Aliens Might Be Talking, but Our Ears Aren't Quantum Enough to Hear Them, a Scientist Says

In a study published back in 2020 in the journal Physical Review D, University of Edinburgh physicist Arjun Berera determined that quantum communication—that is, communication that leverages photon qubits rather than the more classical radio waves we use today—could maintain what’s known as coherence over interstellar distances. This idea got Berera’s colleague Lantham Boyle, a fellow theoretical physicist at the University of Edinburgh, to start pondering if aliens throughout our galaxy (and beyond) could be using communication technologies outside of the classical realm (specifically quantum communication) that we simply can’t hear.

This curiosity eventually led to the writing of a paper, which has been uploaded to the pre-print server arXiv, titled “On Interstellar Quantum Communication and the Fermi Paradox.” In the paper, Boyle sets out to determine if an institute like the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) could somehow incorporate quantum communication detection as part of their never-ending search for interstellar beings. While the answer to that question is technically yes, it’s practically a very strong, no-bones-about-it “no.”

The problem is the size of the dish we’d need to construct in order to hear this quantum convo. For example, Boyle calculated that interstellar quantum communication would need to use wavelengths of at least 26.5 centimeters in order to avoid quantum depolarization due to the cosmic microwave background (CMB). That’s all well and good, but that means that to communicate quantumly with Alpha Centauri—the nearest star to our own—we’d need a diffraction-limited telescope with a diameter of roughly 100 kilometers (60 miles), which is an area larger than the city of London. To put it mildly, SETI doesn’t have that kind of budget.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/d...tion-seti/

(May 26, 2025 at 8:57 am)Fake Messiah Wrote: Aliens Might Be Talking, but Our Ears Aren't Quantum Enough to Hear Them, a Scientist Says

In a study published back in 2020 in the journal Physical Review D, University of Edinburgh physicist Arjun Berera determined that quantum communication—that is, communication that leverages photon qubits rather than the more classical radio waves we use today—could maintain what’s known as coherence over interstellar distances. This idea got Berera’s colleague Lantham Boyle, a fellow theoretical physicist at the University of Edinburgh, to start pondering if aliens throughout our galaxy (and beyond) could be using communication technologies outside of the classical realm (specifically quantum communication) that we simply can’t hear.

This curiosity eventually led to the writing of a paper, which has been uploaded to the pre-print server arXiv, titled “On Interstellar Quantum Communication and the Fermi Paradox.” In the paper, Boyle sets out to determine if an institute like the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) could somehow incorporate quantum communication detection as part of their never-ending search for interstellar beings. While the answer to that question is technically yes, it’s practically a very strong, no-bones-about-it “no.”

The problem is the size of the dish we’d need to construct in order to hear this quantum convo. For example, Boyle calculated that interstellar quantum communication would need to use wavelengths of at least 26.5 centimeters in order to avoid quantum depolarization due to the cosmic microwave background (CMB). That’s all well and good, but that means that to communicate quantumly with Alpha Centauri—the nearest star to our own—we’d need a diffraction-limited telescope with a diameter of roughly 100 kilometers (60 miles), which is an area larger than the city of London. To put it mildly, SETI doesn’t have that kind of budget.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/d...tion-seti/

How about lots of smaller telescopes like the VLA?

^ Either way, this is another case of erroneously including scientific research in a conspiracy thread.

The wide dish interprets the noise as signal, whereas the narrow dish would just see noise.

So the CIA programmed Russians to attack Ukraine through The Simpsons TV show.

Quote:Russian Mufti Aynur Birgalin Explain The Conspiracy Theory of The Simpsons' Fragile Film Forecasters the Future

Mufti Aynur BirgalinThe chairman of the Muslim Spiritual Administration in the Muslim Republic of Bashkortostan, which is predominantly Muslim in Russia, went viral on Wednesday after excerpts from his sermon were shared online.

"We often hear that The Simpsons are said to predict the future. However, let's think about it. Is that just a coincidence? No, of course not, "the cleric told the Gazeta.ru news site on Wednesday.

"It is not a prediction, but the hard work of certain forces to instill certain concepts through popular culture to test public reactions and prepare people for events," he said.

Birgalin believes that films, TV shows and memes are used to "program" the audience and control their way of thinking.

The mufti claims that Madam Secretary's American serial storyline is "almost 90 percent identical" to real events in Ukraine.

The event, centered on fictitious US Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, aired from 2015 to 2016.

The event featured a Ukrainian character with the last name Zelinsky, which sounded similar to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who was elected president in 2019.

“By any chance? Not. That's a pre-planned scenario. That is no joke. It was not a laughing stock, but a serious signal to think about,” said Birgalin.

https://m.tribunnews.com/internasional/2...masa-depan

(May 26, 2025 at 1:36 pm)AFTT47 Wrote: ^ Either way, this is another case of erroneously including scientific research in a conspiracy thread.

Agreed. Not every news story about the possibility of extraterrestrial life (or, in this case, communicating with it) counts as a conspiracy. It’s a legitimate course of scientific inquiry.

Boru

Yeah, I saw that as goofy news and decided to put it here. But now, seeing how there are some anally retentive members, I guess I should open a different topic for this kind of news, perhaps titled "Fringe science".

(May 27, 2025 at 6:34 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote: Yeah, I saw that as goofy news and decided to put it here. But now, seeing how there are some anally retentive members, I guess I should open a different topic for this kind of news, perhaps titled "Fringe science".

Perhaps you need to learn what fringe science is and why being able to distinguish between science and conspiracy crazies isn't a mark of the anally retentive. Your inability isn't lending you any credibility.

(May 27, 2025 at 6:34 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote: Yeah, I saw that as goofy news and decided to put it here. But now, seeing how there are some anally retentive members, I guess I should open a different topic for this kind of news, perhaps titled "Fringe science".

What precisely is ‘goofy’ about professional scientists conducting or proposing scientific investigations? That like calling a plumber ‘goofy’ when he fixes a leaky pipe.

Boru

(May 27, 2025 at 12:31 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote: So the CIA programmed Russians to attack Ukraine through The Simpsons TV show.

Quote:Russian Mufti Aynur Birgalin Explain The Conspiracy Theory of The Simpsons' Fragile Film Forecasters the Future

[snip]

"It is not a prediction, but the hard work of certain forces to instill certain concepts through popular culture to test public reactions and prepare people for events," he said.

Birgalin believes that films, TV shows and memes are used to "program" the audience and control their way of thinking.

[snip]

This is common among conspiracists. When I pointed out to a colleague that the Pizzagate story was basically the opening plot to Mr. Robot, he said, "that's called pre-seeding. They do that to get the public accustomed to an idea so that when they use it it won't seem strange."

You do you bud.