SKEPTIC - The Physics of UFOs

[frogmarch]

An article by Michael K. Gainer about the feasibility of interstellar travel, followed by a rebuttal from Peter Huston:

http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/13-01-16/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Skepticcom+(Skeptic.com)#feature

snips:

(from the Michael Gainer article)

When UFOs are reported they should be evaluated with the attitude that alien spacecraft cannot exist. This is not closed mindedness. It is facing the reality of the constraints that time, stellar distances, and available energy place on interstellar space travel. We must also face the reality that human travel beyond the limits of the solar system is not possible. Any communication with sentient beings beyond the solar system can only take place through electromagnetic signal transmission and reception, so the SETI searches remain our best bet for contact.

(from the Peter Huston rebuttal)

Gainer’s article is the sort that led to my burn out from skepticism. It contains questionable assumptions at several points and then over-reaches from the logical conclusions to make the point the author wishes. For example: “When UFOs are reported they should be evaluated with the attitude that alien spacecraft cannot exist.” This may be the author’s belief, but, based on what I saw, it is a faith-based belief, not grounded in proven fact. And, as skeptics, isn’t it simply enough to say “When UFOs are reported they should be evaluated with the attitude that none have ever been proven to be alien spacecraft”? We are supposed to be the people who read, question and think—not the ones who blindly repeat assertions that fit our pre-conceived notions.

Interesting reads.