Review of Aliens and Humans
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Eric DUSHIMIRIMANA
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Review of Aliens and Humans
[Following is a volunteer review of "Aliens and Humans" by Harry Keller.]
The book “Aliens and Humans” by Harry Keller explores solutions to Fermi’s paradox, offering attractive answers to a wide range of questions about our “place” in the universe. The author, drawing on cosmology, biology, and physics, exposes, among other things, the rarity of humanity’s cradle—Earth—and the complex and intelligent life in the universe. This review covers some of the most attractive aspects of the book.
The author reveals how most spots of the universe would be barren and, consequently, inhospitable to complex life. The author explains how the ratio of gravitational to electrical forces may have somehow favored our evolution, showing how the probability of a random spot in the universe having a planet capable of sustaining complex life would be negligible. The writer also falsifies the possibility of silicon-based life, explaining how such life would be impossible.
Additionally, the author exposes how complex life may have emerged from time-consuming abiogenesis processes, revealing how most parts of the universe would not afford a species the required time to survive and thrive to reach an advanced civilization. We also learn that even if other technological civilizations existed in the universe, we would not detect them.
Furthermore, the writer invalidates the lingering would-be signs of alien visits to Earth. The writer debunks the claim that Egyptian pyramids were built by aliens, suggesting instead how Archimedes’ principles could have allowed Egyptians to build the structures themselves. The writer also explains how Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) are not alien spacecraft. (Alien spacecraft would be stealthy.)
Moreover, the writer discusses how we could colonize other parts of the universe. The author reveals how we would send women first and rely on artificial wombs and robots to establish populations on other habitable planets. The writer also offers five scenarios regarding how we would respond if we encountered aliens.
Besides, the author exposes how interstellar or intergalactic journeys would be slow, financially unjustifiable, dangerous, or impossible. The writer, for example, drawing on the physics of energy, reveals how seemingly theoretically “attractive” faster-than-light-speed-travel solutions (for example, the Alcubierre drive and negative mass) would require astronomical amounts of energy. Additionally, the author explains how such vast-distance journeys would be risky, revealing how the chance of humans arriving at their destinations alive would be worryingly low. Furthermore, the writer spotlights how the faster-than-light-speed-travel idea violates the causality principle and may be physically impossible.
The book has many merits. It approaches Fermi’s paradox from a more holistic perspective, drawing on cosmology, biology, and physics, making it scientifically attractive. Additionally, it is written with excellent clarity, simplicity, and grammar, making the discussions very palatable. Furthermore, the author uses probability estimates wherever possible, offering quantitatively compelling views. The author must have thought and read hard about the paradox; the book would benefit everyone regardless of their level of expertise in physical sciences. I gave the book five out of five stars because of the above-mentioned merits.
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Aliens and Humans
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The book “Aliens and Humans” by Harry Keller explores solutions to Fermi’s paradox, offering attractive answers to a wide range of questions about our “place” in the universe. The author, drawing on cosmology, biology, and physics, exposes, among other things, the rarity of humanity’s cradle—Earth—and the complex and intelligent life in the universe. This review covers some of the most attractive aspects of the book.
The author reveals how most spots of the universe would be barren and, consequently, inhospitable to complex life. The author explains how the ratio of gravitational to electrical forces may have somehow favored our evolution, showing how the probability of a random spot in the universe having a planet capable of sustaining complex life would be negligible. The writer also falsifies the possibility of silicon-based life, explaining how such life would be impossible.
Additionally, the author exposes how complex life may have emerged from time-consuming abiogenesis processes, revealing how most parts of the universe would not afford a species the required time to survive and thrive to reach an advanced civilization. We also learn that even if other technological civilizations existed in the universe, we would not detect them.
Furthermore, the writer invalidates the lingering would-be signs of alien visits to Earth. The writer debunks the claim that Egyptian pyramids were built by aliens, suggesting instead how Archimedes’ principles could have allowed Egyptians to build the structures themselves. The writer also explains how Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) are not alien spacecraft. (Alien spacecraft would be stealthy.)
Moreover, the writer discusses how we could colonize other parts of the universe. The author reveals how we would send women first and rely on artificial wombs and robots to establish populations on other habitable planets. The writer also offers five scenarios regarding how we would respond if we encountered aliens.
Besides, the author exposes how interstellar or intergalactic journeys would be slow, financially unjustifiable, dangerous, or impossible. The writer, for example, drawing on the physics of energy, reveals how seemingly theoretically “attractive” faster-than-light-speed-travel solutions (for example, the Alcubierre drive and negative mass) would require astronomical amounts of energy. Additionally, the author explains how such vast-distance journeys would be risky, revealing how the chance of humans arriving at their destinations alive would be worryingly low. Furthermore, the writer spotlights how the faster-than-light-speed-travel idea violates the causality principle and may be physically impossible.
The book has many merits. It approaches Fermi’s paradox from a more holistic perspective, drawing on cosmology, biology, and physics, making it scientifically attractive. Additionally, it is written with excellent clarity, simplicity, and grammar, making the discussions very palatable. Furthermore, the author uses probability estimates wherever possible, offering quantitatively compelling views. The author must have thought and read hard about the paradox; the book would benefit everyone regardless of their level of expertise in physical sciences. I gave the book five out of five stars because of the above-mentioned merits.
******
Aliens and Humans
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Prioritize Us by Nick Brancato
