In reality, it seems, imitation's flattering effects are most acutely felt by the imitator motivated to do so. This is especially noticeable in contemporary social spaces. Might it be likewise true in evolutionary time and yet to be grasped interstellar contact? Might it, for example, be at the root of humans wanting to believe that they, and they alone, were created in the image of God (that is, before you throw in all the familiar racial prejudice)?
Oumuamua:On October 9, 2017, the world was alerted to the coming of a visitor from beyond the solar system, the like of which had never been seen before -- Oumuamua (or 1I/2017 U1). As its intriguing features became more widely known in an altogether eventful November, its capacity to grab attention continued to grow. And then it 'sailed' away, back into the interstellar void. This was my reaction, on Twitter, when I first saw Oumuamua's magnetic image in deep uncluttered space:
"Is it a submarine? Is it a whale?" sort of thing
READ: David Szondy (November 21, 2017) "First interstellar asteroid reveals its strange secrets"
Here's my hypothesis:
Things have the potential to become, or become a part of, what they selectively train their sights on, or come upon when on the lookout for random makeover (or 'shape-shifting') opportunities or options. Yet not all realize it. Perhaps only few do.
Think of the chameleon, a supreme example.
Remember: the Egyptians saw the star formation in the Orion Constellation, and replicated it with the three pyramids at Giza, along the Nile.
[Things have the potential to become what they selectively 'see' (as their potential), or what's seen for them]
To be continued....
NOTE: I first wrote the above text on November 23, 2017. It was (still will be) part of a longer conversation. But less than an hour (it's 9:30 PM right now, on December 12th) I came upon the news (first on a BBC ticker) that scientist were going to check an interstellar asteroid for signs of alien technology. I knew right away that reference was being made to Oumuamua. A Google search quickly confirmed this (see this piece by Ed Mazza, for example). So, in the spirit of today's buzz, I decided to publish the hypothesis in the form in which it was on November 23. I will add more flesh.
My hypothesis is not about Oumuamua as alien technology, as intriguing as that is. Rather, it is about the possibility of remote (alien) shapes as evolutionary influencers -- that is, of remotely 'instigated' evolutionary change, or shape-shift. More to be said...
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UPDATE (Mar 28, 2018): READ: NASA "New Study Shows What Interstellar Visitor 'Oumuamua Can Teach Us"
Mauri Yambo