Bunn E Rabbit wrote:


(John Griffin)


(Bunn E Rabbit)
wrote:


snipped

What we want to find is a one Earth mass rock
in its local habitable zone. I doubt that we could
see either such a planet or its effect on its sun.

Yes. sigh I forgot about this specific concept. Without this data one
can never be sure no matter how many inner planets are discovered.
Unless somehow planets as close as Venus or as far as Mars can adapt
with atmospheres that can regulate a planet making viable ecosystems
possible. Again, that anthropic principle where life can only flourish
within a narrow window of circumstances that must come together as if
there was specific intent of such a design. critics may now hum
mocking twilight zone theme


You left out one factor, namely time. ****
happens, and then there's life. It won't happen
on a ten solar mass star, but there are lots of
little suns where it could happen. I believe it's
plausible that millions of civilizations have
flourished and died in the universe. Billions,
maybe. There's nothing special about our time
here.


Perhaps. I wonder though how many civilizations have expired at the
pinnacle of their technology. We for example _may_ develop the tech to
live for hundreds of years or more via nanotechnology(cellular level
repair) and genetic manipulation within 10-30 years. Along with the
possibility of AI and other fantastic technology that could remove
disease, famine, environmental mistakes and so on.

But I fear there will be a price for such gifts if a certain species has
not grown ethically as well. Perhaps many of these species didn't die
off 'cause their Star ran out of hydrogen or even climate changes but
rather their tech became so advanced that a token few were able to
commit global atrocities with extinction as the result.

In other words, an alien version of Islam.

I've always called this the Big Red Button theory. Any civilization
curious enough to invent a Big Red Button of Destruction will inevitably
press the damn thing. Though not a biblical believer, I've always
thought the Garden if Eden story to be precious. A&E are given
everything anybody could possibly want, and given just one simple rule.
So they of course just HAD to break it -- to press their own Big Red
Button. Human nature it is, alas.

A neat idea from the SF community is tha the aliens are waiting for us
to pass this simple test before induction into the Great Galactic
Fraternity. I like that.

Vince "Push the button, Max!" B.