Stephen Hawking on Discovery

[jayem]

I missed the show last night. Anyone watch it? His statements on extra-terrestrial intelligent life are certainly imaginative. I suppose there is an element of plausibility there. Still--does anyone else think SH may have jumped the shark?

 

[shinbits]

he basically said that any race intelligent and sophisticated enough come to earth, would likely be more dangerous and intelligent than we are. thus, we shouldn't try to contact them, because we'd be putting ourselves at risk. sorta like Avatar in reverse.

and I gotta say, that makes sense.

 

[LifeToTheFullest!]

If you believe in advanced extraterrestrial life or not, Hawking's logic is sound.
I didn't see the Discovery piece, but from what I've read online, I didn't get the impression he personally believe in E.T. life, but if it were to exist, then it might not be the smartest move to contact them.

 

[Split Rock]

he basically said that any race intelligent and sophisticated enough come to earth, would likely be more dangerous and intelligent than we are. thus, we shouldn't try to contact them, because we'd be putting ourselves at risk. sorta like Avatar in reverse.

and I gotta say, that makes sense.

If you believe in advanced extraterrestrial life or not, Hawking's logic is sound.
I didn't see the Discovery piece, but from what I've read online, I didn't get the impression he personally believe in E.T. life, but if it were to exist, then it might not be the smartest move to contact them.

You guys are assuming there would be some practical method of sending an invasion fleet hundreds or thousands of light years to earth and that it would make some kind of practical sense to do so.

 

[Naraoia]

You are also assuming that the invasion fleet wouldn't get eaten by a puppy

 

[Washington]

The show was on, but I wasn't paying close attention to it; however, one of the points it did bring out was that because of the incredible number of stars in the universe, billions of billions, the chances of another planet harboring intelligent life is pretty much a forgone conclusion.


Edit: Just came across this, re the show, from the AP.

Stay home ET. UK scientist: Aliens may pose risks

"British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking says aliens are out there, but it could be too dangerous for humans to interact with extraterrestrial life.

Hawking claims in a new documentary that intelligent alien lifeforms almost certainly exist, but warns that communicating with them could be "too risky."

The 68-year-old scientist says a visit by extraterrestrials to Earth would be like Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas, "which didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans."

He speculates most extraterrestrial life will be similar to microbes, or small animals — but adds advanced lifeforms may be "nomads, looking to conquer and colonize."
source​

 

[Washington]

For some reason my edit above didn't allow me to insert the following.

From the AP:

Stay home ET. UK scientist: Aliens may pose risks

"British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking says aliens are out there, but it could be too dangerous for humans to interact with extraterrestrial life.

Hawking claims in a new documentary that intelligent alien lifeforms almost certainly exist, but warns that communicating with them could be "too risky."

The 68-year-old scientist says a visit by extraterrestrials to Earth would be like Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas, "which didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans."

He speculates most extraterrestrial life will be similar to microbes, or small animals — but adds advanced lifeforms may be "nomads, looking to conquer and colonize."
source​

 

[Naraoia]

Well, strictly speaking, the number of stars has nothing to do with the probability of intelligent life. The number of stars with habitable planets is what matters.

Of course, that might indeed be very large. I'm just needlessly anal

 

[shinbits]

You guys are assuming there would be some practical method of sending an invasion fleet hundreds or thousands of light years to earth and that it would make some kind of practical sense to do so.

If they're advanced enough, there'd be a practical way. And the fact that earth is teeming with life is reason to do so.

 

[Washington]

Well, strictly speaking, the number of stars has nothing to do with the probability of intelligent life. The number of stars with habitable planets is what matters.

Of course, that might indeed be very large. I'm just needlessly anal

Indeed you are.

 

[Split Rock]

If they're advanced enough, there'd be a practical way. And the fact that earth is teeming with life is reason to do so.

What would we have that they would want, and couldn't get closer to their own world? Why would they be interested in our earth because it was teeming with life? The Europeans, for example, were interested in timber, pelts and precious metals (gold and silver). I doubt these aliens would be interested in wood or pelts. They could find minerals on countless other planets, moons and asteroids. Slaves were another commodity that Europeans were interested in, but an advanced civilization would have no need for organic labor.

 

[Split Rock]

You are also assuming that the invasion fleet wouldn't get eaten by a puppy

That would be one big puppy!!

 

[Chesterton]

Well, strictly speaking, the number of stars has nothing to do with the probability of intelligent life.

Thank you!

The number of stars with habitable planets is what matters.

No, that doesn't matter either because "habitable" doesn't mean "inhabited" any more than "carbon" means "life".

 

[shinbits]

What would we have that they would want, and couldn't get closer to their own world? Why would they be interested in our earth because it was teeming with life? The Europeans, for example, were interested in timber, pelts and precious metals (gold and silver). I doubt these aliens would be interested in wood or pelts. They could find minerals on countless other planets, moons and asteroids. Slaves were another commodity that Europeans were interested in, but an advanced civilization would have no need for organic labor.

Food is all the motivation any race needs. And Earth is a gigantic buffet.
There's also the matter of over-crowding, in the same way humans have over six billion and counting. Since Earth has shown it's able to sustain a wide variety of life, it's a prime candidate for take-over.

 

[Split Rock]

Food is all the motivation any race needs. And Earth is a gigantic buffet.
There's also the matter of over-crowding, in the same way humans have over six billion and counting. Since Earth has shown it's able to sustain a wide variety of life, it's a prime candidate for take-over.

Sounds like the TV series "V" (which they unfortunately have done a remake of now). You are making a few assumptions.
1. The cost of producing their own food would be more than traveling 100s of light years to earth and aquiring food here.
2. That our organic matter on earth would be compatable with their life form(s).
3. That there are not sufficient planets/ moons that can support their life form(s) closer to their world/existing colonies.
4. That they cannot "terraform" worlds closer to them to make them perfect for their lifeform(s).

I'm reminded of the Babylon 5 TV series (much better than "V"), where you had numerous civilizations warring with each other through the galaxy. However, they were dependent on an ancient system of "jump gates" they inherited from some earlier civilization as well as a form of "hyperspace" drive that does not exist. Star Trek used "warp drive," which is basically the same thing. Now maybe there are Star Ships running about the center of our galaxy, fighting each other and conquering less advanced species, and they haven't gotten around to visiting us yet. But, really... what are the chances of that?

 

[shinbits]

Sounds like the TV series "V" (which they unfortunately have done a remake of now). You are making a few assumptions.
1. The cost of producing their own food would be more than traveling 100s of light years to earth and aquiring food here.
2. That our organic matter on earth would be compatable with their life form(s).
3. That there are not sufficient planets/ moons that can support their life form(s) closer to their world/existing colonies.
4. That they cannot "terraform" worlds closer to them to make them perfect for their lifeform(s).

If an alien race decides to come all the way to earth, than those assumptions would most likely be correct.

 

[Pwnzerfaust]

Sounds like the TV series "V" (which they unfortunately have done a remake of now). You are making a few assumptions.
1. The cost of producing their own food would be more than traveling 100s of light years to earth and aquiring food here.
2. That our organic matter on earth would be compatable with their life form(s).
3. That there are not sufficient planets/ moons that can support their life form(s) closer to their world/existing colonies.
4. That they cannot "terraform" worlds closer to them to make them perfect for their lifeform(s).

I think the second one is the most important. The species on Earth, and the aliens, would have evolved entirely separately for billions of years, in different environments, with different nutritional needs. What're the chances that a burger and fries with a side of broiled human would even be edible to them? Seems more likely it'd be at the very least disgusting, and at worst poisonous.

 

[Exiledoomsayer]

I wish i had seen the show, Im curious weither hawking made as big a fuss about hostile allien takeover as ive been led to believe.

On another note wasnt the show like from the eighties?

 

[Split Rock]

If an alien race decides to come all the way to earth, than those assumptions would most likely be correct.

Fine, but how does that help your argument?

The other aspect that I don't don't think you are considering is that we are not hiding if we don't have projects like SETI. We have been broadcasting radio and TV for decades in all directions. Even without SETI and related projects, we are just about as likely to be discovered by these conquering alien fleets of yours anyway.

 

[Agonaces of Susa]

Little imagination is required to confirm the physical evidence and historical record of extraterrestrial life in ancient times.

"They came from outerspace -- and posed for portraits." -- Erich Von Däniken, author, December 3rd 2002