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When you consider the potential age of the universe [1], we can also argue that the universe is currently in its extreme infancy and we many in fact be one of t

by hliyan 6y ago

When you consider the potential age of the universe [1], we can also argue that the universe is currently in its extreme infancy and we many in fact be one of the very first civilizations to start thinking about other civilizations, and all other "firstborn" civilizations are similarly constrained by technology. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Five_Ages_of_the_Universe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Five_Ages_of_the_Universe , more dramatically portrayed in this excellent video: A Journey to the End of Time [2] [2] https://youtu.be/uD4izuDMUQA?t=196 https://youtu.be/uD4izuDMUQA?t=196

hindsightbias 6y ago
Evidence points to us having missed all the good parties: https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.07902 https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.07902
pfdietz 6y ago
It has been estimated that 95% of the stars that will ever form have already formed. Far from being in its infancy, from the point of view of locations for new life arising the universe is nearly done. https://scitechdaily.com/star-formation-in-the-universe-has-decreased-drastically/ https://scitechdaily.com/star-formation-in-the-universe-has-...
- soared 6y ago
  But they have existed for a short period of their lifespan, so by definition are early in their lifetimes. The argument isn’t that there will be new stars, but that they will exist for a long time.
  - pfdietz 6y ago
    There's good reason to think life is not going to arise on planets around M stars. Our sun is quite bright compared to the typical star, is already gone through about half its time on the main sequence, and as the Sun continues to brighten the Earth will become uninhabitable in about 1 billion more years. Moreover, life originated early on Earth. This suggests either that more than one extremely rare event is needed to get from life to us, or that the conditions for OoL do not persist for very long (ammonia, for example, is rapidly destroyed by solar radiation.)

by hliyan 6y ago

hindsightbias 6y ago

Evidence points to us having missed all the good parties: https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.07902 https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.07902

pfdietz 6y ago

It has been estimated that 95% of the stars that will ever form have already formed. Far from being in its infancy, from the point of view of locations for new life arising the universe is nearly done. https://scitechdaily.com/star-formation-in-the-universe-has-decreased-drastically/ https://scitechdaily.com/star-formation-in-the-universe-has-...

soared 6y ago
But they have existed for a short period of their lifespan, so by definition are early in their lifetimes. The argument isn’t that there will be new stars, but that they will exist for a long time.
- pfdietz 6y ago
  There's good reason to think life is not going to arise on planets around M stars. Our sun is quite bright compared to the typical star, is already gone through about half its time on the main sequence, and as the Sun continues to brighten the Earth will become uninhabitable in about 1 billion more years. Moreover, life originated early on Earth. This suggests either that more than one extremely rare event is needed to get from life to us, or that the conditions for OoL do not persist for very long (ammonia, for example, is rapidly destroyed by solar radiation.)