Is it possible that data can be transferred between two galaxies instantaneously? Perhaps using techniques like this? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15130291/ns/technology_and_science-science/ I just have had a idea in the back of my head that what if there is a giant information network available anywhere in the universe to a person who knows how to access it due to quantum entanglement.
Who knows, but for the foreseable (and likely forever) that remains sci-fi. If we're gonna go that way tho, I recommend Greg Bear's Anvil of Stars books, the second one of the 2 does have very cool fake-science theory about how this could work.
Actually I think that sort of intergalactic network really exist but with the different technology. The logic is based on relatively unknown solution of the Fermi paradox: to communicate and to rule across the vastness of space, any advanced interstellar civilization will have to synchronize the proper time of its starship travelers and couriers with the proper time of the star metropolis (the center of the civilization). In other words, to compensate for the time dilation of light-speed couriers and communications, the entire civilization has to become mobile – and mobile at the speed of light. It may include mass transit technologies like teleportation. The estimate is that our civilization can achieve this level of technology by the middle of this century. In fact, modern fiber optics, and satellite radio lines allow for information to travel close to the speed of light (it is OK for non-biological ET, like AI virtual personalities). See also an article in Philica on Fermi paradox.
I believe that like thinking about a place you could just "be there" anywhere in the universe. I just don't think that humans have found out how this works yet but are still developing the skills needed to do so.
To make all the above clear enough it means that time dilation for such an advanced civilization makes communication with it almost impossible for us and their visits extremely rare in our own earth time. Exactly what we see. So the network may exist but we don't have any means to detect it.
The naked eye stands to reason, though my thoughts on "galactism" area still in just resolute...but maybe a good thread...
The basic principle states : No cause and effect relationship can be propogated at faster than light speed. Quantum entanglement does not permit anyone to break this rule by sending information at faster than light speed. If a galactic empire existed, and it wanted to send some data from one side of the Milky Way galaxy to the other, the fastest it could achieve that in theory is to take 100,000 years. From Earth to the furthest edge of our galaxy would take 70,000 years, since we are not on the edge. To send some data to Andromeda would take 2 million years, since it is 2 million light years away. Physical transport would take a hell of a lot longer. Even the kind of space vessel that might exist after 10,000 years development beyond today's craft, would (using today's theory) be unable to exceed about 0.2 C. So to get to Andromeda would take that ship 10 million years!
Light Speed is Absolutely Enough Agree, that's why I believe in light speed, not entanglement (see my post above). When they really utilize this speed it will take almost zero (proper) time for our alien friends to get to any distant point in the Universe and return back to their families (not to their descendants) with no problem. Intergalactic light speed network exists, I believe, simply we are not able to observe it because of the huge realtive time dilation.
Both lightspeed and (quatum) entaglement are proven facts. Here you first say that their will be no time dilation and it the end you say there will be time dilation. Here is a interesting link that describe some of the possibilities that might be used for fasther then light communication/travel.
There is a real problem with instant communication between galaxies; that is because of the simultaneity problem. Sometimes known as the Rietdijk–Putnam argument or the Andromeda Paradox http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rietdijk–Putnam_argument if you can communicate instantly with a distant galaxy, the absolute moment with which you can communicate depends very strongly on your local velocity. So you can jump into a car and communicate with the galaxy tomorrow. This facility would mean you could reverse causality at a distance, by (for instance) persuading the Andromedans not to invade) and thereby change history. This problem with simultaneity in special relativity seems to preclude faster-than-light communication, unless causality is a lot weirder than we experience on a day-to-day basis.
Orcot, you did not get the point of the light speed Intergalactic network: time dilation is in effect between us (resting reference frame) and them. But when everybody in ET civilization is mobile, moving with the speed of light, their proper time while on the move simply become frozen, stopped. Each of them spend NO time to reach any point in the Universe and return back. So when they meet together after their journeys (one from Andromeda, the others from their light speed commuting between million of beer joints, for example), their proper time is not dilated against each other.
eburacum, you (together with those in the discussion on your link on simultaneity) miss one special point in the idea of light speed Intergalactic network: time dilation is in effect between us (resting reference frame) and them. But when everybody in ET civilization is mobile, moving with the speed of light, their proper time while on the move simply become frozen, stopped. Each of them spend NO time to reach any point in the Universe and return back. So when they meet together after their journeys (one from Andromeda, the others from their light speed commuting between million of beer joints, for example), their proper time is not dilated against each other. The easiest way to prove and understand this point is the mind experiment with the exact speed of light for all creatures in civilization. Whatever journey on whatever distance they undertake, their proper time after return will be zero for everybody. It means that from their common point of view they spent the same (zero) time and their journeys are "simultaneous" in the common sense. The simultaneity (clock synchronizing) problem in the special relativity is well-known but in this point misleading and confusing, that is the beauty of the whole light speed network idea.
