Water found on a potentially life-friendly alien planet

Re:Water found on a potentially life-friendly alien planet by wazoox on Thursday September 12, 2019 @05:46AM (#20949690)

Yeah. Well. That's a fun math game and not much more. Other view on "energy growth rate": https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/

Energy growth is due to end sooner or later.

First, in the real world, any long term exponential growth is actually the upward branch of an S (that plateau at some point) or of a bell curve (that falls down after a peak).

Second, with such an energy growth rate we'll boil the ocean from heat dissipation long before we reach the stars.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Water found on a potentially life-friendly alien planet by imtringued on Thursday September 12, 2019 @08:02AM (#20950452)

There is also the problem that as you get away from the sun you receive less energy. Making your own portable mini sun with a fusion reactor is essential for interstellar travel.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Water found on a potentially life-friendly alien planet by eru on Friday September 13, 2019 @04:57AM (#20960367)

Mostly I agree. But: we can keep our energy curve growing for a bit longer, if we branch out into the local space around us. No worries about boiling the ocean, when the energy stays in orbit.

[ Parent | on HN ]