I had the pleasure to discuss the breakthrough star shot mission with Peter Worden, former Director of the NASA Ames, in Nairobi this January. The project is planning to shoot a 5 g payload with laser beams to Alpha Centauri. It is a very small step, but exciting!
The Fermi paradox shows our ignorance about the universe, I am pretty sure we shouldn’t use it deductively.
While I agree with you that we will not travel among the stars as meat in a can, like represented in the science fiction books since the 50s , I am convinced that there is plenty of energy that we will be able to harness to go there through our robotic and AI envoys.
First, at this moment "we have absolutely no idea how to use" this and that as you say, but we'll find out. Remember those respected physicists at the end of the 19th century who proclaimed that physics was done and finished, only a few years before Planck and Einstein. There are more things in heaven and earth, and we'll unveil them gradually. "Impossible" is a dirty word in my book.
Second, I see space expansion, first to the planets and then to the stars (yes, the stars), as a cosmic existential imperative. It is a duty, and we must (and will) find out how to do it.
Third, WTF is wrong with expanding into space AND making the Earth work?
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond! I agree with you that we will doubtless find things that make it easier, and there is enough energy (in stars) to make the trips. But I'm worried that some people think "It's OK to not take care of the earth, because we are almost done needing it anyway", and I really want to communicate how unhealthy a perspective that is. Additionally, space expansion is a classic example of "the rich get richer"... I guarantee you that any early ability we have to leave earth will further exacerbate wealth inequality, which is IMO a critical existential risk if we do not reduce it.
"I guarantee you that any early ability we have to leave earth will further exacerbate wealth inequality, which is IMO a critical existential risk if we do not reduce it." - You are probably right, but losing the daring spirit of the frontier is IMO a bigger existential risk.
"I'm worried that some people think "It's OK to not take care of the earth, because we are almost done needing it anyway", and I really want to communicate how unhealthy a perspective that is." - Smart people don't think that, because it is evident that moving a significant part of humanity to space can only take a few centuries at least, and we very much need the Earth to stay alive that long. Thinking that it's OK to not take care of the earth is a very unhealthy perspective indeed, but I suggest that you can oppose it without alienating the space cadets (like me) for whom space expansion is THE important thing. We are voters, do you really want us to vote for the other team?
I hope to be forgiven for a bit of self promotion, but I elaborate on all these things and more in my book "Futurist spaceflight meditations" ( https://www.turingchurch.com/p/futurist-spaceflight-meditations ). Follow the link to the free web version if you can't or don't want to buy the book.
Nice article! If Einstein is right (and it seems that he is), then the speed of light is an insurmountable barrier between civilizations. There is likely to be intelligent life beyond our own, but since the chances of two civilizations existing in close proximity are slim and the speed of light is not something that can be surpassed, we will probably never know of each other's existence. I believe that rather than focusing on the external world, we should turn towards our inner world and simulate our own universes, where the laws of physics do not limit us. If we could better understand our own brains, it is possible that in the long term, we could digitize ourselves and spread across the universe on small starships with lightsail if something happens (such as the destruction of our Sun). If it were up to me, I would devote all research resources to studying the human brain. A few years ago, I wrote a short story on a similar topic, take a look if you are interested: https://medium.com/geekculture/the-first-moment-of-the-singularity-co-written-by-openai-text-davinci-003-30e906a248c3
I had the pleasure to discuss the breakthrough star shot mission with Peter Worden, former Director of the NASA Ames, in Nairobi this January. The project is planning to shoot a 5 g payload with laser beams to Alpha Centauri. It is a very small step, but exciting!
The Fermi paradox shows our ignorance about the universe, I am pretty sure we shouldn’t use it deductively.
While I agree with you that we will not travel among the stars as meat in a can, like represented in the science fiction books since the 50s , I am convinced that there is plenty of energy that we will be able to harness to go there through our robotic and AI envoys.
wow! how long will it take to get there? That is fascinating to think how hard it must be to point a laser at a tiny thing like that.
Philip, I totally disagree.
First, at this moment "we have absolutely no idea how to use" this and that as you say, but we'll find out. Remember those respected physicists at the end of the 19th century who proclaimed that physics was done and finished, only a few years before Planck and Einstein. There are more things in heaven and earth, and we'll unveil them gradually. "Impossible" is a dirty word in my book.
Second, I see space expansion, first to the planets and then to the stars (yes, the stars), as a cosmic existential imperative. It is a duty, and we must (and will) find out how to do it.
Third, WTF is wrong with expanding into space AND making the Earth work?
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond! I agree with you that we will doubtless find things that make it easier, and there is enough energy (in stars) to make the trips. But I'm worried that some people think "It's OK to not take care of the earth, because we are almost done needing it anyway", and I really want to communicate how unhealthy a perspective that is. Additionally, space expansion is a classic example of "the rich get richer"... I guarantee you that any early ability we have to leave earth will further exacerbate wealth inequality, which is IMO a critical existential risk if we do not reduce it.
Hi Philip,
"I guarantee you that any early ability we have to leave earth will further exacerbate wealth inequality, which is IMO a critical existential risk if we do not reduce it." - You are probably right, but losing the daring spirit of the frontier is IMO a bigger existential risk.
"I'm worried that some people think "It's OK to not take care of the earth, because we are almost done needing it anyway", and I really want to communicate how unhealthy a perspective that is." - Smart people don't think that, because it is evident that moving a significant part of humanity to space can only take a few centuries at least, and we very much need the Earth to stay alive that long. Thinking that it's OK to not take care of the earth is a very unhealthy perspective indeed, but I suggest that you can oppose it without alienating the space cadets (like me) for whom space expansion is THE important thing. We are voters, do you really want us to vote for the other team?
I hope to be forgiven for a bit of self promotion, but I elaborate on all these things and more in my book "Futurist spaceflight meditations" ( https://www.turingchurch.com/p/futurist-spaceflight-meditations ). Follow the link to the free web version if you can't or don't want to buy the book.
Fun topic, thanks Phil and hope to see you again soon, long time no see!
You too! Stop by and visit my lab next time you are in SF!
with pleasure my friend!
Nice article! If Einstein is right (and it seems that he is), then the speed of light is an insurmountable barrier between civilizations. There is likely to be intelligent life beyond our own, but since the chances of two civilizations existing in close proximity are slim and the speed of light is not something that can be surpassed, we will probably never know of each other's existence. I believe that rather than focusing on the external world, we should turn towards our inner world and simulate our own universes, where the laws of physics do not limit us. If we could better understand our own brains, it is possible that in the long term, we could digitize ourselves and spread across the universe on small starships with lightsail if something happens (such as the destruction of our Sun). If it were up to me, I would devote all research resources to studying the human brain. A few years ago, I wrote a short story on a similar topic, take a look if you are interested: https://medium.com/geekculture/the-first-moment-of-the-singularity-co-written-by-openai-text-davinci-003-30e906a248c3
Thanks for reading and for the link, too.