The problem with artifacts, of course, is time. If we're in a hurry, then we want to get the word out (or receive it) the fastest way possible, and with our current technology, that means working via radio or optics at the speed of light. But if we can extend our thinking to messages not so much for conversation as for archival purposes, recording the great works of a civilization (think of the Voyager golden discs), then imagine sending a highly compressed matter packet on a journey of millions of years. And imagine looking for such messages here.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
ET in a Grain of Sand?
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I sorta thought the notion that artifacts are superior to electromagnetics when time isn't an issue was fairly self-evident.
The problem is that they're likely to be harder to find, and less likely to be in our neighborhood.
If your purpose is to shout into the universe that you're there, you would prefer to do it with electromagnetics precisely because they broadcast by their very nature. To do it with physical artifacts woul dentail moving a lot of cumulative mass around, and will be far more expensive in terms of energy and resources. You couldn't cover nearly as much territory that way. Also, of course, the odds are good that any technologcial civilization will use electromagnetics even if they have no desire to talk to any ETs, and radio used for local purposes will still leak into the cosmos at large.
So, if the intent to to say "hello," then you probably won't be firing physical things randomly into space. You'll pick your targets specifically. Given the travel times involved, any such message in our neighborhood would likely have to have been sent before there was much (or anything) in the way of higher-order life on Earth. So why would they select Earth as one of their targets at all?
For all these reasons, I suspect that electromagnetics provide a higher probability of contact from aliens than anything else.
Of course, if a physical carrier was used, then there are certain things that seem safe to assume. It won't be a grain of sand, for example. It would be designed to be easily discoverable -- either through its inherent physical characteristics (large, hot pink glowing spheres as smooth as billiard balls would do the trick), or have some sort of transponder to give away its presence. If nobody finds it, after all, you might as well not send it.
It would be designed to be easily discoverable -- either through its inherent physical characteristics (large, hot pink glowing spheres as smooth as billiard balls would do the trick)
I dunno... I can see some JPL types devising exotic natural "explanations" for such things!
WMB--
Now that's *exactly* what I'm talking about!
Well, I never claimed that it was safe to assume that NASA wouldn't lie, only that an attempt would be made to make the carrier physically obvious.
Yesterday I couldn't resist buying a wooden box at a tag sale, neatly lined in felt, with what seemed to be the "force generator" listed on the label nestled inside. It doesn't seem to have any moving parts, other than a metal device that seems to fit into a hole so that it can pivot.
The company seems to still be in business, so I'm sure I'll be able to find out what it is meant to do. But for now, it just fits all my dorkiest SF receptors. :D
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