| Do you think there are aliens that we can communicate with? |
| Yes |
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89% |
[ 17 ] |
| No |
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10% |
[ 2 ] |
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| Total Votes : 19 |
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Message
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| BlackRia |
 Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:07 am Post subject: Is it scientifically possible to communicate with aliens? |
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Forum Freshman
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 1
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| If so, scientifically, how would we be able to do it? |
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| DivideByZero |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:15 am Post subject: |
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Forum Sophomore
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Posts: 168
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Is it scientifically possible to communicate with monkeys or apes?
Is it scientifically possible to communicate with dogs?
Yes.
So why shouldn't it be possible to communicate with aliens?
What do you mean by "scientifically"?
If life exists beyond earth (lets say mars for the heck of it) then why can we not communicate? |
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| rhysboi1991 |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:20 am Post subject: |
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Forum Freshman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 48
Location: Cumbria, North West England
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| its just like learning to communciate with a species on our planet it may just be a bit harder or a bit easier |
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| marnixR |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:45 am Post subject: |
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Forum Cosmic Wizard
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 2143
Location: Cardiff, Wales
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| DivideByZero wrote: |
Is it scientifically possible to communicate with monkeys or apes?
Is it scientifically possible to communicate with dogs?
Yes.
So why shouldn't it be possible to communicate with aliens? |
you're choosing examples quite close to home - how about trying to communicate with a starfish, or even further removed, a lichen ?
after all, if you're not even sure that you would recognise an alien if you saw one, it could also be too strange for us to communicate with it
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| Harold14370 |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:06 am Post subject: Re: Is it scientifically possible to communicate with aliens |
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Forum Professor
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1244
Location: Pennsylvania
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| BlackRia wrote: |
| If so, scientifically, how would we be able to do it? |
Si. Habla Espanol. |
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| DivideByZero |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:10 am Post subject: |
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Forum Sophomore
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Posts: 168
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| marnixR wrote: |
| DivideByZero wrote: |
Is it scientifically possible to communicate with monkeys or apes?
Is it scientifically possible to communicate with dogs?
Yes.
So why shouldn't it be possible to communicate with aliens? |
you're choosing examples quite close to home - how about trying to communicate with a starfish, or even further removed, a lichen ?
after all, if you're not even sure that you would recognise an alien if you saw one, it could also be too strange for us to communicate with it |
The question asked by the OP was "Is it scientifically possible to communicate with aliens?"
Notice that the key word here is "possible". I said Yes, yes it is possible! marnixR, it does not matter at all what examples I choose because there could be endless possibilities. Don't limit yourself to the word "alien" as one specie. One alien could be like a lichen while another alien from a different galaxy could be like a monkey. I hope you understand my logic and rethink about it. |
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| Harold14370 |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:40 am Post subject: |
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Forum Professor
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1244
Location: Pennsylvania
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| DivideByZero wrote: |
| Notice that the key word here is "possible". I said Yes, yes it is possible! marnixR, it does not matter at all what examples I choose because there could be endless possibilities. Don't limit yourself to the word "alien" as one specie. One alien could be like a lichen while another alien from a different galaxy could be like a monkey. I hope you understand my logic and rethink about it. |
Are you saying you can communicate with lichens? |
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| Rationalist |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:56 am Post subject: |
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Forum Freshman
Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 73
Location: Florida
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| Quote: |
The question asked by the OP was "Is it scientifically possible to communicate with aliens?"
Notice that the key word here is "possible". I said Yes, yes it is possible! marnixR, it does not matter at all what examples I choose because there could be endless possibilities. Don't limit yourself to the word "alien" as one specie. One alien could be like a lichen while another alien from a different galaxy could be like a monkey. I hope you understand my logic and rethink about it. |
I believe that MarnixR was simply being realistic. If there are "aliens" somewhere else in the Universe, there is a good chance that they will not be anything like us. Consider what you said, there could be endless possibilities. Well, a lifeform similar to us represents only a very small fraction of the possibilities, and since there are endless possibilities the chances that they will be like us are quite miniscule indeed. Not to mention the fact that if these "aliens" are a good distance out, which is likely to be the case, then the communication may have to occur over decades, because there is no way for us to communicate information faster than the speed of light. Also, even if we could communicate with them somehow (if we could find them, which would be incredibly unlikely also), these aliens would probably be asking us questions about the American Revolution or something far in the past, because the light from those ages would just be hitting them. It is not like they would see us in the present. So potentially, yes, given a number of conditions it would be possible to communicate with other living beings in the Universe. We can fantisize all we want, but the chances of this are utterly minute.
| Quote: |
| If so, scientifically, how would we be able to do it? |
This was part of the original question. I don't think it really makes any sense to even ask this question. How we would communicate with "aliens" would depend largely on a number of specific factors like what type of "aliens" they are and what kind of capabilities they posses, their location....ect. So unless a specific "model" of "alien" is given, we are simply going to be talking about whatever fantasy of aliens that comes to our mind.
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"I don't think we're here for anything, we're just products of evolution. You can say 'Gee, your life must be pretty bleak if you don't think there's a purpose' but I'm anticipating a good lunch."
-Dr. James Watson, American biologist
(Discoverer of DNA) |
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| DivideByZero |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Sophomore
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Posts: 168
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| Rationalist wrote: |
| Quote: |
The question asked by the OP was "Is it scientifically possible to communicate with aliens?"
Notice that the key word here is "possible". I said Yes, yes it is possible! marnixR, it does not matter at all what examples I choose because there could be endless possibilities. Don't limit yourself to the word "alien" as one specie. One alien could be like a lichen while another alien from a different galaxy could be like a monkey. I hope you understand my logic and rethink about it. |
I believe that MarnixR was simply being realistic. If there are "aliens" somewhere else in the Universe, there is a good chance that they will not be anything like us. Consider what you said, there could be endless possibilities. Well, a lifeform similar to us represents only a very small fraction of the possibilities, and since there are endless possibilities the chances that they will be like us are quite miniscule indeed. Not to mention the fact that if these "aliens" are a good distance out, which is likely to be the case, then the communication may have to occur over decades, because there is no way for us to communicate information faster than the speed of light. Also, even if we could communicate with them somehow (if we could find them, which would be incredibly unlikely also), these aliens would probably be asking us questions about the American Revolution or something far in the past, because the light from those ages would just be hitting them. It is not like they would see us in the present. So potentially, yes, given a number of conditions it would be possible to communicate with other living beings in the Universe. We can fantisize all we want, but the chances of this are utterly minute.
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If I have a ONE in SIX BILLION chance of having my first name different than any other person, I still have a possibility!
1.66666667 × 10^-8% > 0
The question was whether communication with a extraterrestrial is possible. The question was NOT "If an extraterrestrial was like a lichen, would it be possible to communicate with it?"
Species: Multiple
Communication probability: 1 : x (where x > 1)
You said it yourself "but the chances of this are utterly minute."
A small chance by definition means that it is possible.
Therefore it is possible to communicate with aliens.
I hope this nebulous fog of miscommunication between us dissipates.
| Quote: |
| Are you saying you can communicate with lichens? |
No. I'm saying that while we may not be able to communicate with one specie of aliens that act like lichens, we may be able to communicate with another branch of specie of aliens that are more "human-like". |
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| marnixR |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Cosmic Wizard
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 2143
Location: Cardiff, Wales
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| DivideByZero wrote: |
| The question was whether communication with a extraterrestrial is possible. |
the only proper answer to your question is that it is not impossible
it is, however, not a very informative answer, as there is currently no way to assess the probability, and whether this probability lies closer to impossibility than certainty - my guess is the former
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if you find this place too crowded or too confrontational, how about trying Philosophorum,
the amicable forum where small is beautiful and even the trolls are intelligent
biology without evolution is but stamp collecting |
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| Nevyn |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Ph.D.
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Posts: 827
Location: UK
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| DivideByZero |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Sophomore
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Posts: 168
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| Nevyn wrote: |
| to such a vague question there is no answer. More detail would be needed for an answer |
I agree more with you than marnixR's idea of total denial. |
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| KALSTER |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Professor
Joined: 08 Sep 2007
Posts: 1490
Location: South Africa
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What about pictures or movies? If the aliens can observe their surroundings utilizing the light, we should be able to come up with a movie that can explain a concept. Don't also forget about mathematics. If an alien species is capable of receiving our messages and sending replies, I think it would be reasonable to assume that they have some form of mathematics. That is why the golden record on voyager is a good tool for communicating to them what, where and who we are (assuming they have record players  ).
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"Gullibility kills" - Carl Sagan |
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| marnixR |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Cosmic Wizard
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 2143
Location: Cardiff, Wales
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| DivideByZero wrote: |
| I agree more with you than marnixR's idea of total denial. |
how so, total denial ? i said : the only proper answer to your question is that it is not impossible
does that sound like denial ? i may have my doubts about the probability, but that doesn't equate total denial
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if you find this place too crowded or too confrontational, how about trying Philosophorum,
the amicable forum where small is beautiful and even the trolls are intelligent
biology without evolution is but stamp collecting |
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| Nevyn |
| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Ph.D.
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Posts: 827
Location: UK
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defining 'alien' would be a nice start. How do I know if you are talking about some slime that just passes for life or a complex organism?
next, do they have eyes? visual insight is always a good helper in breaching language barriers
vocal chords, even if we can't mimmick their language then i'm sure we could make machines too
ears come in handy too...
I could go on for awhile about various ways of interpretating comunication but this gets my point across I think
MORE DATA PLEASE 
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