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Ardashasaur t1_j3k06w6 wrote

Reply to comment by Fallacy_Spotted in Milkdromeda. by Acuate187

Even within the mily way there could be life, there could be life in Proxima Centauri, there could be life in Jovian moons.

Our detection isn't great, I think if we had an Earth clone in Proxima Centauri it would be hard to detect it has industrial life on it with any real certainty.

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Fallacy_Spotted t1_j3k0pus wrote

The Fermi Paradox originally assumed abundantly clear evidence like intentional attempts at contact from all intelligent life. It also only addressed intelligent life.

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robertojh_200 t1_j3kvi19 wrote

By that token, the paradox makes some sweeping assumptions about the efficacy of interstellar communication to begin with. Space is big, and interstellar communication almost impossible unless both parties already know and are already expecting communication. Establishing first contact across interstellar distances is like trying to shoot a bullet out of the air with another bullet fired from two different guns in two different states; you'd need an exceptionally powerful gun with even more exceptional precision. And the other guy has no idea you're aiming at him. But you, the shooter, are doing on purpose; two bullets don't collide by chance. First Contact happens when one civilization already knows about the other one before hand and so they send a deliberately overpowered signal to reach out.

It's possible, to be clear, and hell it may have already happened. We just haven't been listening long enough to know.

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No_Assumption_6028 t1_j3l2rhw wrote

Wouldn't JWST be able to detect breathable air in that planets atmosphere?

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Ardashasaur t1_j3uezrb wrote

I don't think breathable air counts as signs of industry. Although looks like JWST has found a planet with carbon dioxide which is interesting.

So you are right I guess that it could possibly detect industrial emissions.

Interestingly enough the planet with CO2 found is 700 light years away which could hint at industrial life there (but still going to be pretty hard to be certain), but if they were looking at us then they would only see Earth's atmosphere 700 years ago which would have a lot less CO2 then now.

But anyway in terms of electrical emissions, radio waves or seeing constructions on surface (or even orbital) I think it's pretty hard to get anything from the nearest solar system to ours, you can't just take a quick photo so everything is going to be super blurry

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No_Assumption_6028 t1_j3ukedv wrote

You're right, I meant to say breathable air and CO2/signs of an industrial society. I wonder how we would confirm an advanced civilization if we 100% detected these things.

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Ardashasaur t1_j3uu2wu wrote

I don't think it could be confirmed by atmosphere alone, no telling how an atmosphere is composed on an alien planet. Detecting something like CFCs would be a really strong sign but still not 100% if there is some wacky geological process or unknown reactions from alien elements.

Edit: that being said focusing on a planet with CFCs in atmosphere would still be really cool anyway

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