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I watched a presentation a long time ago that went through the math of Von Neumann probes. I don’t remember the details, but it was something like a sufficientl
by time0ut 3y ago
I watched a presentation a long time ago that went through the math of Von Neumann probes. I don’t remember the details, but it was something like a sufficiently advanced and motivated civilization could convert a Mercury like planet into enough Von Neumann probes to put one in every star system in the universe in some finite number of millions of years. The argument was something like at this point, there should be one in our solar system. And if there isn’t, why not?
I think Avi Loeb has cried alien too often and too easily to be taken seriously at this point. I think there is about zero chance any of the UAP things are anything. But I wouldn’t be too surprised if there is an ancient probe just dormant somewhere in the solar system. Would we recognize it if we saw it? Maybe not unless we got close to it. Could we find candidate objects that look out of place? Fascinating line of thinking.
- ImAnAmateur 3y agoMorality and efficacy. It would be really rude and irresponsible to send metal crap all over the universe. It may also be really bad for Earth if we eat all of Mercury. Figuring out the question of "how much mass from Mercury can we send somewhere else before something becomes a problem for life on Earth" sounds like playing with fire. What if Von Neumann probes kill life on another planet? What if other sentient life meets one and gets offended? Can we even get useful data from a Von Neumann probe that would offset the potential cost of it harming another planet? I don't think it's worthwile or ethical to send such a device into space no matter what is out there.
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- Solvency 3y agoI don't see the merit in any presentations speculating on alien technology. I can infinitely move the goalpost of how "advanced" my hypothetical alien species are, and thus I can justify virtually any kind of speculative technology they'd be capable of producing.
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