The first Podcast is out. It's about the Fermi paradox and possible resolutions to it. I realize some of my more scientifically rigorous subscribers may not be very happy with the science fiction slant in this podcast, but I wanted to start the podcasts with something really fascinating to think about. We'll get to some rock solid science soon enough, I promise.
Here are some links from the show:
This is the "Golden Record" sent with the Voyager spacecraft on a journey out of our solar system and, hopefully, into the arms of eagerly waiting alien civilizations. Click on the picture for a link to the Wikipedia entry. Carl Sagan co-wrote a book about the record and all the stuff on it called "Murmurs of the Earth"
Is SETI (The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) worth our taxes? I think their mission is definitely worthwhile. Imagine the impact it would have on the world if we tuned in to some faraway system and heard
Meesa Jar Jar Binks
OK, bad example. But seriously, it's very difficult to think of things on the cosmic scale with our non-cosmic sized minds. The chances of finding intelligent life on any particular planet are absolutely minuscule, pretty much zero. However, there are so many planets and systems to examine, that it just might be possible to detect something if we look in enough places.
There may not be a pay off in the next five or ten years, but we may find some signs of civilization in the next century. Even then, the impact will be more philosophical than practical. Communicating across the cosmos with the laws of Physics that we know of today is very inefficient and useless.
I won't go into all the gory details of how SETI tries to detect civilizations, but you can read all about it (Wikify!). Basically, they scan the skies for radio signals, like the ones we emit from TV's, radios, phones, etc. How do they know the aliens don't communicate using something we don't know how to use yet (elementary particles, qubits, donuts)
Incentive for alien invasion: donut shortages?
In conclusion, I think it's pretty arrogant of us to assume we could detect an advanced civilization but I'd give up one penny per paycheck to support any efforts.
Also, there is a really wacko philosophical idea that's pretty fun to think about and that I think everyone should check out that pertains to E.T. and our relations to him. It's called the Zoo Hypothesis (Wikify!) and I think I will dedicate a full post to it and other explanations for the Fermi Paradox in the near future.
I've recently found Pandora, the fantastic music discovery tool. If you haven't seen it yet, then I really recommend it. It has the best selection of music that I've ever seen. If you want new music: Go check it out . Two new bands I recommend are Bubble and Thirsty Merc.
The new version of iTunes is making me happy. The old version used to crash automatically after any uploads to my iPod which almost gave me enough incentive to use Rockbox. Rockbox seemed like it would take a lot of setting up though, so I decided to stick it out with iTunes, and the new version is workable.
Also, I found a new interesting podcast about Neurology, hosted by some Aussie woman. It's called All in the Mind.
Hubble is coming down. It's been up there since 1990 and has completely changed the view of the universe of those who have been paying attention for the last few years. Here is a nice video about the UDF (Ultra Deep Field), one of the most distant glances we have ever taken into our universe.
SETI@Home; sign up, help find E.T.
End music was Bubble - Deadender
