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The future

SeaAndSky said:
Hi Cyrus,

I thought you might find this interesting. I found it pretty engrossing as someone who still likes solutions that don't involve exotic physics and systems (such as warp drives and worm holes). It is also extremely clever, and resonates with me as someone that comes from seafaring families on both sides; and has always always loved stories of the great ships (with sails) that were used to explore and settle large parts of our planet. It turns out that the Solar Wind is our friend here, and can be used in incredibly clever ways to generate speeds up to .2c = Centauri in approx 20 years once the necessary velocities are generated. I suppose that there will be some extended times necessary to build up to that speed (and to slow back down at the target star) given the instrumentalities used, but even Centauri in 40--100 years would be extremely fast (especially if one-way probes are being sent):


Cordially,
S&S
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Hi Cyrus,

Very interesting! Red Dwarfs are apparently the most common star types. Unfortunately, because their host suns are fairly dim, their habitable zones are close in, resulting in tidally locked worlds. So, baking on one side and freezing on the other. In simulations, vast oceans can make for better heat distribution, but there is also the question of whether such worlds can generate the strong magnetic fields necessary to protect them from the solar flares and solar wind of their host star. Overall, and sadly from my perspective, I think they will almost always turn out to be barren rocks.

It is too early in the process of exploring the universe to say this for sure, but it looks like the situation with most exoplanets will be much like the situation we faced as we became able to look more closely at the other planets in our own star system--barren and environmentally hostile worlds where massive terraforming projects would be necessary to turn them into anything like our own beautiful world. From this I hesitantly deduce that:

(1) We will face the same dilemma elsewhere that we do in our own star system--(a) terraforming; (b) living in pressurized domes, etc.; and/or (c) building space habitats where we can simulate earth conditions and gravity. So, O'Neill (and Bezos) may be correct in choosing (c) after all (versus Musk). I like the idea of terraforming myself, but these are typically long-term projects that will depend on finding planets suitable for the purpose, whereas space habitats seem only to require the presence of suitable resources.

(2) Our dreams of a universe teeming with alien life forms and habitable worlds may all be bunkum. I grew up reading science fiction books where both Mars and Venus were habitable and the Solar System teemed with strange life forms and intelligent life. The current generation has grown up with science fiction shows and movies where other star systems teem with habitable planets, strange life forms and intelligent life. It appears that both suppositions are erroneous. We seem to live on an "Eden" world surrounded by an enormous waste, and life elsewhere may be exceedingly rare if not non-existent.

(3) Therefore, we need to vigilantly protect what we have--for it seems unlikely there will be any replacements. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't move forward with what Bezos and Musk are trying to do, but we better be **** careful to preserve the original while we are at it.

Cordially,
S&S

PS--There is one other option, which is rarely explored in Sci Fi, but should nonetheless be mentioned. We might adapt ourselves and the other creatures on our world for the planets we find and/or what we can make of them. I doubt we would ever be able to bioengineer our type of life to survive on a world without an atmosphere, or a chlorine atmosphere, but with those provisos I am not sure what the limits might be. Could a water world like the one shown be filled with mer-people and aquatic life adapted to the conditions? Can we make people with strengthened limbs, strange lungs and armored hides to live on a planet with high gravity, high UV, and a different atmospheric mix? I am not sure what the limits are here, but it may turn out that the "aliens" of the future will be our own descendents. Or, maybe not. ;)

Cordially,
S&S
 
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PPS--In terms of my last PS--Sticking with our mammalian heritage, rather than the unlikely combination of a fish with a land-dwelling mammal, one might better think of a seal/human combination (a variant on the selkie legend rather than the mermaid legend). Along that line, I can also imagine a rather ungainly (and humorous) walrus/human. ;) Some might say that the prototypes for such are already in existence in the overfed U.S. :cool:
 
Interesting Video from a geologist on California's Mammoth Mt.

The Active Volcano in California; Mammoth Mountain​

 
Here is another factor to add in and this is scary.

The Really Big One; The Feared Cascadia 9.0 Earthquake​

GeologyHub

 
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It is scary as I have a feeling that Cascadia is going to go in the next 10 years. I live in Southern Calif, so I won't see much action from this. I have a niece who lives in East Washington. She will get the quake but is too far inland to get the tsunami. My relatives in Portland Or. will get it all, as i expect the waves to run up that river. Its borderline as to the South San Fran. people.
 
One of the most frightening things about this is that it sounds like Portland and other cities/areas that will be the most severely impacted are not really prepared, both in terms of the structure of buildings and the locations/evacuation routes for populations, for either earth quakes or tsunamis--especially at the magnitude anticipated. One can only think in terms of almost total destruction of large areas in terms of structures with a matching loss of life at a level not previously experienced by the U.S. (at least in my lifetime). Also frightening is the idea that an earthquake at this level will trigger other fault-lines, earthquakes and volcanoes along the West coast.
 
Happy Thanksgiving to you baro-san!

You make good points SeaAndSky. They are not ready. Cascadia 9.0 or above quake can trigger volcanos that are ready to go. As of now, that is Mt St. Helens. It could also trigger a quake on the Northern San Andras fault, maybe in San Fran bay. Not likely to trigger any of the middle or southern sections of the fault. If you get a chance, look up the 1964 Alaska quake. That can be considered a preview.
 
I mentioned the Long Valley Caldera prior in this thread. Here is a run down of that caldera.

The Active Volcano in California; The Long Valley Caldera​


 
A thought struck me today. When I was kid, 2024/2025 were the distant future. We are now living in the distant future. Doesn't look like anything I was picturing back then.
 
I am getting a strange feeling that something big is going to happen. Its going to have natural cause. Not in the USA, I am getting a Japan/Southeast Asia feel. Anyone else?
 
Cryscat said:
I am getting a strange feeling that something big is going to happen. Its going to have natural cause. Not in the USA, I am getting a Japan/Southeast Asia feel. Anyone else?
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Nothing for me. However, based on ideas, dreams, etc. that were circulating around here a few years back, I would not be surprised--though horrified.
 
So YouTube's algorithm put this video in my feed. It might explain my opressive feeling that something big is going to happen. What i am feeling is at time stamp 11:10

 
Cryscat said:
So YouTube's algorithm put this video in my feed. It might explain my opressive feeling that something big is going to happen. What i am feeling is at time stamp 11:10

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Hi Cryscat,

This person and her precognitive dreams are intriguing. There is a fair amount online, but not enough to really evaluate her accuracy (at least not that I can find). However, I will be watching for something to happen in July in that corner of the world. It sounds like it could be absolutely devastating!

Cordially,
S&S
 
SeaAndSky said:
Hi Cryscat,

This person and her precognitive dreams are intriguing. There is a fair amount online, but not enough to really evaluate her accuracy (at least not that I can find). However, I will be watching for something to happen in July in that corner of the world. It sounds like it could be absolutely devastating!

Cordially,
S&S
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Yeah, what ever happens will happen at 5 am Japan's Time on July 5. That means 3 pm PDT for me on July 4, per the video. I too, will be paying attention.
 
So I follow a geologist on Youtube and there is some magma moving underneath the western side of Honshu, north east of the City of Hagi. Don't know if it has anything to do with the predicted July 4-5 event, but still interesting to notice.
 
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Premonition isn't anything new to me, I've seen a lot of flashes for future lifetimes. I trust them since I've been able to see more immediate visions have indeed happened. Some of them were simple, and others devastating.
 
Countdown to Casadia!

Wait...The Worst Possible US Disaster Just Got EVEN WORSE?!? (Cascadia Megaquake)​

 
So the heavy feeling in my chest is getting heavier. Something bad coming around the corner. Just found out that there have been over 1,000 quakes just off a small island in the southermost end of Japan. Something is shifting. Dunno what will happen.
 
There is something present and future both happening at the moment: the projected close approach of a very dangerous interloper from beyond the Solar System. However, since it is happening right now rather than later, it seems like the topic (which I am naming: Monsters from the Dark) would go better in the "Lounge" section which is more current event oriented. It can always be moved elsewhere if the Mods feel like the location is wrong.
 
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