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comment by Dala
Dala  ·  1772 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: May 22, 2019

I think you and I are on a similar thought path. I think the Zoo Hypothesis is bullcrap, but more because the universe is huge and difficult to survive and navigate in than because the aliens think we suck. I highly doubt it is about us at all. There are a few more points, but that’s definitely part of why I don’t like the Zoo hypothesis.





kleinbl00  ·  1771 days ago  ·  link  ·  

What if the speed of light really is ultimate?

What if radiation really does decrease by the inverse power law?

What if it really does take all the energy and time to cross the gulfs of space that we think it does?

I read a paper once that pointed out that "interstellar hydrogen" is a guess, not a fact. What we think of as the interstellar medium may end at the Oort Cloud. At that point, all your beautiful dreams of Bussard ramjets and VASIMR flame out and leave you in the deep black.

Ockham's Razor on extraterrestrial contact is it's more trouble than it's worth.

Dala  ·  1768 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I think the speed of light really is ultimate and that it would take a Kardashev III+ civilization to make long distance space travel feasible. At that level of energy expenditure, you’re not flitting around the ‘verse and chatting it up with whatever local yokels you happen across.

Interstellar hydrogen is probably there but maybe not at any kind of concentration that could be used for propulsion.