As someone with a degree in physics I have long thought about this, and my conclusions are the same as yours.
Also, with SETI looking for telltales of radio spectrum transmissions from other civilizations, there is one more factor. To pick up a signal, an intelligent civilization has to have sent it. Looking at us, we began using radio waves in the early 20th century, and now almost none of our analog signals are broadcast. It is all encrypted digital transmissions that are tough to decipher without a key.
In reality, a civilization will have about a 100 - 1000 year at the outside window of emissions that we *might* detect and decode. The odds of a) us listening, and b) their distance in light years matching this window of opportunity are very very long. Like I would be more likely to hit three powerball draws in a row rare.
And all this nonsense about "visitors"? Don't make me laugh. There is no cheat code to teleport the vast distances of cold space. No wormholes, no "flying through a black hole" scenarios. Nope, we are all bound by the tenets of relativity and all that entails.
I'm always blown away by the vastness of space and time. Great post.
Thanks Jim. :)
As someone with a degree in physics I have long thought about this, and my conclusions are the same as yours.
Also, with SETI looking for telltales of radio spectrum transmissions from other civilizations, there is one more factor. To pick up a signal, an intelligent civilization has to have sent it. Looking at us, we began using radio waves in the early 20th century, and now almost none of our analog signals are broadcast. It is all encrypted digital transmissions that are tough to decipher without a key.
In reality, a civilization will have about a 100 - 1000 year at the outside window of emissions that we *might* detect and decode. The odds of a) us listening, and b) their distance in light years matching this window of opportunity are very very long. Like I would be more likely to hit three powerball draws in a row rare.
And all this nonsense about "visitors"? Don't make me laugh. There is no cheat code to teleport the vast distances of cold space. No wormholes, no "flying through a black hole" scenarios. Nope, we are all bound by the tenets of relativity and all that entails.
Great post Purple!
Agreed. Thank you!