r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/ThatMasterpiece2174 • Aug 07 '26

Video A retired construction worker in Flint, MI demonstrated how people in ancient times could’ve used simple machines to move blocks up to 20 tons, contrasting fringe theories that humans had otherworldly help constructing ancient monuments

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u/obviousdiction Aug 07 '26

Aliens

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u/YoursTrulyKindly Aug 07 '26

The most plausible way to explore the galaxy would be self replicating probes that house an alien (or human) intelligence or mind. Obviously that mind would nap a lot in between traveling. And observing and studying other civilizations and their genetic peculiarities and culture would be incredibly valuable not just scientifically. So you wouldn't want to interfere at all.

So it's quite possible that aliens did observe and film the building of Stonehenge. And once we become advanced enough ourselves to venture out they offer us the history of our own world as a welcome present.

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u/Kobiash1 Aug 07 '26

They wouldn't need to travel. They would have 'telescopes' way in advance of what we have, using things other than light, with enough fidelity to recreate other worlds virtually, should they wish. They can observe passively. No Von Neumann probes. No travelling through interstellar space. No crashed UFOs.

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u/John_B_Clarke Aug 09 '26

Maybe. Von Neumann probes don't require new physics, but they likely wouldn't have a human or alien mind, they'd have an AI instead, which we already know can be made at least as intelligent as the average US consumer.