I know some ideas are that we may be able to communicate with them by use of some sort of mathematical or binary code. but what are the odds that they would even have any of thease things? Numbers are a man made concept to measure time and quantity. Now since they evolved differently, would it be safe to assume their concept of thought evolved differently also? meaning that their mathematics may differ dramatically..

one thought i have is that if ancient civilisations had contact with alien beings, a way of communicating may have been found. but i think an existing linguistic link(Numerical,Alphabetical Or Binary) between both or many galactic civilizations is next to improbable.

it may take years/decades to establish a clear way of communication.

Disagree

Once you reach a certain level of science there are universal constants that should hold true throughout the universe. And a great many of them.

Hydrogen atom for one. Valence electrons. All of the periodic table. The value of Log natural or e. a reacuring theme of nature where natural asymptote curves become straight line graphs.

Avegodros number 6.23 x 10 to the 24 power is the molar equivilent value of chemical reactions. Half life of radioactive isotopes. Cautesian equations. Coordinate systems, geometry, algebra, calculous, trigonometry change the numbering systems and the underlying principals remain the same. Matrices and linear algebra.

Gravity, electromagnetism, velocity of light, and orbitol mechanics. Melting points of metals, temperature of liquid nitrogen.

The list of things that would still have an established reference point are almost endless.

No matter what numbering system you use the value of zero is the same for any base. There is a translation equation that can be defined for universal constants into any base. The vakue of C remains constant weather it is stated in killometers, miles or alien whatevers.

Math is truly the universal launguage because it is the quantifiable constants of the universe independent of culture. Every science or discipline has quantifiable strucure. Music and launguage are especially quantifiable with math.

Even subjective arts such as painting and sculpture. Visual can be trnslated as digital images and sculpture is an interpretive application of solid geometry.

Quantum mechanics, the list is endless. Philosophy and intent might be vastly different, but not beyond understanding once values are understood.

Bart: what if subatomics aren't something they study? For example, what if they can understand, for example, magnetics but not chemistry? How would you explain an atom?

Likewise, how do you know that they look at hydrogen according to the number of electrons? Maybe they don't care. Maybe they measure atoms in some way OTHER than by subatomic particles or mass.

If they are truly different, their way of looking at and understanding the universe may be vastly different than our own.

If you argue that this alien culture would not look at the atom the same way as to understand its structure then.

Are we assuming a more primitive and non scientific race?
One that has not developed sophisticated machinery?

It seems to me you would first observe what the technical level is. What tools do thry use?

where there is a will there is a way.i believe some things are universal,mathematics is one of those things.they may have different ways and measurements of calculation,but if they add 2 and 2 ,they have to come up with 4.otherwise they are not gonna be able to call their nieghbour,let alone communicate with another planet.

We have two very good points: the constants of the universe and the inconsistancy of the interpretations thereof. While it could be difficult to enjoy another's culture if removed from the needs, wants and desires of more terrestrial species; the more physical things we could understand. Bianary is nearly the best choice, why? It's the most simplest reproduction of the universe: on/off, existance/non-existance. It would be this that we would first find our communication with other worldy beings if indeed they are completely different and not eriely the same (as it has been proposed that the most successful thing in evolution is also constant in the universe, but that's another discussion).

I think aliens travel in space using a technique that involves the clever manipulation of electromagnetic energy readily available everywhere throughout the universe. The Human body also contains a fair bit of electomagnetic energy in itself. Think of your aura and also the intricate workings of the human body with regards to how the organs function, i.e blood, our hearts etc. It all comes down to electrics. So maybe aliens have a fair bit of knowledge when it comes to an electromagnetic field of energy. The concept of ghosts, pyschic phenonomin, telekinesis etc also work on the principles of electromagnetic energy. Perhaps that is how aliens communicate with their own species as well as other races like us, the humans due to their superior knowledge of that particular energy force.

This post has been edited by galaxygirl: Jun 13 2008, 08:07 AM

THe electromagnetic awareness is quite credible I think. All sorts of other animals have this awareness and its quite reasonable to believe we do too. For instance, I can "hear" when a TV is on because I believe the HUGE amount of energy that's running through it all the time is disrupting the normal flow. More reliably and something that I'm certian we all share is that feeling that there is someone there but there really isn't. Is it possible that its just an electromagnetic anomaly that throws us off? I don't have many more examples of this. But I think I might of gone off topic.

Our bodies, nerves, brains, chimistry is built around electromagnetic energy. So are all molecular structures. Valence electrons, ions, chemical bonds, are all electromagnetic. Even the weak and strong subatomic nuclear forces have been found to have electromagnetic equvilence. The only force not yet found to have a unification equivilence to electromagnetic is gravity, although it is speculated that a sufficiently powerful collider might establish this.

It is also quite possible that there is an as yet unidentified life metric force that could be electromagnetic as well. A life metric energy not bound to solid mass bodies could account for ghost phenomena.

Agian, I defer from the original topic, but I think as we learn more about the biochemical electromagnetic responses that make up our brains, we may discover that really its just a very complex computer. One which doesn't use transitors or resistors, swtiches and imputs. Maybe it is this that we might find common ground with another race of beings. Even Silicon base lifeforms still use the biochemical electromagnetic responses to control its faculties.

if we associate 0 with open 1 for closed yet they do the opposite, we could have problems

The meaning behind 0 is the should be the same: Off/Non-existance. They may call it by something else or percieve it differently, but the abstration of nothing should still be something you could help another being see. 0 equals nothing 1 equals something.

I don't think establishing communication will be that hard. If the race is so different that language is really that far different from or own, then I doubt we will even see it or believe someone that did manage to see it.

if there is anything to believe in the abduction stories thet seem to communicate with telepathy.

well if the earthling holds up a picture of a big mac with fries in one hand and in the other places a space-food nutri-slop-its-good-for-you in a sick bag, then you don't have to be all that a scentant being to work out the idea? huh?

Certainly objects and simple actions can be translated with pointing and grunting, then comparing with our alien's counterpart. However, complex theories and philosophies and actions that are not able to be seen would need some kind of basis to help others understand. When a being could have a comletely diferent understanding of the world around them, it might be hard to translate things. Say they have a hivemind, it would be difficult to explain to them independant freedom. Should they have an absence of the abstract system of time, then it would be difficult to expain distance over time. Maybe to them all things are translated with matter alone and not energy. or the other way around. You can't point out Democracy or Habius Corpus.

a good point.

but sucking on a comforter and being given dollars
should work for most of it.

Certainly objects and simple actions can be translated with pointing and grunting, then comparing with our alien's counterpart. However, complex theories and philosophies and actions that are not able to be seen would need some kind of basis to help others understand. When a being could have a comletely diferent understanding of the world around them, it might be hard to translate things. Say they have a hivemind, it would be difficult to explain to them independant freedom. Should they have an absence of the abstract system of time, then it would be difficult to expain distance over time. Maybe to them all things are translated with matter alone and not energy. or the other way around. You can't point out Democracy or Habius Corpus.

Disagree. If you cannot grasp time and distance then evolution says extiction follows. Prediters have exquisite sense of time and distance and they do not have abstract intelligence.

Time and distance critical to all motion, no matter what the application. Inteligence no matter what the container involves the ability to observe cause and effect. Monkees are not to bright so cannot teach them a lot. Gorillas and chimps are smarter and communication is well established. Assume your entity has intelligence or communication would be of no value. Grasp any level of communication at all and given enough time complex understanding will develop.

so is it you find them:...'hello sludge-lings! we are from earth. answer = glup glup. or they find you; 'hello earthlings! we are from 'planet hardcore 'XXX'. answer =' oh Sh*t. hi ya. don't process for food ok?'
even with other elements not found on earth, the common ones will react the same and bond the same! and the maths will add up the same, so there is a big lot heap of common ground.

ie:gold does not react well, but carbon does react fantastic. true where ever it happens!