←back to thread

What do we do if SETI is successful?

(www.universetoday.com)
174 points leephillips | 1 comments | 20 Oct 25 17:13 UTC | HN request time: 0.215s | source
Show context
knowitnone3 ◴[20 Oct 25 20:06 UTC] No.45648622[source]▶
Send memes. Most commenters here assume receiving a message means aliens can reach us - they can't. Think about how distant the closest galaxy is and think about how long it would take to reach them even at light speed. The size of the ship needed, the amount of fuel needed not only for acceleration but stopping as well. Even if they 100x or 1000x our space abilities, it would still be impossible.
replies(2): >>45648927 #>>45648962 #
1. general1465 ◴[20 Oct 25 20:35 UTC] No.45648962[source]▶
Or they could just pop up here because they have mastered quantum physics and can just use quantum tunnelling to teleport whole ship across space in an instant.