Transcript Slide 1

Exploring the prospects of detecting
extraterrestrial civilizations
- Nikolai Kardashev civilization classification*
- Evidence of alien visitation to Earth
*Including refinements by:
Sagan, C. 1973. The Cosmic Connection: an Extraterrestrial Perspective.
Tang, T. B., and Chang G. 1991. Quarterly J. of the R.A.S., 32, 189-191.
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Type I Civilizations
We will use the system devised by Soviet astronomer
Nikolai Kardashev.
Type I civilizations use the entirety of their planetary
resources limits (1016 -1017 W).
Characteristics of a Type I civilization
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Understands advanced physics.
Achieved space and nuclear technology.
Initiation of spaceflight, interplanetary travel, settlement of space.
Early attempts at interstellar communication.
•How
to detect a Type I civilization
– Via spectral signatures in atmospheres.
– Via communication beacons, etc.?
Humans are around Type 0.7, and will be Type I in 100-200 years (Sagan 1973).
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Type II Civilizations
Type II civilizations use the entirety of the power produced by their
home star (1026 -1027 W).
Characteristics of a Type II civilization
̶ Stellar system society, constructing space habitats.
̶ Construction of Dyson rings or Dyson spheres.
(I=satellites, II=single structure).
̶ Societal lifetimes of 1000-100,000 years.
̶ Interstellar travel, seeking other civilizations.
̶ Sending remote probes, promoting panspermia, stellar arks.
How to detect a Type II civilization
A Dyson sphere would convert the visible energy production of the
enclosed star into infrared (waste heat). While the star would be
hidden at optical wavelengths, it would be easily detectable via
infrared astronomy.
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Type III Civilizations
Type III civilizations use the entirety of the power and
resources of their galaxy (1037-1038 W).
We have entered the realms of pure, fantastic, speculation.
Characteristics of a Type III civilization
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Galactic society.
Societal lifetimes of 108-109 years, essentially
immortal.
Interstellar communications using exotic forms.
Feats of astro-engineering.
Such a civilization would probably require some kind
of faster-than-light technology to keep from falling
apart
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How to detect a Type III civilization
Can we even imagine such an advanced civilization?
Would we recognize the works of such a civilization?
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Likely sites for alien relics
As (if) we explore our cosmos, we will no doubt keep our eyes open
for signs of alien relics. Where should we look?
If you visited our solar system before intelligent life had evolved, and
you wanted to leave a message for future native explorers, where
would you place it?
A Moon beacon?
Seeing that the Earth was a habitable world, would you leave
marker for future humans on the Moon, perhaps slightly hidden but
with clear markers?
Relics at sites lacking erosion?
Perhaps you would place it at locations like Callisto, which have
little or no erosion.
Gravitationally stable sites
Lagrange points 4 & 5 are possible sites where such objects may be
placed for the very long term.
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Indications of ancient alien visitations
Do we have good evidence of ancient visitations? Just like the Martian
meteorite—significant claims require significant evidence.
For example, it is possible that the periodic extinctions in our fossil record
were due to past episodes of cosmic warfare, but we need evidence to
support this. Until that evidence arrives, it makes sense to explain it by
natural asteroidal-cometary impacts.
Archeoastronomers, working with historians, anthropologists, and artists,
have reviewed the prehistory and history of art, literature, science, and
architecture looking for artifacts or indications of alien encounter.
Examples of evidence would be inexplicable records of contact, especially
if associated with rapid jumps in human technological ability.
However, it is critical that the evidence is interpreted—not only through
the modern eye—but also through the lens of culture present at the time of
the historical record.
Let us review ancient civilizations to current times…but we will start with
an analysis of Christian art, as a cautionary tale.
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Indications of ancient alien visitations
Orthodox Christianity, 11th to 14th century
Paintings, frescos, etc., often show what might appear to be clear
indications of alien visitations.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, an 11th century Christian church in Georgia
(Eastern Europe), includes a representation called “Crucifixion”, which
contains obvious alien aircraft!
The 14th century fresco in the Visoki Decani Monastery in Kosovo,
similarly shows UFO visitors at the crucifixion!
But art iconographers note that these symbols are merely Sun/Moon
symbols, used as a symbolic language by artists to indicate the
importance of the events portrayed.
What may seem to be aliens, is merely the language of the artistry.
See: http://sprezzatura.it/Arte/Arte_UFO.htm
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Indications of ancient alien visitations
Pyramids around the world, 2500 BCE-1000 AD
Claims by European pseudo-historians—that pyramids could not have
been made by people with other skin colors—smacks strongly of racism
and cultural imperialism!
Pyramids have been created in Mesoamerica, Egypt, Greece, Nubia,
Middle East, etc., all well within contemporary technologies and
manpower.
Example—Egyptian pyramids
They were created over 2600-1800 BCE.
Studied chronologically, they show a slow but steady improvement in
construction.
The “bent pyramid” in the royal necropolis of Dashur (2600 BCE)
shows a mid-construction change of 55° to 43°!
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Indications of ancient alien visitations
Aliens in Egypt, 2500 BCE
Images of alien “greys” have been found on hieroglyphs.
These creepy images are, in fact, nothing more mysterious than potted
plants!
Temple of Seti I, ~1300 BCE
Conventionally explained as overlain hieroglyphs, exposed as the
plaster has fallen away.
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Indications of ancient alien visitations
Alien instructor-being in Babylonia, ~300 BCE
Berossos was an ancient historian of Babylonia who wrote of Oannes, a
fishlike humanoid, that rose from the Persian Gulf and taught
technology to humanity:
“This being…gave them an insight into letters and sciences, and arts
of every kind. He taught them to construct cities, to found temples,
to compile laws, and explained to them the principles of geometrical
knowledge.”
Pre-Columbian gold artifacts
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Indications of ancient alien visitations
Mexico, Central America, 680 AD
Ancient images of “astronauts” are easily interpreted by
anthropologists; for example depictions on the tomb of the Mayan
ruler, Pakal the Great (603-683 AD).
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Indications of current alien visitations
UFOs = Unidentified Flying Objects
24 June 1947
UFOs seen by private pilot Kenneth Arnold in Washington state.
8 July 1947
Saucer parts found in Roswell, NM. Subsequently revealed to be
debris from secret US military program “Mogul.”
19 September 1961
Betty & Barney Hill abducted in New Hampshire.
10 February 1964
“The Bellero Shield” aired on The Outer Limits, showing an alien
with large oval eyes. Two weeks later, under hypnosis, Barney Hill
related memories of aliens with large oval eyes.
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Indications of current alien visitations
1972
J. Allen Hynek developed “Close Encounter” classification.
1978
Mysterious crop circles start appearing in England. After 13 years,
Doug Bower and Dave Chorley admit to starting the crop circle
craze. Crop circle artists start web sites and societies.
1995
Alien autopsy videos released; later revealed as fake.
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Indications of current alien visitations
Very few forms of life on our planet are bipedal humanoids.
The diversity of life forms is far richer.
Indications of current alien visitations
UFOlogists believe in an wacked taxonomy of “Greys”,
“Reptilians”, “Nordics”, and “Men in Black.”
Notice how all these aliens are bipedal humanoids??
Can UFOs be “science”?
Discovery science? Yes
Hypothesis driven science? No
It is important to be open-minded, yet to apply
basic scientific principles, cautiously, just as if
we were investigating laws of physics, or cures
for cancer.
The quality of most UFO work makes life
difficult for anyone actually studying the topic.
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Appendix: if you really hunger for more
Easter Island, Chile, ~1700 AD
This Polynesian island is renowned for its many enormous, enigmatic
statues.
Q: How could they be erected without trees and ropes?
A: When the moai were carved and erected, trees were present.
However, the trees were subsequently harvested to depletion.
Ropes also existed, of course, but claiming they didn’t makes
it all seem more mysterious!
Easter Island is often cited as a textbook case of the perils of
an unsustainable lifestyle, invasive species, and disease
introduction.
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Indications of ancient alien visitations
Nacza, Peru, 200 BC-300 AD
The drawings on the plains of Nazca, Peru are remarkable and there
are several theories about their function: ceremonial, astronomical,
pointing towards water holes, etc. The patterns can easily be created
using rock and rope technology.
While tourist-theoreticians like to invoke aliens, or the help of
visiting aliens (who must lack any kind of navigation?),
anthropologists tell us this is a simplistic (and insulting)
characterization of a once-sophisticated culture.
Note they even created a complex system of underground aquaducts
(puquios) with access points (respirados).
This was an advanced civilization.
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Indications of ancient alien visitations
Mali, West Africa, current
The bright star, Sirius, has an exceedingly tiny and faint
companion (Sirus B), which was only observed for the first time
in 1862. Sirius B is absolutely impossible to detect without
sophisticated telescopic equipment.
Despite all this, the Dogon people of Mali, West Africa, know
that Sirius is a double system (the “sorghum star” and “digitaria
star”), meaning big and small because of seed sizes, and a 60
year orbit.
Is this knowledge of Sirius B coincidence, due to aliens, or
cultural contamination? (In 1893 an entourage of French
astronomers on an eclipse expedition visited Mali and stayed
with the Dogon people.)
Note: European author Jonathan Swift wrote in Gulliver’s
Travels (1726) that Mars had two moons, with 10 and 22 hour
orbital periods. Phobos and Deimos, discovered in 1877, have
orbital periods of 8 and 30 hours.
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Indications of ancient alien visitations
Did the major religions result from interactions with extraterrestrials?
Ezekiel (prophet in Christianity, Judaism, Islam), ca. 500 BCE
The Book of Ezekiel
1:4-9
I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with
flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like
glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance
their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs
were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.
1:15-19
As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature
with its four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled
like chrysolite, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel
intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the
creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about as the creatures went. Their rims were
high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. When the living
creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose
from the ground, the wheels also rose.
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