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> Black-hole-driven outflows ... probably play a role in heating and expelling gas (thereby suppressing star formation) I feel like there is a neat science-fic

> Black-hole-driven outflows ... probably play a role in heating and expelling gas (thereby suppressing star formation) I feel like there is a neat science-fiction story in here somewhere :) A hyper-advanced space civilization embarks on a multi-million-year mission to tow black holes into neighboring galaxies in order to suppress star formation there and thus reduce the chances of competing civilization appearing in the next few billion years

dmix 5y ago
A moat of black holes.
nivekastoreth 5y ago
If your tech can do that, I wonder if it may be more efficient to just throw neutron stars around to disrupt star formation
cgriswald 5y ago
My first question would be why such a civilization isn't just colonizing that galaxy. If the reason is that those distances are too hard to cross, then my question is why they're concerned about other civilizations developing. Of the top of my head, the best reason they would be worried about it is because it is something they would do themselves; but ever for an advanced civilization that seems like an expensive project with limited return. Or maybe they're as fearful as Larry Niven's puppeteers. It also would be more efficient to go to that galaxy, tow its stars around, and form new black holes there. You'd move much less mass a much shorter distance. You could probably even pick a relative handful of stars and just nudge them and wait; they're already moving after all. Might as well use that momentum.
- withinboredom 5y ago
  Maybe they can’t colonize it due to multi-year gestation periods? Thus they can’t grow the population fast enough.
  - kadoban 5y ago
    Maybe any civilization it can create there is bound to become a competitor for the same resources.
- echelon 5y ago
  > My first question would be why such a civilization isn't just colonizing that galaxy. Super advanced AI civilization spreads in all directions. Eventually the loyalty and purpose bits flip and the far-flung frontiers no longer share the same mission profile or allegiances.
- eminence32 5y ago
  Ah, yes, creating black holes in-situ does sound more reasonable. As for the motivations of this civilization, I'm not sure, no one has written this story yet :)

dmix 5y ago

A moat of black holes.

nivekastoreth 5y ago

If your tech can do that, I wonder if it may be more efficient to just throw neutron stars around to disrupt star formation

cgriswald 5y ago

My first question would be why such a civilization isn't just colonizing that galaxy. If the reason is that those distances are too hard to cross, then my question is why they're concerned about other civilizations developing. Of the top of my head, the best reason they would be worried about it is because it is something they would do themselves; but ever for an advanced civilization that seems like an expensive project with limited return. Or maybe they're as fearful as Larry Niven's puppeteers. It also would be more efficient to go to that galaxy, tow its stars around, and form new black holes there. You'd move much less mass a much shorter distance. You could probably even pick a relative handful of stars and just nudge them and wait; they're already moving after all. Might as well use that momentum.

withinboredom 5y ago
Maybe they can’t colonize it due to multi-year gestation periods? Thus they can’t grow the population fast enough.
- kadoban 5y ago
  Maybe any civilization it can create there is bound to become a competitor for the same resources.
echelon 5y ago
> My first question would be why such a civilization isn't just colonizing that galaxy. Super advanced AI civilization spreads in all directions. Eventually the loyalty and purpose bits flip and the far-flung frontiers no longer share the same mission profile or allegiances.
eminence32 5y ago
Ah, yes, creating black holes in-situ does sound more reasonable. As for the motivations of this civilization, I'm not sure, no one has written this story yet :)