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From: hkhenson@cup.portal.COM
Newsgroups: sci.nanotech
Subject: Re:  Megascale engineering, part 3
Message-ID: <8906130723.AA21643@athos.rutgers.edu>
Date: 12 Jun 89 02:36:39 GMT
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[The recent posting of Megascale Engineering was enthusiastically
 received but apparently was truncated.  Even my archive copy
 got truncated.  Keith very kindly resent it, and I have carved it 
 into pieces so it will all get through.  This is the final segment.
 --JoSH]
 
 
 
    The first two of these columns discussed nanotechnology and a few
of the consequences, ending with a discussion of a monumental party on
the far side of the Galaxy.
 
BEMs
 
    One of the discussion about the Far Edge Party came up with the
suggestion of a prize for bringing the most interesting alien.
Someone else pointed out that with nanotechnology and tens of
thousands of years the judges will have a hard time detecting cheating
with constructed aliens, or life forms raised to sentient status.
 
    More seriously, what will be our effect on aliens? What rules of
conduct should we abide by?  Perhaps equally to the point, will we
find any?
 
    Debate rages (that may be too strong a term) between the Saganites
and the Tiplerites.  Carl Sagan and Co. hold the opinion that
technological life is fairly common, with radio capable civilizations
every few hundred light years.  This school proposes vast listening
posts to eavesdrop.  Frank Tipler points to the lack of any evidence
that our galaxy, or the universe at large, is inhabited by
technophiles.  I have come to lean very strongly toward Tipler because
I think that before very many years go by *our* existence in this
particular part of the universe will become very obvious.  Laser
cannons pushing light sails would be seen as obviously unnatural
beacons far across the universe.  It may be that life is fairly
common, but the time it takes for technology to arise is much longer
than the time available on most planets.  This may be the real answer
to the Fermi question.
 
    But I am willing to withhold judgment 'til we sweep out our
Galaxy.  That should give us a representative sample.
 
    How long will it take to cross the Galaxy looking for life and
getting a look at everything?  Light takes about 100,000 years.  At an
average of 0.5c, it should take 200,000 years. There are a number of
interesting problems which people so inclined might consider.  How do
we get back together at a place we can't even see from here?  If we
send out several con committees (so a "run in" with something solid
doesn't leave us without a party hotel) how do we get them all
together at the same place?  How many centuries should we party?  How
much bean dip will we need?  How big could the party get and avoid a
Schwartzchild collapse?  The dead dog party will no doubt drag on for
several millennia.  If the party is a success, it will be imitated.
Should we give one party per galaxy?  Or one on the far side of the
Virgo cluster?
 
Back at the Ranch
 
    The stay-at-homes, or those who colonize and stay around a single
star, won't have as much fun, but they will have plenty of interesting
things to do.  Conservation for example.  Have you ever thought of how
much energy the Sun wastes?  But I am getting ahead of myself.
 
"a long enough lever...
 
    James E. Lovelock is an English chemist and prolific inventor.
Along with Lynn Margulas, he developed the biosphere regulation Gaia
concept.  Some years ago he calculated that the ability of this planet
to compensate for the rising output of the sun will fail within the
next 50-100 million years.  Without intervention, the Earth will
become a post-biotic planet, which David Brin speculates may be a
common fate.  Lovelock proposed planetary sunshades be deployed when
they are needed.  We could do it with today's technology if we really
needed to.  However, it is not the most aesthetic approach, cluttering
up our neighborhood with sun shades.  I was familiar with Eric
Drexler's work on solar sails, and proposed hanging a large collection
of them ahead of the Ea