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The universe is ~14 billion years old. We didn't come along until a few million years ago, and then it took just until a hundred to two hundred years ago to be

The universe is ~14 billion years old. We didn't come along until a few million years ago, and then it took just until a hundred to two hundred years ago to be able to actually broadcast our existence. So if some other civilization had a similar timeline but much earlier, their signal could have come and gone by the time we could detect it. Their star could have also already reached the point where it destroyed its planet the civilization was located, so we'd never know about them. It's the same fate our planet has in store for it as well. If there's any civilization that comes after Earth's demise, they'd never know we were here either.

Alive-in-2025 2y ago
Agree that other people could well have vanished by the time we randomly wander into their signals. The same is true for our radio. But I'm trying to focus on something else, the existence of other intelligent life is the key thing I hope to see. And we could destroy ourselves this afternoon of course. I don't care as much about do they exist still - that's icing on the cake. It's the idea that we aren't alone, that's the key to me. I'm certain there have been other intelligent civilizations in the universe because of the size, etc. We need evidence to know for sure.
- dylan604 2y ago
  If they existed but no longer exist, we are still alone. Unless they have some sort of radio beacon that was built so that it lasts forever, we'd have no idea they existed without that beacon. The odds that beacon is pointed in a direction that we could detect is pretty slim. If they were of like minds/ability to detect other stars that would be interesting to say hi to, our Sol might not have existed then. They'd probably be pointing at a star that is now no longer existing. The universe is big. The universe is old. It's just hard to fathom exactly how small the chances of us finding someone else out there would be even if they do exist. Our squishy lobes just are not equipped to comprehend that type of desolation. I'm not trying to be a downer, but just have some realistic expectations. Plus, I've seen enough sci-fi to know that this other civilization might not be benevolent, so not knowing about them (and them not knowing about us) could be the better result

Alive-in-2025 2y ago

Agree that other people could well have vanished by the time we randomly wander into their signals. The same is true for our radio. But I'm trying to focus on something else, the existence of other intelligent life is the key thing I hope to see. And we could destroy ourselves this afternoon of course. I don't care as much about do they exist still - that's icing on the cake. It's the idea that we aren't alone, that's the key to me. I'm certain there have been other intelligent civilizations in the universe because of the size, etc. We need evidence to know for sure.

dylan604 2y ago
If they existed but no longer exist, we are still alone. Unless they have some sort of radio beacon that was built so that it lasts forever, we'd have no idea they existed without that beacon. The odds that beacon is pointed in a direction that we could detect is pretty slim. If they were of like minds/ability to detect other stars that would be interesting to say hi to, our Sol might not have existed then. They'd probably be pointing at a star that is now no longer existing. The universe is big. The universe is old. It's just hard to fathom exactly how small the chances of us finding someone else out there would be even if they do exist. Our squishy lobes just are not equipped to comprehend that type of desolation. I'm not trying to be a downer, but just have some realistic expectations. Plus, I've seen enough sci-fi to know that this other civilization might not be benevolent, so not knowing about them (and them not knowing about us) could be the better result