Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Long Distance Relationship?

SETI senior astronomer Seth Shostak has stated that it is likely that there is a good chance that evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life will be found within the next twenty-five years. The discovery of extraterrestrial life, like the development of workable fusion power plants, is, as they say, always "twenty years in the future".

If, of course, our calls to interplanetary craft succeed, they could result in tragic long-distance relationships:





I mean, it's not like there's an interstellar Casey Kasem out there...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

We'll certainly have the ability to image nearby extra-solar planets, although at what resolution remains to be seen. Whether or not we can pick up RF signals (think about where those earliest "I Love Lucy" episodes are in the galaxy today) that would establish the existence of intelligent life beyond doubt, it's likely that we'll be able to use spectroscopy to infer the existence of at least plant life, and imagery may show seasonal changes in color.

Signs point to yes...

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

(think about where those earliest "I Love Lucy" episodes are in the galaxy today)

Reminiscent of the "Single Female Lawyer" bit from Futurama.

Signs point to yes...

It's the "within 25 years" bit that has me taking the mickey- that's the line that's perpetually used about workable fusion power.

Mainly, I needed an excuse to post my favorite Split Enz song.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Would said ET life already be dead, like the stars whose light we see?
~

mikey said...

However, in a case of epicly good timing, progress marches on n shit...

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129562.400-lasersparked-fusion-power-passes-key-milestone.html#.Uv0UR_ldX5Q

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

Would said ET life already be dead, like the stars whose light we see?

Maybe... maybe we'll pick up their "we begin bombing in five minutes" broadcast.

However, in a case of epicly good timing, progress marches on n shit...

I dunno, it'll be workable in 20 years... **DUCKS**