Folks who think that there are alien spacecraft in our skies - Do you understand modern physics?
Especially Special Relativity - which is sort of basic and over 100 years old now.
Do you think it's important?
Special relativity starts with the understanding that the speed of light is constant, regardless of the motion of the source or the observer. the result of this, which has been demonstrated repeatedly, is that you cannot exceed the speed of light - light will always pass you at the speed of light - and you cannot pass it. This means:
1. Any alien civilization - looking out at 10,000 star systems - would see ours as it was thousands of years in the past - why would they choose to come here?
2. Even if they did decide to come here, it would take thousands of years (our frame and their home system frame) to get here. Perhaps in their vehicle, time would slow down to 100 years or so.
3. If they did that, why would they zip around and hide from all of us except a few of the strangest people for the last 50 years?
Special relativity is a theory like Evolution is a theory and like the Earth orbits the Sun is a theory. It's well - established and backed up by thousands of observations.
Dear friends -
Thanks for responding. I am not kidding when I say that relativity is a theory in the same sense that evolution or Earth's orbit is a theory. Physicists and astronomers use it on a daily basis.
I think it is disingenuous to claim that relativity - 100 year old science that is not in question - is not important when it contradicts your thinking, but that you do not really understand how it works. I did not see any responses that said "I understand special relativity and I don't believe it." Newton's Laws don't apply at near-light speeds. Granted, there could be extended spacefaring civilizations on community ships - but that's not what the folks claim to see as aliens in our skies, which was really the original question.
Saying that our relatively (pun) primitive knowledge is not important compared to an advanced civilization is irrational if your basis for the existence of that civilization is that our knowledge is primitive. It's a circular argument.
Please understand - I am not saying that there are no advanced civilizations out there - I'm fairly certain that there are - somewhere. I am saying that it doesn't make sense for them to travel across that aching emptiness and then zip around and hide from us for 50 years in multiple spacecraft flying in formation. It's just silly, based on well - known and well - understood physics.
Well, that's an interesting array of responses.
slipknot - You are one of the few responders who met the criterion of thinking that there are nearby aliens. While I disagree with almost all of your logic, I appreciate the fact that you are willing to ask for more info.
justask - I am surprised that you have had college astronomy / physics and still say relativity is largely theory.
rose - Newton has not been tossed aside - let's not toss Einstein either. Newton did include motion at near light speed.
Zero - Agreed - There may be exceptions to relativity. But those would not explain aliens in our sky, as you point out.
faesson - Sorry, I couldn't resist.
dude - space travel has nothing to do with physics? Do you understand Newtonian physics?
Bob - Fine. You understand basic physics. Do you understand relativity? You cannot make the next step without understanding the last 37 or so..
John - I agree, but you don't think there are aliens around, either.
andyg - Looks like an excellent book. I think I'll buy it - thanks.
Brant - Yeah. There are always new walls, but we didn't throw out Newton in favor of Einstein. Einstein represents a pretty big wall, and I hear nothing in terms of understanding what the exceptions could be - just awe and lack of interest in the details.
acp - Physics is different on Earth?
Cowboy - I agree that recent work in physics has grown more speculative - which makes me understand that Einstein was a giant of observer-verified theory - andyg would probably agree. The light barrier is way different than the sound barrier, based on relativity. You can't just apply more power and get past it.
bulb - Unfortunately, I do not understand what you are trying to say.
Das Reich - Yes, but do you understand relativity? These things you saw broke "my" rules of physics?
SHIFT - OK, let's start with math. Eventually, we can get to physics.
Question: do you understand relativity?