Ufology's best argument

[Ezechiel]

What is your initial premise?

Civilizations are being forced out at different levels of preparedness (for inter-stellar travel) from their solar systems.

By forced out, I mean due to star end-cycles such as red giant blow-outs for example. It is conceivable that some technological civilizations emerged close to the end cyle of their star.

If we were forced out at this point in our technological history with maybe 100 years to prepare, the quality of our Noah's ark would be relatively poor. The research would have to continue during a desperate voyage in search of a replacement home planet.

 

[Ezechiel]

Reverse engineering any technology of large scale is a monumental task even if you understand 95% of the technology used in the original construction. Reverse engineering "alien" technology, in my opinion, is impossible.

Maybe. However, having a working model will certainly orient research in the direction of that working model (and save some $$$). As evolved monkeys, imitation is definitely our strength. We might not arrive at the same solutions, but we'll be resolving the problems with a human flavor to it.

Simply knowing that the problem has been solved by somebody else is a HUGE advantage as far as getting a potential return for your investment and convincing the necessary authorities to inject funding into your black project

 

[Trajanus]

It is conceivable that some technological civilizations emerged close to the end cyle of their star.

Might be likely if the spectral type is F instead of G, like here.

 

[Ron Collins]

Maybe. However, having a working model will certainly orient research in the direction of that working model (and save some $$$). As evolved monkeys, imitation is definitely our strength. We might not arrive at the same solutions, but we'll be resolving the problems with a human flavor to it.

Simply knowing that the problem has been solved by somebody else is a HUGE advantage as far as getting a potential return for your investment and convincing the necessary authorities to inject funding into your black project

I see the principle of your argument, but if a technology is radically different and advance of our current ability, we may be able to little more than guess as to what it really is or how it works.

Take the old Ufological adage of the Nuclear submarine to Columbus. One day this nuclear submarine appears in the harbor. They can all see that it floats but would be mystified by its purpose and propulsion. The greatest minds (Scientists, ship builders, blacksmiths) in all the world could converge and they would still need to figure out the most rudimentary basics. How do we get inside? How do we make it go? What is it made of? And about a trillion other questions.

My point being, that just knowing you have a craft doesn't mean you understand the use for that craft. Inter-dimensional, ET, inner Earth, or whatever. All you know for sure is that you have an object. That alone would ensure research money. Yet, it could be hundreds of years (I concede that it could be more or less depending on the technological differences and intelligence gathered) before you could learn enough for anything to be useful.

The scientists of Columbus's day couldn't remotely begin to replicate the tiniest most insignificant part of that submarine. They didn't even have the theoretical science to understand that tiniest piece. They couldn't draw copper thin enough to make wire not to mention plastics and alloys. Even from a 10,000 foot view, they didn't even understand the concepts of air or water pressure. In other words, they didn't know what they didn't know.

 

[Ezechiel]

Might be likely if the spectral type is F instead of G, like here.

As a Class F star burns through its fuel supply, it can slowly evolve into a different stellar classification. Many Class F stars will eventually become Class G stars as they consume enough of their fuel and start to burn at a cooler temperature. These changes happen over vast, almost unfathomable time periods, however, and aren't really measurable on a human time frame.

Based on the size of the eyes of your avatar. You probably come from a red dwarf Large eyes are an asset when you need to discern objects with limited light sources available. A larger area helps you capture more photons .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30136580/

 

[Ezechiel]

I see the principle of your argument, but if a technology is radically different and advance of our current ability, we may be able to little more than guess as to what it really is or how it works.

There's obviously a limit. That's why you need an 'Indiana Jones' type storage area for stuff that our brain/technological level can't process. I still have a problem with us getting a piece of a craft that's a million years ahead of us in tech. You'd figure that Q/A and experience would make that almost impossible... but hey... things break

For civilizations closer to our tech level, getting one of their intact craft is a dangerous jackpot with the potential of blowing up in our faces if we press the wrong button . But if its already broken in pieces, the parts should be relatively easy to reverse-engineer and provide important answers. (Composite metal structures, magnetism, radiation impermeability, flexibility... etc.)

... Just don't press the red button