Q&A 7: Could a Galactic Federation Be Hiding from Humanity?

TL;DR

A Galactic Federation might conceal itself from primitive species, but Fraser finds the idea unconvincing because some civilizations would probably break the rule and contact humanity. He also explains why nearby supernova danger is minimal, Voyager cannot realistically reach Planet 9, and telescopes cannot see beyond the cosmic microwave background from about 300,000 years after the Big Bang. Read on for direct answers to all eight questions.

Transcript

attack Fraser Kane I have a question I want you to answer Battlefield 1 or Call of Duty infinite Warfare Battlefield 1 anill UK what would happen if the nearest stars to us went supernova but not the sun if a star goes Supernova has to really be within about a few dozen light years to cause us any damage uh to the Earth so there's no stars that are... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤩 The risk of a nearby star going supernova and causing damage to Earth is minimal.
• 🤩 The only potential threat would be from a massive star turning into a gamma burst, but there are no such stars directed at Earth.
• 👽 The search for alien life is driven by the desire to answer one of the most important scientific questions: Are we alone in the universe?
• ❓ The possibility of a galactic association or a galactic federation restricting contact with primitive species like humans is not convincing.
• ❓ The Voyager spacecraft are not on a trajectory that would bring them near Planet 9.
• 🫥 Building telescopes on the Moon, especially on the far side, would provide a great opportunity for radio and visible astronomy.
• 🏛️ A billion dollars would not be sufficient for significant astronomical pursuits, but building a telescope capable of observing the atmospheres of exoplanets would be a priority if given a larger budget.
• 🛰️ Space warfare involves protecting and destroying satellites used for intelligence gathering and communication, and various countries are actively involved in this area.

Questions & Answers

Q: Could a Galactic Federation be hiding from primitive species like humanity?

Fraser does not find this explanation for the Fermi paradox compelling. Even if a Galactic Federation prohibited contact, he expects civilizations to have different attitudes, with some trying to break the rule and reach humanity.

Q: What would happen if a nearby star went supernova?

A supernova would need to occur within about a few dozen light-years to damage Earth, and no stars in that range appear likely to explode. If one did erupt that close, it could strip away the ozone layer and cause severe sunburns.

Q: Could a gamma-ray burst threaten Earth from across the Milky Way?

A sufficiently massive star could pose a risk from halfway across the Milky Way if its pole were directed at Earth. However, no known supermassive candidate appears aimed at us, and the mentioned star W104 is not directed toward Earth.

Q: Can Voyager 1 or Voyager 2 find or pass Planet 9?

The chances are described as infinitesimal because Planet 9's location is unknown and space is enormous. The Voyager spacecraft are already on fixed trajectories and cannot realistically be redirected toward it.

Q: How could scientists obtain close-up pictures of Planet 9?

Scientists would first need to discover Planet 9's location and then send a spacecraft specifically to intercept it. The New Horizons example shows why proximity matters: it produced better pictures of Pluto than Earth or Hubble only a couple of weeks before arrival.

Q: Can a telescope see the universe before the Big Bang?

No telescope can see beyond the cosmic microwave background, which is the earliest light that could escape. It comes from about 300,000 years after the Big Bang, when the universe had cooled enough for light to travel.

Q: Why are space enthusiasts so interested in alien life?

Alien life relates to the major scientific question of whether humanity is alone in the universe. Fraser also considers it a natural subject for a channel focused on space exploration and the search for aliens.

Q: Does Fraser prefer Battlefield 1 or Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare?

Fraser chooses Battlefield 1. The transcript gives that direct preference without further explanation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The nearest stars to us are unlikely to go supernova and cause harm to Earth, as they would have to be within a few dozen light years.

• The only potential risk would be from a massive star turning into a gamma burst, but there are no super massive stars with their poles directed at us.

• If a supernova did occur close to Earth, it would scour off the ozone layer, resulting in severe sunburns for humans.