What's wrong with sci-fi aliens

[Edric O]

I've been thinking about the way aliens are portrayed in science fiction... While there are many obvious flaws with movie aliens, even the most respected sci-fi novels suffer from a serious scientific inaccuracy. All sci-fi authors seem to assume that humans and aliens are only separated by vast distances in space. What they tend to forget is that humans and aliens would naturally have to be separated by equally vast gaps in time.

Our Galaxy is billions of years old. The chances of two space-faring civilizations developing at the same time (in other words, one being no more than one or two hundred years ahead of the other) are practically ZERO. Just two civilizations developing simultaneously would be a miracle - a whole collection of different civilizations developing simultaneously (as in Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5, etc.) is plain ridiculous. The time gaps between civilizations should be in the order of millions of years.

So forget about all those little grey aliens of pop culture. In reality, all the aliens we can hope to encounter fit into one of the following categories:

1. Primitive cavemen

2. Godlike super-beings

An alien race millions of years behind us would be at the level of dumb apes. A civilization millions of years ahead of us would seem godlike in our eyes (consider the fact that our own civilization is only five thousand years old - imagine what a MILLION years of development would mean!).

One interesting effect of this situation is that we will never have any use for powerful weapons in our encounters with aliens. The primitive cavemen are no threat, and the godlike super-beings could make us dissappear in the blink of an eye if they really wanted to.

Therefore, realistically speaking, human beings will NEVER fight any aliens, because all aliens would most likely be far behind or far ahead of our level of technology - so it's either sticks and stones, or "resistance is futile".

And if there is a race of godlike super-beings out there, then they're probably peaceful - because otherwise they would have killed us all by now. We are, after all, an embryonic space-faring civilization, so any kind of "galactic empire" - if there is one - should have already noticed us. Consider the fact that Earth's radio bubble* has reached a radius of some 80 light-years.

*A certain part of our broadcasts in the spectrum of radio waves (i.e. just about every form of modern communication) leaks into space all the time, and "flows" in all directions at the speed of light. An alien looking at our Solar System would see a sudden and unexplained explosion of emissions in the radio spectrum. He would quickly realize that this explosion could not have come from the Sun, and thus conclude that it must have some sort of artificial origin. Since we have been using radio waves on a large enough scale for about 80 years, and since they travel in all directions at the speed of light, our existence is clearly visible to any alien residing within 80 light-years of Earth. This sphere with a 80 LY radius is Earth's current "radio bubble". In the radio spectrum, the Earth is brighter than the Sun.

[DukeLeto]

A lot of good points, however:

1. There is suffiecient scientific proof that the entire universe was created at once.  It is therefore logical to theorize that at least some societies devolping within "close" proximity of ours would have begun development at similar times; perhaps gaps of tens of thousand of years, which is trivial in a developmental sense.  Which of course leads me to:

(consider the fact that our own civilization is only five thousand years old - imagine what a MILLION years of development would mean!).

Eh?  Human society is only 5,00 years old?  That's grossly inaccurate.  Five thousand years?  Humanity has been developing much longer than that.  The first primitive native american soicieties begans tens of thousands of years ago!  After all, Earth is ~4.3 billion years old.  Hell, stonhenge, the abacus, and dentistry are more than 5,000 years old!  Those certainly aren't inventions of an uncivilized people.

[Andrew]

The first civilized people living along the Euphrates River in Iraq (Mesopotamia) occurred around 5000 years ago. EdricO is correct. :)

Cultivation and domestication occurred around 8000-12000 years ago.

But of course "humans" have been evolving for millions of years. But civilization did not occur until 5000 years ago.

Sure fire was invented a long time ago, along with tools and such, but civilization did not occur until 5000 years ago. I would say we have progressed pretty good in 5000 years compared to the millions it took to get to civilization.

I do agree with what you said at first DukeLeto, it is just as possible that another planet has evolved at a similiar rate as ours.

Although I agree with EdricO that hundreds or thousands of similiar evolving planets would be unlikely.

[Edric O]

A lot of good points, however:

1. There is suffiecient scientific proof that the entire universe was created at once.

It doesn't matter when the universe itself was created (and of course it was created all at once - that's one of the few things that all theories agree on). What matters is when individual stars and their planets were formed. And since the Sun was not born in a "stellar nursery", we can be certain that no other star formed at exactly the same time.

Besides, who says that life has to evolve everywhere at the same speed? It took some 4,500,000,000 years for intelligent beings to appear on Earth. If live evolves on another planet just slightly slower, it might take 4,501,000,000 years for intelligent beings to appear. That's a difference of only 0.02% - but it means a time gap of one million years.

Eh?  Human society is only 5,000 years old?  That's grossly inaccurate.  Five thousand years?  Humanity has been developing much longer than that.  The first primitive native american soicieties begans tens of thousands of years ago! After all, Earth is ~4.5 billion years old.  Hell, stonhenge, the abacus, and dentistry are more than 5,000 years old!  Those certainly aren't inventions of an uncivilized people.

Human society is much older, of course, but human civilization is about 5000 years old. The first civilization was that of the Sumerians, who lived in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).

[Anathema]

In a particular Star Trekn: TNG episode they revealed that millions of years ago there was a race of aliens that spread their DNA across the galaxy, thus giving birth to humans, Cardassians, Klingons etc. So in this series it makes more sense.

[Caid Ivik]

Technically speaking, Jesus Christ was a partial alien, if you're not a hardcore pantheist, and it was possible to kill him (no talk of consequences), Jacob fought an angel with bare hands...

[Davidu]

There could be another race or other races out there comparable with us as technology. But that is very unlikely. Possible though. Who knows? Maybe we're lucky. ;)

[Jack Leaf]

Science fiction.

[Tako]

we have to stop thinking of alien life in a human way, it is not right to think that a other civelisation would develop in the same amount of time or in a same way like ours.

it could take more time ( so it would take acivelisation older than ours but not so advanced) or shorter (would develop later than ours)

Our civelisation is developing but also satgnating because of so many wars going on, also that doestake to an advantage to more invanting but: oin the miletary plane.

I think edric is over reacting whit his statement as to  "only" cave-men and super beings

thre may be more to it then we realize

other: the universe is expanding itself so the odds of ever meeting a other race could also become more  and more doubtfull.

[Timenn]

Jack Leaf, I don't think Edric really tried to criticize science-fiction. Or at least I hope he didn't want to do that. :)

That are some interesting thoughts Edric, but you may be drawing conclusions about the huge time gaps between specie evolutions too soon. Here is another perspective:

Considering that if a specie lived for more then like 10 million years, it would surely have found a way to contact other species. Even if they colonized the galaxy with "only" half of the light speed, they would have come quite far by now.

Since we haven't heard of such specie yet, a conclusion may be drawn that there are no species with an age of more then 10 million years right now, that would mean that only about 11 species would exist in this galaxy (not counting other galaxies, they are too far away, unless we really get science-fiction and include space-fold and warp-speed into the discussion) one specie being those primitive cavemen, one specie would be us, and the rest the god-like aliens, who differ about 1 million year in age of each other, because the chance of a smaller time gap is practically zero according to you.

You might be satisfied with this theory that only 11 intelligent species would live in this galaxy, but if you believe that there are thousands of habitable planets, and quite some of them habitated by intelligent aliens, then 11 is a low number for counting all those aliens.

This is, of course, all speculation and theories. But just to add some thoughts, like you did.

[Emperor Harkonnen]

why should they be god-like creatures? perhaps in one million years they have only reached as far as we have...perhaps they do not have as fast development as we do.

or that technological development stops at a certain stage and they are not able to evolve more... perhaps we will reach such a point in the near future. perhaps we find out that it is not possible to acheiv faster than light travel, space folding or warp. that is acctually the most likeliest future. I know it is pessimistic, but we are not very likely to leave our own solar system :(

[Tako]

why should they be god-like creatures? perhaps in one million years they have only reached as far as we have...perhaps they do not have as fast development as we do.

or that technological development stops at a certain stage and they are not able to evolve more... perhaps we will reach such a point in the near future.

That's what I mean and said did I not?

[alchemi2]

In Star Trek and Star Gate episodes often show civilivations at massively different stages of development and with a wide range technology. ::)

It is Science fiction after all!!! and supposed to be entertainment not a factual representation. ;)

[Super-ness]

In a particular Star Trekn: TNG episode they revealed that millions of years ago there was a race of aliens that spread their DNA across the galaxy, thus giving birth to humans, Cardassians, Klingons etc. So in this series it makes more sense.

Isnt that what Stargate used?

Which is why everybody could speak English

[alchemi2]

The universal Translator filters all communication in Star Trek not everyone speaks English. No one ever explained how it actually works in face to face conversations (maybe throught communicator Badge)

[Emperor Harkonnen]

That's what I mean and said did I not?

perhaps that is what you mean but it was certainly not what you said

[Edric O]

Jack Leaf, I don't think Edric really tried to criticize science-fiction. Or at least I hope he didn't want to do that. :)

Of course I did not mean to do anything like that! Science-fiction is the best thing since sliced bread! It's my second passion after politics. :) (I'm secretly developing my own sci-fi universe as a setting for a number of stories, but hush - don't tell anyone ;) )

That are some interesting thoughts Edric, but you may be drawing conclusions about the huge time gaps between specie evolutions too soon. Here is another perspective:

Considering that if a specie lived for more then like 10 million years, it would surely have found a way to contact other species. Even if they colonized the galaxy with "only" half of the light speed, they would have come quite far by now.

You're assuming these aliens think like humans. If we were 10 million years old, we would be colonizing the galaxy in a highly visible manner and would probably know about (and communicate with) all younger intelligent species. But perhaps these aliens don't want to colonize certain parts of the galaxy. Perhaps they don't want us to know about them. Or perhaps they're not interested in us at all.

But, of course, the most likely possibility is that these aliens simply do not exist. Which is precisely what I believe.

Since we haven't heard of such specie yet, a conclusion may be drawn that there are no species with an age of more then 10 million years right now, that would mean that only about 11 species would exist in this galaxy (not counting other galaxies, they are too far away, unless we really get science-fiction and include space-fold and warp-speed into the discussion) one specie being those primitive cavemen, one specie would be us, and the rest the god-like aliens, who differ about 1 million year in age of each other, because the chance of a smaller time gap is practically zero according to you.

Yes, precisely.

You might be satisfied with this theory that only 11 intelligent species would live in this galaxy, but if you believe that there are thousands of habitable planets, and quite some of them habitated by intelligent aliens, then 11 is a low number for counting all those aliens.

Low? I'd say it is incredibly high. If there are any other intelligent species in this galaxy at all, I'd expect the number of them to be a single digit. See my calculations in the next post.

[Edric O]

As for calculating the number of (communicative) intelligent species in our galaxy, we already have an equation for that. It's called the Drake Equation:

R is the number of suitable stars

[Wolf]

I think that the Covenant in Halo might be realisitcally portrayed. Aside from the Elites and the Prophets, all of the other races in the Covenant are primitive beings who have no chance of possessing any technology other than that the two higher races in the Covenant give them. Grunts are like monkeys; incapable of producing any technology on their own. Brutes are much the same, only smart enough to want power and control. They're more like Medieval men who've stumbled on gunpowder. Jackals, like the Brutes, perfectly satisfy their namesake. Vicious, barbarous, and unlike even the Grunts, have never been seen to communicate. A highly advanced race -- the Prophets, could have met a race more along humanity's line of advancement, the Elites, and with the Prophets taking charge over the other (the Elites become the guardsmen and shock troops of the Covenant), go about finding other races and either converting them to the Covenant or subjugating them. As a result, the vast majority of the Covenant (Grunts, Brutes, Jackals, Drones -- even stupider than Jackals -- and possibly even Elites) does not know how their own technolgoy works, or how they could possibly rebuild it. In fact, while Halo never quite explains what the Covenant is, it seems that the ancient ringworlds, the massive Covenant battleships, and the Covenant high cities are holy objects; things that are perfect and cannot be improved upon. Therefore, they should be worshipped. This explains the naming schemes of Covenant vessels and stations (High Charity, Truth and Reconciliation, Ascendant Justice, Unrelenting Heirophant) as well as any lack of real variation in their technological base. Only the Prophets really have any know-how at all, and they're all focused on maintaining control over their religion.

Where humanity comes in. Having achieved FTL travel only about 600 years before meeting the Covenant, they're outmatched, outgunned, outnumbered, and more or less out-everything. It makes sense that every human settlement the Covenant has hit they have destroyed; their relative power is so immense. The only thing keeping Earth safe is (was) the Cole Protocol...

EDIT:

My Drake Equation Estimate:

R = 1

Fp = .9, I'll assume that 9 out of 10 stars have at least some planetary body in orbit.

Ne = .11, I'll say this because there are 9 planets in our system, one of which has massive amounts of liquid water, even though Mars arguably had it, and some of Jupiter's moons also might have it.

Fl = 1. The probability here is one. If a planet is earth-like, it is guaranteed that life will develop.

Fi = .001. I don't have much justification for this other than I think Edric is too generous here.

Fc = 1. The probability here is also one. Even species which we do not consider to be intelligent have communication. Communication is necessary.

L = 1,000,000. I also agree with Edric.

I get, N = 99.0.

[Edric O]

I think that the Covenant in Halo might be realisitcally portrayed. [...]

That sounds interesting, but not all of us played Halo, so it might make more sense if you explained the basic outline of the plot. ;)

Fl = 1. The probability here is one. If a planet is earth-like, it is guaranteed that life will develop.

Well, your guess is as good as anyone's, since we don't really know how life begins, but I seriously doubt that the probability is 1. A probability of 1 would mean, for example, that life absolutely must exist on Europa if it has liquid water.

Fc = 1. The probability here is also one. Even species which we do not consider to be intelligent have communication. Communication is necessary.

You must have misunderstood the meaning of Fc. It refers to interstellar communication - the ability to communicate with or contact other intelligent species, from different solar systems.

[alchemi2]

IMO edric O you have fallen into the pattern you're complaining about!

Alien life does not have to have an earth like planet!!!

It is quite possible that life (intelligent) could develop in every solar system or has developed or will develop. Maybe they just haven't developed space travel yet or have and just aren't intrested in our primitive little spec of mud. ::)

[Edric O]

IMO edric O you have fallen into the pattern you're complaining about!

Alien life does not have to have an earth like planet!!!

Life cannot simply develop out of anything. It necessarely involves complex chemical reactions and large, complex molecules. There are only two chemical elements in the Universe capable of supporting the complex chemistry of life (i.e. capable of forming large enough molecules and a sufficient number of different compounds): Carbon and Silicon. Therefore, all life must be either carbon-based or silicon-based. That's the first limitation.

The second limitation refers to the fluid environment in which life is born (and in which life must be literraly soaked in order for it to stay alive). There are a number of properties that a life-giving fluid needs to have, but I won't go over them now. Suffice to say that the best such fluid in the Universe is water (H2O). A second-rate substitute also exists - namely ammonia (H3N). But that is the only one. All life must begin on a planet with large oceans of either water or ammonia.

Given those two limitations, there are 4 possible blueprints for life:

1. Carbon-water life (like ourselves)

2. Carbon-ammonia life

3. Silicon-water life

4. Silicon-ammonia life

Note that ammonia is inferior to water, and silicon is inferior to carbon. The best combination for life is our own: carbon-water. Silicon-based compounds react much slower than organic (carbon-based) ones, so any silicon life would move in slow motion from our point of view. Very slow motion. Silicon aliens would be litterraly just sitting there, looking very much like inanimate rocks unless you watch them for a very long time.

Also, the only way to have a lifeform that does not fit into the 4 categories above is if the lifeform in question happens to be artificial - in other words, some sort of robot.

[Caid Ivik]

Sillicon life? You take this seriously or just turned from Marx finally to cyberpunk?  ;D  However I would disagree, as base of life is either in transcendental (highest definition is the best definition) sphere or the inner code, which is usually written in ribonuclear acids. Materialistically said, we are chemical computers, usually made of carbohydrate molecules and water. Hm. But why couldn't there be self-sustained programmed reactions (read: "life") based on sulphur, magnesium, kalium or any other substance, which is closely as reactive as carbon or ammonium?

[Edric O]

Sillicon life? You take this seriously or just turned from Marx finally to cyberpunk? ;D

We marxists are naturally interested in all things related to the future. It is you conservatives who dwell on the past. ;D

But seriously, this (I mean my post about the chemistry of life) is science, not sci-fi - and certainly not "cyberpunk"!

However I would disagree, as base of life is either in transcendental (highest definition is the best definition) sphere...

Of course, once you take that into account, things get a lot more complicated... for now we're only discussing the physical part, though. This isn't PRP. ;)

...or the inner code, which is usually written in ribonuclear acids. Materialistically said, we are chemical computers, usually made of carbohydrate molecules and water. Hm. But why couldn't there be self-sustained programmed reactions (read: "life") based on sulphur, magnesium, kalium or any other substance, which is closely as reactive as carbon or ammonium?

Neither of the elements you mention has the sheer "combination power" of carbon or silicon. Keep in mind that we know today more organic compounds (compounds that contain carbon) than all anorganic compounds (compounds that do not contain carbon) put together! The nature of the carbon and silicon atoms makes them excellent building blocks for complex 3-dimensional structures. Something based on sulphur, magnesium or potassium (don't call it kalium) couldn't possibly reach the level of complexity that is required in order to make a living cell.

[Wolf]

Edric, I disagree about the comment concerning Europa. Europa is not Earth-like. If a planet is "Earth-like," I take it to mean that it has the same atmospheric make-up, similar landmass-water ratios, and things of that nature. It doesn't take much (Frank Herbert says 2% in Dune) to turn a planet from dead to living in terms of Earth-like change.

About the Covenant...

The term "Covenant" itself is not well understood. It refers to the fanatically religious bond that binds the races of the Covenant together. The Covenant as a whole is strictly segmented into castes based on the different races in the collective. At the top of the hierarchy are the Prophets; the race that supposedly started and guided the Covenant. Next are the Elites, the warrior elites of the Covenant. Behind them are the Brutes, enforcers and intimidators. Behind them are the Jackals, a short, mean-spirited race. Behind them are the Grunts, stupid, short, baboon-like creatures. Below them are Drones, mindless insect-like beings. Hunters are in a class all of their own; physically, they are the most powerful of any Covenant being, but are themselves colony constructs of several different species of symbiotic parasites.

The Covenant's goal with regard to humanity is to utterly wipe it out. "When no human brick lays atop another will we then be satisfied with your destruction." There is no clear-cut explanation about why the Covenant so hate humanity, but there are a few theories. None of which I'll go into at length here, but there is a logical explanation for why the Covenant have tried to convert all other races they have encountered except for humanity; whom they simply try to extinguish. Humans are seen as demons to the Covenant; they are a holy affront to existence.