But, really, it is quite an impossible task when you really look at the big picture. For us to travel in space far enough to reach anywhere meaningful in our own galaxy is sort of like trying to get an ant to travel from Los Angeles to New York. Reaching another galaxy would be like asking that same ant to then travel to the moon.
Now, in reality, the ant doesn't even have the slightest shot at making it anywhere near New York before it dies. It won't be able to churn its six legs anywhere close to that distance, and we don't have the ability to build an ant aircraft for it to fly to New York.
So, the only chance this ant has at reaching New York is to catch a ride. Maybe in some luggage or cargo in a plane, for example. This is the same for us traveling space, our only current opportunity is to catch a ride. Maybe on a comet, or asteroid...
I'm catching the next one out, who's coming with me?
So how do we come around to creating the technology that would allow us to pilot the galaxy? Even though that ant could catch a ride on a plane, it could not fly that plane, or even begin to be able to build one. Not because of mind, but because of size. The day that we humans are able to build an aircraft the size of an ant farm that is capable of flying a colony of ants from Los Angeles to New York NONSTOP. Capable of flying through a strange, dangerous environment; evading storms, birds, eagles, and other strange monsters that an ants mind could never comprehend. AND also give this small vessel enough fuel and power to make the trip within at least a couple of ant generations. The day we can do that is the day we can start really talking about traveling space, and meeting aliens. Get on it NASA.
In the meantime, I found this little gem on the interwebs one day. It's hard to see, so you'll have to zoom in to get a good read. I recommend you download it and study it on your own time. How to handle getting abducted by aliens.
The size of space is so enormous, to think that any creature that we meet from another planet would be even closely the same size as us, or even related any other way. It's quite indescribable how truly odd they may be. Yet most peoples imaginations don't venture beyond “The Greys”
There is no way of knowing whether or not someday a passing spaceship the size of three suns comes by and scoops our sun up for a quick fuel refill, you know, between wormholes or what have you. The game Spore is a good example of this.
Who knew? We may actually live in a video game after all.
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