Sprawling Mayan network discovered under Guatemala jungle

Re:Sprawling Mayan network discovered under Guatemala jungle by mirimir on Friday February 02, 2018 @05:18PM (#16294661)

I recall a letter to Science from the mid 70s, rebutting The Limits to Growth. I have tried to find it more-or-less lately, with no luck. As I recall, its author argued that the Earth could support well over 10^8 people in Trantor style. He assumed unlimited energy from fusion, and substantial food synthesis. Only humans, pets, crops, livestock, and requisite insects and microorganisms would survive. The planetary surface would support a building ~16 km high. At that height, the surface would be in thermal equilibrium at ~1500°C.

But hey, if that were doable, why not just build space habitat's?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sprawling Mayan network discovered under Guatemala jungle by landryraccoon on Friday February 02, 2018 @07:05PM (#16295253)

10^8 is a hundred million people, so yeah, it's safe to say the Earth can support well over that many humans.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sprawling Mayan network discovered under Guatemala jungle by mirimir on Friday February 02, 2018 @07:40PM (#16295408)

Oops, I was brain dead there. I meant 10^11. Or maybe even 10^12.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sprawling Mayan network discovered under Guatemala jungle by credit_guy on Saturday February 03, 2018 @07:29AM (#16297363)

In other words 100 billion to 1 trillion. The world’s land area, excluding Antarctica, is about 50 million sq. miles. With a comfortable population density of 1000 ppl/sqm (like in South Korea, Holland, Israel, or the state of New Jersey) you would get to 50 billion (same as Trantor). The population density of Singapore is close to 20k ppl/sqm, that would give you 1 trillion.

If you are willing to pad the Earth with buildings 16 km high, you could pack at least 1000 times more people, more likely 1 million times more.

Maybe that letter to Science mentioned 10^18?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sprawling Mayan network discovered under Guatemala jungle by mirimir on Saturday February 03, 2018 @07:30PM (#16300535)

I don't remember the number. What I recall is just that it was an absurdly huge estimate. And I'd love to have a copy of that ~1975 letter, if anyone has access to requisite tools.

And, in case it's not obvious, it's not a world that I'd care to live in.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sprawling Mayan network discovered under Guatemala jungle by PoachedSausage on Friday February 02, 2018 @07:02PM (#16295241)

Because it is cheaper and easier to build stuff down here.

Space habitats require thinking in terms of systems, dealing with inputs and outputs. Humans haven't mastered systems thinking yet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sprawling Mayan network discovered under Guatemala jungle by mirimir on Friday February 02, 2018 @07:45PM (#16295424)

I guess. I've been reading Banks' Culture series ;)

[ Parent | on HN ]