Scientists asked whether or not other species may be engaged in interstellar travel will often point to the vast distances of space as evidence to suggest the feat is impossible. To me, this conclusion seems unimaginative.
Our inability to reach the stars seems much more a matter of biological and cultural limitations than technological ones.
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Any species with drastically longer lifespans than our own could attain nearby interstellar travel without the need for exotic propulsion.
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Any species gifted with a biology conducive to cryogenic hibernation (like water bears or certain types of amphibians on Earth), wouldn't need to outpace light to get where they're going.
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Imagine a species similar to hyper-intelligent ants, (to whom, concepts of individuality and concerns for morality are alien.) They could conceive of any number of ways to reach great distances in space, which we would take off-the-table entirely. (For example, they could spend entire generations in transit on a one-way trip).
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Turing-tested AI's like Hal 9000 may be the stuff of science fiction today, but they are without much doubt, easier to develop than artificial wormholes. An independent artificial construct could spend millenia in transit without any of the biological limitations that keep us restricted to our solar neighborhood.
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Human beings are already capable of traveling to our nearest solar neighbors in one lifetime. 4.42 light-years may seem insurmountable, but it is only economically. If we prioritized exploration, we could use currently understood technology to reach .85 - .9% light speed putting proxima centauri firmly within our reach in a round trip. (Of course centuries would elapse here on Earth in the meantime, which may make this a no-go.)
Submitted June 29, 2016 at 01:53AM by Dr-Kiloton http://ift.tt/293pHus
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