this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2024
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.
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The speed of light is so slow as to make communication difficult. The best possiple case is they are about four light years away meaning a round trip question and answer is eight years. That is best case and those stars are generally thought to not be likely to have life. 20 light years gives the first possibility of life.
Which is to say we will never establish communication as you think of it. Instead we become aware of each other and send what we guess is of interest. maybe we ask questions but odds are a question sent is no longer relavent by the time we get an answeri
even the above is a best possible case. If we become aware of life there, is a good chance it is extinct long ago but evidence is just reaching us. The universe is that large*