| Scientists decide to look for ET visitors | 2005-01-17 16:16 4 comments |
 by Flemming FunchAccording to space.com, a group of scientists have realized that it is more likely than not that there are plenty of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations around, and that maybe they ought to start investigating some of the many well-documented reports of their visits, rather than just sitting listening for radio signals from them. Duh, is that so hard to figure out? Yes, it apparently it is, as it traditionally have been very unpopular amongst serious scientists to pay any attention to UFO reports. Or, stronger than that, it would be a blemish on their careers and reputations if they even were caught considering that anybody might be visiting us. So, instead they've been stuck on the somewhat questionable theory that billion year advanced civilizations would be sending radio shows in our direction, which we might catch on the dial. Anyway, this new thinking doesn't seem so much a result of being impressed with the considerable body of existing evidence, as it is a result of the growing realization that science might actually support some models for how one might get around in space. So, you know, only start looking once you have a theory that says there might be something there. Don't look just because there's something there. Given billion-year advanced physics, might not buzzing around the galaxy be possible? Of course you might still find scientific types who hold on to the 100 year old idea that nobody can get anywhere faster than the speed of light, so it is all impossible nonsense that anobody would be visiting anybody. But the winds are changing. |