The Expanding Universe

[Mr. Green]

Don't do it! You're warned.

Spoiler

The ship traveled far. And good grief, we found a habitable planet. There are two actually. This is good news as we're out of fuel and supplies. Little did we know the natives are hostile. They've been fighting each other for eons. Planetary warfare is a way of life. We've been hailed. We will be separated and assimilated. Illegal alien and immigration are unacceptable. Resistance is futile.

 

[devilof76]

Make intersystem travel pay for itself and your problem is solved. I don't think this planet has the demand for resources that would require mining next door. Might be the case that no such travel will occur until the demand exists.

 

[devilof76]

On the other hand, first one on Mars own it.

 

[Pork Chop Express]

Agreed, the sooner we start the better.

 

[Mr. Green]

 

[Pork Chop Express]

I've been in back yards that were scary, but I still went.

 

[Mr. Green]

Mexico will pay for the Space Force, dammit!

 

[devilof76]

 

[yodasan]

Not sure if this news fits into this thread but I thought it was noting that the new Dragon crew capsule test launched by SpaceX today had a single "crash test dummy" as crew - named Ripley.

 

[Mr. Green]

At least that new black hole pic is in color, oh, ah!!!

https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/other-topics/230346-image-black-hole.html

Oh, nuts! We need a cleaner pic.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

Mexico will pay for the Space Force, dammit!

It’s been up there for years already

 

[Mr. Green]

Which only means Mexico didn't pay for it. Hence forth, it's now Green Force.

 

[Pork Chop Express]

It’s been up there for years already

Your tax dollars at work.

 

[Mr. Green]

Soon to be paid by your tariff payment.

 

[ZE_501]

Especially since everything in space is constantly moving. No matter how well you got space mapped, you can't account for every single asteroid. And they're moving so fast they wouldn't even be able to react fast enough to avoid anything.

This isn't a scientific answer but the idea in some science fiction is that spacecraft leave 'normal' space to traverse great distances, so the only worry at that point is detecting whatever is local to where you're 'exiting'.

 

[ZE_501]

I really wish I had the inclination to learn about astrophysics now that I didn't have when actually being in school... it's a bottomless well of new fascinating theories and facts.

I was deathly afraid of death a few years ago, but I've learned to deal with it. Science cannot explain everything, so that can always leave a possibility of some formless consciousness living on in some form.

There's an interesting little book -- short read -- called The Quantum And The Lotus.

It's a dialogue between Matthieu Ricard, French physicist-turned-Buddhist and advisor to the Dalai Lama, and Vietnamese physicist Trinh Xuan Thuan. They discuss the overlap between thousands-year old Buddhist beliefs and quantum physics.

Note that:

• Buddhism is not a religion per se, but a non-theistic belief system with a well-developed model of human psychology.
• Notable in its reliance on empiricism and individual inquiry rather than faith.
• There are aspects of Buddhist practice that are measurable by science.

Ricard has had his brain monitored during meditation and been called "the happiest man alive".

 

[ZE_501]

LOLOLOL...this thread popped up in my 'Today's Posts' feed and I just realized I'm a thread necromancer, replying to posts from 3 years ago.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

Your tax dollars at work.

Toilet seats sure don’t cost $10,000

 

[Pork Chop Express]

Toilet seats sure don’t cost $10,000

Maybe not, but the fuel surcharge and handling to get it there and installed might.

 

[devilof76]

A small price to pay for the quality guarantee of state employee union labor.