Extraterrestrial probes could reach Earth, say mathematicians

NASA's Voyager 1 space probe went beyond our solar system last year. In 40 000 he will approach the star AC + 79 3888. This sounds fantastic, but imagine an alien civilization that has outstripped us in technological development for 40 000 years.

What if the scientists of this planet sent their probe for 40,000 years? Is it possible that the Earth is the object for a similar study? What if these aliens, a million years ago, led to the birth of humanity?

Professors of Edinburgh University Arwen Nicholson and Duncan Forgana asked similar questions and formulated several theories.

They published an article in the International Journal of Astrobiology last year, explaining a technique that could significantly shorten the time for sending probes. They also allowed the possibility that extraterrestrial civilizations could send probes to our solar system, and this could have been done for a very long time. It is possible that this process continues to this day, and the probes are sent by various kinds of aliens.

In addition, the probes can be so technologically advanced that we can not even detect them. The fact that we have not seen any probes does not mean that they do not exist, say mathematicians.

According to the theory of relativity of Albert Einstein, it is impossible to move faster than the speed of light. This raised the question of how hypothetical aliens could get to our planet in a relatively short period of time, if they live at a distance of many light years.

Some scientists question Einstein's theory of relativity, but it is still fundamental to understanding the cosmic movement. But even within the framework of this theory, space flights can be much faster than previously thought.

Nicholson and Fontana believe that probes can accelerate due to the gravitational force of cosmic bodies. This slingshot effect combined with the ability to self-replicate could allow an alien civilization to explore the entire Milky Way galaxy for 10 million years without the need to move faster than the speed of light. In fact, to accomplish this mission, the probes would only need to achieve only 10% of the speed of light.

Despite the fact that 10 million years seem an incredibly long time, on the scale of the galaxy and space this is a very short period.

Two professors created their theory on the basis of the works of mathematician and physicist John von Neumann, who first formulated the model of a self-replicating machine in the 40s of the last century.

According to this concept, a self-replicating probe is sent to a remote stellar system, and upon arrival he collects the necessary materials there and builds another probe. A new probe flies away to study another stellar system, and the mother probe remains on the planet and completes its mission.