X-Message-Number: 30773 From: "John K Clark" <> References: <> Subject: The Singularity Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 14:04:32 -0700 David Stodolsky <> Wrote: > carbon and other elements were available as > early as 12.7 billion years ago No, stars that old only had traces of heavier elements that life needs, they were all very rare. Also, all stars ever observed that were anywhere near that old had less than a tenth as much metal in then as modern stars. Large metal poor stars that existed back then were much more likely to produce a Gamma Ray Burst when they reaches the end of their life, and one such bust could sterilize most of a galaxy. The sun is metal rich and a third generation star. Fortunately all stars in our galaxy are metal rich. > Assuming an intelligent civilization could > propagate thru the Galaxy at 1/10 the speed > of light, it would only take about 700,000 > years [presumably to change the galaxy]. > Thus, this could have happened many times > in the life of the Galaxy. I can find absolutely no fault with the above logic. So where the hell are they? > There is no shortage of explanations. > I read a book recently that offered 50 solutions. Only one explanation is needed, provided it is a good one. You know a theory (ET exists) is in trouble when it comes up with 50 different reasons why observations fail to agree with a theory. 50 explanations is equivalent to no explanation at all. Tell the truth, if you thought ET existed but had never seen the night sky before would you predict it looked like what we actually see? I don't think so. You have to come up with all sorts of elaborate theories and wheels within wheels to explain observations. My explanation is much simpler and cleaner, the sky looks the way it does because ET does not exist. > However, the front runner seems still to be that > proposed by the Russian Konstantin Eduardovitch Tsiolkovsky, > who created the theoretical basis for spaceflight. His > solution to the paradox in 1933 was that advanced > intelligences consider mankind not yet ready for a visit. > This is now known as the Zoo Hypothesis. Yea, and the universe was really created in 4004 BC just like the bible says and God put dinosaur bones in the ground and light in the sky that looked like it came from galaxies billions of light years away to confuse us and because God is a great practical joker. Or better yet, the universe was created 30 seconds ago complete with your memories of being a child. I too have heard attempts to explain away the observation that hyper advanced civilizations that are capable of engineering the entire galaxy nevertheless remain completely undetectable without making the slightest peep. Of all the lame excuses I am aware of the zoo hypothesis is unquestionably the stupidest! John K Clark -- John K Clark -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Send your email first class Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=30773