4 ms·

Yeah let's just keep growing. https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/ https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/

• gumballindie 3y ago
  > If we’re dreaming big, let’s forget the wimpy solar energy constraints and adopt fusion. The abundance of deuterium in ordinary water would allow us to have a seemingly inexhaustible source of energy right here on Earth. We won’t go into a detailed analysis of this path, because we don’t have to. The merciless growth illustrated above means that in 1400 years from now, any source of energy we harness would have to outshine the sun. Let’s worry about that in 1400 years. _If_ we make it that far. As things stand we may not have to worry about it at all because we wont.
  • pfdietz 3y ago
    The artificial fusion of deuterium in our solar system (or in our galaxy) is utterly dwarfed by the fusion of ordinary protium (hydrogen-1) because there's so much more of the latter. Of course, the latter is fused in stars, not in reactors. So if we're taking the very long view solar (or stellar) power > artificial fusion. It's possible dropping mass in black holes will eventually beat either.
• progrus 3y ago
  Some people believe they have inherited the stars, that God is behind all things, and that we’re not going to just grow too fast like a cancer and then kill the planet. I’m one of those people, so this argument doesn’t work for me. There indeed appears to be a slowing of global population growth and an abundance of headroom to grow further.
  • gumballindie 3y ago
    I also believe we have inherited the stars. Equally i believe we should grow unlimited. Among said stars. I think earth should become a green utopia but humanity should colonise space starting with our own solar system. I think we should expand everywhere we can. But keep home safe and clean.
    • lazyasciiart 3y ago
      Oh, like exporting your trash.
      • progrus 3y ago
        Are you worried aliens will get mad at us, or something like that? Then why don’t they say so?
        • lazyasciiart 3y ago
          You think the only reason not to do so is if the existing inhabitants don't like it and are powerful enough to be a threat? I guess it worked for the British Empire...
          • pfdietz 3y ago
            You seem to think that exporting trash is equivalent to forcing others to take trash at gunpoint. False equivalence, you earn no points.
      • gumballindie 3y ago
        No, i think elon musk should never be allowed in space. We can keep both space and home clean. But as a species we should grow into space. You know, there’s virtually endless … space in space.
    • progrus 3y ago
      Agreed. We have been given a primary job as caretakers of our neighbors, and our environment.