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Could you engineer a system, with a huge computer and fusion reactor to look like a star? Consider that all life would be digital at this point. If we take ener

by Geee 4y ago

Could you engineer a system, with a huge computer and fusion reactor to look like a star? Consider that all life would be digital at this point. If we take energy production and computation to the limit with huge scale, it might start to resemble a star. It would also be a perfect hiding place and defensive structure against aggressors. Rather than trying to eliminate your heat signature, you max it and hide in plain sight.

FredPret 4y ago
That's a great idea for a scifi novel right there. I wonder if you could steer the star around by shining more of the radiation out of one end, or focus it all into a beam of death
- Geee 4y ago
  In addition to Kardashev scale, there should be a scale for how much power can a civilization project on an enemy at once. More advanced civilization should be able to project more power on similar scale as Kardashev. I.e. being able to project one star's power on an enemy would be a type 2 civilization.
- olex 4y ago
  There's a great concept that I found out about reading Schlock Mercenary (a sci-fi webcomic), about using a gas giant as an interstellar spaceship [1]. It probably originates elsewhere, but it was nicely explained there. You build a "candle" (huge tube) that is inserted into the gas giant on one side, then ignite the gases inside it (iirc the comic uses fusion reactors on both ends, and an intake in the center of the candle). Both ends of the candle are open, "inner" end counteracts the gas giant's gravity to keep the candle from sinking into the core, the other end produces thrust. You put your payload on moons that orbit around the gas giant, and steer by moving the candle. The "thrust end" of the candle also doubles as a light and heat source for the moons, replacing the sun while in interstellar space. There are... some risks involved into the whole operation. [1]: https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2003-08-03 https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2003-08-03
- idiotsecant 4y ago
  Not only is there a scifi novel or a zillion about such a thing but you can read the best (i think) one right on the authors website. Accelerando by Charlie Stross is not only about sun-brains, but is also about how they change human society and culture. Good book. https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/fiction/acceler https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/fiction/acceler...
  - Tangurena2 4y ago
    Corrected link: https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/fiction/accelerando/accelerando.html https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/fiction/acceler... Note: I have both a dead-tree and kindle edition of this book. I really like the idea of freeing the lobsters and I agree with the points he makes about "owning" minds.
jmyeet 4y ago
Let me introduce you to Matrioshka Brains [1]. It's not quite what you suggest. In this case it's one (or more) successive shells around a star to use the solar output into computing power. The amount of computing power you could get from this is simply unimaginable. This structure would have similar properties (and honestly isn't really that different to) a Dyson Swarm. Assuming thermodynamics holds the only way to get rid of heat ultimately is to radiate it away into space. At any temperature you're likely to get to this is going to be infrared light. The wavelength of radiated heat is solely determined by temperature. So could you instead radiate away visible light? Technically, yes. Kind of. One way is simply to use a lot less of the energy. Now could you get the temperature up to where this has a visible light signature instead? You're talking about thousands of degrees. What material could get that hot? It's a big problem. Also, such a material will still have telltale signs. Spectroscopic signature would reveal it wasn't the expected hydrogen-helium mix. Another possibility is a truly giant star. Stars can get incredibly large. IIRC the largest known star (UY Scuti) if it were placed at the Sun's position would be large enough to swallow Jupiter. The thing is. These supergiants/hypergiants don't have a hostile boundary or surface in the same way a cloud from a distance looks solid. It would be hot but really diffuse. Technically it would be possible to build within the star's atmosphere and dump the heat. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef-mxjYkllw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef-mxjYkllw
pixl97 4y ago
I would think a black hole would be much more practical to use as an energy source and keep hidden.
- NegativeK 4y ago
  Energy production from a black hole requires adding to its mass, which might not be a good long-term plan.
  - pixl97 4y ago
    If you take a star and throw it in a black hole you'll last much longer than any star ever would. The mass to energy conversion efficiency can get close to the theoretical maximum possible.
deleted 4y ago
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by Geee 4y ago

FredPret 4y ago

That's a great idea for a scifi novel right there. I wonder if you could steer the star around by shining more of the radiation out of one end, or focus it all into a beam of death

Geee 4y ago
In addition to Kardashev scale, there should be a scale for how much power can a civilization project on an enemy at once. More advanced civilization should be able to project more power on similar scale as Kardashev. I.e. being able to project one star's power on an enemy would be a type 2 civilization.
olex 4y ago
There's a great concept that I found out about reading Schlock Mercenary (a sci-fi webcomic), about using a gas giant as an interstellar spaceship [1]. It probably originates elsewhere, but it was nicely explained there. You build a "candle" (huge tube) that is inserted into the gas giant on one side, then ignite the gases inside it (iirc the comic uses fusion reactors on both ends, and an intake in the center of the candle). Both ends of the candle are open, "inner" end counteracts the gas giant's gravity to keep the candle from sinking into the core, the other end produces thrust. You put your payload on moons that orbit around the gas giant, and steer by moving the candle. The "thrust end" of the candle also doubles as a light and heat source for the moons, replacing the sun while in interstellar space. There are... some risks involved into the whole operation. [1]: https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2003-08-03 https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2003-08-03
idiotsecant 4y ago
Not only is there a scifi novel or a zillion about such a thing but you can read the best (i think) one right on the authors website. Accelerando by Charlie Stross is not only about sun-brains, but is also about how they change human society and culture. Good book. https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/fiction/acceler https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/fiction/acceler...
- Tangurena2 4y ago
  Corrected link: https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/fiction/accelerando/accelerando.html https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/fiction/acceler... Note: I have both a dead-tree and kindle edition of this book. I really like the idea of freeing the lobsters and I agree with the points he makes about "owning" minds.

jmyeet 4y ago

Let me introduce you to Matrioshka Brains [1]. It's not quite what you suggest. In this case it's one (or more) successive shells around a star to use the solar output into computing power. The amount of computing power you could get from this is simply unimaginable. This structure would have similar properties (and honestly isn't really that different to) a Dyson Swarm. Assuming thermodynamics holds the only way to get rid of heat ultimately is to radiate it away into space. At any temperature you're likely to get to this is going to be infrared light. The wavelength of radiated heat is solely determined by temperature. So could you instead radiate away visible light? Technically, yes. Kind of. One way is simply to use a lot less of the energy. Now could you get the temperature up to where this has a visible light signature instead? You're talking about thousands of degrees. What material could get that hot? It's a big problem. Also, such a material will still have telltale signs. Spectroscopic signature would reveal it wasn't the expected hydrogen-helium mix. Another possibility is a truly giant star. Stars can get incredibly large. IIRC the largest known star (UY Scuti) if it were placed at the Sun's position would be large enough to swallow Jupiter. The thing is. These supergiants/hypergiants don't have a hostile boundary or surface in the same way a cloud from a distance looks solid. It would be hot but really diffuse. Technically it would be possible to build within the star's atmosphere and dump the heat. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef-mxjYkllw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef-mxjYkllw

pixl97 4y ago

I would think a black hole would be much more practical to use as an energy source and keep hidden.

NegativeK 4y ago
Energy production from a black hole requires adding to its mass, which might not be a good long-term plan.
- pixl97 4y ago
  If you take a star and throw it in a black hole you'll last much longer than any star ever would. The mass to energy conversion efficiency can get close to the theoretical maximum possible.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]