a look.

Dark Forest Deterence. I'd be interested to find out what % of HR readers HAVEN'T read this trilogy considering how much it comes up in conversation on these forums. I'm willing to bet it is a VERY high % compared to the average reading population.

Re: Is ‘Oumuamua an alien spacecraft? First scans show no signs of technology

#33

Post by rlkf »

wasx wrote: post #15
cantrip wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno I think if it were an alien spacecraft we should just keep our heads low and not draw any attention to it. Our first window of opportunity might be our last.

I've gotta disagree with you on this. Personally I think intelligent life is probably very rare in the universe, the sheer number of factors that need to go right for it to arise, and then the sheer number of factors that need to not go wrong for it to continue to exist mean any intelligent life out there is probably going to find us way more valuable and worthy of co-operation and interaction than say destruction of…

But the society need not be based on internal oppression, to be an adversary to us: I don't think the kingdom of Castille in 1492 necessarily was a beacon of stability and lack of conflict; yet it financed an expedition westwards.

Re: Is ‘Oumuamua an alien spacecraft? First scans show no signs of technology

#35

Post by 0xdada »

on_and_off wrote: post #26
wasx wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've gotta disagree with you on this. Personally I think intelligent life is probably very rare in the universe, the sheer number of factors that need to go right for it to arise, and then the sheer number of factors that need to not go wrong for it to continue to exist mean any intelligent life out there is probably going to find us way more valuable and worthy of co-operation and interaction than say destruction of…

The last thing I would want for an alien life is to be humane. We have not really been great in our interactions with other cultures throughout history and they were of the same species as us.

I think you're not interpreting the word "humane" correctly. It's possible for humans to behave in an inhumane manner. In fact it happens a lot to this day. That doesn't mean GP's definition of "humane" is wrong.

Re: Is ‘Oumuamua an alien spacecraft? First scans show no signs of technology

#36

Post by wasx »

on_and_off wrote: post #26
wasx wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've gotta disagree with you on this. Personally I think intelligent life is probably very rare in the universe, the sheer number of factors that need to go right for it to arise, and then the sheer number of factors that need to not go wrong for it to continue to exist mean any intelligent life out there is probably going to find us way more valuable and worthy of co-operation and interaction than say destruction of…

The last thing I would want for an alien life is to be humane. We have not really been great in our interactions with other cultures throughout history and they were of the same species as us.

I put humanity in quotes because I didn't really know what else to name it when talking about some other form of intelligence. I guess I'm talking about that part of our society that craves peace and stability, that has enabled our continued development up to this point. Certainly throughout history we've seen unimaginable cruelty inflicted on "less civilised" societies by colonial and imperialist societies. Hopefully any intelligence which has reached the development of an interstellar society would have those same qualities, frankly I don't see any other way for it to sustain itself.

Imagine we came across anew form of intelligent life on Mars, would we exploit and enslave it? I'd like to think living in a global society would prevent such atrocities, at least in the modern era, and hopefully beyond. And I think any society in an interstellar context would behave the same

Re: Is ‘Oumuamua an alien spacecraft? First scans show no signs of technology

#38

Post by dv_dt »

wasx wrote: post #15
cantrip wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno I think if it were an alien spacecraft we should just keep our heads low and not draw any attention to it. Our first window of opportunity might be our last.

I've gotta disagree with you on this. Personally I think intelligent life is probably very rare in the universe, the sheer number of factors that need to go right for it to arise, and then the sheer number of factors that need to not go wrong for it to continue to exist mean any intelligent life out there is probably going to find us way more valuable and worthy of co-operation and interaction than say destruction of…

What if intelligent life is rare because at some point some other intelligent life set up a systematic process of keeping the universe clear of it?

Re: Is ‘Oumuamua an alien spacecraft? First scans show no signs of technology

#39

Post by garmaine »

yoodenvranx wrote: post #25
cantrip wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno I think if it were an alien spacecraft we should just keep our heads low and not draw any attention to it. Our first window of opportunity might be our last.

This reminds me of Liu Cixins "The the body problem"-triology. If you haven't read it yet you should have a look.

Revelation Space explores the concept better.

Re: Is ‘Oumuamua an alien spacecraft? First scans show no signs of technology

#40

Post by stcredzero »

0bfus wrote: post #28
pmoriarty wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It could also be just a dead spacecraft, than was once operational but is no longer so. That could also be why it's tumbling now, whereas once it may have flown in a more aerodynamic fashion.

it's obvious what you're describing but just wanted to point out that aerodynamic is a poor choice of words to describe an interstellar body :)

If it's tumbling to provide artificial gravity, then the crew needs something like 8.94595e-7 g to feel comfortable.
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