Scientists spot nearby 'super-Earth'

[Cancel Man]

GJ 1214b? I'd rather call it Vulcan.
Also for anyone thats interested; one light year equals the distance (not time) light travels in a vacuüm in one year, which is 9,460,730,472,580,800 meters. 40 x 9,460,730,472,580,800 = 378,429,218,900,000,000 meters. A space shuttle travels at a speed of 7,743 meters a second, which means a space shuttle would reach this planet in 378,429,218,900,000,000 / 7,743 = 48,873,720,640,000 seconds. 48,873,720,640,000 / 3600 = 13,576,033,510 hours. 13,576,033,510 / 24 = 565,668,063 days. 565,668,063 / 365.25 = 1,548,714.751 years. So around 1.5million years to get there, what a shame.

[DrMido0o89]

That star just made me realize how big is the sun.

lol yeah

Link to source:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/16/s...ery/index.html


Great discovery, that's all I got to say.

thx for da link i forgot to post it

[Neroez]

If we could do that, don't you think 2012 wouldn't be a threat? One of the things scientists predict is the sun letting off some sort of a mega solar flare which will scorch the Earths surface.

I am curious if the "2012-phenomenon" is true but right now I think it is not.

[Shawn]

I am curious if the "2012-phenomenon" is true but right now I think it is not.

Do I believe 2012 will be the end of Earth and life as we know it? No, I do not. Do I believe something drastic will happen? Yes I do. Science has already proven that solar flares can be predicted, based on data, and observation of the sun. One such prediction is that in 2012, the sun will let off a huge solar flare that will scorch the Earths surface. Obviously it won't scorch the entire planets surface, unless the blast lasts for more than 24 hours. I believe it will cripple a part of the Earth, if not most of the Earth, to the point that we won't recover for a few decades. Humans and life alike will survive, and rebuild itself. No, I do not believe "Jesus" will come down on a cloud, or that Budda will come riding in on a horse, or anything like that.

It's semi-impossible to relate 2012 to a religious faction simply because the main "resource" of 2012 is the Mayans. Mayans were not Christian, nor Buddhists. They were not Muslim nor Jewish. They had their own beliefs, which are scarce, if not extinct, in life today. If you try to link it to a religion, then the argument becomes "Why were they "shown" when the world would end, but not everyone else?". So case in point, we should above all, look at it from a scientific point of view. Mayans were far more technologically and scientifically advanced than any other race/culture of their time. It's quite possible that what is going to happen in 2012, happened in their times, just not to the same severity. There are also studies and documentation that show it is possible for a solar flare to happen, around the same time as this prediction. I for one, choose to side with science. Am I saying religion doesn't exist, and that God/Allah/whatever your religion calls him is fake? No. Obviously something had to have created everything somewhere along the lines. Which religion is right, no one knows. For all we know, the actual true religion could be extinct, where the "true word of the Creator" is long lost.

[Blackbox]

No, but you can read instruments that monitor the suns solar activity and make predictions from it. o.0

It goes far beyond just predictions and instruments. The sun has let off multiple other "super flares", as it is apart of it's natural life cycle. It happens every some odd years, and they have it almost perfectly figured out when it'll happen.


Although most of the 2012 stuff came from the Mayans calendar. As they've somewhat predicted some of the more major events that have happened within their time and the calendar ends on 2012, which also comes in alignment with the suns super flare life cycle.

Hence the hype about it.

Two sources which seem to be in agreement with each other. Otherwise it could just be a strange coincidence that the Mayans predicted the end of the earth would be on 2012 during the same time as the suns cycle that could let off super flares that can potentially scorch earth.

[Donkjam]

This is a Really good discovery, Ive always believed there is other life out there, and well this could be it ^^,..Its a shame we cannot Travel there (We as in the Astronaughts lol)

ITs amazing what those telescopes can actually see and then for the scientists to tell us what it is like

GJ 1214b? I'd rather call it Vulcan.

Also for anyone thats interested; one light year equals the distance (not time) light travels in a vacuüm in one year, which is 9,460,730,472,580,800 meters. 40 x 9,460,730,472,580,800 = 378,429,218,900,000,000 meters. A space shuttle travels at a speed of 7,743 meters a second, which means a space shuttle would reach this planet in 378,429,218,900,000,000 / 7,743 = 48,873,720,640,000 seconds. 48,873,720,640,000 / 3600 = 13,576,033,510 hours. 13,576,033,510 / 24 = 565,668,063 days. 565,668,063 / 365.25 = 1,548,714.751 years. So around 1.5million years to get there, what a shame.

Wow...

[Negata]

So around 1.5million years to get there, what a shame.

On current speeds, yeah, but if you travel fast enough you'll get there almost instantly...

[WulfgarXX]

On current speeds, yeah, but if you travel fast enough you'll get there almost instantly...

Forgetting something ? Einstein or someone said something about mass and speed.

[troublemaker1111]

The Maya didn't predict shit. It's a calendar, not an astrology almanac. In fact, it's not even really a calendar in the modern sense. It's just a count of days. It doesn't even account for leap years, let alone complex astronomical events like solar flares or whatever. The apocalypse is a Western idea, it has nothing to do with the Maya.

---------- Post added at 12:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:15 PM ----------

On current speeds, yeah, but if you travel fast enough you'll get there almost instantly...

Even at the speed of light it would take 40 years. And it's physically impossible to travel faster than light.

[Gooblelips]

currently we can't go there, but the planet wont disappear.
with the current speed of Scientist discovering things
it'll probably be like 60 years they've invented something that is that fast that we could go to that planet.

[WulfgarXX]

currently we can't go there, but the planet wont disappear.
with the current speed of Scientist discovering things
it'll probably be like 60 years they've invented something that is that fast that we could go to that planet.

Stop pulling bullshit out of your ass.

In 60 years, we'll be lucky if we have made it to Mars.

[Neroez]

Do I believe 2012 will be the end of Earth and life as we know it? No, I do not. Do I believe something drastic will happen? Yes I do. Science has already proven that solar flares can be predicted, based on data, and observation of the sun. One such prediction is that in 2012, the sun will let off a huge solar flare that will scorch the Earths surface. Obviously it won't scorch the entire planets surface, unless the blast lasts for more than 24 hours. I believe it will cripple a part of the Earth, if not most of the Earth, to the point that we won't recover for a few decades. Humans and life alike will survive, and rebuild itself. No, I do not believe "Jesus" will come down on a cloud, or that Budda will come riding in on a horse, or anything like that.

It's semi-impossible to relate 2012 to a religious faction simply because the main "resource" of 2012 is the Mayans. Mayans were not Christian, nor Buddhists. They were not Muslim nor Jewish. They had their own beliefs, which are scarce, if not extinct, in life today. If you try to link it to a religion, then the argument becomes "Why were they "shown" when the world would end, but not everyone else?". So case in point, we should above all, look at it from a scientific point of view. Mayans were far more technologically and scientifically advanced than any other race/culture of their time. It's quite possible that what is going to happen in 2012, happened in their times, just not to the same severity. There are also studies and documentation that show it is possible for a solar flare to happen, around the same time as this prediction. I for one, choose to side with science. Am I saying religion doesn't exist, and that God/Allah/whatever your religion calls him is fake? No. Obviously something had to have created everything somewhere along the lines. Which religion is right, no one knows. For all we know, the actual true religion could be extinct, where the "true word of the Creator" is long lost.

I will message you in the end of 2012, my friend.

[Negata]

Even at the speed of light it would take 40 years. And it's physically impossible to travel faster than light.

It would appear to be 40 years for someone sitting on the surface of earth, but time is slower for the one with speed. If you travel at the speed of light, time essentially stops for you. For example, a distance of 40 light years, and we move at half the speed of light, ie 1/2c. For the observer the flight will seem to take 80 years, while for one traveler it's 80 years / (1 - (1/2c / 1c)^2) = 60 years (formula can be found on referenced article). A travel time of 40 years would be achieved already with a speed of 1/sqrt(2) c.
(see [ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation[/ame])

[Neroez]

Even at the speed of light it would take 40 years. And it's physically impossible to travel faster than light.

Nothing is impossible.

[Negata]

Nothing is impossible.

Well, currently it does look even theoretically impossible to exceed the speed of light.

[Neroez]

Well, currently it does look even theoretically impossible to exceed the speed of light.

Currently, yes.
But if we'd have spoken of the "current situation" in 1945 no one would have believed there were cellphones as big as your hond without wires. Back then that was impossible, and look now!

[.Yoss.]

Nothing is impossible.

Nothing is impossible is the same as saying that everything is possible, which is impossible.

[troublemaker1111]

Currently, yes.
But if we'd have spoken of the "current situation" in 1945 no one would have believed there were cellphones as big as your hond without wires. Back then that was impossible, and look now!

cell phones don't break the laws of physics.

[master_unknown]

Time to call for the makers of Star Trek to travel to that "nearby" planet. haha

[WulfgarXX]

Currently, yes.
But if we'd have spoken of the "current situation" in 1945 no one would have believed there were cellphones as big as your hond without wires. Back then that was impossible, and look now!

Cell phones and inter-galaxtic travel is far from each other.

You can't compare an apple and a orange.

[Blackbox]

Cell phones and inter-galaxtic travel is far from each other.

You can't compare an apple and a orange.

*compares* They're both fruits. They both have a skin. They both have seeds.

[WulfgarXX]

Blackbox, left your brain somewhere again ?

[Shawn]

The Maya didn't predict shit. It's a calendar, not an astrology almanac. In fact, it's not even really a calendar in the modern sense. It's just a count of days. It doesn't even account for leap years, let alone complex astronomical events like solar flares or whatever. The apocalypse is a Western idea, it has nothing to do with the Maya.

---------- Post added at 12:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:15 PM ----------



Even at the speed of light it would take 40 years. And it's physically impossible to travel faster than light.

How is it physically impossible to travel faster than light? We already calculated how fast light travels. Just because the resources don't exist, doesn't mean it isn't possible. It's just not possible at this second. Also, prediction/calender ending, same difference. Their calender was set to "end" around the same time that scientists now have data stating something is very likely to happen. How did the Mayans know this? Let me guess... it was purely coincidence right? Leap years were set in place so we could keep track of our movement around the sun. Does that mean every civilization has to/had to follow the same system? For all we know, a significant solar flare could have been their time guide. The fact is, we don't know exactly why they created that calender, but for it to match up to a critical event that is possible to happen soon, we can only draw up theories that they experienced what we are about to experience.

cell phones don't break the laws of physics.

No but airplanes did o.0 Supposedly physics wouldn't allow that, but yet... we have space shuttles?!?! kay...


@Neroez: I never said the world would end, so if you do message me after that, then it'll be the same as if you messaged me today.

[troublemaker1111]

How is it physically impossible to travel faster than light? We already calculated how fast light travels. Just because the resources don't exist, doesn't mean it isn't possible. It's just not possible at this second. Also, prediction/calender ending, same difference. Their calender was set to "end" around the same time that scientists now have data stating something is very likely to happen. How did the Mayans know this? Let me guess... it was purely coincidence right? Leap years were set in place so we could keep track of our movement around the sun. Does that mean every civilization has to/had to follow the same system? For all we know, a significant solar flare could have been their time guide. The fact is, we don't know exactly why they created that calender, but for it to match up to a critical event that is possible to happen soon, we can only draw up theories that they experienced what we are about to experience.



No but airplanes did o.0 Supposedly physics wouldn't allow that, but yet... we have space shuttles?!?! kay...

-Yeah, no. It's not about resources, it's about the fact that it breaks the theory of relativity. Aeroplanes didn't break anything but common assumptions.

-Leap years are essential in accurate time keeping, they're not just added in for fun. As it happens, we do know how the Maya kept time within the Long Count calendar. It involved 360 day long years. How's that for accurate?

-We do know why they made the calendar, as well. It's because the other calendar systems they had at the time could only work in 52 year cycles. Hence, the Long Count was created to manage longer time scales.

-Solar flares are too random to keep time by.

-Stop using phrases like "for all we know" and "we don't know" when what you really mean is "I don't know", because guess what, 'we' do know these things. It's you who doesn't.

-The Maya (not 'Mayans', at least get it right) never predicted the end of the world. They believed in a cyclical model of time. If anything, the end of the long count would have been marked by celebration and rejoicing.

-We can't even accurately predict solar flares using modern technology, do you really think a civilisation that sacrificed its people to keep the sun moving across the sky could predict them thousands of years in advance? Do you have ANY primary evidence that the Maya believed the end of the Long Count coincided with any particular astrological event? No? Then stop making silly assumptions.

[Negata]

How is it physically impossible to travel faster than light? We already calculated how fast light travels. Just because the resources don't exist, doesn't mean it isn't possible. It's just not possible at this second.

Well troublemaker already approached this, but this is just so wrong I must comment on it aswell:

It's different knowing we're unable to construct something now and knowing it would break the laws of physics if we constructed it. Of course, it's possible that the current theory of relativity is inaccurate just as newtonian physics needed relativity for correction when past certain speeds, however stating that going faster than the speed of light can be done is just absurd right now. IIRC it would require MORE than an infinite amount of energy to accelerate to that speed, and also your mass would be negative, just as you'd reach your target before you left. This should be easy to find out about on wikipedia.

I bet FragFrog having studied astrophysics could give you a lot more insight on this than me.