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Europa announcement (NON-TROLL THREAD)
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:12 pm
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:12 pm
We all know deep inside that neither NASA or any other government agency will ever admit aliens exist on other planets for fear it'll destroy religion and cause global panic (which I don't believe would happen anyhow, but I don't make the rules).
The only way alien life will ever be confirmed is if aliens land a ship on the White House lawn and give a press conference where they announce, "We exist. Aliens exist. Nanu Nanu."
Therefore, we can assume that the "big Europa announcement" will probably be something incredibly boring like RESEARCHERS DETECT WATER JETS SPEWING FROM FROZEN EUROPA or RESEARCHERS DETECT AMINO ACIDS IN WATER JETS SPEWING FROM EUROPA INTO SPACE.
Regardless, any announcement about Europa is cool. Europa is an incredibly fascinating world. I hope I'm alive when NASA sends a nuclear drill bore to Europa to melt through the ice sheets to access the vast ocean below.
The only way alien life will ever be confirmed is if aliens land a ship on the White House lawn and give a press conference where they announce, "We exist. Aliens exist. Nanu Nanu."
Therefore, we can assume that the "big Europa announcement" will probably be something incredibly boring like RESEARCHERS DETECT WATER JETS SPEWING FROM FROZEN EUROPA or RESEARCHERS DETECT AMINO ACIDS IN WATER JETS SPEWING FROM EUROPA INTO SPACE.
Regardless, any announcement about Europa is cool. Europa is an incredibly fascinating world. I hope I'm alive when NASA sends a nuclear drill bore to Europa to melt through the ice sheets to access the vast ocean below.
This post was edited on 9/23/16 at 2:26 pm
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Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:26 pm to Supreme Tiger
Okay...back to topic. This thread is about Europa and alien life.
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:28 pm to mizzoukills
Wait..
You just did magic.
You just did magic.
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:29 pm to Supreme Tiger
Whoa!!!! What the frick just happened?
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:32 pm to mizzoukills
quote:
Regardless, any announcement about Europa is cool. Europa is an incredibly fascinating world. I hope I'm alive when NASA sends a nuclear drill bore to Europa to melt through the ice sheets to access the vast ocean below.
And piss off the locals so that they exterminate us all
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:33 pm to mizzoukills
Not sure why the discovery of alien life would destroy all religion.
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:45 pm to mizzoukills
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I hope I'm alive when NASA sends a nuclear drill bore to Europa to melt through the ice sheets to access the vast ocean below.
I think NASA scientists are wetting their pants in excitement because this may not be necessary now. Sampling plumes coming directly from Europa's subterranean ocean would be far less expensive and much more likely to be funded by Congress.
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:51 pm to GoldenDawg
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Not sure why the discovery of alien life would destroy all religion.
It wouldn't but it would certainly modify most beliefs. Humans are wired for a hierarchical, top-down social order. That's just the way we evolved.
That won't change as long as we are "natural," by that I mean biological, creatures. When we make the jump to artificial intelligence, however, we can eliminate the now irrational influences of evolutionary holdovers such as religion.
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:53 pm to Kentucker
quote:
I think NASA scientists are wetting their pants in excitement because this may not be necessary now. Sampling plumes coming directly from Europa's subterranean ocean would be far less expensive and much more likely to be funded by Congress.
Sure.
But a nuclear drill which could drop into the ocean below the ice sheets could release underwater drones to survey, film, and examine the underwater world which would be FAR better than sampling water plumes.
Fwiw, a nuclear bore wouldn't cost too much. I think people hesitate due to the pollution factor, not cost. They believe a nuclear drill would contaminate Europa. People don't realize that radioactive elements more than likely already exist on Europa.
This post was edited on 9/23/16 at 2:58 pm
Posted on 9/23/16 at 2:54 pm to Kentucker
Do you want humans to no longer be human?
You are for the merger of man and machine?
You are for the merger of man and machine?
Posted on 9/23/16 at 3:00 pm to Supreme Tiger
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You are for the merger of man and machine?
the merger of man and machine is inevitable. It's already happening...
Posted on 9/23/16 at 3:01 pm to mizzoukills
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But a nuclear drill which could drop into the ocean below the ice sheets could release underwater drones to survey, film, and examine the underwater world which would be FAR better than sampling water plumes
Absolutely, but that may now be better used as a second step. Sampling of any plumes of water jetting from Europa's ocean will definitely reveal any microbial life present there.
A submarine would be the logical next step in looking for any complex life or effects of microbial life on the ocean's environs.
quote:
People don't realize that radioactive elements more than likely already exist on Europa.
Or that life may have evolved there to be resistant to the effects of radiation, just as it has for some species here on earth.
Posted on 9/23/16 at 3:08 pm to Kentucker
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Or that life may have evolved there to be resistant to the effects of radiation, just as it has for some species here on earth.
Exactly.
But you know as well as I that very powerful environmental lobby groups hear "nuclear" and flip their damn minds!
Posted on 9/23/16 at 3:12 pm to Supreme Tiger
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Do you want humans to no longer be human?
You are for the merger of man and machine?
As killz said, it's already happening. Think about the artificial prostheses that are in use, some are even electronic.
Humans will always be human. We are biological creatures and cannot adapt to a form that can leave earth. Oh, we might be able to explore Mars but we won't be able to even live there long term.
If you look back at the evolution of man up to our current status, you'll see that consciousness is the zenith of that transformation. Now project our evolution into the future.
What comes after consciouness? The logical answer is artificial consciousness. A form of life that can design itself to any requirement for exploration.
Will that form be in a melding of man and machine or just a self-designing machine? It may be that the quantum workings of our brains can only be done via biological processes.
This post was edited on 9/23/16 at 3:25 pm
Posted on 9/23/16 at 3:24 pm to mizzoukills
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But you know as well as I that very powerful environmental lobby groups hear "nuclear" and flip their damn minds
We are nearing another crossroads of human existence. Presently, backwards-looking people are breeding faster than forward-lookers.
At the same time, these backwards-lookers are rejoicing in the scientific achievements of the forward-lookers, especially regarding the plethora of advancements that benefit them in their daily lives.
So far, the backwards-lookers and their self-limiting characteristics don't pose a strong threat to humans' innate demand for exploration. Should they ever command resources and refuse to abet this natural drive for knowledge, such as the situation with North Korea and Kim Jong Un, they will have to be, um, reformed.
Posted on 9/23/16 at 3:34 pm to Kentucker
Should we be focused on colonizing Mars and examining other worlds like Europa and Titan, or should we focus on colonizing the Moon before China and Russia do?
Posted on 9/23/16 at 3:39 pm to Kentucker
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Presently, backwards-looking people are breeding faster than forward-lookers.
Interesting as the Michner book "Space" was about religion killing space exploration and not the actual lack of intelligence by those who could make it happen.
Idiocracy was set 500 years in the future but it could easily be a scant 50 years if we degrade hard science for the masses going forward.
Posted on 9/23/16 at 3:46 pm to mizzoukills
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Should we be focused on colonizing Mars and examining other worlds like Europa and Titan, or should we focus on colonizing the Moon before China and Russia do?
Of immediate concern should be bringing human population under control here on earth. If we don't, we're going to use up our resources and die out as a species.
We can't colonize the Moon or Mars for permanent habitation. We're just not built for the low gravity of both bodies.
We can, however, probably mine them for resources, or, in the case of Mars, terraform it and grow crops there. Spending limited time on Mars should be possible for us.
Any permanent ventures by humans into the outer reaches of space can come only by becoming cyborgs or artificial intelligence.
Posted on 9/23/16 at 3:57 pm to Kentucker
quote:
Of immediate concern should be bringing human population under control here on earth. If we don't, we're going to use up our resources and die out as a species.
The globe has been able to sustain higher populations by advances in science that allow this. Simple things like the domestication of animals and pumps for well water are early examples but refrigeration and mechanical farming have caused huge boom in supply.
Three basic issues confront us
#1 Not wasting 33% to 44% of the food we produce
#2 Not rewarding wealth concentration by killing communities and regions
#3 Effective rewards for effective breeding that advance the human race, not set it backward
When overly greedy businessmen and overpaid entertainers become the apex of a civilization over scientists (technical) and artists (creativity) are couple with teachers (education) and workers (plumbers and other trade craft people) then you are headed to the bottom, not the top.
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