Even if another life existed out there at an ideal distance to be receiving our first radio signals now, and they could receive it, and they were at a similar enough technology level…
This would also mean they were ~100LY away, or a 200 year cycle to communicate, once they deciphered our signal.
They wouldn’t receive the signal if they’re at the same tech level. Radiation from our communication tapers off well below background levels at 100ly. Maybe if they got lucky and had very, very sensitive instruments aimed our way at the right moment, they might detect something that didn’t fit background, but our power output pales in comparison to the cosmos.
Just look at all the tricks scientists have to pull to communicate with Voyager, and it’s not even outside of the frigging solar system, yet!
Yep. Inverse square rule has our radiation signature indistinguishable from cosmic background in a quick fast hurry. In fact, we don’t have the power to transmit anything far even on purpose!
Voyager isn’t even to the Oort cloud. It’s nowhere near past many, many gravitationally bound objects. It might be past the heliopause, but it’s still very, very close to the Sun and no other stars.
Yeah with all the time in the universe and how short our civilization has been technological I’m a big fan of the theory that the galaxy is just a big graveyard of civilizations that sprouted and died over the past few billion years. Maybe there’s another few right now dotted around but we’ll never know before we or they die out.
I mean, even if there were many civilizations, I’m betting that any that are smart enough to explore the cosmos have realized one or multiple of the following:
It’s possible to ‘explore’ a massive amount of detail without leaving your home system.
Any civilization that can communicate over vast distances also has vast capability to deliver power to an acute area.
Any civilization on the cusp of 2 is capable of ridiculous levels of distruction, and it’d be wise to make sure they’re totally peaceful before making them aware of you.
… Also, I’m a firm believer that humans and other megafauna are, well, mega. Humans are insanely massive on the scale of life as we know it, and life may not need to become so massive to never the less spread out. For all we know, Earth is a battlefield of life that is successful in the grand scheme of things, and humans et. al. are like the Death Stars of the ancient civilizations that are very much still alive.
(ok ok that last bit is very hyperbolic but it should still convey the idea!)
Even if another life existed out there at an ideal distance to be receiving our first radio signals now, and they could receive it, and they were at a similar enough technology level…
This would also mean they were ~100LY away, or a 200 year cycle to communicate, once they deciphered our signal.
They wouldn’t receive the signal if they’re at the same tech level. Radiation from our communication tapers off well below background levels at 100ly. Maybe if they got lucky and had very, very sensitive instruments aimed our way at the right moment, they might detect something that didn’t fit background, but our power output pales in comparison to the cosmos.
Just look at all the tricks scientists have to pull to communicate with Voyager, and it’s not even outside of the frigging solar system, yet!
Yep. Inverse square rule has our radiation signature indistinguishable from cosmic background in a quick fast hurry. In fact, we don’t have the power to transmit anything far even on purpose!
Not to be “that guy” but they left the solar system in 2012 and 2018, as in crossed the heliopause and the “wall of fire”.
Your point stands, but I thought you might be interested to know that :)
Here’s an article about it https://www.iflscience.com/nasas-voyager-spacecraft-found-a-30000-50000-kelvin-wall-at-the-edge-of-our-solar-system-81411
Voyager isn’t even to the Oort cloud. It’s nowhere near past many, many gravitationally bound objects. It might be past the heliopause, but it’s still very, very close to the Sun and no other stars.
Assuming they are existing at a tech level similar or above to ours at the same time as us.
Yeah with all the time in the universe and how short our civilization has been technological I’m a big fan of the theory that the galaxy is just a big graveyard of civilizations that sprouted and died over the past few billion years. Maybe there’s another few right now dotted around but we’ll never know before we or they die out.
The universe is kinda sad honestly.
I mean, even if there were many civilizations, I’m betting that any that are smart enough to explore the cosmos have realized one or multiple of the following:
… Also, I’m a firm believer that humans and other megafauna are, well, mega. Humans are insanely massive on the scale of life as we know it, and life may not need to become so massive to never the less spread out. For all we know, Earth is a battlefield of life that is successful in the grand scheme of things, and humans et. al. are like the Death Stars of the ancient civilizations that are very much still alive.
(ok ok that last bit is very hyperbolic but it should still convey the idea!)
Maybe there’s something better than civilizations (not that we’ve ever had one yet) and they figured that out and are too blissed to listen.
We’ve had at least 7 of them
When I look back on human history, I can see no period that I would call ‘civilized’. (Sure, there were pockets of civilization.)
Explain this.
I’d say the universe is kinda safe… for now