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Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

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Re: Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

#31

Post by jessaustin »

Johnny555 wrote: post #13
scott113341 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> such as around Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to Earth, or TRAPPIST-1, a star about 40 light-years away... I don't think they are asserting that the laser beam travels faster than the speed of light. I think they are referring to Proxima Centauri being about 4 light-years away from Earth [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxima_Centauri

That may be what they meant, but that's not what they said, they mentioned 2 systems, one is 40 light years away, and said "...If the signal is spotted from either of these nearby systems..."

They're talking about interstellar communication, not how long you've lived in your house. 40 years is just a few years.

Re: Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

#32

Post by roywiggins »

seiferteric wrote: post #14
andrewljohnson wrote: post #3

I prefer a Dark Forest strategy for approaching the universe. If anything, we should be thinking about how to emit less radiation that can be traced back to Earth into space. Best case: aliens send us technology via morse code. Worst case: relativistic projectile from advanced civilization destroys Earth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Forest

At this point I think I would rather take our chances with the aliens since we are going to destroy ourselves anyway.

A relativistic kill shot would take out a lot more of Earth's biosphere than humans are likely to. If we kill ourselves, bacteria and cockroaches will live on. Not so much, if Earth is vaporized to make way for a hyperspace bypass.

Re: Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

#33

Post by gisely »

ALittleLight wrote: post #18
seiferteric wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At this point I think I would rather take our chances with the aliens since we are going to destroy ourselves anyway.

For being such a cynic about humanity you're awfully optimistic about aliens.

I think there might be some reasons to be optimistic. Any civilization that might notice our signal and decide to interact with us has with us has existed much longer than our own civilization with high probability. Thus, there is more evidence of long-term stability in such a civilization than our own. With stability comes the potential for experience, with experience the potential for wisdom.

Re: Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

#34

Post by [deleted] »

joezydeco wrote: post #7
eloff wrote: post #4

This seems to me like shining a laser pointer randomly up into the sky and hoping someone from a passing plane sees it? Is this practical given the vastness of space and the directionaality of this laser?

Well not just a plane passing overhead, a plane passing overhead 200 years from now. Maybe we should be aiming the big laser at Oumuamua. With a big HEY COME BACK HERE message.

[deleted]

Re: Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

#35

Post by flukus »

andrewljohnson wrote: post #3

I prefer a Dark Forest strategy for approaching the universe. If anything, we should be thinking about how to emit less radiation that can be traced back to Earth into space. Best case: aliens send us technology via morse code. Worst case: relativistic projectile from advanced civilization destroys Earth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Forest

This seems to be based on the premise that alien civilizations can only find us if we broadcast and doesn't account for them sending out probes

Even in that universe, we know they could easily send probes out to the galaxy and it would solve the whole "chain of suspicion" thing that makes destroying alien civilizations the best option.

Re: Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

#36

Post by gotocake »

roywiggins wrote: post #32
seiferteric wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At this point I think I would rather take our chances with the aliens since we are going to destroy ourselves anyway.

A relativistic kill shot would take out a lot more of Earth's biosphere than humans are likely to. If we kill ourselves, bacteria and cockroaches will live on. Not so much, if Earth is vaporized to make way for a hyperspace bypass.

On the upside, the bypass is very splendid and worthwhile. Even ignoring something as extreme as the Dark Forest theory, it still seems like a questionable policy. A more conservative aim would be to want to maximize development time against the risk of discovery, ideally ultimately finding yourself in the role of observing without being observed. The history on our planet of first contact between disparate groups of humans should be illustrative. Even when people had good intentions, the unforeseen impacts could be enormous; I’m thinking of smallpox, and even the history of coexisting Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens. Maybe aliens are totally different, but it’s a hell of a thing do, assuming they would be more benevolent.

Re: Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

#37

Post by resu_nimda »

sean2 wrote: post #16
ams6110 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there is life in the Proxima Centauri system, and it has the technological capability to get to the Earth, I think they already know about us.

Serious question: how could they already know about us? Are you simply assuming they have advanced signal detection technologies that match their space fairing capability?

We can observe a lot more in the cosmos than we can physically reach. We are mapping out and tracking far more stars and planets than we could hope to reach for a long time. Even within our solar system, we have gained and will gain much knowledge of the outer planets from probes well before we set foot on them. I would expect this property to hold for other civilizations, it's just much easier to observe far away things than to transport complex life forms to them.

Re: Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

#39

Post by ALittleLight »

gisely wrote: post #33
ALittleLight wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For being such a cynic about humanity you're awfully optimistic about aliens.

I think there might be some reasons to be optimistic. Any civilization that might notice our signal and decide to interact with us has with us has existed much longer than our own civilization with high probability. Thus, there is more evidence of long-term stability in such a civilization than our own. With stability comes the potential for experience, with experience the potential for wisdom.

How would you expect a society that is extremely stable would deal with an incohate civilization? I think it's at least plausible they would want to stifle potential problems in the cradle, so to speak.

Re: Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

#40

Post by angry_octet »

ridgeguy wrote: post #27
maxxxxx wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Vogons may come by and destroy Earth.

I'll knowingly violate HN's rules to say that's a Vogon conclusion.

Is there a rule against humour? Or puns? I thought it was just a sect of users who are also Wikipedia editors.
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