Stephen Hawking says mankind has 100 years left on Earth. Thanks, Steve.

[thenotsoesoteric]

TED talks are pretty good. It there one on this subject that you can recommend? Fundamentally, I think our tech is mostly ready to take us into the solar system but our understanding of human physiology isn't at the same level. We've made some progress lately and I don't think the knowledge gap is insurmountable but we have some ways to go.

It's human nature to explore. Which is why there is no question in my mind that eventually we'll make it out there. I'm not so pessimistic of our chances to survive as a species until we make it. Not in my lifetime, I think. But I'd like to be wrong about this.

I can't recall which Ted talks were relatable but I know NOVA on PBS is always good for space and quantum sciences documentaries.

 

[thenotsoesoteric]

Nah. We didn't need a revolution in human thought to colonise inhospitable parts of Earth. All we needed was a profit motive. Space will be no different.

True, I just meant we need to stop fighting and focus more on discovery but incentives of a profitable business would surely get things moving in the right direction.

 

[esh dov ets]

Most of the issues listed have been overcome; we've even used a frikkin Sky-Crane to deploy things to the Martian surface from orbit. (So cool)

The only issue I can see is the potential psychological issues of being 6 months from Earth.

alot of problems on earth have solutions too but

I feel your philosophy.

Optimistically thinking, humans could achieve colonization of both space ships and foreign planets but given our history, I wouldn't hold my breath. I mean if we completely ravished this planet in a mere 200 years of industrialization then what are the odds we would pull off a colony on Mars, * edit* without a change of ideologies?

Granted, my scientific knowledge base is limited to rudimentary general education courses and tons of Ted's talks and documentaries of the sort but I'm confident in my historical knowledge base that without a huge shift in human behavior we have abysmal odds at space colonization that is capable of sustaining the human race.

we will do it . the question is when and for how long.

 

[esh dov ets]

Nah. We didn't need a revolution in human thought to colonise inhospitable parts of Earth. All we needed was a profit motive. Space will be no different.

and that is a shame.

 

[esh dov ets]

If it's good enough for Babylon 5, it's good enough for me.

We wouldn't need all that mass and complexity of spinning cans in space if we knew how to remain healthy in microgravity. But this isn't a sticking point in my mind.

i would hate to live in that story.

 

[Fogdog]

i would hate to live in that story.

agreed. The people in the story were moving to somewhere, the only permanent residents were refugees and staff to run the station. It might be different if the station were built as a permanent residence. But I'm an earthling and wouldn't trade open water, forests and blue sky in open country for anything one can have in space. If I had been born to the universe that B5 was set, probably different viewpoint.

I'd much rather that we evolve or move when ready into space and that we keep this planet in better shape than we are doing right now.

 

[ttystikk]

If it's good enough for Babylon 5, it's good enough for me.

We wouldn't need all that mass and complexity of spinning cans in space if we knew how to remain healthy in microgravity. But this isn't a sticking point in my mind.

Living in micro gravity is about living inside spinning cans, at least until we discover how to manipulate gravity. Since that's not even on the horizon, we go with the solution that's here.

Aquaponics is a very effective and efficient way to grow both nutritious vegetables and lean protein. Hell, it would be a much better diet than the crap the average American eats now!

 

[ttystikk]

True, I just meant we need to stop fighting and focus more on discovery but incentives of a profitable business would surely get things moving in the right direction.

As we Americans know all too well, war is also pretty damned profitable.

 

[ttystikk]

alot of problems on earth have solutions too but

we will do it . the question is when and for how long.

How long? Permanently. To me, the only question is how long it will be until the first permanent residents arrive.

 

[ttystikk]

and that is a shame.

Not necessarily. The profit motive can certainly support other reasons for doing it.

 

[esh dov ets]

Living in micro gravity is about living inside spinning cans, at least until we discover how to manipulate gravity. Since that's not even on the horizon, we go with the solution that's here.

Aquaponics is a very effective and efficient way to grow both nutritious vegetables and lean protein. Hell, it would be a much better diet than the crap the average American eats now!

nasa is working with led's (confirmed) and i read something i haven't verified yet (jpl is right up the street from me) that they use the same nutrients as alot of us. it's liquid bottle three part but i won't name it until i can verify.

 

[ttystikk]

agreed. The people in the story were moving to somewhere, the only permanent residents were refugees and staff to run the station. It might be different if the station were built as a permanent residence. But I'm an earthling and wouldn't trade open water, forests and blue sky in open country for anything one can have in space. If I had been born to the universe that B5 was set, probably different viewpoint.

I'd much rather that we evolve or move when ready into space and that we keep this planet in better shape than we are doing right now.

I couldn't agree more. The profit motive, intelligently applied, could well aid in this endeavor. Imagine how valuable the biological riches on Earth will be to those who live in space?

Think of the opposite case; imagine someone who was born and lived their entire life in ships or on space colonies, and therefore has never been in a space larger than perhaps a movie theater or even a stadium. How might they feel about the idea, let alone the experience, of a 'limitless' outdoors? I bet they'd be flat fucking terrified! It's all a matter of perspective.

 

[ttystikk]

nasa is working with led's (confirmed) and i read something i haven't verified yet (jpl is right up the street from me) that they use the same nutrients as alot of us. it's liquid bottle three part but i won't name it until i can verify.

I think chemical nutrients would work fine for the extended camping trip model, but organics are the only way to go for permanent independent installations. We get most of our nutrient salts from the petrochemical industry. I doubt that would be a widely available resource in space.

 

[esh dov ets]

How long? Permanently. To me, the only question is how long it will be until the first permanent residents arrive.

proly more questions ... i just mean when and will we fuck it up. and will we leave a mostly dead earth or what.

Not necessarily. The profit motive can certainly support other reasons for doing it.

nah ah man. agree to disagree. it is a shame that profits are the most effective motivator and means to do anything. why not for the big good and with shared research and resources. i don't buy in to the idea that man would be lazy or accomplish less without the pursuit of paper credits. in fact i believe the opposite.

 

[esh dov ets]

i

I think chemical nutrients would work fine for the extended camping trip model, but organics are the only way to go for permanent independent installations. We get most of our nutrient salts from the petrochemical industry. I doubt that would be a widely available resource in space.

use liquid organics. you can make them. for instance if you leave comfrey out and moist it will liquefy yeilding it's nutrients. or teas. the idea is to have a circle of life within the ship or colony.

 

[esh dov ets]

As we Americans know all too well, war is also pretty damned profitable.

exhibit b

 

[dannyboy602]

Here's a guy who thinks we got only ten years left.

 

[esh dov ets]

Here's a guy who thinks we got only ten years left.

not on the level of Hawking or close. but interesting to witness.

 

[ttystikk]

not on the level of Hawking or close. but interesting to witness.

Agreed. A few degrees warmer isn't going to just instantly kill us all.

He's showing alarm, but he's being unrealistic.

His answer is that WE'RE being unrealistic- but he's long on shock value and short on facts.

 

[captainmorgan]

The guy might not be that far off base. Our understanding of the earths climate is quite primitive. If you look at what has happen and continues to accelerate in the arctic with the permafrost and the glaciers collapsing everywhere. What really scares me is methane hydrates in the seas, if the oceans warm enough there could be huge releases of methane that could literately change things overnight.