New Replies (Page 4,901)

[quote]@ Enderwiggin Theusprom - what do you make of this new Dredd movie? couldnt be any worse than the old one? Used to be a huge 2000 AD nut - havent picked it up in years. [/quote] I really, really hope they get it right this time, and from the screenies I have seen it looks promising.I spent my teenage years reading 2000 AD, love it.I Especially love Carlos Ezquerra's artwork on Dredd, amazing. [IMG]http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii283/Evilqtl_2007/Misc/1664c.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii283/Evilqtl_2007/Misc/dreddKoburn.jpg[/IMG] Love it!

[quote]@ Manndroid FTL, in nature itself, has been all but proven possible - at least on the subatomic scale. Google 'neutrinos are faster than light,' and you'll learn about the battery of tests that were very recently concluded that revealed that neutrinos can surpass the velocity of photons.[/quote] Not quite. [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/nov/21/faster-than-light-neutrinos-doubts]speedymk2[/url]

@Theusprom Neither report is conclusive. Therefore, the former can't be dismissed because of the apprehension of the latter. Whether it'll be proven as fact or not, I think we've all lost touch of the fact that we're discussing a science fiction film with spacecraft that, despite not utilizing a centrifuge - have earth-like gravity. ;)

@ theusprom... I too am hoping they get Dredd right this time round. Regards the doubts, this is always the case, and is in part, part of my point - one scientist says yes, another says no, another says maybe, another says if etc. etc. Their whole process is wrong (theory - hypothesis - experiment - conclusion - reword - proof). For example... We've all heard of dark matter, yes? Do you know why scientists contest that it exists? because their observations of the rotational speeds of galaxies weren't predicted by their mathematical "standard model". So, instead of re-writing their precious "standard model" they added a "clause" style equation that made their equations match their observations, and this "clause" states that there must be more mass than is apparently present for their observations to work within their equation. They refuse to believe that their equation, their model, their theory could be wrong.

It cannot be verified either then , so why post it? :) The discussion wasn't about time travel being in the movie, but what FTL actually was. You know the effect of that experiment had on the scientific community, they went bat shit obviously because it turned physics on it's head. I really hope it's not in Prometheus as I personally don't think time travel belongs in the ALIEN universe, but it did work in the Star Trek reboot.They could easily write it into the plot, but imho I wouldn't like it.

@Theusprom Getting back to the point of the matter, I don't think we'll have to worry about FTL in Prometheus. At least, not from humans. Whether the Jockeys, or other sources, utilize it may be another matter - but, like I said, this is science fiction. Previous Alien glossed over scientific facts in regards to physics and so-on, so I don't see its inclusion as a horrid offense, especially if it uses a model like extra-dimensional or temporal assimilation; that is, imprinting a object in space over its own paradox twin in another dimension or time. All of which is based on theory. Barely. When it comes to something like this, the plot and the ideas are more important than the verifiable science behind it. Ridley Scott is a very thematic, philosophical director - the setting is simply that. I wouldn't expect, nor deplore the lack of, hard science.

@ Theusprom - I agree, please no time travel in Prometheus, otherwise next we'll have Aliens versus Terminator.

@Snorkelbottom - That's bad? Then we can finally have Aliens vs. Predator vs. Robocop vs. Terminator!

Don't forget Doctor Who, Timecop, Deaths Head etc. etc.

Well, I was combining prominent X vs. X mash-ups done in the past. Robocop vs. Terminator was an arcade game, like Aliens vs. Predator.

In that case put batman, superman, judge dredd, marvel, capcom, snk, tekken etc. into the mix. Ryu hadokens a Xenomorph, the acid burns supes cape, the resulting smoke chokes batman, he bends down, robocop trips over him (not looking where hes going), squatting spiderman like a fly, spidermans guts get on dredds visor causing him to blindly (maybe) shoot Jin Kazama in the foot, who in his pain filled reaction punches the terminator into the tardis, killing van damme.

Snorkel - where can I contact your agent?

It's a testament to Alien fans that we can skip from conversations about theoretical physics to super hero match ups with relative ease. Sorry to have harp on about this but black holes are theoretical, by their very nature they cannot be observed. Only we when we can get close enough to interact with them will they be proven. Also bring on the Dredd movie, ABC warriors next please. And lastly please no FLT travel in prometheus, the standard model is all I can get my head around at the moment.

Last comment, I promise... Black Holes by their very nature cannot be observed, but the side effects can. @ Manndroid - My agent, I wish.

#1 Black holes are a virtual certainty among the scientific community, and it's a forgone conclusion that every galaxy has a supermassive black hole at it's galactic core. Some people get all metaphysical when it comes to black holes and thus question their existence. It's simply an object that is so massive that it's escape velocity exeeds the speed of light. The one at the center of the Milky Way is about 3.7 million solar masses. We know light can be bent by gravity (see gravitational lensing), so given enough mass the light is bent back on itself and render the object invisible. Although you can't observe them visually, their effects are easily discernable. #2 FTL is a speed (faster than light). It's a simple acronym. Now it is theorized that if an object could travel FTL without using some type of special drive/trick (I hate to say it : Warp), then time travel would be a result. But Einstein says NO to that. One theoretical partical that does travel faster than light is the Tachyon, but that is completely theoretical. The reason a Tachyon could move faster than the speed of light is because it has a negative mass. The Nutrino situation is interesting because it does have a very very small non zero mass. But even if it's confirmed, you can't make real stuff (like you can with protons, neutrons, and electrons) out of nutrinos. It might make a useful communication method. IMO, the best chance we'll ever have of going FLT is using some sort of trick like warping space. Space time is contracted ahead of the vessel and expanded behind the vessel. Now back to Prometheus. FTL is used as a plot device in almost all science fiction because it would take to long to get anywhere interesting without it. If the crew of the prometheus is traveling to Zeta Reticula it would take 39 years to make the journey at the speed of light. If it takes less than 39 years in the movie--BAM--they are traveling FTL. In the grand scheme of things, 39 light years is a paultry distance. The mere center of the Milky way is around 27000 light years away. I do like how the ALIEN universe uses hypersleep to augment space travel. They don't go overboard on the FTL speed like Star Trek. In Star Trek they Would just crank up the speed to Warp 9.5 and be at Zeta Reticuli in a little over 5 days, hehe. Now on to the derelict ship. I have a strong believe that the ship(s) are at least biomechanical in nature, and quite possibly sentient life forms in their own right. Maybe they obtain power from converting organic material to energy (aka eat/digestion) which could be a creepy plot device. It might also have the capability to self repair and/or heal any damage? Sorry for the long winded response.. Sci Fi + Prometheus speculation + theoretical physics = fun conversation.

I refer to Hawkings in an exert from one of my favorite books: "When we made the bet in 1975, we were 80% certain that Cygnus was a black hole. By now, I would say that we are about 95% certain, but the bet has yet to be settled." Key sentence here: "the bet has yet to be settled" They probably do exist Snork but the fact is we just dont know :-)

It can go one of two ways. Either you allow theoretical FTL travel in the film to enable their ship to reach Zeta Ret in a reasonable amount of time. Otherwise you have to insert suspended animation. At which point they would encounter the Nostromo in Zeta Ret because it would take them nearly 37 years to get there if their velocity is near C.

The bet is yet to be settled because the other party won't pay up, most likely because they refuse to believe in the existence of black holes. Anyway, they have proved the existence of black holes as Jeffomorph stated.

@ jeffomorph nice rant! It will be interesting to see when the final results come in from those suspicious neutrinos - I personally think there will be flawed data, simply due to the effect they would have on causality. Prometheus wise - Do the sums add up? Do we know how long before Alien Prometheus takes place, has to be at least 78 years no?

Snork if Stephen Hawkings doesn't "know" of the existence of black holes then I don't think Jeffomorph does :-)

Professor Stephen Hawking is the one scientist that has stated, many times, that black holes do exist. I wasn't inferring jeffomorph knows more he states in his post that evidence of supermassive black holes have been found to exist within the centre of virtually all galaxies according to observations. And regardless of what some scientists may say verifiable and multiple observations trump any theory.

Snork there is absolutely no empirical evidence for the existence of black holes that provides the level of model-independent proof that constitutes fact. There have been a ton of exotic objects proposed that we could be mistaking black holes for but until any of theses phenomena are proven using THE SCIENTIFIC MODEL, then they are theoretical!!!

The "Standard Model" itself is a theory and a joke, for example... We've all heard of dark matter, yes? Do you know why scientists contest that it exists? because their observations of the rotational speeds of galaxies weren't predicted by their mathematical "standard model". So, instead of re-writing their precious "standard model" they added a "clause" style equation that made their equations match their observations, and this "clause" states that there must be more mass than is apparently present for their observations to work within their equation. They refuse to believe that their equation, their model, their theory could be wrong.

You think the Standard Model is a joke? Hmmm... ok I think I'll leave it there - I dont think we're ever gonna see eye to eye on this Snork Peace :-)

Half the scientific community think its a joke, its unfit for purpose, and constantly wrong. But your right we probably never gonna see eye to eye on this, but let me say one thing... Einstein, Hawking = human Standard model created by = human Scientific theories created by = human Human = young, childish, arrogant, unlearned "Scientists don't know everything, they guess. But when they guess wrong, they NEVER admit it" - Professor Albert Einstein

Hawking loses black hole bet. http://techie-buzz.com/science/cygnus-black-hole-hawking.html One thing you must understand is that the bet was only in regards to the specific system of Cygnus X-1 having a black hole. It was never a blanket statement on questioning the existence of black holes as a stellar object. Most of hawking most famous work is based on the existence of black holes. His theory of Hawking radiation basically states that over time a black hole will "evaporate".

Between spammers and totally irrelevant discussion here I'm beginning to feel the need to warp to June 8th 2012

just FYI guys several really heavy astronomers have now proven many, and I do mean a heck of a lot of Hawkings logic, reasoning and arguments completely flawed and he is losing a lot of credibility every single day that goes by. and here is just one of many many examples among some other DOOZIES that have been made now into a full length features on "NOVA" and other individual projects based soley on the mistakes of Hawkings. Also, I have been trying to understand his book, "A Brief History Of Time" for 20 years now at least. The illustrated version is supposed to be an easier way for people like me to understand some of the absolutely LOFTY, at best, things he discusses in this world famous book...The problem for me with it, is even this illustrated version is completely un-understandable !!! Those worried about the future of science advancements in the United States should feel rest assured thanks to five Bexley students. As part of a physics project presented to the students last year by Marshall Barnes, director of the SuperScience for High School Physics program, the students detected a mistake that famed physicist Stephen Hawking made that no other scientists had detected. The students recently were honored by the Bexley City Council for their achievement - a feat that was accomplished as part of an experiment conducted by Barnes, who did catch the mistake but was puzzled when physicists were unable to notice it. Barnes caught the mistake in 2003 and later presented it at a number of conferences, but was surprised when he found that although everyone agreed it was in fact a mistake on the part of Hawking, it had to be specifically pointed out to them that way first. "The reasoning behind this," Barnes said, "was that older physicists are locked in their old patterns of analysis and aren't mentally flexible enough to catch the error." Younger minds, he said, might look at the problem from a different perspective. As an experiment to test this theory, he presented a class of about 30 students at Bexley High School last year with his theory. Five of the 30 students were able to detect the mistake, which involved objections over the theoretical model of using wormholes as time machines, a famous model devised by Cal Tech professor Kip Thorne, and cited in books and on such programs as PBS's "NOVA." "We all felt pretty clever," said Margaret McIntosh, who has since graduated and lives in Bexley. "We thought, if we can do it, why hasn't it been figured out?" The findings support concerns about the future of academic science in the United States, unless more students are introduced and motivated to learn about the field. "At this time, when CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) is about to reveal new information about the beginnings of the universe, this experiment at Bexley High School is but the first step in a revolution toward a greater understanding of the nature of time and how it may be manipulated in the very, near future," Barnes said. "This is what will put Central Ohio on the world physics map." A video of the experiment can be viewed at www.physicsintrouble.iwarp.com/hawkingsmistake.html. The project received partial funding from the Columbus Jewish Foundation.

Ok, with all due respect here, First of all, how could anyone find "mistakes" in Stephen Hawing or any other physicist's theories, When they are only THEORIES?? Boggles my mind!! Its Theoretical Physics, based on actual observations, based on our latest knowledge. Secondly, I just want to add to Snorkle and others' posts, that Yes, Black Holes do exist. They are observed gravitational centers that to our present knowledge sucks in simply everything after passing its Event Horizon. Period. You can't say something doesnt exist when it has been observed for Giger's sake.

@snorkelbottom, it's more complicated than that, Einstein's theory of relativity- this science WORKS, it is what created the equation E=MC(Squared) and hence atomic energy .. energy associated with mass, and the Time Dilation has been MEASURED with very precise clocks as have other predictions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativity speed = distance/time, time itself is slowing for the traveller.. TIME dilation comes into it - the speed of light is unbreathable because space and time destort as you approach the speed, space & time itself doesn't function as you feel it at low speeds. Mass distorts space around it, and as you approach the speed of light you also get heavier so you accelerate slower... you can never reach it now matter how long or hard you accelerate. In a black whole (singularity) it is true we don't know what happens - because it is large scale physics compressed into a small scale i.e. quantum - but nothing can escape from it :) & the event horizon is the important part

I watched it again the other day... Ash shows Dallas that the Facehugger is feeding Kane air on the scanner, and he is seen later looking at the embryo in Kane's chest (when he gets interrupted by Ripley). I don't think Ash knew the full ins and outs of the Xenomorph, especially at the Facehugger stage of the lifecycle, but was collecting and communicating data to WY from his observations.

the fact that ash was tryng to cut a "finger" of the facehugger mean he did know very little ... it could have breached the hull and goodbye alien specimen .

Exactly Frantz, you is on fire today.

Idk.......I still think he knew what was going on.......he may have made the cut to show the crew that it was pointless fruit to get it off.......also what you think about them leavingthis amazing find so suddenly

If the acid had eat through the hull they could have vented atmosphere or been stuck on the planet. if that had happened, Ash would have failed his mission. Then he would've had to repeatedly punch a car... wrong film, lol. They left behind the discovery of the Space Jockey because one of their crew was in danger.

It is clearly "hinted" at in the script that Ash knew of the Xeno's capabilities.He either had previous knowledge or he communicated with it somehow. How is this scene possible otherwise? [b]Ripley: Ash, can you hear me? Ash? Ash: [speaking in an electronic, distorted voice] Yes, I can hear you. Ripley: What was your special order? Ash: You read it. I thought it was clear. Ripley: What was it? Ash:[u] Bring back life form. Priority One[/u]. All other priorities rescinded. Parker: The damn company. What about our lives, you son of a bitch? Ash: I repeat, all other priorities are rescinded. Ripley: How do we kill it Ash? There's gotta be a way of killing it. How? How do we do it? Ash: You can't. Parker: That's bullshit. Ash: You still don't understand what you're dealing with, do you? Perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility. Lambert: You admire it. Ash: I admire its purity. A survivor... unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality. Parker: Look, I am... I've heard enough of this, and I'm asking you to pull the plug. Ash: [Ripley goes to disconnect Ash, who interrupts] Last word. Ripley: What? Ash: I can't lie to you about your chances, but... you have my sympathies.[/b] [i][/i] He couldn't of got all that information from the limited exposure they had to the ALIEN. He doesn't even see it on screen.

case closed

There is also a good chance that ash knew a lot about these creatures ot everything. Maybe he knew there live cycle and other features but was unaware of the acid blood........i think he knew a lot

well maybe ash knew a lot about the alien because riddley scott already thought of making 2-3 movies after ALIEN explaining how the alien was made, man´s origin and space jockeys involvement in the story so prometheus could be the first movie and the other 2 would tie the first one to ALIEN

I assume that ( imo ) 1) was part of the company protocol to have as first priority to retrive any kind of alien life form ... 2) they did not know exactly what the life form was ...but for them was an immense treasure .. 3) Ash at the beginning dont know anything about the alien ( he do too many errors ) BUT since hes an android hes quite fast to understand everything of it ..and how strong its 4) the fact that he have to save the alien it doesnt mean he can kill the crew ...he do it as a last resort and he "think" deeply about it ...and that is evident when he try to save Kane ( making a potential disaster ) and give them the idea of the flamethrower .. 5) at what point of the movie Ash receive that special order ? that is important to understand ash actions