Yes, morbid topic. But there's no escaping the fact that we have hit our own self-destruction button.
But I wanted to talk about the pace at which the human race is progressing.
This year we received direct evidence of the violent side of our universe - gravitational waves. Combine this with news of pollution, global warming...well, is the glass half-empty or half-full? Are we like a three-year-old wanting to pay his own taxes and live independently? (Rhetorical question.)
Following that question, I have another one. But first, let me explain the Kardashev scale.
This is a scale that summarizes intelligent life, however hypothetical, in the Universe in four increasing levels -
Type 3 - Civilizations which can directly use the resources of it galaxy.
Type 4 - Civilizations which can use space-time itself, manipulate it, go faster than the speed of light, etc. Yes, it also includes warp drive. (Awesome.)
Now, obviously we humans are a Type 1 civilization. And not even a very good one, going by our efficiency in use of resources. Sustainable development, anyone?
But my concern is that the path of our discoveries is taking us from a Type 1 to a Type 4 civilization. Humans can't inherently be blamed for that, the desire to explore is in our genes. But knowledge isn't always power. In cases like this, we may have to slow ourselves down. Before looking for a home, make sure we have one to return to, backups, things like that. Become an adult before handling taxes.
This is a painful hypothesis/realization for me. But science has no obligation to make me happy.
But I wanted to talk about the pace at which the human race is progressing.
This year we received direct evidence of the violent side of our universe - gravitational waves. Combine this with news of pollution, global warming...well, is the glass half-empty or half-full? Are we like a three-year-old wanting to pay his own taxes and live independently? (Rhetorical question.)
Following that question, I have another one. But first, let me explain the Kardashev scale.
This is a scale that summarizes intelligent life, however hypothetical, in the Universe in four increasing levels -
Type 1 - Civilizations which can use the resources of one planet.
Type 2 - Civilizations which can directly use the resouces of its star.
Type 3 - Civilizations which can directly use the resources of it galaxy.
Type 4 - Civilizations which can use space-time itself, manipulate it, go faster than the speed of light, etc. Yes, it also includes warp drive. (Awesome.)
Now, obviously we humans are a Type 1 civilization. And not even a very good one, going by our efficiency in use of resources. Sustainable development, anyone?
But my concern is that the path of our discoveries is taking us from a Type 1 to a Type 4 civilization. Humans can't inherently be blamed for that, the desire to explore is in our genes. But knowledge isn't always power. In cases like this, we may have to slow ourselves down. Before looking for a home, make sure we have one to return to, backups, things like that. Become an adult before handling taxes.
This is a painful hypothesis/realization for me. But science has no obligation to make me happy.
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