Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Argument has several levels

How far will intelligence expand in the galaxy?
Gary — (archived)

Tom Brosz said:

>Intelligent extraterrestrial life capable of star travel: Now we are
>getting really rare. Unless one throws in the completely baseless
>(so far) idea that there is some form of "FTL" drive available,
>interstellar travel would be restricted to generational or relativistic
>flights. Odds someone has dropped by our particular planet: very
>VERY slim.

I don't really see any show stoppers in the Laws of Physics against an advanced civilization developing interstellar spacecraft that can get to 1% the speed-of-light. The diameter of the Milkyway galaxy is 100,000 lightyears. A civilization expanding outwards at 1% the speed-of-light would reach the limits of the galaxy in 10 million years. The above assumptions lead to the following conclusions:

1) ET artifacts are in the Solar System but we have not yet found them.
2) We are the first technological civilization in the galaxy.
3) We are the only technological civilization in the galaxy.
4) All technological civilizations have an intrinsic limit to growth that is significantly less than 100,000 lightyears.

My first guess is that 1) is true. I find it hard to believe that another technological civilization could not have developed in our galaxy prior to 10 million years in the past. My second guess after 1) is that 4) is true. I find 2) and 3) unbelievable.

An example of an "intrinsic limit to growth" would be "technological booby traps". Nuclear weapons are a technological booby trap that we have so far survived. A more sinister booby trap would be a genetically engineered virus designed to serve as weapon.

Gary

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