Re: Solar Shell


scottlowtherATixDOTnetcomDOTcom wrote:
Williamknowsbest wrote:
scottlowtherAT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
jsavard@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

This is still an incredibly vast undertaking, for the far distant
future, but at least it doesn't involve re-engineering the Sun.


The biggest problem with imagining far-future giga-engineering projects
is that far too often they seem to require a utopian fascism that
completely controls all sentient life. By the time mankind figures out
how to dial down the sun so that it'll last ten trillion years, we'll
also have figured out how to make the thing blow up on command. War
will make many of these projects moot.

I envision this being done by an individual in their lifetime, not all
of humanity for aeons.

What, blowing up the sun? That's one of those "you only get to do it
once" things.

Still, as with anything, it can be approached step-wise. One can model
what one does certainly. Then, one can do laboratory experiments.
Then, one can do small experiments in the solar environment. Then,
progress to larger experiments. By the time you're ready to divide the
sun into smaller parts, you've got a background of experience. One
might even include experimenting with Alpha Centaur A and B.


The amazing thing as I think about this is that this project might be
capable of just that.

All that's needed is a chemical laser, intelilgently designed, and
dropped into the sun with a structured fabric floating in the sunlight
above. Something on the scale of say a latter day clementine mission.

Sure. Why not.

Yes, the more one looks at the solar environment the clearer the
approach to use becomes.

What rights do they have over their creation?

"In the Necromonger faith, you keep what you kill."


But we're not killing anything here, we're making stuff.


Success along the lines I envision totally outclasses anything else
humanity could do prior to success. And very quickly too. The ability
to eject from the sun in a controlled way, planetary system sized
masses of raw material and shape and form them into operating finished
products by scattering structured photons off them - is just
mind-boggling.

Indeed. And imagine the fun one could have hacking into the control
computers and making the system go nova rather than just calving off
calmly.

Who would do that and what would be their motivation? Especially since
the perps would get killed in the process.

Long time ago we had Right of Conquest. The right of conquest is the
purported right of a conqueror to territory taken by force of arms.

We still have that right.

I figured you'd say that.

Today we recognize the Right of Patent. If someone creates or
discovers a process - they have something they have rights to use it to
make money and attain power.

Until the Democrats gain full power. Then "make money" will be banned
as being antisocial and against the Public Good.Then the Equalization
of Opportunity Bill will be passed.

You don't know many conservative democrats do you? Used to be called
Dixie-crats in the days before Clinton. lol. Wealth is created by
human activity. Not ALL human activity creates wealth however.
Motivating people to engage in creative behaviors is the goal of any
productive society. We forget these truths at our peril.

That is, a person who created this shell in the way I envision would
have power over all of humanity, no matter how uninterested s/he was in
the matter.Earth would demand the person that controlled this
technology would be the Lord Protector of Earth and stand in regent ot
the rest of humanity - to put it in more ancient terms.


Amazing lack of understanding of human nature, you're displaying.

Er, it wouldn't be the first time.

If
someone unveils the power to destroy the world, or build vast new ones,
the demand won't be that this someone become a benevolent dictator. It
will be that he turn over that power to some Respected Authority.

Two points - the Respected Authority doesn't understand the process and
could very well in their ignorance bring about the demise of humanity,
and more importantly the demise of those who created the process.
Also, people would generally respect those who created the process and
understand they're the authority regarding it. So, I would think one
would have to mis-step pretty badly lose that initial good-will.

The
UN or some such.

Hmm.. I'm trying to vissualize this. After working for over a decade
in obscurity, an affable, aging, Bonoesque scientist and his team of
loveable misfits gets an intelligent process working on the sun,
capable of doing all I say. People have a hard time understanding that
the tiny ill defined jet of material flrowing from the sun is larger
than the Earth. Not much is said publicly, and not a whole lot of
interest in the press conference. A press conference is held as the
first metal aeroshell falls to Earth, and the team announces a joint
deal with Alcoa, BHP Billiton, Phelps Dodge that will transform the
industrial economies of Earth generate untold jobs, new wealth, and
create the conditions that will create vast new markets for industrial
metals.

Now, what would motivate there to be a call to take control of this
obscure footnote and remove it from private control? Nothing.

Alternatively, that he should "turn the power over to
*me.*" Or that the power should be abandoned entirely.

Who is best suited to control a thing? Someone who creates that thing
and uses it productively, or someone who knows nothing about it and
knows nothing of its value? Hmm...

.

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