Slashdot Mirror
Brightest Supernova Discovered
Maggie McKee writes "Astronomers have spotted the brightest supernova ever seen — it is intrinsically two to three times brighter than any previously recorded. It has many characteristics of a type Ia explosion, but has hydrogen in its spectrum, unlike other type Ia's. That suggests that this supernova resulted from the collision of two stars — most likely a white dwarf and a red giant — rather than from an exploding white dwarf. If so, it might affect the interpretation of previous cosmological studies that depend on type Ia 'standard candle' observations, like dark energy. But other astronomers say merger-triggered explosions are probably rare and therefore won't throw a wrench in the works."
If, hypothetically, you found yourself to have evolved first or to exist in an otherwise empty galaxy - then you might look for an easy way to get the attention of any civilizations in any other galaxies. If you could move a star (details, details) then this would be a good way to get yourself noticed.
Just to poke a hypothetical hole in your hypothetical civilization...
I think the real questions here is the evolution of technology by an alien culture. For what you've said to make sense this civilization would have to have the ability to guide stars in a significant fashion while not having the ability to do simple observance as we do today. IMHO that's just too far fetched.
Consider our own little planet here: we have a limited ability to detect solar systems and radio signals from a distance within our own galaxy. Yet, we do not have the ability to jump to the next semi-habitable planet and stay there on a permanent basis. It's fairly clear that our ability to observe the cosmos is much much better than our ability to [work within/live within/manipulate] anything outside of our own little sphere of mud and rock.
It's just a question of how a civilization could evolve in such a fashion as to be able to work with outer space but not be able to observe it beyond their own first-hand experience.
If I had the insight or imagination to figure this out into a workable model I'd be one hell of a science fiction writer.
Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.
Actually, they are all being written by myself. And I will continue to write them until people start paying attention because their points are valid and their theory is sound. Their message needs to get out so that the theory can be investigated (I don't want to have to wait until 2018 when the Solar Probe reveals that our solar theories are wrong). The current field of astrophysics is cherry-picking their science to the extent that it is useful to confirm their pre-existing *assumptions*, even when those assumptions appear to be inconsistent with our modern-day observations. They've succeeded in convincing the world that astrophysics is too complicated for most people, and that we should relinquish all of the critical thinking about space to them. This would almost be okay if it weren't that they believe this of other physicists too -- including plasma physicists who have earned nobel prizes and who taught them everything they currently know about electricity in space (Hannes Alfven).
If your point is that since it has to do with electric universe theory then it's not worth reading, then that would imply that reasoning no longer affects your judgment -- and you are in terms of physics, at least, like an old dog unable to learn anything new. In that case, I'm not speaking to you with my postings, and as science oftentimes does, it will wait until the old guard dies off in order to introduce the new ideas. On the other hand, if you are grateful that somebody is taking the time to point out the electric universe perspective so that it can be contrasted with the traditional paradigms whenever its relevant, then you're welcome. Forums like Slashdot are most useful when lots of people who have different ideas about the world get together and compare and contrast their beliefs. Pithy comments and jokes can be fun, but they should take a backseat to real discussions when those discussions are about serious things. And this notion that we should all agree on cosmology is outright dangerous because the chances that we have anything right at this point in time are negligible in light of the fact that new space anomalies pop up on a weekly basis. I will continue to ignore the voices of the mob with hope that people will once again decide that it is okay to think different and have your own opinions about complicated subjects. We didn't get to the point we're at today in science by trying to all think alike.
One of the reasons I'm doing this is so that in the decades to come as astrophysicists finally begin to accept *real* plasma physics into their domain more and more, and people here on Slashdot begin to realize that they were wrong to invoke the term pseudoscience without actually learning about the topic that they were ostracizing, we can all go back over my postings and the responses to them, and we can all *learn* from the experience with the hope that it will never happen again.
Once you guys all realize that all of this business about dark matter, dark energy, neutron stars, black holes, and stellar evolution is all nonsense, it's going to suddenly hit you that you've all been wasting a bunch of time and that you may not live to see the day where we actually understand the mechanics of the universe. The unfortunate thing is that I won't get to know *with* you even though I didn't fall for the bullshit like you guys did.
"A man cannot begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows." --Epictetus, 1st Century A.D.
You missed my point. The point is we can never, ever know how advanced our stuff is compared to theirs. We don't even know if there is a "there stuff". So yes if F-22's (not F-16's :D) are the most advanced thing we have nothing to worry about. But it don't matter if we got little intergalactic fighters with friggin laser beams attached to their friggin heads - if we haven't come into contact with another race yet then they could very well just swat them all like flies . . . . or they might come against them with F-16 level stuff.
My point is just - until we meet another race, we simply DON'T know how our technology stacks up. If we flat our refuse to send out signals "until we're ready" then we better consign ourselves to letting them find us first, becuase you can never know if you're "ready" without knowing about them first.
"People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain