Budget Cuts May Hinder Discovery of 1st Alien Earth - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Astronomers are closer than ever to finding a true alien Earth, though the process may be slowed by budget cuts, scientists told members of Congress Thursday (May 9). Officials from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute gave testimony to the House Science, Space and Technology Committee about the state of exoplanet research, saying researchers were closing in on planets around other stars that are the same size and distance from their suns as Earth. "Within the next few years, we will have the privilege of answering this age-old question: In the universe, is there anywhere else like home?" said Laurance Doyle, principal investigator for the Center for the Study of Life in the Universe at the SETI Astronomers have already found more than 800 planets orbiting distant stars. Most of them are large gas giants or worlds a bit bigger than ours called Super Earths. A few, though, are small enough to be rocky, and some are almost Earth-like. Within the coming months and years, scientists hope to find a terrestrial planet that could host liquid water. "The next step for detecting life in the universe will be most likely biomarkers," Doyle said, referring to elements such as oxygen detected in the atmospheres of alien planets that might indicate the presence of living organisms on its surface. "Oxygen is indicative of plant life, possibly animal life, and maybe even intelligent life. It could be that the first detection of extraterrestrial life may be forests." [/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.space.com/21120-alien-earth-search-budget-woes.html"]Source[/URL]

I imagine thousands of years from now, aliens will discover our planet, ruined and desolate, with a spaceship ready to take off, but everyone dead inside. And when they read the staff reports, these aliens will find two words which will only increase the mystery surrounding this destroyed civilization: "Budget cuts"

[QUOTE]It could be that the first detection of extraterrestrial life may be forests[/QUOTE] I wonder how alien trees look...

[QUOTE=Riller;40631168]I wonder how alien trees look...[/QUOTE] They'll look out of this world.

[QUOTE=Riller;40631168]I wonder how alien trees look...[/QUOTE] If I had to guess, probably the same, or very similar.

probably very similar to our ones, if we can detect them

[QUOTE=Riller;40631168]I wonder how alien trees look...[/QUOTE]I wonder what alien animals looks like. Seriously think about that, they probably looks so incredibly different that it would be hard to believe that they're real. There are so many variables that come into play when it comes to evolution. I mean just look at dinosaurs for example, if we never found their fossil remains, would anyone really believe that 60 million years ago these giant reptiles ruled the Earth?

I wonder why some other space agency can't take over where they have left off, or such? As far as I can see, the article only talks about NASA, but I am certain other countries also have space programs, of which don't recieve budget cuts.

[QUOTE=The fox;40631339]I wonder why some other space agency can't take over where they have left off, or such? As far as I can see, the article only talks about NASA, but I am certain other countries also have space programs, of which don't recieve budget cuts.[/QUOTE][IMG]http://filesmelt.com/dl/2893.jpg[/IMG] I'd reckon that's probably why. (they don't have the $$$)

[QUOTE=The fox;40631339]I wonder why some other space agency can't take over where they have left off, or such? As far as I can see, the article only talks about NASA, but I am certain other countries also have space programs, of which don't recieve budget cuts.[/QUOTE] Because NASA is the largest and best funded space agency there is, the next 2 agencies are the ESA and RFSA.

Why do we have to have budget cuts?! Why can't our politicians understand that space and technology advancement is the most important thing we can invest money in?

[QUOTE=Killer900;40631416][IMG]http://filesmelt.com/dl/2893.jpg[/IMG] I'd reckon that's probably why. (they don't have the $$$)[/QUOTE] Yeah, the thought crossed my mind, shame that even when countries team up, they can barely get a third of what NASA has.

[QUOTE=TheCloak;40631445]Why do we have to have budget cuts?! Why can't our politicians understand that space and technology advancement is the most important thing we can invest money in?[/QUOTE] Short answer, they're stupid.

[QUOTE=laserguided;40631487]Short answer, they're stupid.[/QUOTE]Slightly longer answer, they don't understand why it's important, either because they're scientifically illiterate or because they want immediate results rather than long-term results. [quote]"Until the American people can help us address the entire piece of the federal spending pie, people who depend on discretionary spending are going to continually feel pinched, which is problematic," said Research Subcommittee Chairman Larry Bucshon, R-Ind. [B]He asked the scientists how to communicate the value of their research to his constituents. "What can I tell people why what you're doing is important to the American people?"[/B][/quote]

Now we're never going to find alien wives! Thanks, Obama.

[QUOTE=Riller;40631168]I wonder how alien trees look...[/QUOTE] Well, they'd probably follow the similar system of branches and leaves, since evolution dictates that leaves with their big surface area allows for high-yield absorption of sunlight, and branches hold leaves aloft so it's harder for them to be eaten by the average short herbivore. Colour and structure might be different, and the trees themselves might look more like coral covered in post-it notes, but they'd still be trees nonetheless.

[QUOTE=Riller;40631168]I wonder how alien trees look...[/QUOTE] Sexually promiscuous tentacle monsters

[QUOTE=TheCloak;40631445]Why do we have to have budget cuts?! Why can't our politicians understand that space and technology advancement is the most important thing we can invest money in?[/QUOTE] Because it yields no foreseeable short-term profits.

[QUOTE=Riller;40631168]I wonder how alien trees look...[/QUOTE] i hear there are upside-down trees in Chernobyl that grow from the ceilings. maybe something similar to that?

This is why we should look to companies like SpaceX to do some of this for us

Let's just hope to God that they don't need to make a Hyper-wave relay. (If that is what its called in Hitchhikers Guide)

[QUOTE=Blockhead;40632296]Let's just hope to God that they don't need to make a Hyper-wave relay. (If that is what its called in Hitchhikers Guide)[/QUOTE] Improbability Drive? Make it happen NASA

[QUOTE=Arsonist;40632295]This is why we should look to companies like SpaceX to do some of this for us[/QUOTE] Why? That would be more expensive since they need to make a profit margin.

[QUOTE=Riller;40631168]I wonder how alien trees look...[/QUOTE] assuming evolution went the same way as here. i dont really think it works that way.

[QUOTE=Riller;40631168]I wonder how alien trees look...[/QUOTE] What if they're pink instead of green.

[QUOTE=Killer900;40631416][IMG]http://filesmelt.com/dl/2893.jpg[/IMG] I'd reckon that's probably why. (they don't have the $$$)[/QUOTE] If only everyone would be nice to each other and work together, they would have the $$$.

[QUOTE=DeanWinchester;40633068]If only everyone would be nice to each other and work together, they would have the $$$.[/QUOTE] Mil budgets more important than your "space".

[QUOTE=Killer900;40631416][IMG]http://filesmelt.com/dl/2893.jpg[/IMG] I'd reckon that's probably why. (they don't have the $$$)[/QUOTE] $40 Billion world wide is nothing for something so important

[QUOTE=theevilldeadII;40634787]$40, Million world wide is nothing for something so important[/QUOTE] $40bn space vs. $1600bn military

so we're cutting budgets on nasa and spending it on [URL="http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1266690"]tanks[/URL] yeah nice one US