Discovery of ETs could fast-forward the future
By Dick Pelletier
How might civilization respond if astronomers discover
irrefutable proof that intelligent extra-terrestrial life
exists? Experts believe that this would fast-forward many
technology advances expected during this century.
Over the next two decades, new super-telescopes aided
by advanced information technologies are expected to identify
thousands of Earth-like planets by analyzing their atmospheres.
If oxygen, ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide is
found, this could indicate the presence of biological processes,
which would enable scientists using tomorrow’s quantum computers
to recognize extra-terrestrial intelligence if it exists.
Another method for discovering ETs is to search for
radio signals. If intelligent civilizations have evolved
elsewhere, it is likely we will notice their internal
communications. This effort has been pursued by the Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence organization for several decades,
and supporters hope to discover alien signals within the next
ten years.
If either of these approaches identifies intelligent
aliens, how might humanity react? We would obviously realize
that we are not alone. Would this change our perception of life?
Finding other beings could imply that human existence is based
purely on science and that we are here only because there were
perfect conditions for life to thrive; and there could be
billions of other species sharing our universe.
At first though, we will want to communicate with our
new-found neighbors. But the universe is a big place; our galaxy
is 100,000 light years across and we are 28,000 light years from
its center. Our closest neighboring star, Alpha Centauri is 4
light years away and there are a dozen stars in the 10-12 light
years distance, but stars harboring Earth-like planets could be
1,000 light years or more away. So sending information at the
speed of light is not practical. It would take far too long for
messages to reach their destination.
So the solution, many believe, is to develop faster
than light (FTL) communication and travel systems. The most
likely FTL candidates include warp drives and wormholes. In
1994, warp drive advocate Miguel Alcubierre designed a method of
traveling in a wave which would cause the fabric of space ahead
of a spacecraft to contract and the space behind it to expand.
This warp drive ship would travel faster than the speed of
light, enclosed in a warp bubble powered by hypothetical exotic
matter.
The other option, wormholes, theoretically provides a
space portal allowing communications and matter to be sent
anywhere in the universe instantly; or even back and forth
through time. Einstein’s theory states that wormholes are
possible and Cern Particle Accelerator scientists hope to
create examples of this new space wonder when their Large
Hadron Collider becomes operational in late 2008.
If human intelligence advances exponentially over the
next few decades as predicted, we could find proof of
intelligent aliens by the 2020s, and exchange messages with them
by 2100 or before.
Will this “magical future” happen? Historians remind us
that it’s only been 100 years since the Wright Brothers built
the first aircraft, and we’ve already landed men on the moon. By
century’s end, some believe that advancing technologies will
enable us to take our place in what promises to become an
amazing Star Trek world.
This article appeared in various print publications and
on-ine blogs. Comments always welcome.
