The strange star that has serious scientists talking about an alien megastructure

[linkshero]

I wonder how many millions of dollars are spent of stuff like this. Like it really matters at all, if alien life exists and they are advanced enough for mass space travel then they are way more advanced then us and likely have us figured out already.

Yeah, why did we ever try to figure out anything about Earth? We should still be living in caves!

Put the trillions we have wasted in space research into cancer research and eradicate that damn disease.

So, those are mutually exclusive?

Actually I think is a huge waste of money. Researching things that are 1481 light years away is of zero value. Even if we ever develop the ability to travel at the speed of light it would take 1481 years to get there. Again zero value.

I'm pretty sure with a container of Twinkies and some Four Loko, Elon Musk could solve this 'problem'.

Actual scientists have also looked at this, and determined it's far more likely to be comet debris dragged through the system by a rogue star. But if this is your favorite game...

Well, what I read was the likelihood of us tuning in and just happening to catch the comet debris going through there at the exact time, would be very, very unlikely in regards to Space time. Like, probably more unlikely than the Alien thesis.

 

[torbee]

There are definitely areas where our understanding of math and physics are incomplete, but while our labels are man-invented (meters, miles, time intervals, etc.), the larger concepts are demonstrable and measured in the real world. Things are made of what they're made of and chemical elements have inherent properties. An extra-terrestrial civilization is going to call carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen other names, but they exist in the universe and their properties are going to be known by any civilization advanced enough for space travel.

As for the benefits, we've seen massive development over the last 50 years in areas that spun out of the space program. We've developed lighter and stronger materials, we've developed better healthcare treatments (implantable heart monitors, for one), we've made huge strides in solar panel technology and propulsion systems that have applications terrestrially. The list goes on and on. This is not a zero-sum game where every dollar that goes to space research goes to space and does not benefit other areas.

I'd pose it this way -- thousands of years of human history are absolutely full of exploration, learning about the world around us and finding better ways to do things. Why would we stop now and not take that next leap off the planet?

Threads like this really illustrate who the dullards and dolts of HROT are. For that alone, I salute such explorations!

 

[unIowa]

Threads like this really illustrate who the dullards and dolts of HROT are. For that alone, I salute such explorations!

Amen...hell you could even check your beliefs at the door but at the very least have some sort sense of adventure. I'm guessing a lot of MBA level middle managers are our dullards on board here.

 

[hawkssox1]

Why, so we can have even more people on earth sucking on our resources?

About what I expected from you.

 

[BioHawk]

Put the trillions we have wasted in space research into cancer research and eradicate that damn disease.

And how do you think the discoveries that lead to cancer cures come around? It's investment in "useless" science that allows for the society we have today. A hundred years ago you would have said the same thing about a guy named Einstein discovering that photons could be manipulated to flow in unison with each other. Whoopteedo! I mean, who knew the foundational science for lasers would have any practical application.

Discoveries don't just happen at the snap of a finger. It takes decades of research in smaller, seemingly insignificant discoveries, to get to the life changing inventions.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

we could save every person from every disease and old age and accidents and then we would just have people starving to death.

 

[hawkssox1]

Threads like this really illustrate who the dullards and dolts of HROT are. For that alone, I salute such explorations!

If that means an opposite idea to what you have count me in.

 

[BioHawk]

we could save every person from every disease and old age and accidents and then we would just have people starving to death.

Which is why if we invest enough into space exploration we will eventually be able to start moving people off of Earth and onto other planets....or space stations.

 

[MichiganManLifer]

You folks are so damn gullible. What a nice little story that will gain us billions more in funding that we don't deserve. What a waste.

 

[cigaretteman]

You folks are so damn gullible. What a nice little story that will gain us billions more in funding that we don't deserve. What a waste.

And another dullard and dolt proves the value of this post!

 

[MichiganManLifer]

And another dullard and dolt proves the value of this post!

Ok, I'll bite. Insults make you smarter? There is no verifiable way to prove this has any value to the rest of humanity, but it sounds really good talking about alien space stations. They even admit, it's incredibly unlikely. But hey, let's spend a trillion dollars to see if we can figure out more going on over 1400 years away.

Aren't you liberals always saying how we should take care of things close to home first?

 

[hawkssox1]

Ok, I'll bite. Insults make you smarter? There is no verifiable way to prove this has any value to the rest of humanity, but it sounds really good talking about alien space stations. They even admit, it's incredibly unlikely. But hey, let's spend a trillion dollars to see if we can figure out more going on over 1400 years away.

Aren't you liberals always saying how we should take care of things close to home first?

Ciggy brings a knife to a gun fight.

 

[linkshero]

Ok, I'll bite. Insults make you smarter? There is no verifiable way to prove this has any value to the rest of humanity, but it sounds really good talking about alien space stations. They even admit, it's incredibly unlikely. But hey, let's spend a trillion dollars to see if we can figure out more going on over 1400 years away.

Aren't you liberals always saying how we should take care of things close to home first?

You can say there is no verifiable, or quantitative way to prove most types of research. I disagree with your take on almost all levels. For example, a Dyson Sphere although a theoretical possibility, would be an engineering task on a 'godly' level. However; the idea behind one could lead us down a different way of thinking. I think it's pretty cool that we could theoretically learn something from a civilization millions of miles a way, just but observing light shift with our relatively archaic observation technology. It could help us advance our concepts on power, space travel, it's pretty amazing actually.

 

[MichiganManLifer]

And another dullard and dolt proves the value of this post!

By the way, I've built about 50% of a project near the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that is going to regulate carbon in the air to create the perfect mix of ice/water to allow us an ideal climate. I'm going to need about $50 billion more to complete it, so please let me know who I give my account information to so we can get this thing moving.

Don't question me, dolt. Just send the money!

 

[linkshero]

By the way, I've built about 50% of a project near the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that is going to regulate carbon in the air to create the perfect mix of ice/water to allow us an ideal climate. I'm going to need about $50 billion more to complete it, so please let me know who I give my account information to so we can get this thing moving.

Don't question me, dolt. Just send the money!

If that is true, the ability to get funding is your task.

I know a guy that is working on funding spherical windmills for the ocean. Outstanding project, and he has a lot of financial connections, and he is still having a hard time getting it to the next level. His problem is the continued issue with battery technology, and the inability to get around Ohm's law.

 

[h-hawk]

1-2% is too much?

 

[Pepperman]

I'd say the 25% + the 33% are too much, and to prove I'm reasonable I'll agree to cut the 17%.

 

[torbee]

I'd say the 25% + the 33% are too much, and to prove I'm reasonable I'll agree to cut the 17%.

Yeah, what's our government doing wasting so much money on sick, old and vulnerable people!?

This outrage won't stand!

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I'd say the 25% + the 33% are too much, and to prove I'm reasonable I'll agree to cut the 17%.

Yeah, what's our government doing wasting so much money on sick, old and vulnerable people!?

Why is the government wasting any money at all on people? You'd almost think that the reason for having a nation was to benefit the people of that nation.

Enough of that batshit crazy liberal thinking.

 

[BioHawk]

By the way, I've built about 50% of a project near the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that is going to regulate carbon in the air to create the perfect mix of ice/water to allow us an ideal climate. I'm going to need about $50 billion more to complete it, so please let me know who I give my account information to so we can get this thing moving.

Don't question me, dolt. Just send the money!

Yes, this is exactly how it works.

I don't know, it's getting close to intervention time here.

 

[BioHawk]

Why is the government wasting any money at all on people? You'd almost think that the reason for having a nation was to benefit the people of that nation.

Enough of that batshit crazy liberal thinking.

It is looking after the people, but you need to be more specific. The "people" the right wing cares about are made of bricks, glass, and electricity and don't have hearts.

 

[naturalmwa]

How much money are people assuming this cost? The article says it was found by volunteers. I doubt this program is sucking up the funding for many cancer drugs. But if searching space causes more to question their Bronze Age beliefs in magic, it will be worth it.

 

[naturalmwa]

we could save every person from every disease and old age and accidents and then we would just have people starving to death.

Or we have the motivation to settle Mars.

 

[Err.]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/02/01/us/budget.html

Obama's proposed budget in 2011.. If anything, we aren't spending enough on space and spending way too much on other bs.

 

[unIowa]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/02/01/us/budget.html

Obama's proposed budget in 2011.. If anything, we aren't spending enough on space and spending way too much on other bs.

Yes, we should spend more on this than the military. Hell we should have a global collaborative effort that puts money aside. Pay the people but donate all the natural resources and tech.

Great now i am a dirty socialist.