Submitted by upyoars t3_zxuefe in Futurology
Comments
[deleted] t1_j22e8l2 wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_j22f0ri wrote
[removed]
FuturologyBot t1_j22gdn0 wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/upyoars:
> Scientists have proposed another use for the world's largest gravitational wave observatory: scanning for the ripples in space-time left in the wake of gargantuan alien spaceships.
> Now, new calculations published Dec. 5 to the preprint database arXiv(opens in new tab) suggest that the U.S.-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) can look beyond conventional sources for these space-time ripples. Colossal alien spacecraft traveling at high speeds, or pushed along by warp drives, would also produce the telltale vibrations.
> The LIGO detector spots gravitational waves from the tiny distortions they make in space-time as they pass through it. Made up of two intersecting L-shaped detectors — each with two 2.48-mile-long (4 kilometers) arms and two identical laser beams inside — the experiment is designed such that if a gravitational wave passes through Earth, the laser light in one arm of the detector will get compressed while the other expands, creating a tiny change in relative path lengths of the beams arriving at the detector.
> To be detectable by LIGO, an alien mothership would need to weigh roughly the same as Jupiter, travel at one-tenth the speed of light, and be within 326,000 light-years of Earth.
> The physicists have noted that advanced alien warp drives would create gravitational wave patterns that would be distinguishable from natural sources and that, if detected, these alien waves could even provide humans with clues about how to reverse engineer the technology.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/zxuefe/one_of_the_worlds_largest_lasers_could_be_used_to/j22c5z8/
[deleted] t1_j22ho9t wrote
[removed]
the_zelectro t1_j22htr4 wrote
This is pretty cool!!
Granted, if that mothership showed up in our neck of the woods, we're probably screwed.
I'm also skeptical of warp drives. But, there's definitely a chance of detecting something that moves slower than light-speed.
OptimalConcept143 t1_j22i9kg wrote
It will detect exactly 0 with a 0% margin of error.
[deleted] t1_j22k08a wrote
[removed]
ApriamAsh t1_j22mhgw wrote
Good, gotta see them Xenos Scum before they see us.
grandft t1_j22n3ef wrote
Unfortunately alien warp drives have anti laser detection technology built in as standard
[deleted] t1_j22ovvc wrote
[removed]
SterlingVapor t1_j22tpzg wrote
>Granted, if that mothership showed up in our neck of the woods, we're probably screwed.
Why? They're building ships larger than Earth and space is huge and full of resources, the only possible reason for them to give our planet a second glance is for us and maybe to study life in general
And maybe it's too wipe us out, but again... Why? Space is really, really big. Fighting over resources is dumb, everything's entirely recyclable with enough energy and automation. Energy is what matters.
So if the stars start going out, there's reason for worry... Other than that, it's humans projecting our own failings on aliens. Factions would form demanding we eliminate potential future threats, and so we think aliens might have this same thought...
But we ignore the fact as we are we'd never be able to build a ship like that. Even if we had the technology and resources handed to us, politics and infighting would leave us with a mismatched mess that would fall apart as we argued over if it even needs maintenance
the_zelectro t1_j22ugxf wrote
Earth is puny. But... Our Sun might be useful.
There are unique things about our Sun. It's an energy dense mid-sequence star, in a galaxy mostly comprised of red giants. Also, it's in the center of a fairly empty region of space: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sciencealert.com/the-solar-system-floats-in-a-void-now-we-know-how-that-void-triggered-the-formation-of-stars/amp
If some aliens decided that our star is good for refueling or for settling a colony (or both) we'd be toast.
To achieve any fraction of the speed of light, you'll need a ton of energy. And, due to time-dilation, it's a one-way trip. If aliens decide to swing by us, it can only mean so many things...
Ladnarr2 t1_j22v3mm wrote
Might not the technology of warp drives create a mass comparable to Jupiter? The ship doesn’t have to be the same size as Jupiter necessarily.
PhAiLMeRrY t1_j22xzrm wrote
Well it's about time, I mean how much longer can we let the warp drive issue go unchecked.
Haramdour t1_j230um4 wrote
I don’t know whether aliens are the best thing we need right now or the worst thing we need right now…
BigCommieMachine t1_j2337zh wrote
I mean the whole issue here is if an alien species is so advanced to develop warp drives, certainly masking it wouldn’t be an issue.
That has always been my beef is UFOs…etc. You’re telling me life forms that are so advanced that they can intergalactically travel in a space craft the size of a small aircraft, but they can’t develop a better method of surveillance or stealth than flying around noticeably in airspace.
the_zelectro t1_j2349sf wrote
Masking a mothership might be an issue, especially on the scale discussed here.
The equations for reaching a fraction of the speed of light are fairly simple (specifically, without considering warp-drive techniques). Building a working system is undoubtedly complex, but it's chiefly a game of attaining the required energy.
Cloaking a large stellar object so that it's invisible is a much more difficult task. There still might be ways, but spacetime should see clear warping at the given masses and velocities.
BraceThis t1_j234eom wrote
Finally!
I was beginning to wonder when this would come to fruition.
Thank goodness. Leave no warp drives unchecked.
MinisTreeofStupidity t1_j2387um wrote
And how likely is it that those exist, and aren't here?
Leandenor7 t1_j23e6dw wrote
Wouldn’t it also require LIGO to be detecting at a particular direction? This is quite a shot at the dark. Its like trying to listen for farts to recreate your neighbors anal cavity.
JamesyEsquire t1_j23f180 wrote
Ahh yes just the small problem of it needing to have the mass of Jupiter…
_ALH_ t1_j23f4bk wrote
That would probably be many magnitudes easier and more likely to succeed. At least you know your neighbour actually exists.
[deleted] t1_j23fqrq wrote
[removed]
TimeTravelMishap t1_j23h256 wrote
And Class 10 wizard armor
neanderthalsavant t1_j23hxjp wrote
Man, that would be a heck of a way to find out that humanity is figuratively the equivalent of ants crawling on a discarded Coke can on the edge of busy truck stop parking lot.
Lord_Nivloc t1_j23i380 wrote
Well, if LIGO is detecting it, I’m not sure how they could hide. That would imply their warp drive created gravitational waves / ripples in the fabric of spacetime
[deleted] t1_j23n4e8 wrote
[removed]
5kyl3r t1_j23ojh3 wrote
i read the title as alien wasp dens. i'm glad to find that i'm wrong. warp drives are safer 😂
RRumpleTeazzer t1_j23os4w wrote
On a galactic scale from 0 to physical impossible, this is rather on the trivial side.
LittleKittyLove t1_j23rdm6 wrote
Fast forward 8 billion years. Earth heroically united to survive humanities existential crisis. Technology progressed until humans are cyborg gods. We are a many planet, post scarcity civilization.
A few million light years from earth, there is a galactic zoo planet called “Burf.” Burf was formed by humanity a couple billion years ago, as a sort of nature retreat. It was set to a nice temperature, seeded with some basic life, and left to sprout.
Burf is a wonderful planet. Life forms like to warp in, and work remote from its many beautiful vantage points. They watch waterfalls, and arctic storms. Float above the primitive ape cities, and casually follow their emerging stories.
Of course, we keep an eye on the apes to see if they will pass the great filter. After all, we don’t want to rescue a malevolent dying race and start an intergalactic war. Again.
If the primitive apes can realize that they are all stuck on the same lifeboat and come together for future generations, we will happily accept them into the galactic fold. If they succumb to violence and greed, we will let nature take its course, and perhaps help Burf recover from whatever stain they leave behind.
Sometimes our kind interacts with the apes. Frequently, it’s by accident, by getting too close. Sometimes, it is avid fans of the Ape Story, deliberately interjecting themselves to warn the apes that they’ll go extinct if they aren’t careful, or floating above their nuclear weapons, shining a bright red light on them to say “this is a bad idea.”
We’ve even had a few accidents out around Not Vegas involving intoxicants and bright neon lights. But we are not supposed to interfere, and to let the great filter do it’s work on Burf.
ItsYaBoySkinnyPen15 t1_j23ymx2 wrote
This is cool but also scary. With the vast expanse of our universe, alternate forms of intelligent life probably do exist. What’s scary is if they truly have conquered the grand expanse of space, then they have surpassed the great barrier. That makes them the absolute pinnacle of evolution, and should they ever make their way here we would have no technology, none whatsoever that would compare. We would essentially be faced with a near omnipotent species that could do whatever they please with us
skinte1 t1_j240qc1 wrote
>Why? They're building ships larger than Earth and space is huge and full of resources, the only possible reason for them to give our planet a second glance is for us and maybe to study life in general
Could be our planet is so small they're not even giving it a first glance... Like forestry machinery driving over an anthill to get to the area they are going to log. Using our sun for fuel before continuing on their merry way etc...
rnagy2346 t1_j241ncn wrote
The Great Pyramid MASER accomplished this feat well over 10,000 years ago ;)
NerdyRedneck45 t1_j241nk2 wrote
It isn’t really directional in that way, it’s detecting gravitational waves from all around. You can pinpoint the location by timing differences of detectors around the world.
NoGoodDM t1_j247b39 wrote
They’ll probably destroy earth to make room for a new space highway.
Bilbo_nubbins t1_j249mix wrote
And a Big Red vending machine
DadBodDorian t1_j24g5im wrote
No fucking way I love big red
BigFitMama t1_j24i516 wrote
It is good we have proof of aliens, but the fact stands, if they wanted to contact us publically and intervene beneficently in our human affairs, wouldn't they already have?
Or if they are, they learned that most of humanity would descend into chaos if they didn't work behind the scenes?
Or they simply look at it like an anthill and see no benefit in bothering with the ants but to study them and on occasion their young like to barnstorm earth for shits and giggles.
thruster_fuel69 t1_j24k2hi wrote
What should said ants do once they know? Dig a deeper hole, reach for knowledge, both?
ABoyWithNoBlob t1_j24lint wrote
You’ve got to build bypasses.
alt4614 t1_j24m0ec wrote
It would, but if we observed phenomena of that nature we would instantly boost our own R&D greatly
ML4Bratwurst t1_j24nge8 wrote
Yes. The direction where it's coming from and where it is heading can be determined because the LIGO system actually has two stations. Each one in the other side of the earth.
jhev1 t1_j24qcvz wrote
That's very similar to what I say, why would they have to mutilate cattle and anally probe people? If they can get here they can probably tell everything they need to from orbit. The don't need to stick something up our ass or mutilate some helpless animals.
SgathTriallair t1_j24s2ii wrote
That last part is the problem. We don't have any realistic physics that allows was drive. For instance, the one they are talking about requires negative mass which we not only have no evidence of but it sounds pretty ridiculous so we have no reason to think it might exist.
If aliens are using warp drive it'll almost certainly be different than anything we could think of today.
TotalRuler1 t1_j24t33u wrote
It is moments like this when I am compelled to reference the great film "Repo Man" to point out that flying saucers are in fact, time machines
stoner_97 t1_j24t9c4 wrote
Attack enemy nests
thruster_fuel69 t1_j24tcmw wrote
Sir, these nests are 10x the size of our sun...
stoner_97 t1_j24tk53 wrote
Send more ants
gregarioussparrow t1_j24tokr wrote
Unfortunately, i agree
Plastic-Affect1145 t1_j24wig0 wrote
well the truth is-you’ll have to wait and see hehe
[deleted] t1_j24xxa3 wrote
[removed]
JacquesXenophobe t1_j24yzjc wrote
Pointing lasers at UFOs is dangerous, you could blind the alien pilot
omguserius t1_j252qhj wrote
I dunno man, if all it took for my megaships to be detected was something some prewarp primitives could kludge together in a few decades, I'd probably develop some countermeasures.
Not because I would care what the rockthrowers could see, but if they could see it, my competition could do the same but better.
stackered t1_j253z40 wrote
one of the more cringe title's I've seen here since the sub blew up. detect alien warp drives. lmao
Jane_Fen t1_j2541pp wrote
I was hoping you were joking but looking at your post history, it looks like you actually believe this shit.
rnagy2346 t1_j2556l7 wrote
I don't believe, I know..
[deleted] t1_j258s8o wrote
[removed]
HiddenCity t1_j259144 wrote
And they're all anti-precience no-ships
x31b t1_j25bucy wrote
Strawberry ripple in the space time continuum? What happened to Eddy? I thought that’s where he was.
Takeoded t1_j25hqix wrote
>need to weigh roughly the same as Jupiter
Well shit, for comparison Jupiter weights about 14 million times the weight of the Death Star. (assuming Jupiter is 1.8 septillion metric tons and the Death Star is 134 quadrillion metric tons; which was the first google result for "Jupiter weight" and "Death Star weight" respectivly)
DumatRising t1_j25lcxo wrote
Time to activate the clone vats!
Jane_Fen t1_j25nd7i wrote
You know that…the great pyramids are a magical beacon calling aliens to our planet?
rnagy2346 t1_j25o1vo wrote
Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but I've recently come to nothing short of a revelation regarding these structures and am developing a discourse describing how and why this is. You know those airshafts are actually microwave wave guides and the math/measure proves this to be the case.
SmokeAbeer t1_j25qq2k wrote
Sorry, I’m more of a wait and see, do my own thing, ant.
Jane_Fen t1_j25r6b1 wrote
I only see one teeny-weeny flaw in your logic…stone doesn’t reflect microwaves, it absorbs it.
rnagy2346 t1_j25rsh5 wrote
You're right about that, though there is evidence suggesting they were once gold-plated. Colonel Howard Vyse was hacking away at the start of the southern shaft and found iron embedded in the stone. Further analysis revealed traces of gold in this iron.
Miguel-odon t1_j25shfz wrote
Maybe they have a policy of eliminating sentient life before it can become a threat.
Maybe they just like hunting undeveloped species in exotic locations.
Maybe the humanoid form is considered blasphemy against their deity?
Erazzphoto t1_j266j8d wrote
Quick Elon, this must be worth $100b, should totally buy it
illtakeachinchilla t1_j269vhr wrote
Construct a pylon!
Grantmosh t1_j26gt0x wrote
Do you by chance, like the game Stellaris?
hheeeenmmm t1_j26mn5m wrote
Lmao if a hostile alien decides earth is a even half decent target we are completely fucked
bigedthebad t1_j26ou8i wrote
Why would alien tech be that far advanced from our own given that the entire universe is the same age?
We have barely left the planet, much less the solar system so why would anyone have warp drives?
upyoars OP t1_j26qab2 wrote
Because the universe is 14 billion years old while the Earth is only 4.5 billion years old, also planets evolve to their final state suitable for life at different rates.
xer0s t1_j26yu44 wrote
Not only that, but if we do detect something, there’s zero chance we could ever confirm it’s an “alien warp drive”…
cm135 t1_j271oys wrote
But can you attach said lasers on, let’s say, a shark’s head?
Beardgang650 t1_j277nxb wrote
I vote not to fuck with aliens and their warp drives
Bringbackdexter t1_j27a2aw wrote
Could be a threshold for contact?
DamianFullyReversed t1_j2d2vsw wrote
If we do encounter an alien civilisation, I really hope they have good bioethics, or at least trivially care about us. But yeah, it’s scary a single individual can react so much differently. I sometimes rescue worms from footpaths, but the next person might step on them for fun. I’m a bit worried aliens could be like this, though I’m a bit optimistic in that I think they’ll engineer their own niceness into them.
camplate t1_j2f7a8l wrote
Did you mean red dwarfs? M-type stars are 80% of stars, red giants are 0.4%
upyoars OP t1_j22c5z8 wrote
> Scientists have proposed another use for the world's largest gravitational wave observatory: scanning for the ripples in space-time left in the wake of gargantuan alien spaceships.
> Now, new calculations published Dec. 5 to the preprint database arXiv(opens in new tab) suggest that the U.S.-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) can look beyond conventional sources for these space-time ripples. Colossal alien spacecraft traveling at high speeds, or pushed along by warp drives, would also produce the telltale vibrations.
> The LIGO detector spots gravitational waves from the tiny distortions they make in space-time as they pass through it. Made up of two intersecting L-shaped detectors — each with two 2.48-mile-long (4 kilometers) arms and two identical laser beams inside — the experiment is designed such that if a gravitational wave passes through Earth, the laser light in one arm of the detector will get compressed while the other expands, creating a tiny change in relative path lengths of the beams arriving at the detector.
> To be detectable by LIGO, an alien mothership would need to weigh roughly the same as Jupiter, travel at one-tenth the speed of light, and be within 326,000 light-years of Earth.
> The physicists have noted that advanced alien warp drives would create gravitational wave patterns that would be distinguishable from natural sources and that, if detected, these alien waves could even provide humans with clues about how to reverse engineer the technology.