...think of the markets...

(10-15-2015 10:15 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  It's probably just a comet or asteroid.

The sun in question is brighter, larger, and hotter than our own sun. And you think a single comet can cut out 22% of its luminescence? It would take a million mile long comets to come close to that. Even a rocky planet could not cut that much out if it exploded. And obviously it's not a gas giant either, because the intensity of light is sporadic, and they can easily tell when it's a gas giant and when it's not.

I think there is a strong possibility we are looking at a solar harvester of some kind. A class 3 civilization, meaning don't mess with them.

(10-16-2015 05:50 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(10-16-2015 05:00 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Explain why that would matter, at all.

If true (if), that would be direct evidence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.

That fact would wipe all all prior cultural, historical and religious beliefs about the human race and its place in the cosmos.

It would change everything.

What would it matter if 1500 years ago something that existed for perhaps thousands of years "blew up"?

It matters because a civilization that could build something like that could still die out or....be wiped out. It doesn't matter so much for the stage we are at right now but it sure as hell matters going forward in the future.

When you consider how quickly our technology has advanced, charted on a line graph it is an ever increasing angle that would appear to be going straight up when compared to the entirety of human history. There is no reason to believe that trend wont continue so when you try to imagine where WE will be 1500 years from now, you realize it is unimaginable.

So...what if a civilization as advanced as the one Scientists have "possibly" found needed to move on or is expanding through the Galaxy? Well, we know they are 1500 years more advanced than what we are seeing now and what we are seeing now is so far advanced to what we can do that we have no way of plotting just how much more advanced than us they are.

That is the kind of thought process that Hawking alludes to when he talks about we should be hoping that We havn't been discovered.

Zoo hypothesis. Basically if they are harvesting stars, they know who is in their local 1500 light year diameter cluster, so no sense trying to hide from them. It's basically Picard up there following Prime Directive. No contact with uncontacted civilizations. Don't expect them to call us back.

We humans on Earth are even trying to preserve uncontacted tribes so that their ways are not lost forever. Andaman Islands are a good example, but basically many conservationists unanimously agree that we can't repeat the travesty that was western colonialism on the few remaining primitive tribes that remain.

(10-16-2015 05:00 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Explain why that would matter, at all.

If true (if), that would be direct evidence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.

That fact would wipe all all prior cultural, historical and religious beliefs about the human race and its place in the cosmos.

It would change everything.

What would it matter if 1500 years ago something that existed for perhaps thousands of years "blew up"?

You've never seen Contact, I take it. Sure, it's an old movie, based on an older book.

But in my opinion, it's exactly correct. History is never wiped out. Traditions like religion don't die, in fact they sometimes lash out in response to such events.


I didn't say that it wouldn't be important. But it doesn't end world hunger, it doesn't create world peace, it doesn't make every person rich, it doesn't reverse climate change, etc.

(10-16-2015 06:28 PM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Did you notice heavens is plural?

Sorry, Wilkie. I believe that all religions are basically mythology.

Simmer down people. It is just another Super Walmart. The best we can hope for is some photos of inappropriately dressed aliens shopping for Ramen Noodles at 2:00 AM.

It's either Darth Vader with a few rebuilt Death Stars or, since what we are seeing is from 1400 years ago, it could be our ancestors on their way here, with a shortcut through a wormhole. Are we looking at our past?

(10-16-2015 07:54 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(10-16-2015 06:28 PM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Did you notice heavens is plural?

Sorry, Wilkie. I believe that all religions are basically mythology.

Religion is based on faith.

(10-16-2015 08:20 PM)Lenvillecards Wrote:  It's either Darth Vader with a few rebuilt Death Stars or, since what we are seeing is from 1400 years ago, it could be our ancestors on their way here, with a shortcut through a wormhole. Are we looking at our past?

That they were building a Death Star was my first thought after reading the article. Seems to me the comet hypothesis listed in the article sounded pretty reasonable though.

(10-16-2015 09:22 PM)AppfanInCAAland Wrote:  

(10-16-2015 08:20 PM)Lenvillecards Wrote:  It's either Darth Vader with a few rebuilt Death Stars or, since what we are seeing is from 1400 years ago, it could be our ancestors on their way here, with a shortcut through a wormhole. Are we looking at our past?

That they were building a Death Star was my first thought after reading the article. Seems to me the comet hypothesis listed in the article sounded pretty reasonable though.

Could be Disney promo for the new Star Wars movie!

(10-16-2015 05:50 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(10-16-2015 05:00 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Explain why that would matter, at all.

If true (if), that would be direct evidence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.

That fact would wipe all all prior cultural, historical and religious beliefs about the human race and its place in the cosmos.

It would change everything.

What would it matter if 1500 years ago something that existed for perhaps thousands of years "blew up"?

It matters because a civilization that could build something like that could still die out or....be wiped out. It doesn't matter so much for the stage we are at right now but it sure as hell matters going forward in the future.

When you consider how quickly our technology has advanced, charted on a line graph it is an ever increasing angle that would appear to be going straight up when compared to the entirety of human history. There is no reason to believe that trend wont continue so when you try to imagine where WE will be 1500 years from now, you realize it is unimaginable.

So...what if a civilization as advanced as the one Scientists have "possibly" found needed to move on or is expanding through the Galaxy? Well, we know they are 1500 years more advanced than what we are seeing now and what we are seeing now is so far advanced to what we can do that we have no way of plotting just how much more advanced than us they are.

That is the kind of thought process that Hawking alludes to when he talks about we should be hoping that We havn't been discovered.

Outstanding post. I tell my kids that we live in a world were amazing things are discovered every single day. It happens so much that most things go unnoticed. Hopefully this discovery turns out to be true, and becomes the kick in the ass that we all have been needing.

(10-16-2015 06:32 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(10-16-2015 06:28 PM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Did you notice heavens is plural?

No, I just noticed that you quoted the bible.

The Indian Vedas (religious text) have talked about other beings in our universe, on other planets, our galactic brothers and sisters, I'm paraphrasing. The Muslim Holy book the Quran talks about other worlds. Copernicus considered one of the brightest scientific minds in all of human history, used to bow his in reference when he spoke of the universe because he was of the belief it was designed by a super intelligence (God). Scientist are to coming to the conclusion there are more than one universe, there are parallel universes (many heavens). I believe religious text have ancient knowledge that has been lost and has come to us in bit and pieces from the real true knowledge that existed and has been lost.

Everyone seems to be so focused upon the religious aspects of this discovery. But the engineering aspects are far more reaching IMO.

IF we ever make it out there to check out this structure, and figure out what it was, and how it worked, some reverse engineering could generate a leap in so many fields that would greatly speed our technological progress in many areas. It could hold the key to so many things we can't even imagine at this point, since we don't have the knowledge needed currently.

The religious aspects pale in comparison. Although most people won't see it that way, since it attacks the foundation of their beliefs, and diminishes mankind's place in the universe. We are very self-centered, and most can't see things any other way, especially when their preconceptions turn out to be false.

Bit, I know that you do not believe in God. But just suppose for a moment, that there is a God He would have made more planets with people on them as large as the Universe is. Don't you think. I do not believe the only life is on planet Earth.

(10-17-2015 10:22 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Everyone seems to be so focused upon the religious aspects of this discovery. But the engineering aspects are far more reaching IMO.

IF we ever make it out there to check out this structure, and figure out what it was, and how it worked, some reverse engineering could generate a leap in so many fields that would greatly speed our technological progress in many areas. It could hold the key to so many things we can't even imagine at this point, since we don't have the knowledge needed currently.

The religious aspects pale in comparison. Although most people won't see it that way, since it attacks the foundation of their beliefs, and diminishes mankind's place in the universe. We are very self-centered, and most can't see things any other way, especially when their preconceptions turn out to be false.

Ever get out there? We won't for another 10,000 years at least. We have a better shot building our own Dyson Spheres right here around our sun. Mercury has all the raw materials we need. Expect us to have our own mega structures in a couple thousand years.

(10-17-2015 12:51 PM)RUScarlets Wrote:  

(10-17-2015 10:22 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Everyone seems to be so focused upon the religious aspects of this discovery. But the engineering aspects are far more reaching IMO.

IF we ever make it out there to check out this structure, and figure out what it was, and how it worked, some reverse engineering could generate a leap in so many fields that would greatly speed our technological progress in many areas. It could hold the key to so many things we can't even imagine at this point, since we don't have the knowledge needed currently.

The religious aspects pale in comparison. Although most people won't see it that way, since it attacks the foundation of their beliefs, and diminishes mankind's place in the universe. We are very self-centered, and most can't see things any other way, especially when their preconceptions turn out to be false.

Ever get out there? We won't for another 10,000 years at least. We have a better shot building our own Dyson Spheres right here around our sun. Mercury has all the raw materials we need. Expect us to have our own mega structures in a couple thousand years.

Don't be so sure. Those who say it cannot be done should not get in the way of those doing it. Technology improves by leaps and bounds, and you never know when or where the next leap will happen.

But warp drive technology is already being researched, and the development of a practical working engine could be right around the corner. You just never know.

Here are a few propulsion ideas, including some FTL possibilities. None are feasible yet. But in the future...?

https://tauzero.aero/discoveries-log/get...ion-ideas/

(10-17-2015 10:34 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Bit, I know that you do not believe in God. But just suppose for a moment, that there is a God He would have made more planets with people on them as large as the Universe is. Don't you think. I do not believe the only life is on planet Earth.

I think this goes back to creation vs evolution.
If intelligent life "evolves" on another planet, kind of shoots down all religion in some people's mind.
What they don't realize is that they are trading "one God" for "one intellect".
Just like our own rna and DNA formed a symbiotic relationship to create man from nothing, the mind, body, and spirit is the same across the universe.
That there is possibly an intelligently built megastructure circling a far distant star destroys nothing of faith and understanding.

I'd imagine that the alien civilization, if that's what it is, is either much further advanced than they were 1400 years ago or they're extinct. So there's is no guarantee that we'll ever make contact with them.

I'm with bit on how this could change engineering for humans. Even if it's not an alien megastructure, it does provide our scientists with a thought of creating a structure to tap into a stars energy field. To create such a structure, it has to be close enough to a star, to tap into the energy, and far enough away that it doesn't get crumbled by the stars gravity. Would these panels be kinda like solar panels. The assembly of it would be one hell of a leap for mankind. I must ask, once a structure is built, how does that energy get transported back to earth?