Can Relativity Explain the Possibility of Aliens Visiting Earth?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the implications of relativity on the possibility of extraterrestrial beings visiting Earth. It considers theoretical aspects of space travel, time dilation, and the energy requirements for interstellar journeys, as well as the broader question of whether physics supports or contradicts the feasibility of such visits.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that if aliens exist and travel at high velocities, they could experience time differently, potentially returning to their home planet far into the future.
  • Others note that while physics does not rule out the possibility of aliens visiting Earth, the practical challenges of such travel are significant, including energy requirements and lifespan considerations.
  • One participant emphasizes that the energy needed for interstellar travel becomes increasingly problematic as speeds approach that of light, suggesting that infinite energy would be required to reach light speed.
  • There is mention of wormholes as a hypothetical solution for faster-than-light travel, though this remains speculative.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that while the laws of physics do not categorically prevent the possibility of alien visitation, significant challenges and uncertainties remain. Multiple competing views exist regarding the feasibility and implications of such travel.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in current understanding of physics, particularly regarding energy requirements for high-speed travel and the potential for unknown astrophysical phenomena.

childsy
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This question might not belong in this category, and it may seem a bit of an out there question also...
Based on the principals of relativity, if aliens are real (that i hope so), wouldn’t they come back to their planet far into the future after visiting our own planet?? I ask this because they must have to travel at a very high velocity and doing so over a great distance will bring you into the future of that planet.
Does physics support the possibility of aliens visiting earth, or does it disagree with this theory?
 
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childsy said:
Does physics support the possibility of aliens visiting earth, or does it disagree with this theory?
They could leave tomorrow and still arrive before you post this message... :eek:
 
Physics makes it very difficult for aliens to get here, though not impossible. They could have much longer lifespans than us, not care about their age upon return, etc, but it does constrain the practicality of spaceflight to other solar systems.
 
In the sense that some people believe that ET might be visiting - coming and going at will - ET would have to know much that we don't. Based on what we do know from Relativity, it seems unlikely that any species would undertake an interstellar flight. The energy requirement is highly problematic if not impossible to ever achieve.

Physics is not complete so we can't really be sure what is and is not possible.
 
Depending on how close to the speed of light that they are traveling, "they" (i.e. the travelers) would have aged much more slowly than those on their home planet (or ours).

But that's not the real issue. As you approach the speed of light, things start getting much, much more massive (traveling the speed of light would cause you to have infinite mass). This requires more and more (exponential) amounts of energy (to travel the speed of light would require an infinite amount of energy). So, (hopefully) there're some important things about astrophysics that we don't know yet.

Wormholes provide a interesting possibility, but that is just a hypothesis right now.
 

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