4 ms·

Before we jump to artificial/alien origins, let's at least consider the basic science before jumping to fantastical conclusions....

yantrams 8y ago
I always found it quite interesting to see the parallels between arguments for God and aliens -- X can't be explained by science so I'm going to jump to the conclusion I want to believe. I thought I was immune to this kind of reasoning but even I fell for it with Oumuamua. The initial paper and comments by some experts convinced me that there is a strong chance that this is a probe. It seemed plausible based on my limited understanding of Physics. (Moment of Inertia, Stresses etc.) But then a paper[1] was released claiming this to be a comet. I so wanted my original belief to be true(because it was more exciting!) I considered the possibility that their [2]model wasn't accurate. I was even willing to entertain the idea of cover-up just because it didn't align with what I wanted to be true! [1] https://www.space.com/41015-interstellar-visitor-oumuamua-comet-after-all.html https://www.space.com/41015-interstellar-visitor-oumuamua-co... [2]A recent study claims that it was indeed the case and the probe is more likely to not be a comet. https://www.quantamagazine.org/interstellar-comet-oumuamua-might-not-actually-be-a-comet-20181010/ https://www.quantamagazine.org/interstellar-comet-oumuamua-m... Edit: Formatting
- rdtsc 8y ago
  > I always found it quite interesting to see the parallels between arguments for God and aliens -- X can't be explained by science so I'm going to jump to the conclusion I want to believe. In general I think it is because of baggage associated with "God". Which God(s)? Was/is there persecution, torture, killing, suppression of human rights happening or happened using the belief or lack of believe in said God(s) as a pretext. Aliens are a cute curiosity. That is, it is pretty safe to say we believe in them or hope that they visited us without getting too many people upset. Which is kind of what they did here. "Assuming this body can't outgas, and that the acceleration came from the solar wind, then it might have these other properties, including being an alien solar sail"
  - yantrams 8y ago
    Ugh. I just noticed how I bungled it up with my phrasing. I meant "argument for manifestations of god/aliens/" and not "argument for god/aliens" And I totally agree with you.
vertline3 8y ago
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - Carl Sagan
Keyframe 8y ago
I'm sure "they" have used science to accelerate their ship/engine. I love when things like this happen and show just how much we still don't know, even about things we consider "basic".
TheOtherHobbes 8y ago
This paper is the basic science.
- mindfulplay 8y ago
  It is not. The last sentence is utter speculation. I would look into the measurement errors, interference, multiple data points collected by independent monitoring systems, and check for errors against an unbiased/known body of similar mass etcetc. None of this has been done. It's similar to "my camera spotted this amazing illusory effect and I think it's an artificial body"...

yantrams 8y ago

I always found it quite interesting to see the parallels between arguments for God and aliens -- X can't be explained by science so I'm going to jump to the conclusion I want to believe. I thought I was immune to this kind of reasoning but even I fell for it with Oumuamua. The initial paper and comments by some experts convinced me that there is a strong chance that this is a probe. It seemed plausible based on my limited understanding of Physics. (Moment of Inertia, Stresses etc.) But then a paper[1] was released claiming this to be a comet. I so wanted my original belief to be true(because it was more exciting!) I considered the possibility that their [2]model wasn't accurate. I was even willing to entertain the idea of cover-up just because it didn't align with what I wanted to be true! [1] https://www.space.com/41015-interstellar-visitor-oumuamua-comet-after-all.html https://www.space.com/41015-interstellar-visitor-oumuamua-co... [2]A recent study claims that it was indeed the case and the probe is more likely to not be a comet. https://www.quantamagazine.org/interstellar-comet-oumuamua-might-not-actually-be-a-comet-20181010/ https://www.quantamagazine.org/interstellar-comet-oumuamua-m... Edit: Formatting

rdtsc 8y ago
> I always found it quite interesting to see the parallels between arguments for God and aliens -- X can't be explained by science so I'm going to jump to the conclusion I want to believe. In general I think it is because of baggage associated with "God". Which God(s)? Was/is there persecution, torture, killing, suppression of human rights happening or happened using the belief or lack of believe in said God(s) as a pretext. Aliens are a cute curiosity. That is, it is pretty safe to say we believe in them or hope that they visited us without getting too many people upset. Which is kind of what they did here. "Assuming this body can't outgas, and that the acceleration came from the solar wind, then it might have these other properties, including being an alien solar sail"
- yantrams 8y ago
  Ugh. I just noticed how I bungled it up with my phrasing. I meant "argument for manifestations of god/aliens/" and not "argument for god/aliens" And I totally agree with you.

vertline3 8y ago

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - Carl Sagan

Keyframe 8y ago

I'm sure "they" have used science to accelerate their ship/engine. I love when things like this happen and show just how much we still don't know, even about things we consider "basic".

TheOtherHobbes 8y ago

This paper is the basic science.

mindfulplay 8y ago
It is not. The last sentence is utter speculation. I would look into the measurement errors, interference, multiple data points collected by independent monitoring systems, and check for errors against an unbiased/known body of similar mass etcetc. None of this has been done. It's similar to "my camera spotted this amazing illusory effect and I think it's an artificial body"...