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The Galactic Club: Intelligent Life in Outer Space
From the Book "Do we have neighbors in outer space? Will we contact them? What will be their interest in us - friendly or hostile? Will we expand into space and play a grand future role there, bringing fertility to the galaxy? This lively book explores these questions and gathers in one place the offerings of the different specialties that delve into the possibilities of life in outer space...."
141 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1974
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 27, 2019
Fun and breezy overview of some topics related to intelligent life elsewhere in the galaxy.
January 6, 2025
AN EXPLORATION OF VARIOUS COMMON QUESTIONS IN THIS AREA
Ronald Newhall Bracewell (1921-2007) was an Australian professor. He wrote in the Preface to this 1974 book, “The human interest---or anxiety---associated with the possibility of life in outer space is intense. Do we have neighbors? Will we contact them? What will their interest in us be? Friendly? Hostile? Will man expand into space and play a grand future role, bringing fertility to the galaxy? We do not know. This book explores these questions, bringing together from the different specialties that delve into the possibilities of life in outer space.”
He says in Chapter 1, “Many people think intelligent life does exist somewhere out in space. This is not just an idea of our times, but one which has appeared over and over again throughout man’s history. Philosophy, folklore, and art from all parts of the world throughout the ages, attest to this belief… Today, the question of the existence of intelligent life has broken through the confines of speculation and has entered the realm of science. Our current theories will be tested in the crucible of expanding scientific data---and therein confirmed or revised. Still the question remains: Is there intelligent life elsewhere in the universe? What follows in this book is my attempt to illuminate this subject. I will explore and evaluate the ideas of other writers, both scientists and popular non-scientists, germane to our discussion, as well as contribute some ideas of my own.” (Pg. 2)
He states, “To date there is no evidence commanding wide assent that there is life in the universe elsewhere than in the earth-moon system. For all we know, earthly life may be the only life there is. I personally judge it to be more likely than not that there is intelligent life elsewhere in our universe, outside our solar system. I do not exclude the possibility that we are the only intelligent beings; however, if I adopt that assumption there is really nothing more to say, whereas the opposite view leads to interesting trains of thought.” (Pg. 15)
He says of Immanuel Velikovsky, “As to the possible truth of Velikovsky’s assertion that life from Venus or Jupiter may have been transported to the earth by the supposed comet, chances are that any outside life would have been consumed by existing terrestrial organisms… Velikovsky’s notion that terrestrial life may include organisms brought from Jupiter does not seem likely to influence biology. It would certainly electrify biologist if… evidence for Jovian organisms were discovered on earth---I, however, do not expect this to occur.” (Pg. 25)
He notes, “Some people worry that it would be dangerous for us to encourage contact with intelligent extraterrestrials on the ground that the natives who ran out on the beach to greet the European seafarers often suffered. The visitors might carry us away and breed us for beef cattle… or steal our mineral resources. But I think that it would be cheaper for them to synthesize steak chemically on their own planet and to replenish depleted materials from uninhabited worlds closer to home. The cost and difficulty of interstellar voyages are such as to invalidate simple comparison with the contacts between extraterrestrial civilizations.” (Pg. 33)
He explains, “Hitherto all the sources of radio waves that have been discovered have been of apparently natural origin. Something revealing the presence of intelligence might well be discovered by accident in the course of radio astronomical exploration just as occurred with the discovery of most of the principal classes of natural sources. In the absence of such luck we have been forced to form plans for deliberate discovery.” (Pg. 39)
He takes up the topic of Project Cyclops—a system proposed for establishing contact with an external civilization by radio. Given that it would potentially contact civilizations that are between 30 and 300 light years away, he points out, “I am troubled that we might not be able to fund the necessary return transmission for the necessary length of time. How can a national government or international agency justify continual annual expenditures on a project whose success cannot be known for 60 to 600 years into the future[?]” (Pg. 54)
If an alien civilization sent us a message, what would it be like? “In my opinion, the message will be in television. Television is like sign language; although you and I may not speak the same language, we can exchange ideas through signs or pictures… the first picture will be of a constellation of stars, familiar to us, followed by a zooming in on the home star.” (Pg 76-78)
Could we send out robot messenger probes? “[A] difficulty with probes is how to make reliable electronic equipment capable of functioning after many years of lying idle in space… I think there will be a way of designing around this problem, even as it entails producing some of the devices within the probe as it approaches its destination.” (Pg. 83)
He notes, “As for suggestions that the earth has recently been visited by beings from space, no scientific evidence exists that commands any wide assent. There are indeed current controversial proposals seeking to interpret various myths and legends as accounts of visits from outer space. Stories about supernatural beings are so universal in human societies that there is no lack of rich materials on which to base such musings.” (Pg. 95)
He considers Erich von Däniken’s book ‘Gold from the Gods,’ and recounts that “when the German magazine Der Spiegel sent an expedition to follow von Däniken’s footsteps through South America and to interview the personages in the book, the findings repudiated many of his assertions. According to von Däniken’s Ecuadorian guide, von Däniken did not actually descend into the galleries at all, but rather pumped the guide for all the information he had. Von Däniken later admitted that his itinerary in Ecuador did not allow him the time necessary even to reach the location of his purported visit so vividly described.” (Pg. 100-101)
He points out a difficulty in interstellar travel: “there is reason to think material objects cannot be propelled at the speed of light at all… We also know that the human body cannot safely be jerked instantaneously into motion but requires gradual acceleration. Thus, we need a flight plan whereby the spaceship accelerates gradually but steadily at a rate acceptable to the human body.” (Pg. 107)
He concludes, “you must now judge the probabilities for yourself. Are we alone? Do we have neighbors? Will we make contact? My opinion is that we are not alone---that we are not the only community to have gained a knowledge of the laws of nature and to have begun exercising control over nature. Somewhere in this galaxy or another I think there is other intelligent life. Where they are and when and whether they will reveal themselves I do not know, nor can I propose an immediate action on our part that would tell us. My recommendation is to continue to gain an improved appreciation of the overall problem of contact and communication.” (Pg. 127)
He continues, “One way or another, I believe that an opportunity to contact extraterrestrial intelligence, should it occur, will be grasped, and that humanity will enter a new phase of evolution. We have passed through prebiological chemical evolution, Darwinian evolution culminating in the expansion of the brain to its present size and quality, and cultural evolution starting from the time when accumulated tradition came to be transmitted by word of mouth. Contact with extraterrestrial life would render us heirs to galactic culture. Would it set us on a new and higher path?” (Pg. 128-129)
This book will interest those studying issues about extraterrestrial life/intelligence.
Ronald Newhall Bracewell (1921-2007) was an Australian professor. He wrote in the Preface to this 1974 book, “The human interest---or anxiety---associated with the possibility of life in outer space is intense. Do we have neighbors? Will we contact them? What will their interest in us be? Friendly? Hostile? Will man expand into space and play a grand future role, bringing fertility to the galaxy? We do not know. This book explores these questions, bringing together from the different specialties that delve into the possibilities of life in outer space.”
He says in Chapter 1, “Many people think intelligent life does exist somewhere out in space. This is not just an idea of our times, but one which has appeared over and over again throughout man’s history. Philosophy, folklore, and art from all parts of the world throughout the ages, attest to this belief… Today, the question of the existence of intelligent life has broken through the confines of speculation and has entered the realm of science. Our current theories will be tested in the crucible of expanding scientific data---and therein confirmed or revised. Still the question remains: Is there intelligent life elsewhere in the universe? What follows in this book is my attempt to illuminate this subject. I will explore and evaluate the ideas of other writers, both scientists and popular non-scientists, germane to our discussion, as well as contribute some ideas of my own.” (Pg. 2)
He states, “To date there is no evidence commanding wide assent that there is life in the universe elsewhere than in the earth-moon system. For all we know, earthly life may be the only life there is. I personally judge it to be more likely than not that there is intelligent life elsewhere in our universe, outside our solar system. I do not exclude the possibility that we are the only intelligent beings; however, if I adopt that assumption there is really nothing more to say, whereas the opposite view leads to interesting trains of thought.” (Pg. 15)
He says of Immanuel Velikovsky, “As to the possible truth of Velikovsky’s assertion that life from Venus or Jupiter may have been transported to the earth by the supposed comet, chances are that any outside life would have been consumed by existing terrestrial organisms… Velikovsky’s notion that terrestrial life may include organisms brought from Jupiter does not seem likely to influence biology. It would certainly electrify biologist if… evidence for Jovian organisms were discovered on earth---I, however, do not expect this to occur.” (Pg. 25)
He notes, “Some people worry that it would be dangerous for us to encourage contact with intelligent extraterrestrials on the ground that the natives who ran out on the beach to greet the European seafarers often suffered. The visitors might carry us away and breed us for beef cattle… or steal our mineral resources. But I think that it would be cheaper for them to synthesize steak chemically on their own planet and to replenish depleted materials from uninhabited worlds closer to home. The cost and difficulty of interstellar voyages are such as to invalidate simple comparison with the contacts between extraterrestrial civilizations.” (Pg. 33)
He explains, “Hitherto all the sources of radio waves that have been discovered have been of apparently natural origin. Something revealing the presence of intelligence might well be discovered by accident in the course of radio astronomical exploration just as occurred with the discovery of most of the principal classes of natural sources. In the absence of such luck we have been forced to form plans for deliberate discovery.” (Pg. 39)
He takes up the topic of Project Cyclops—a system proposed for establishing contact with an external civilization by radio. Given that it would potentially contact civilizations that are between 30 and 300 light years away, he points out, “I am troubled that we might not be able to fund the necessary return transmission for the necessary length of time. How can a national government or international agency justify continual annual expenditures on a project whose success cannot be known for 60 to 600 years into the future[?]” (Pg. 54)
If an alien civilization sent us a message, what would it be like? “In my opinion, the message will be in television. Television is like sign language; although you and I may not speak the same language, we can exchange ideas through signs or pictures… the first picture will be of a constellation of stars, familiar to us, followed by a zooming in on the home star.” (Pg 76-78)
Could we send out robot messenger probes? “[A] difficulty with probes is how to make reliable electronic equipment capable of functioning after many years of lying idle in space… I think there will be a way of designing around this problem, even as it entails producing some of the devices within the probe as it approaches its destination.” (Pg. 83)
He notes, “As for suggestions that the earth has recently been visited by beings from space, no scientific evidence exists that commands any wide assent. There are indeed current controversial proposals seeking to interpret various myths and legends as accounts of visits from outer space. Stories about supernatural beings are so universal in human societies that there is no lack of rich materials on which to base such musings.” (Pg. 95)
He considers Erich von Däniken’s book ‘Gold from the Gods,’ and recounts that “when the German magazine Der Spiegel sent an expedition to follow von Däniken’s footsteps through South America and to interview the personages in the book, the findings repudiated many of his assertions. According to von Däniken’s Ecuadorian guide, von Däniken did not actually descend into the galleries at all, but rather pumped the guide for all the information he had. Von Däniken later admitted that his itinerary in Ecuador did not allow him the time necessary even to reach the location of his purported visit so vividly described.” (Pg. 100-101)
He points out a difficulty in interstellar travel: “there is reason to think material objects cannot be propelled at the speed of light at all… We also know that the human body cannot safely be jerked instantaneously into motion but requires gradual acceleration. Thus, we need a flight plan whereby the spaceship accelerates gradually but steadily at a rate acceptable to the human body.” (Pg. 107)
He concludes, “you must now judge the probabilities for yourself. Are we alone? Do we have neighbors? Will we make contact? My opinion is that we are not alone---that we are not the only community to have gained a knowledge of the laws of nature and to have begun exercising control over nature. Somewhere in this galaxy or another I think there is other intelligent life. Where they are and when and whether they will reveal themselves I do not know, nor can I propose an immediate action on our part that would tell us. My recommendation is to continue to gain an improved appreciation of the overall problem of contact and communication.” (Pg. 127)
He continues, “One way or another, I believe that an opportunity to contact extraterrestrial intelligence, should it occur, will be grasped, and that humanity will enter a new phase of evolution. We have passed through prebiological chemical evolution, Darwinian evolution culminating in the expansion of the brain to its present size and quality, and cultural evolution starting from the time when accumulated tradition came to be transmitted by word of mouth. Contact with extraterrestrial life would render us heirs to galactic culture. Would it set us on a new and higher path?” (Pg. 128-129)
This book will interest those studying issues about extraterrestrial life/intelligence.
October 5, 2024
Some really interesting thoughts on life outside of Earth. Some very dated and irrelevant parts but overall a fun read.
March 19, 2012
This is a very interesting aproach to space exploration and potential interaction with other civilizations in the universe, considering technological, resources, political and phisical aspects.
The book itself looks a little outdaded, considering the fact it was written during the rise of the space age, but most of it is as much interesting and valid as it was back then, demonstrating that we have not advanced in those topics one single inch in the past decades.
The book itself looks a little outdaded, considering the fact it was written during the rise of the space age, but most of it is as much interesting and valid as it was back then, demonstrating that we have not advanced in those topics one single inch in the past decades.
October 31, 2010
Ronald Newbold Bracewell (7/22/21–8/12/07), Lewis M. Terman Professor of Electrical Engineering, Emeritus of the Space, Telecommunications & Radioscience Laboratory at Stanford University, wrote this book in 1974. His expertise in the matter comes from his work in radio telescopy. I read this book over the Xmas holiday at my brother Fin's home in Sawyer, Michigan.
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May 1, 2017Edition: New edition
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews