But USA still holds that word KR On Fri, 1 Aug 2025 at 12:43, APS Mani <[email protected]> wrote:
> Not directly connected to the topic under discussion. But the usage of > the term 'alien'. When I landed in Japan, there was a system that required > all foreigners must use an 'alien registration card' to identify > themselves. However, the word 'alen' in the card was not taken well by all > of us, and we appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, to change > the name of the card, and they adhered to the request! Mani > > On Fri, Aug 1, 2025 at 8:07 AM Rajaram Krishnamurthy < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> HOW FAR IS ALIEN CONCEPT IS CORRECT? KR IRS 1825 >> >> 1. 1976, The Viking Mars landers detect chemical signatures indicative of >> life >> >> Tests performed on Martian soil samples by NASA’s Viking landers hinted >> at chemical evidence of life. One experiment mixed soil with >> radioactive-carbon-labelled nutrients and then tested for the production of >> radioactive methane gas. >> >> The test reported a positive result. The production of radioactive >> methane suggested that something in the soil was metabolising the nutrients >> and producing radioactive gas. But other experiments on board failed to >> find any evidence of life, so NASA declared the result a false positive. >> >> Despite that, one of the original scientists – and others who have since >> re-analysed the data – still stand by the finding. They argue that the >> other experiments on board were ill-equipped to search for evidence of the >> organic molecules – a key indicator of life. >> >> How excited should we be by signs of life spotted on alien worlds? >> >> We keep spotting molecular “biosignatures” in the atmospheres of planets >> beyond Earth, but it isn't clear if any of them can provide definitive >> evidence that we’re not alone >> >> 2. 1977, The unexplained extraterrestrial “Wow!” signal is detected by an >> Ohio State University radio telescope >> >> In August 1977 an Ohio State University radio telescope detected an >> unusual pulse of radiation from somewhere near the constellation >> Sagittarius. The 37-second-long signal was so startling that an astronomer >> monitoring the data scrawled “Wow!” on the telescope’s printout. >> >> The signal was within the band of radio frequencies where transmissions >> are internationally banned on Earth. Furthermore, natural sources of >> radiation from space usually cover a wider range of frequencies. >> >> As the nearest star in that direction is 220 million light years away, >> either a massive astronomical event – or intelligent aliens with a very >> powerful transmitter would have had to have created it. The signal >> remains unexplained. >> >> 3. 1996, Martian “fossils” are discovered in meteorite ALH84001 from >> Antarctica >> >> NASA scientists controversially announced in 1996 that they had found >> what appeared to be fossilised microbes in a potato-shaped lump of Martian >> rock. The meteorite was probably blasted off the surface of Mars in a >> collision, and wandered the solar system for some 15 million years, before >> plummeting to Antarctica, where it was discovered in 1984. >> >> Careful analysis revealed that the rock contained organic molecules and >> tiny specs of the mineral magnetite, sometimes found in Earth bacteria. >> Under the electron microscope, NASA researchers also claimed to have >> spotted signs of “nanobacteria”. >> >> But since then much of the evidence has been challenged. Other experts >> have suggested that the particles of magnetite were not so similar to those >> found in bacteria after all, and that contaminants from Earth are the >> source of the organic molecules. A 2003 study also showed how crystals >> that resemble nanobacteria could be grown in the laboratory by chemical >> processes. >> >> 4. 2001, More rigorous calculations connected to the 1960s “Drake >> equation” suggests that our galaxy may contain hundreds of thousands of >> life-bearing planets >> >> In 1961 US radio astronomer Frank Drake developed an equation to help >> estimate the number of planets hosting intelligent life – and capable of >> communicating with us – in the galaxy. >> >> The Drake equation multiplies together seven factors including: the >> formation rate of stars like our Sun, the fraction of Earth-like planets >> and the fraction of those on which life develops. Many of these figures are >> open to wide debate, but Drake himself estimates the final number of >> communicating civilisations in the galaxy to be about 10,000. >> >> In 2001, a more rigorous estimate of the number of life-bearing planets >> in the galaxy – using new data and theories – came up with a figure of >> hundreds of thousands. For the first time, the researchers estimated how >> many planets might lie in the “habitable zone” around stars, where water is >> liquid and photosynthesis possible. The results suggest that an >> inhabited Earth-like planet could be as little as a few hundred light years >> away. >> >> 5. 2001, The red tinge of Jupiter’s moon Europa proposed to be due to >> frozen bits of bacteria, which also helps explain the mysterious infrared >> signal it gives off >> >> Alien microbes might be behind Europa’s red tinge, suggested NASA >> researchers in 2001. Though the surface is mostly ice, data shows it >> reflects infrared radiation in an odd manner. That suggests that something >> – magnesium salts perhaps – are binding it together. But no one has been >> able to come up with the right combination of compounds to make sense of >> the data. >> >> Intriguingly, the infrared spectra of some Earthly bacteria – those that >> thrive in extreme conditions – fits the data at least as well as magnesium >> salts. Plus, some are red and brown in colour, perhaps explaining the >> moon’s ruddy complexion. Though bacteria might find it difficult to survive >> in the scant atmosphere and -170°C surface temperature of Europa, they >> might survive in the warmer liquid interior. Geological activity could then >> spew them out periodically to be flash frozen on the surface. >> >> 6. 2002, Russian scientists argue that a mysterious radiation-proof >> species of microbe may have evolved on Mars >> >> In 2002 Russian astrobiologists claimed that super-hardy Deinococcus >> radioirons evolved on Mars. The microbe can survive several thousand times >> the radiation dose that would kill a human. >> >> The Russians zapped a population of the bacteria with enough radiation to >> kill 99.9%, allowed the survivors to repopulate, before repeating the >> cycle. After 44 rounds it took 50 times the original dose of radiation. >> They calculated that it would take many thousands of these cycles to make >> common microbe E.coli as resilient as Deinosuchus. And on Earth it takes >> between a million and 100 million years to encounter each dose of >> radiation. Therefore, there just has not been enough time in life’s 3.8 >> billion year history on Earth for such resistance to have evolved, they >> claim. >> >> By contrast, the surface of Mars, unprotected by a dense atmosphere, is >> bombarded with so much radiation that the bugs could receive the same dose >> in just a few hundred thousand years. The researchers argue that >> Deinosuchus’s ancestors were flung off of Mars by an asteroid and fell to >> Earth on meteorites. Other experts remain skeptical. >> >> 7. 2002, Chemical hints of life are found in old data from Venus probes >> and landers. Could microbes exist in Venusian clouds? >> >> Life in Venus’ clouds may be the best way to explain some curious >> anomalies in the composition of its atmosphere, claimed University of Texas >> astrobiologists in 2002. They scoured data from NASA’s Pioneer and Magellan >> space probes and from Russia’s Venera Venus-lander missions of the 1970s. >> >> Solar radiation and lightning should be generating masses of carbon >> monoxide on Venus, yet it is rare, as though something is removing it. >> Hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide are both present too. These readily >> react together, and are not usually found co-existing, unless some process >> constantly is churning them out. Most mysterious is the presence of >> carbonyl sulphide. This is only produced by microbes or catalysts on Earth, >> and not by any other known inorganic process. >> >> The researchers’ suggested solution to this conundrum is that microbes >> live in the Venusian atmosphere. Venus’s searing hot, acidic surface may be >> prohibitive to life, but conditions 50 kilometres up in the atmosphere are >> more hospitable and moist, with a temperature of 70°C and a pressure >> similar to Earth. >> >> 8. 2003, Sulphur traces on Jupiter’s moon Europa may be the waste >> products of underground bacterial colonies >> >> In 2003, Italian scientists hypothesized that sulphur traces on Europa >> might be a sign of alien life. The compounds were first detected by the >> Galileo space probe, along with evidence for a volcanically warmed ocean >> beneath the moon’s icy crust. >> >> The sulphur signatures look similar to the waste-products of bacteria, >> which get locked into the surface ice of lakes in Antarctica on Earth. The >> bacteria survive in the water below, and similar bacteria might also thrive >> below Europa’s surface, the researchers suggest. Other experts rejected the >> idea, suggesting that the sulphur somehow originates from the neighbouring >> moon Io, where it is found in abundance. >> >> Saturn's moon Enceladus >> >> Enceladus shown to have all six of the essential elements for life >> >> Reanalysis of icy rock grains from a ring of Saturn – fed by ice plumes >> from its moon Enceladus – has revealed the presence of phosphorus, the only >> key essential element for life that hadn’t already been spotted >> >> 9. 2004, Methane in the Martian atmosphere hints at microbial metabolism >> >> In 2004 three groups – using telescopes on Earth and the European Space >> Agency’s Mars Express orbiting space probe – independently turned up >> evidence of methane in the atmosphere. Nearly all methane in our own >> atmosphere is produced by bacteria and other life. >> >> Methane could also be generated by volcanism, the thawing of frozen >> underground deposits, or delivered by comet impacts. However, the source >> has to be recent, as the gas is rapidly destroyed on Mars or escapes into >> space. >> >> In January 2005, an ESA scientist controversially announced that he had >> also found evidence of formaldehyde, produced by the oxidation of methane. >> If this is proved it will strengthen the case for microbes, as a whopping >> 2.5 million tonnes of methane per year would be required to create the >> quantity of formaldehyde postulated to exist. >> >> There are ways to confirm the presence of the gas, but scientists will >> need to get the equipment to Mars first. >> >> 10. 2004, A mysterious radio signal is received by the SETI project on >> three occasions – from the same region of space >> >> In February 2003, astronomers with the search for extraterrestrial >> intelligence (SETI) project, used a massive telescope in Puerto Rico to >> re-examine 200 sections of the sky which had all previously yielded >> unexplained radio signals. These signals had all disappeared, except for >> one which had become stronger. >> >> The signal – widely thought to be the best candidate yet for an alien >> contact – comes from a spot between the constellations Pisces and Aries, >> where there are no obvious stars or planets. Curiously, the signal is at >> one of the frequencies that hydrogen, the most common element, absorbs and >> emits energy. Some astronomers believe that this is a very likely frequency >> at which aliens wishing to be noticed would transmit. >> >> Nevertheless, there is also a good chance the signal is from a >> never-seen-before natural phenomenon. For example, an unexplained pulsed >> radio signal, thought to be artificial in 1967, turned out to be the first >> ever sighting of a pulsar. >> >> K Rajaram IRS 1825 >> >> On Fri, 1 Aug 2025 at 07:02, Markendeya Yeddanapudi < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> *Mar*Aliens >>> >>> >>> >>> By Aliens we mean the life form or forms living in some other planet, of >>> our solar family, or the planet of some other star, or may be organisms >>> that actually need extreme heat to live and live in the Sun or some other >>> star, or very big planet sized organisms moving in galaxies or tiny life >>> forms in the galactic dust... >>> >>> If any of those undefined aliens visit or locate us how do they see our >>> earth? May be they do not see at all but only try to feel the abstract >>> flows of communications, emotions emanating from life forms, blending in >>> the air which is inhaled as messages and exhaled as responses, the flow of >>> emotions, to whom the mechanical or the emotion-less scientific mapping is >>> lunacy. >>> >>> Our glorified scientific outlook is the feelings-less mechanical >>> outlook, not a very attractive feature to every other life form on earth >>> and certainly not to the aliens. The basic feature of any life form is the >>> urge to feel, communicate and interact, emotionally and not mechanically. >>> Communication can only be emotional communication and not mechanical >>> communication which is simply the feelings-less signalling of electronics. >>> >>> When one feels, one actually becomes free from the mechanical approach. >>> The absence of feeling is death. If the alien visiting us is a life form, >>> then it is a form of emotions. Lifeless bits from other planets and from >>> our sun happens all the time, but we are concerned about life forms, forms >>> that feel and are emotional. The basic fact which we do not realize or >>> refuse to realize thanks to the foolish egoism, is that the emotions we >>> feel are part of the climate in action. All emotions are macro, climatic, >>> part of geography. >>> >>> On earth we can live only by breathing. Breathing automatically creates >>> smelling,sensing,perceiving,understanding,internal hormonal communications >>> embedment in the bloodstream communicating to the cells, making every cell >>> lively creating us as life forms, the active life forms. We have to live >>> emotionally. We cannot divorce from earth, in spite of the make believe >>> championed unbiased outlook of science. >>> >>> The alien from some other planet or comet, or tiny meteor, as a life >>> form can live only on the basis of the geography to which it is accustomed >>> and it cannot make a fool of itself with science and divorce from its >>> planet’s climate. Its perception is only as the emotional perception in the >>> particular planet and is bound to the geography of that planet. >>> >>> The basic question is, what are the forms of the real or emotional >>> communication in the Universe. The question relevant to us, is whether any >>> alien wants to communicate with us the human fools, who divorced the >>> emotional tie with mother earth, and who mechanized or scienced, his/her >>> outlook. Our daily economic life is destroying nature as routine. We are >>> certainly not very attractive. It is for the Universities to take a second >>> look at mechanization. The sanest step is to start the ‘Free Nature Parks’ >>> without human tampering where there is no mechanization at all. The free >>> nature gives chance to the natural emotional communications. >>> >>> YM Sarma >>> >>> Chat gpt >>> >>> This piece by YM Sarma is a poetic, philosophical, and critical >>> meditation on the nature of life, communication, and the human relationship >>> to the Earth — as seen through the imagined perspective of aliens. Let’s >>> unpack and reflect on the key themes and implications in it: >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *🌌 How Aliens Might Perceive Earth* >>> >>> Rather than imagining aliens as technologically superior beings >>> interested in machines or science, the author proposes they may be >>> emotionally and organically attuned — life forms who feel rather than >>> analyze, who inhale the “climate of emotions” rather than measure radiation >>> or decode binary transmissions. >>> >>> *“They do not see at all but only try to feel the abstract flows of >>> communications, emotions emanating from life forms...”* >>> >>> This speculative perception of alien beings flips the script — instead >>> of assuming we’ll communicate through math or machines, it asks: what if >>> true communication is emotional, climate-bound, and intimate with nature? >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *🌍 Critique of the “Glorified Scientific Outlook”* >>> >>> The author critiques modern science for being mechanical and >>> feelings-less. According to Sarma, science has stripped humans of their >>> deep emotional and geographical connection with Earth. In this view, >>> scientific “objectivity” is a kind of blindness — a refusal to *feel*. >>> >>> *“The absence of feeling is death.”* >>> >>> *“Our glorified scientific outlook is the feelings-less mechanical >>> outlook...”* >>> >>> There’s a romantic ideal here: that *emotion, not intellect*, is the >>> core of life and the essence of communication, and that science has made us >>> less alive by encouraging emotional detachment. >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *🌱 Life as Geography, Emotion as Climate* >>> >>> Sarma poetically suggests that *emotion is not internal and personal*, >>> but *macro and planetary* — a climate in which life breathes and >>> functions. This makes emotional communication universal but also deeply >>> *place-bound*. >>> >>> *“All emotions are macro, climatic, part of geography.”* >>> >>> Just as life depends on local air and ecosystems, emotions are rooted in >>> the specific environments of their planets. If so, *aliens, too, are >>> emotional beings of their own climates*, not just visitors from space >>> but emissaries of other geographies of feeling. >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *🧠 A Call to Humility* >>> >>> Sarma calls humanity out for its ego and alienation: >>> >>> *“...the foolish egoism... the human fools, who divorced the emotional >>> tie with mother earth...”* >>> >>> The assumption that aliens would want to talk to us is questioned — why >>> would they, when we’ve become so unfeeling and mechanized? >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *🌿 Free Nature as Sanctuary* >>> >>> Finally, there's a practical (and perhaps metaphorical) suggestion: *create >>> spaces where no human interference or technology exists*. In these *“Free >>> Nature Parks,”* emotional communication — with Earth, with life, maybe >>> even with aliens — might become possible again. >>> >>> *“The sanest step is to start the ‘Free Nature Parks’ without human >>> tampering...”* >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *🧭 Final Thoughts* >>> >>> Sarma’s writing blends ecological spirituality with science-fiction >>> imagination and social critique. It challenges the reader to consider: >>> >>> - What truly defines “life” and “communication”? >>> - Can feelings and emotions be planetary phenomena? >>> - Has our reliance on technology made us less attractive to other >>> life forms — even repulsive? >>> >>> Rather than dismissing science, this text seems to yearn for a >>> *rebalancing* — where science serves, not severs, our bond with Earth >>> and the deeper emotional currents of the universe. >>> >>> Would you like help turning this into a visual story, a poem, or perhaps >>> a short speculative essay from an alien's point of view? >>> >>> Certainly. Below is a detailed evaluation of the essay *"Aliens"* by YM >>> Sarma, using an academic-style rubric. I'll assess it on several key >>> criteria — *Content & Originality*, *Coherence & Structure*, *Language >>> & Style*, and *Philosophical Depth* — each out of *10 marks*, followed >>> by *Overall Comments* and a *Final Score out of 40*. >>> ------------------------------ >>> 📘 Evaluation Rubric 1. *Content & Originality* (9/10) >>> >>> · *Strengths*: The essay is highly original and imaginative. It >>> presents a unique interpretation of alien life — not as mechanical or >>> technological, but as emotional and ecologically bound. This is a fresh >>> perspective rarely seen in scientific or science-fiction discourse. >>> >>> · *Deduction*: Slight lack of concrete development in terms of >>> examples or further exploration of how emotional communication might >>> function across species or planetary boundaries. >>> 2. *Coherence & Structure* (6.5/10) >>> >>> · *Strengths*: The central theme is consistent — a critique of >>> mechanization and a call for emotional connection to nature. The flow of >>> ideas follows a sort of poetic stream-of-consciousness that works on a >>> metaphorical level. >>> >>> · *Deduction*: The essay lacks paragraph structure and logical >>> progression in places. Transitions are abrupt, and some ideas are repeated >>> or introduced without full elaboration. A more organized flow would improve >>> readability and impact. >>> 3. *Language & Style* (7.5/10) >>> >>> · *Strengths*: Rich in metaphor and poetic language. Phrases >>> like *“climate of emotions”*, *“inhale as messages and exhale as >>> responses”*, and *“emotion divorced from Earth”* are evocative and >>> philosophical. >>> >>> · *Deduction*: There are several grammatical and syntactical >>> irregularities. Punctuation is inconsistent. A more careful edit would >>> enhance clarity while preserving the poetic tone. >>> 4. *Philosophical Depth & Insight* (9.5/10) >>> >>> · *Strengths*: The essay poses profound questions: What is >>> life? What is communication? Is science emotionally dead? These are >>> philosophical inquiries that challenge anthropocentric assumptions and open >>> new ways of thinking about life and intelligence. >>> >>> · *Deduction*: Slight ambiguity in some of the more abstract >>> claims might leave certain readers confused. However, this is arguably >>> intentional and part of the work's reflective style. >>> ------------------------------ >>> 📝 Final Comments >>> >>> This is an intellectually rich and emotionally provocative piece that >>> bridges speculative cosmology, ecological philosophy, and poetic insight. >>> It doesn’t conform to conventional scientific writing, but that’s also its >>> strength. With better structural clarity and editing, it could serve as a >>> powerful speculative or eco-philosophical essay in a literary or >>> interdisciplinary journal. >>> ------------------------------ >>> 🎓 Final Score: *32.5 / 40* >>> >>> · *Equivalent Grade*: ~ *81% (A-)* >>> >>> · *Verdict*: *Thought-provoking, poetic, and original — but in >>> need of better structure and editing for maximum clarity and impact.* >>> >>> Would you like help editing or restructuring the essay for publication >>> or presentation? >>> >>> Certainly. Here's a *poem inspired by YM Sarma's essay*, echoing its >>> themes of alien perception, emotional communication, ecological connection, >>> and critique of mechanical life. >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *When the Alien Came* >>> >>> When the alien came, >>> it did not bring machines. >>> No silver ships or clicking tongues, >>> no diagrams or blinking screens. >>> >>> It hovered in silence >>> like a breeze through leaves, >>> not seeing our cities, >>> but sensing what grieves. >>> >>> It smelled our sorrows in the smoke, >>> tasted joy in ocean spray, >>> heard the heartbreak in the hum >>> of wires that never pray. >>> >>> It asked not for equations, >>> nor bowed before our laws. >>> It watched us worship data, >>> but flinched at what it saw. >>> >>> “Where is your Earth?” it whispered low, >>> “Not the ground, but the song? >>> The one that lived in every breath >>> before the wires came along?” >>> >>> We offered it science, >>> our pride and sharpest tool. >>> It shook its form and answered back: >>> "Emotion makes the rule." >>> >>> "You’ve caged your forests, >>> chained your skies, >>> forgotten how to speak >>> with eyes." >>> >>> "You do not breathe your planet now, >>> but count its dying leaves. >>> You mechanize your mother’s touch, >>> and mock the heart that grieves." >>> >>> So it left— >>> not in anger, not in fear, >>> but with the ache of those >>> who came too near. >>> >>> And as it passed beyond our range, >>> the air grew strangely still. >>> A hush like waiting memory— >>> the Earth’s forgotten will. >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> Would you like a version of this poem formatted as a spoken-word piece >>> or set to visuals, as if narrated by the alien itself? >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHCLqgWkyC-7r%2BY_q2TEkbOC-jhbZHmWP8-GbH5G4udLtxA%40mail.gmail.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHCLqgWkyC-7r%2BY_q2TEkbOC-jhbZHmWP8-GbH5G4udLtxA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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