Exploring the prospects of detecting extraterrestrial civilizations

1. Exploring the prospects of detecting extraterrestrial civilizations Nikolai Kardashev civilization classification*- Evidence of alien visitation to Earth *Including refinements by: Sagan, C. 1973. The Cosmic Connection: an Extraterrestrial Perspective. Tang, T. B., and Chang G. 1991. Quarterly J. of the R.A.S., 32, 189-191.

2. Type I Civilizations We will use the system devised by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev. Type I civilizations use the entirety of their planetary resources limits (1016 -1017 W). Characteristics of a Type I civilization Understands advanced physics. Achieved space and nuclear technology. Initiation of spaceflight, interplanetary travel, settlement of space. Early attempts at interstellar communication. How to detect a Type I civilization Via spectral signatures in atmospheres. Via communication beacons, etc.? Humans are around Type 0.7, and will be Type I in 100-200 years (Sagan 1973).

3. Type II Civilizations Type II civilizations use the entirety of the power produced by their home star (1026 -1027 W). Characteristics of a Type II civilization Stellar system society, constructing space habitats. Construction of Dyson rings or Dyson spheres. (I=satellites, II=single structure). Societal lifetimes of 1000-100,000 years. Interstellar travel, seeking other civilizations. Sending remote probes, promoting panspermia, stellar arks. How to detect a Type II civilization A Dyson sphere would convert the visible energy production of the enclosed star into infrared (waste heat). While the star would be hidden at optical wavelengths, it would be easily detectable via infrared astronomy.

4. Type III Civilizations Type III civilizations use the entirety of the power and resources of their galaxy (1037-1038 W). We have entered the realms of pure, fantastic, speculation. Characteristics of a Type III civilization Galactic society. Societal lifetimes of 108-109 years, essentially immortal. Interstellar communications using exotic forms. Feats of astro-engineering. Such a civilization would probably require some kind of faster-than-light technology to keep from falling apart How to detect a Type III civilization Can we even imagine such an advanced civilization? Would we recognize the works of such a civilization?

5. Likely sites for alien relics As (if) we explore our cosmos, we will no doubt keep our eyes open for signs of alien relics. Where should we look? If you visited our solar system before intelligent life had evolved, and you wanted to leave a message for future native explorers, where would you place it? A Moon beacon? Seeing that the Earth was a habitable world, would you leave marker for future humans on the Moon, perhaps slightly hidden but with clear markers? Relics at sites lacking erosion? Perhaps you would place it at locations like Callisto, which have little or no erosion. Gravitationally stable sites Lagrange points 4 & 5 are possible sites where such objects may be placed for the very long term.

6. Indications of ancient alien visitations Do we have good evidence of ancient visitations? Just like the Martian meteorite—significant claims require significant evidence. For example, it is possible that the periodic extinctions in our fossil record were due to past episodes of cosmic warfare, but we need evidence to support this. Until that evidence arrives, it makes sense to explain it by natural asteroidal-cometary impacts. Archeoastronomers, working with historians, anthropologists, and artists, have reviewed the prehistory and history of art, literature, science, and architecture looking for artifacts or indications of alien encounter. Examples of evidence would be inexplicable records of contact, especially if associated with rapid jumps in human technological ability. However, it is critical that the evidence is interpreted—not only through the modern eye—but also through the lens of culture present at the time of the historical record. Let us review ancient civilizations to current times…but we will start with an analysis of Christian art, as a cautionary tale.

7. Indications of ancient alien visitations Orthodox Christianity, 11th to 14th centuryPaintings, frescos, etc., often show what might appear to be clear indications of alien visitations. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, an 11th century Christian church in Georgia (Eastern Europe), includes a representation called “Crucifixion”, which contains obvious alien aircraft! The 14th century fresco in the VisokiDecani Monastery in Kosovo, similarly shows UFO visitors at the crucifixion! But art iconographers note that these symbols are merely Sun/Moon symbols, used as a symbolic language by artists to indicate the importance of the events portrayed. What may seem to be aliens, is merely the language of the artistry. See: http://sprezzatura.it/Arte/Arte_UFO.htm

8. Indications of ancient alien visitations Pyramids around the world, 2500 BCE-1000 AD Claims by European pseudo-historians—that pyramids could not have been made by people with other skin colors—smacks strongly of racism and cultural imperialism! Pyramids have been created in Mesoamerica, Egypt, Greece, Nubia, Middle East, etc., all well within contemporary technologies and manpower. Example—Egyptian pyramids They were created over 2600-1800 BCE. Studied chronologically, they show a slow but steady improvement in construction. The “bent pyramid” in the royal necropolis of Dashur (2600 BCE) shows a mid-construction change of 55° to 43°!

9. Indications of ancient alien visitations Aliens in Egypt, 2500 BCE Images of alien “greys” have been found on hieroglyphs. These creepy images are, in fact, nothing more mysterious than potted plants! Temple of Seti I, ~1300 BCE Conventionally explained as overlain hieroglyphs, exposed as the plaster has fallen away.

10. Indications of ancient alien visitations Alien instructor-being in Babylonia, ~300 BCE Berossos was an ancient historian of Babylonia who wrote of Oannes, a fishlike humanoid, that rose from the Persian Gulf and taught technology to humanity: “This being…gave them an insight into letters and sciences, and arts of every kind. He taught them to construct cities, to found temples, to compile laws, and explained to them the principles of geometrical knowledge.” Pre-Columbian gold artifacts

11. Indications of ancient alien visitations Mexico, Central America, 680 AD Ancient images of “astronauts” are easily interpreted by anthropologists; for example depictions on the tomb of the Mayan ruler, Pakal the Great (603-683 AD).

12. Indications of current alien visitations UFOs = Unidentified Flying Objects 24 June 1947 UFOs seen by private pilot Kenneth Arnold in Washington state. 8 July 1947 Saucer parts found in Roswell, NM. Subsequently revealed to be debris from secret US military program “Mogul.” 19 September 1961 Betty & Barney Hill abducted in New Hampshire. 10 February 1964 “The Bellero Shield” aired on The Outer Limits, showing an alien with large oval eyes. Two weeks later, under hypnosis, Barney Hill related memories of aliens with large oval eyes.

13. Indications of current alien visitations 1972 J. Allen Hynek developed “Close Encounter” classification. 1978 Mysterious crop circles start appearing in England. After 13 years, Doug Bower and Dave Chorley admit to starting the crop circle craze. Crop circle artists start web sites and societies. 1995 Alien autopsy videos released; later revealed as fake.

14. Indications of current alien visitations Very few forms of life on our planet are bipedal humanoids. The diversity of life forms is far richer.

15. Indications of current alien visitations UFOlogists believe in an wacked taxonomy of “Greys”, “Reptilians”, “Nordics”, and “Men in Black.”Notice how all these aliens are bipedal humanoids??

16. Can UFOs be “science”? Discovery science? Yes Hypothesis driven science? No It is important to be open-minded, yet to apply basic scientific principles, cautiously, just as if we were investigating laws of physics, or cures for cancer. The quality of most UFO work makes life difficult for anyone actually studying the topic.

17. Appendix: if you really hunger for more Easter Island, Chile, ~1700 AD This Polynesian island is renowned for its many enormous, enigmatic statues. Q: How could they be erected without trees and ropes? A: When the moai were carved and erected, trees were present. However, the trees were subsequently harvested to depletion. Ropes also existed, of course, but claiming they didn’t makes it all seem more mysterious! Easter Island is often cited as a textbook case of the perils of an unsustainable lifestyle, invasive species, and disease introduction.

18. Indications of ancient alien visitations Nacza, Peru, 200 BC-300 ADThe drawings on the plains of Nazca, Peru are remarkable and there are several theories about their function: ceremonial, astronomical, pointing towards water holes, etc. The patterns can easily be created using rock and rope technology. While tourist-theoreticians like to invoke aliens, or the help of visiting aliens (who must lack any kind of navigation?), anthropologists tell us this is a simplistic (and insulting) characterization of a once-sophisticated culture. Note they even created a complex system of underground aquaducts (puquios) with access points (respirados). This was an advanced civilization.

19. Indications of ancient alien visitations Mali, West Africa, currentThe bright star, Sirius, has an exceedingly tiny and faint companion (Sirus B), which was only observed for the first time in 1862. Sirius B is absolutely impossible to detect without sophisticated telescopic equipment. Despite all this, the Dogon people of Mali, West Africa, know that Sirius is a double system (the “sorghum star” and “digitaria star”), meaning big and small because of seed sizes, and a 60 year orbit. Is this knowledge of Sirius B coincidence, due to aliens, or cultural contamination? (In 1893 an entourage of French astronomers on an eclipse expedition visited Mali and stayed with the Dogon people.) Note: European author Jonathan Swift wrote in Gulliver’s Travels (1726) that Mars had two moons, with 10 and 22 hour orbital periods. Phobos and Deimos, discovered in 1877, have orbital periods of 8 and 30 hours.

20. Indications of ancient alien visitations Did the major religions result from interactions with extraterrestrials? Ezekiel (prophet in Christianity, Judaism, Islam), ca. 500 BCE The Book of Ezekiel 1:4-9 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 1:15-19 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like chrysolite, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about as the creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.