Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => New Theories => Topic started by: Expectant_Philosopher on 20/07/2014 16:42:58

Title: How can alien materials science surpass us when the materials are the same?
Post by: Expectant_Philosopher on 20/07/2014 16:42:58

Are we just a million monkeys spread over the universe, and just that one monkey gets it right?  Why don't our scientists find the same answers as those successful travelers who have made it to our shores? 

Title: Re: How can alien materials science surpass us when the materials are the same?
Post by: David Cooper on 20/07/2014 19:57:27

How do you know there are any successful ones out there? They may all reach a point where they carry out a "safe" experiment that wipes them out.

Title: Re: How can alien materials science surpass us when the materials are the same?
Post by: alancalverd on 20/07/2014 20:29:06

Just sticking to materials and technology, we are still using the same elements as our prehistoric ancestors but it took a long time for our species to come up with carbon fiber and the jet engine, never mind ablative heat shields and radiation-hardened electronics. The Martians, who had a billion year start on us, almost certainly solved all the problems of long range space travel before they ran out of water and died.