NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered the tiniest solar systemso far

NASA Science News for Jan. 11, 2012

NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered the tiniest solar system so far:
a red dwarf star with three rocky planets smaller than Earth.

FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news...estexoplanets/

Sam Wormley wrote in
:

NASA Science News for Jan. 11, 2012

NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered the tiniest solar system so
far: a red dwarf star with three rocky planets smaller than Earth.

FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news.../11jan_smalles
texoplanets/



Kind of impressive that a star that small could reach ignition density and
temps.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16515944

"Chris.B" wrote in news:829b2c5b-0cf2-48df-a4c5-
:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16515944

Kind of puts a damper on those who think there may be life on any of them,
since no signals have been detected from any of them.

On Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:53:50 -0600, Rich wrote:

Kind of puts a damper on those who think there may be life on any of them,
since no signals have been detected from any of them.

There has been life on Earth for over three billion years, and there
has been life on Earth producing signals detectable on other stars for
a hundred years (and it isn't looking too promising for our long term
existence as a technological species). Combine that with the fact that
we are only capable of detecting signals from stars within a few
hundred light years- a tiny fraction of all the stars in the galaxy-
and this news shouldn't be seen as a damper at all.

Quite the contrary, it adds some realistic constraints to the Drake
equation, and really tells us nothing at all about life in the broader
sense. Perhaps the majority of those planets (those in their habitable
zones, anyway) are covered with something akin to cyanobacteria, as
Earth was for most of its existence.

On Jan 13, 3:03*am, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:53:50 -0600, Rich wrote:
Kind of puts a damper on those who think there may be life on any of them,
since no signals have been detected from any of them.

There has been life on Earth for over three billion years, and there
has been life on Earth producing signals detectable on other stars for
a hundred years (and it isn't looking too promising for our long term
existence as a technological species). Combine that with the fact that
we are only capable of detecting signals from stars within a few
hundred light years- a tiny fraction of all the stars in the galaxy-
and this news shouldn't be seen as a damper at all.

Quite the contrary, it adds some realistic constraints to the Drake
equation, and really tells us nothing at all about life in the broader
sense. Perhaps the majority of those planets (those in their habitable
zones, anyway) are covered with something akin to cyanobacteria, as
Earth was for most of its existence.

When compared with the incredible age of the universe, there may be a
microscopically short window of opportunity for useful communication.
Will all intelligent species send and receive radio signals? Will they
continue to do so for any length of time? Is there any other form, or
medium, of communication which would shorten the period of radio use?
Is tele-pathy (sic) a natural development of all evolving brains?
Could telepathy be a simple technological trick which comes
automatically with advanced AI? So much for radio!

Our humble SETI is constantly hampered by funding problems. Which
seems odd when it has the most likely chance of confirming radio
reception from an exo-source. Just as we are discovering the
possibility of countless worlds we hamstring out best hope of finding
others at a similar and simultaneous level of technology. What a shame
they can't tap all the UFO-nuts for small change to support their
research.

Our own world still has an incredibly diverse range of human
development levels. From squatting at animal husbandry in the desert
and running naked through the jungle as hunter gatherers. To those few
who have full access to all forms of communication.

Suppose we found any species, of a similar level of advancement to
ourselves nearby. They would have to be more advanced to be of any
real interest (to our leaders). Just to satisfy our greed for a free
leg-up the technological ladder. Anything fifty years behind us would
be boring and unproductive. Unless they had interesting new forms of
weapons we had yet to conceive. Even looking back at entertainment and
news films from twenty years ago we seem so terribly old fashioned
compared with today. Going back one hundred years our would hardly
have changed in a thousands years.

It is still possible that some unforeseen catastrophe befalls all
technologically advanced races as they reach a certain level of
physics research. Perhaps the misuse of antibiotics provides the basis
for extermination through resistance? Perhaps cloning will be our
downfall? Our thin veneer of civilisation is completely transparent at
times. Bloody tooth and claw are never far from the surface.

Our methods of mass social control and organisation are still
extremely fragile. Perhaps the explosive pressures of overpopulation
and global warming hits all species? From which few ever recover. A
pandemic is also possible. Even, a deliberate one. Perhaps most
species never escape from brutal, religious confinement and repression
of the mind? Our very recent escape from religious imprisonment may be
our one, unique trait for communication and our escape to the stars?

On Jan 12, 12:51*am, Sam Wormley wrote:
NASA Science News for Jan. 11, 2012

NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered the tiniest solar system so far:
a red dwarf star with three rocky planets smaller than Earth.


Oh I think we have discovered the tiniest intellects ever to set foot
on the planet.If there were astronomers here they would have noted
that the inner planets are not 'rocky' but largely liquid with planets
graduating to a gaseous state the further the distance from the Sun.

None of you could ascertain the viscosity of the Earth's interior in
contact with the crust even though that viscosity is seen pouring out
of every volcano and crustal boundary,you want a high viscosity
'plastic' state to satisfy your stationary Earth 'convection cells'.

You can't move to a different level and thereby sink in speculative
nonsense that only the gullible find interest in .

"Chris.B" wrote:
On Jan 13, 3:03 am, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:53:50 -0600, Rich wrote:
Kind of puts a damper on those who think there may be life on any of them,
since no signals have been detected from any of them.

There has been life on Earth for over three billion years, and there
has been life on Earth producing signals detectable on other stars for
a hundred years (and it isn't looking too promising for our long term
existence as a technological species). Combine that with the fact that
we are only capable of detecting signals from stars within a few
hundred light years- a tiny fraction of all the stars in the galaxy-
and this news shouldn't be seen as a damper at all.

Quite the contrary, it adds some realistic constraints to the Drake
equation, and really tells us nothing at all about life in the broader
sense. Perhaps the majority of those planets (those in their habitable
zones, anyway) are covered with something akin to cyanobacteria, as
Earth was for most of its existence.

When compared with the incredible age of the universe, there may be a
microscopically short window of opportunity for useful communication.
Will all intelligent species send and receive radio signals? Will they
continue to do so for any length of time? Is there any other form, or
medium, of communication which would shorten the period of radio use?
Is tele-pathy (sic) a natural development of all evolving brains?
Could telepathy be a simple technological trick which comes
automatically with advanced AI? So much for radio!

Our humble SETI is constantly hampered by funding problems. Which
seems odd when it has the most likely chance of confirming radio
reception from an exo-source. Just as we are discovering the
possibility of countless worlds we hamstring out best hope of finding
others at a similar and simultaneous level of technology. What a shame
they can't tap all the UFO-nuts for small change to support their
research.

Our own world still has an incredibly diverse range of human
development levels. From squatting at animal husbandry in the desert
and running naked through the jungle as hunter gatherers. To those few
who have full access to all forms of communication.

Suppose we found any species, of a similar level of advancement to
ourselves nearby. They would have to be more advanced to be of any
real interest (to our leaders). Just to satisfy our greed for a free
leg-up the technological ladder. Anything fifty years behind us would
be boring and unproductive. Unless they had interesting new forms of
weapons we had yet to conceive. Even looking back at entertainment and
news films from twenty years ago we seem so terribly old fashioned
compared with today. Going back one hundred years our would hardly
have changed in a thousands years.

It is still possible that some unforeseen catastrophe befalls all
technologically advanced races as they reach a certain level of
physics research. Perhaps the misuse of antibiotics provides the basis
for extermination through resistance? Perhaps cloning will be our
downfall? Our thin veneer of civilisation is completely transparent at
times. Bloody tooth and claw are never far from the surface.

Our methods of mass social control and organisation are still
extremely fragile. Perhaps the explosive pressures of overpopulation
and global warming hits all species? From which few ever recover. A
pandemic is also possible. Even, a deliberate one. Perhaps most
species never escape from brutal, religious confinement and repression
of the mind? Our very recent escape from religious imprisonment may be
our one, unique trait for communication and our escape to the stars?

The radio noise from Earth will diminish as communication relies more and
more on lasers cables and short range digital radio transmissions.
Satellite communications will be more tight-beamed.
Radio signals detectable from other solar systems may have a short life in
a technological civilisation.

On Jan 13, 11:59*am, Mike Collins wrote:

The radio noise from Earth will diminish as communication relies more and
more on lasers cables and short range digital radio transmissions.
Satellite communications will be more tight-beamed.
Radio signals detectable from other solar systems may have a short life in
a technological civilisation.

How do we separate human traits from alien? Perhaps our technological
streak is a result of our own genes? What are the basic motives for
technology? The ease of doing something beyond normal human strength,
increase our natural senses or speed? Idle curiosity? Laziness?

Our warmongering, nationalism and imperialistic ambitions have driven
a great deal of our science and mechanics. How do we separate our
greed and aggression from the universal norm? It's odd how we give
aliens aggressive instincts well beyond our own. Perhaps this is a
reflection of our own fear of each other's potential for doing each
other harm?

Our genetic inhibitions are remarkably weak. Any cause, or even too
much beer, dumps our natural inhibitions in the nearest bin. To be
recovered later when it suits our needs. Or the odds, or conditions,
become too much to allow our bad behaviour to continue unchecked.
Perhaps we are the laughing stock of the universe. Or the most feared.

"Chris.B" wrote in
:

On Jan 13, 3:03*am, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:53:50 -0600, Rich wrote:
Kind of puts a damper on those who think there may be life on any of
the
m,
since no signals have been detected from any of them.

There has been life on Earth for over three billion years, and there
has been life on Earth producing signals detectable on other stars
for a hundred years (and it isn't looking too promising for our long
term existence as a technological species). Combine that with the
fact that we are only capable of detecting signals from stars within
a few hundred light years- a tiny fraction of all the stars in the
galaxy- and this news shouldn't be seen as a damper at all.

Quite the contrary, it adds some realistic constraints to the Drake
equation, and really tells us nothing at all about life in the
broader sense. Perhaps the majority of those planets (those in their
habitable zones, anyway) are covered with something akin to
cyanobacteria, as Earth was for most of its existence.

When compared with the incredible age of the universe, there may be a
microscopically short window of opportunity for useful communication.
Will all intelligent species send and receive radio signals? Will they
continue to do so for any length of time? Is there any other form, or
medium, of communication which would shorten the period of radio use?
Is tele-pathy (sic) a natural development of all evolving brains?
Could telepathy be a simple technological trick which comes
automatically with advanced AI? So much for radio!

Our humble SETI is constantly hampered by funding problems. Which
seems odd when it has the most likely chance of confirming radio
reception from an exo-source. Just as we are discovering the
possibility of countless worlds we hamstring out best hope of finding
others at a similar and simultaneous level of technology. What a shame
they can't tap all the UFO-nuts for small change to support their
research.

Our own world still has an incredibly diverse range of human
development levels. From squatting at animal husbandry in the desert
and running naked through the jungle as hunter gatherers. To those few
who have full access to all forms of communication.

Suppose we found any species, of a similar level of advancement to
ourselves nearby. They would have to be more advanced to be of any
real interest (to our leaders). Just to satisfy our greed for a free
leg-up the technological ladder. Anything fifty years behind us would
be boring and unproductive. Unless they had interesting new forms of
weapons we had yet to conceive. Even looking back at entertainment and
news films from twenty years ago we seem so terribly old fashioned
compared with today. Going back one hundred years our would hardly
have changed in a thousands years.

It is still possible that some unforeseen catastrophe befalls all
technologically advanced races as they reach a certain level of
physics research. Perhaps the misuse of antibiotics provides the basis
for extermination through resistance? Perhaps cloning will be our
downfall? Our thin veneer of civilisation is completely transparent at
times. Bloody tooth and claw are never far from the surface.

Our methods of mass social control and organisation are still
extremely fragile. Perhaps the explosive pressures of overpopulation
and global warming hits all species? From which few ever recover. A
pandemic is also possible. Even, a deliberate one. Perhaps most
species never escape from brutal, religious confinement and repression
of the mind? Our very recent escape from religious imprisonment may be
our one, unique trait for communication and our escape to the stars?


The worst part of all this is the unending, unceasing anthropomophizing
of aliens. Try to get away from that.