UFOs exist, or do they?

[wakka]

But we've already agreed that aliens visiting the earth is massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively unlikely to be aliens and massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively, massively likely to be optical illusion / atmospheric / military aircraft

I do think it's likely there is life elsewhere in the universe, just that based on current physics and observations (because it's the only thing we can base any reasonable scientific conclusion on, anything else is speculation and science fiction), is that the distances, time and energy needed to navigate those distances (and that they haven't said hello) make it far less probably than me winning the lottery this w/e.

So you’re saying there’s a chance. I like it.

Seriously though, I hear you. I still think it’s interesting and, for me as a layperson, it feels really quite credible.

I will check out Isaac Arthur’s vids for sure.

[shimano]

In answer to the first post, most likely a German ion-engine ICBM converted into some kind of prototype Zepplin.

Travelling in space is tricky due to the mathematical structure of things. One straightforward method is to shuffle a cluster of atoms with one of the root nodes of localised time-space, for instance the central point of Sol, then some other star, then some other planet. First problem is we already do this process on Earth for around a dozen atoms at a time, the end product known as a hydrogen bomb - ergo not a good idea to do atom-shuffling unless quite far past the moon. Next problem is surviving the heat, even for a few microseconds, but carving up bits of mountain can help?

Assuming you get to the other solar system, your nervous system then has to reset from dependency on the magnetic core of Earth. If the destination planet doesn't have such a thing due to not being iron based you may have to generate a similar one from your ship, but either way expect to spend three years learning how to walk and eat all over again, so in other words this requires some kind of nanny android spoon feeding the travellers while they all watch Barney the Dinosaur and such.

Okay, so going back to the aformentioned journey past the moon, first problem here is a slower movement of electrons relative to nearby entropy, but artificially induced human-compatible entropy isn't that difficult to generate. Simplest explanation is that a walk in the countryside on a dead morning normally lends itself to lacadaisical thinking that takes a while to resolve or bounce back to the root source in your skull, yet opposite of this might be an old Dixons full of TV screens or Jamma arcade. Artificially speaking, the high-frequency chopping up of air in a small space is more complex activity for the human nervous system. Supposedly we all have some kind of grand super-countryside experience out in space, but take away the weather and more like Keanu Reeves Syndrome, no offense Keanu.

Next problem is getting the navigation vectors right. Hydrogen bombs use trial-and-error and nobody bothers to record the data much due to equipment being destroyed. Essentially what you want is some kind of giant hoop that shoots solar flares into nowhere particular - the rest is geology, of the 5D noise that bases our solar system. There isn't an equational shortcut for this, essentially you have to Captain Kirk a bunch of TV static with statistical and logic software, boldy or not.

Massively easier than travel is to merely set up an internet connection, so even with the equipment we already have you can stream a bunch of atoms either side of Sol and spin the associated electrons as some kind of data format. We just need to be less Taz about it. Problem is, with the state of human violence both online and offline, nobody would even want to talk to us for quite a long time. Sad that a lot of people think typing stuff into their keyboard can't be violence, until of course you scan the inside of people's heads and look at the extensive neural damage, horrific cellular wounds and scarring, just further inside the skull.

Anyhow the interesting thing is you're already what sci-fi calls an extra-terrestrial, since the 3-dimensional differences between different solar system bodies is highly illusionary. Essentially you're standing on Mars and Venus already according to innate 4D format, just your sensory cells are tuned to 'channel earth' by numerical value. If you've ever been in a random carpark and smelled sulphur, or wondered why your dog still smells musty after a bath, it's the multi-presence thing I believe.

Indeed, the prefix 'extra' means in quite literal form 'in addition to'.

[shimano]

But they can be, and they are. These people aren't infallible - and what's more, there may be motivations at play among those interpreting, recording and releasing information regarding the sightings that further muddy the waters. I've mentioned previously that there is a small US Government division which is known to have deliberately spread and encouraged supernatural UFO theories in order to obfuscate real technology and tests, which sounds like a mad conspiracy theory but, like other examples of whacko American officialdom like the testing of LSD as a truth serum and psychic 'remote viewing' as a military tactic, is a recorded fact.*

Yeah so the cynicism goes in multiple directions. Back in 2000 the FBI actually set up a department called the XFiles, dash missing for legal reasons they don't infringe Rupert Murdoch trademarks, you know the feds being very legal about things. Anyway the whole thing was an excuse to use SETI for a domestic security sweep, of something todo with EMP drones that crash things like American Superbowl? Well the feds are still secretive, but there's your basis for The Dark Knight Rises plotline. Now, how this coincides with top secret aircraft is that other people whom agreed to staff XFiles - entirely unpaid joke job btw - were doing a mercenary type job tracking down glitchy 1950's laser-satellites with prototype silicon chips. One of these things screws up and kapow, bunch of extreme steam coming out of some ocean patch and angry whales with a headache, scorch marks. At the very least we killed their dinner? More problematic is statistically, it's only a matter of time util a glitchy sat fires on say Leeds, slices up several thousand people. Ergo there was a thing going on to dipose of the sats, weirdly enough Battlestar Galactica ships were all real, same with Babylon 5 but these never made production. Thus in the end we use terrestial cannons in official 'no mans land', usually Spanish coastline. Ever wondered where the Galactica cannons come from? And then stupidly, xontinual epic fail, the ion engine craft get budget downgraded into fighter jets. Ironically the XFiles end up fixing the autopilot on these, so agents theoretically chase their own aircraft. Another case of people making fun of Scrappy Doo kids. Why did we agree to that? Sigh.

[Neon Ignition]

We're definitely looking at some sort of insanely advanced folding space/instantaneous space travel system for travel, as soon as you get into anything more traditional the timeframes get insane and the accountability for other factors like damage, incorrect course adjustments etc mount up along with factoring in that the galaxy, Earth etc aren't just in rotation but also travelling through space at around 450,000mph meaning you have to adjust and project for that in both directions as well (another reason why time travel doesn't work without stretching the logic too far)

[MartyG]

You want to get anywhere on an intergalatic level, you're going need to be travelling far faster than 450,000 mph (which is about 1/1500th of lightspeed).

[QualityChimp]

What happens if you're in your spaceship travelling faster than the speed of light and you turn on the headlights?

[MartyG]

What happens if you're in your spaceship travelling faster than the speed of light and you turn on the headlights?

You won't be, but the lights will come on.

[QualityChimp]

Don't tell me what my spaceship can and can't do.

[fishbowlhead]

I think we all support your space ship QC, just that the headlights wont work travelling faster than light, thats all.

[QualityChimp]

You've not even been in my spaceship, yet you're all somehow experts?

I bet the first thing you'd do if I gave you a lift would be to fiddle around with the radio presets.

[Cassius_Smoke]

Light speed travel is physically impossible because at or close to the speed of light the mass of the vehicle becomes infinite, so the energy needed to propel it becomes infinite too.
Also time dilation is a odd paradox in that the people on the vehicle will age slower than the people on the ground. Light speed travel to Alpha Centuri would mean you would age 2 weeks, but everyone on earth will age 4 years. So traveling a long distance to visit an alien race will probably mean when you get there they'll have been waiting centuries for you.

[MartyG]

You've not even been in my spaceship, yet you're all somehow experts?

I bet the first thing you'd do if I gave you a lift would be to fiddle around with the radio presets.

If you're going faster than the speed of light (as you claim) how do you expect to pick up radio waves?

Besides, I'd change your equalizer settings first.

[Neon Ignition]

What about close to lightspeed? I guess the future echoes would make it disorientating

[fishbowlhead]

Good a place for any for this. A cluster of black holes may be spitting out stars.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/cluster-full-of-black-holes-may-be-spitting-out-stars/

I love the universe.

[kryss]

I bet the first thing you'd do if I gave you a lift would be to fiddle around with the radio presets.

[MENTION=2625]randombs[/MENTION] do not touch