dalahar,
First,
Imagine that from the time you develop radio to the time you go to fiber, cable, directed communications (microwave, satellite, etc.) or just plain low power local communications (instead of wasting all that RF energy by beaming it into space) is say a couple of hundred years. That's the only time slot that you will be inadvertently broadcasting your presence.
Now imagine our 4.5by history mapped onto the height of two very tall buildings, standing side-by-side. That couple of hundred years represents less than the thickness of a penny perched on top of each building. What are the odds of those two pennies being at exactly the same height? On any number of buildings? Yep. Not very encouraging.
First,
Maybe. And maybe they should have spent the 2.6 million that they spent on that new church down the street on the starving kids in Africa. That particular sword swings in many ways.Maybe they should have spent the SETI money on the starving kids in Africa.
Here's a neat example of why we may live in a galaxy teeming with life, but never pick up a radio signal. I think Sagan came up with it but I'm not sure.I figured we would have picked up at least a couple signals by now. Looks like nobody is evolving but us.
Imagine that from the time you develop radio to the time you go to fiber, cable, directed communications (microwave, satellite, etc.) or just plain low power local communications (instead of wasting all that RF energy by beaming it into space) is say a couple of hundred years. That's the only time slot that you will be inadvertently broadcasting your presence.
Now imagine our 4.5by history mapped onto the height of two very tall buildings, standing side-by-side. That couple of hundred years represents less than the thickness of a penny perched on top of each building. What are the odds of those two pennies being at exactly the same height? On any number of buildings? Yep. Not very encouraging.