General Discussion

theKed

(1,235 posts)

105. There are a number of

Tue Sep 25, 2012, 09:39 PM

Sep 2012

Projects in the works, or mothballed, along this line of thought - "warp drive" being the most far-fetched.

Project OrionProject Orion - a design by Freeman Dyson back in 1958 is capable of moving up to 8 million tonnes of material to Mars in 4 weeks, or as an interstellar ark. He even speculated on making the drive-plate out of uranium to supply nuclear fuel upon landing. The propulsion system, though, leaves this as a last-ditch escape plan, most likely, or something built in orbit.

Lunar Solar Array - blast a few self-replicating robots onto the surface of the moon to refine materials, and build a massive solar array belt around its equator, and beam energy back to earth. A bit far-fetched, but the sheep amount of energy produced could stave off environmental damage, or help fuel...

Project ValkyrieProject Valkyrie - a bit more speculative, this one is a very far-fetched idea since it requires something in the range of 400 tons of anti-matter. On the other hand, it can produce speeds of up to 0.98c (98% of the speed of light). The advantage of this over warp-drive is that, since you're actually going that fast (rather than just distorting space), relativistic time-dilation makes the trip ridiculously short for the travellers.

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Frankly, the world as we know it is going away, soon. [View all] MadHound Sep 2012 OP

It's just a matter of when, not if. Homo Sapiens will cease to exist at some point, that's an Bocks Car Sep 2012 #1

Yeah. We'll all be dead. So what? tabasco Sep 2012 #3

Exactly. So nothing...it's just how it is. Bocks Car Sep 2012 #14

Fifty years is a lot closer than a million, maybe? WinkyDink Sep 2012 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author truebluegreen Sep 2012 #177

Yes, and what drives me into a cold, hard fury truebluegreen Sep 2012 #178

I love the parrots we keep as pets Plucketeer Sep 2012 #218

The only sure thing. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #86

Um, no .. sorry kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #116

Yeah, good point. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #122

np kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #130

that was awesome, i feel like ive been drinking with sheldon, great explanation loli phabay Sep 2012 #144

Will DU have a Nova forum? Kennah Sep 2012 #146

now do you mean Nova or NOVA, it gets confusing here in NOVA ;) loli phabay Sep 2012 #147

If we have one, will we need the other? Kennah Sep 2012 #154

Sheldon Cooper? He's awesome. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #213

You should watch it NICO9000 Sep 2012 #214

But Sheldon doesn't drink. Vidar Sep 2012 #249

of course he dosent silly, hes my designated driver well at least designated leonard caller loli phabay Sep 2012 #250

Lovely image. Works for me. Thank you. Vidar Oct 2012 #272

Thx, Kurt, just when I was about to pull the trigger.......n/t condoleeza Sep 2012 #145

I have always wondered what will happen to Jupiter and it's moons when Javaman Sep 2012 #174

Sir Nicholas Stern's podcast at Oxford, 'The Economics of Climate Change, or 3 reasons you don't... mahina Sep 2012 #155

If MrDiaz Sep 2012 #159

if i remember my ecology correctly cindyperry2010 Sep 2012 #2

Yes, why not? Where would you start, that isn't already forested? WinkyDink Sep 2012 #24

I remember seeing something about stimulating algae growth. randome Sep 2012 #28

That has never been feasible. RC Sep 2012 #39

Thanks. I was in danger of thinking we had nothing to worry about when the shit hits the fan. randome Sep 2012 #50

green spaces in as many places as possible cindyperry2010 Sep 2012 #65

Up to a point yes kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #118

A footnote in the records of The Galactic Federation BellaKos Sep 2012 #4

Actually: AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #85

Or .. kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #117

Was there another Obama bounce up in the polls? nt msanthrope Sep 2012 #5

I don't know, was there? MadHound Sep 2012 #7

because every time Obama has a good week.... scheming daemons Sep 2012 #23

scheming Daemons, I've posted solutions to this issue in other threads a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #26

Can you provide links? I'm curious. randome Sep 2012 #29

I'll have to search again, through the past posts I've made... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #35

Wow. How many balloons and how big? randome Sep 2012 #36

You'd start with 1 balloon... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #40

You know some kind of cryochiller that can get rid of heat? freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #58

Most of this is to get rid of the excess GWG a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #60

What's GWG? freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #67

GWG = Global Warming Gases a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #89

What's the incoming power? freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #94

incoming power is however much of the balloon surface we cover with solar panels a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #98

A calculation without units doesn't really explain anything. freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #246

Don't have to get rid of the heat. jeff47 Sep 2012 #193

Then why does Bob say the cryochillers have to be powered? nt freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #245

Because they are converting atmospheric CO2 to solid CO2 jeff47 Sep 2012 #247

Sounds good int theory. Is full of holes in practice. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #61

Speck Tater... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #62

Go for it! I hope it works. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #69

Methane is a pretty "thick" gas, so it escaping isn't really an issue. a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #90

Will the FAA clear you to fill the air with balloons? Speck Tater Sep 2012 #101

I could see that as a pronlem... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #104

Let's do some math Speck Tater Sep 2012 #139

okay... let's do some math a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #160

Show me Speck Tater Sep 2012 #179

'Methane is a pretty thick gas' GCP Oct 2012 #268

the lift is about 54 lbs per thousand cubic feet a geek named Bob Oct 2012 #269

Good for you. I wish everyone was taking this seriously, brainstorming ideas, and Chemisse Sep 2012 #72

It gives me a hobby... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #91

Me too, Chemisse, me too. nt AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #140

Google Transition Movement. abumbyanyothername Sep 2012 #248

Yes, share pictures. n/t FedUpWithIt All Sep 2012 #192

as long as the camera in question doesn't break... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #204

Just one question.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #82

snarky comment? that's a sad attempt... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #93

Your posts read like engineering word salad to me... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #97

I agree with you... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #99

Yours is a pretty poor plan, MadHound Sep 2012 #119

then I guess we'll have to see... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #120

No, I've given you fact. MadHound Sep 2012 #127

If you can get me a decent price on those cryo chillers, that would be great. a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #132

Really, Bob, I have to say your plans don't sound very geeky to me muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #164

nope... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #168

You think you can extract 4 tons of methane per day directly from the air with 50kW? muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #169

You can't possibly be this bad at engineering. jeff47 Sep 2012 #195

The issue that I have with your plan... Blanks Sep 2012 #219

I'm also working with a few friends to build some green rafts a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #220

A couple of interesting plants... Blanks Sep 2012 #222

basically, yes a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #223

An idea this brilliant needs its own soundtrack. I got the duck AND the weed covered. Systematic Chaos Sep 2012 #224

I can go along with this... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #225

Hogweed! n/t zappaman Sep 2012 #236

you haven't provided any fail safe for that plan nebenaube Sep 2012 #80

okay... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #92

Since CO2 is denser than air, I don't think those balloons are going to rise very far . . . hatrack Sep 2012 #113

As I pointed out... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #114

Yeah, well, good luck. hatrack Sep 2012 #126

thank you for the well wishing a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #128

FYI, hatrack, the abbreviation "nt" goes in the *subject line* of the post, NOT tblue37 Sep 2012 #137

Oh? XemaSab Sep 2012 #138

LOL, and people think I love conspiracy theories, MadHound Sep 2012 #30

"we're already growing peaches in Ohio..." truebluegreen Sep 2012 #180

come up here? where do you think the methane roguevalley Sep 2012 #51

Speaking of methane . . . hatrack Sep 2012 #129

+1000 nt Mojorabbit Sep 2012 #143

Climate is being treated as just another Media Problem by the PTB.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #156

My goodness...talk about nonsense... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #70

Nonsense, eh? You will eat those words when food prices skyrocket and coast lines flood. Zalatix Sep 2012 #78

I hope you are right Mojorabbit Sep 2012 #141

+1 necessitating vindication, of course. nt patrice Sep 2012 #44

What would that have to do with this OP? Is there any issue that is okay to discuss on DU sabrina 1 Sep 2012 #202

That's why we have to have a space program. It is, and always was, marybourg Sep 2012 #6

That might be a viable solution, MadHound Sep 2012 #8

Maybe, tho there has been some interesting developments. eqfan592 Sep 2012 #42

There are a number of theKed Sep 2012 #105

We currently lack sufficient incentives. jeff47 Sep 2012 #198

Doubtless it will be *much* easier to turn a non-earth planet magical thyme Sep 2012 #59

Thank you. You put it well. muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #167

Very true, Muriel. Very true indeed. nt AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #217

The vast majority of species that have ever existed on earth are already extinct MNBrewer Sep 2012 #9

We are unique and I think we will do whatever we need to do in order to survive. randome Sep 2012 #47

Every species that has ever existed has been "unique" and did whatever it needed to MNBrewer Sep 2012 #49

Anything is possible. Recognizing that is part of being human, too. And what sets us apart. randome Sep 2012 #52

No, not "anything" is possible. MNBrewer Sep 2012 #54

We can, it's just a matter of when. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #121

Yes, our uniqueness is truebluegreen Sep 2012 #181

Every species alters its environment.. Our uniqueness is the ability to affirm or deny it. MNBrewer Sep 2012 #221

It's a good point, and frankly, unless Obama can shed the Dem party's corporate shackles villager Sep 2012 #10

Even if Obama went full bore on attacking climate change, MadHound Sep 2012 #13

Well, certainly the efforts of every government/economic system on the planet... villager Sep 2012 #15

Th article the OP posted has some excellent suggestions: marions ghost Sep 2012 #38

too bad that we're all dead by 2030... n/t nebenaube Sep 2012 #81

No we won't. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #84

I thought it was 100 million marions ghost Sep 2012 #161

Are Skinner and EarlG gone for another week? DevonRex Sep 2012 #11

Do you ever actually read anything for comprehension? MadHound Sep 2012 #16

Oh you poor thing. Bless your heart. Nt DevonRex Sep 2012 #17

Again, the demonstration that you can't argue the facts of any issue. MadHound Sep 2012 #18

Here's a mirror for your comments... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #45

inane prickishness Agony Sep 2012 #77

Aren't you the darling. Javaman Sep 2012 #175

the Republicans have primary responsibility for this evil set of circumstances Berlum Sep 2012 #12

Some life form somewhere EmeraldCityGrl Sep 2012 #19

One would think that the rich and powerful who HAVE OFFSPRING would at least care. Alas, no. WinkyDink Sep 2012 #20

They think their money will protect them, MadHound Sep 2012 #21

And maybe it will, in Paraguay, or Denver, or NZ..... WinkyDink Sep 2012 #25

That's what REM said nearly 30 years ago, but the world we know is still here. MjolnirTime Sep 2012 #27

I believe they said it would happen about 30 years from then. n/t librechik Sep 2012 #32

We had the same problem then and we knew it then and we were ignoring it then as well. Egalitarian Thug Sep 2012 #100

Well, It *Is* True That for Over 40 Years, On the Road Sep 2012 #133

Thanks for the perfect example. n/t Egalitarian Thug Sep 2012 #172

EXACTLY! Scientists are just wrong sometimes. What's so hard to understand about that? johnlucas Sep 2012 #260

WTF, man? No one gets out of this world alive anyway. . . DinahMoeHum Sep 2012 #31

Yeah, but you know, it would be nice to leave a viable civilization behind, MadHound Sep 2012 #34

Meh, I look at it this way: Planet Earth itself will survive us. . . DinahMoeHum Sep 2012 #57

Save the planet! NO!!! We are going away! longship Sep 2012 #33

LOL. Yeah, it's kind of like the earth is running a fever to kill us germs off. nt SunSeeker Sep 2012 #48

actually, it's possible that if we delay much longer truebluegreen Sep 2012 #182

My landlord still expects the rent on the First. bluedigger Sep 2012 #37

The proof that we are doomed is in THIS VERY THREAD. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #41

"THIS VERY THREAD' is proof that our species is doomed? panader0 Sep 2012 #46

I didn't say "cause", I said "proof". Evidence. A sample of the national attitude. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #56

childish idiots fascisthunter Sep 2012 #53

so basically this means my children will die a painful death. WestWisconsinDem Sep 2012 #83

Sometimes it's not very pleasant around here. SammyWinstonJack Sep 2012 #109

The thread proves nothing, your post however proves you do not believe your own Bluenorthwest Sep 2012 #102

I do find myself hard to believe at times. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #135

And that's one of the major problems we face today. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #232

Oh for fuck's sakes. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #111

Amazing, Isn't It? On the Road Sep 2012 #124

Have you read the new article in Rolling Stone? Javaman Sep 2012 #176

You massively underestimate our capabilities. jeff47 Sep 2012 #199

The word you want happens to be the word "indicates." truedelphi Sep 2012 #208

And what lies behind it? Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2012 #257

Why am I not surprised that your last sentence contains the word "glad"? patrice Sep 2012 #43

It will hit the vulnerable people hanging on by their fingernails first Warpy Sep 2012 #55

It looks like the OP has started some dialogue.... defacto7 Sep 2012 #64

My own carbon footprint is laughably low Warpy Sep 2012 #66

We CAN stop it, it's just a matter of how and when(no conceit here). AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #110

People live in deserts & have for centuries. The problem is food distribution not food supply johnlucas Oct 2012 #263

We haven't been motivated to solve it yet Warpy Oct 2012 #270

Evangelicals salivate for the Rapture. ErikJ Sep 2012 #63

Ah, yes, because they are Christians HockeyMom Sep 2012 #75

Well, You Could Also Make Another Comparison: On the Road Sep 2012 #125

I'm going to go on record with my predictions Speck Tater Sep 2012 #68

2040-2050 life extinct. I need a year for the pool. DevonRex Sep 2012 #71

. XemaSab Sep 2012 #106

n/t BOG PERSON Sep 2012 #73

Well that's that, then...may as well shoot myself now. WestWisconsinDem Sep 2012 #74

NOT UNTIL AFTER YOU'VE VOTED, DAMMIT! OmahaBlueDog Sep 2012 #76

Don't EVER believe predictions that say there is no hope. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #79

But you yourself are pushing that very message when you insist we are doomed Bluenorthwest Sep 2012 #107

Exactly. Don't believe me. I might be wrong. nt Speck Tater Sep 2012 #134

And I feel fine. porphyrian Sep 2012 #87

The misanthropy in this thread disgusts me. Odin2005 Sep 2012 #88

It's Kind of Amazing, Isn't It, On the Road Sep 2012 #131

It always is. Iggo Sep 2012 #95

Cherry picking worst case scenario? Jessy169 Sep 2012 #96

The OP is actually working off one of the better case scenarios. wickerwoman Sep 2012 #142

Earth won't turn into Venus....that's impossible, figuratively or otherwise. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #230

I just want to know how an article about an ongoing ecological disaster became a Egalitarian Thug Sep 2012 #103

Good question! countryjake Sep 2012 #151

As bad as things are and could (plausibly!) get....... AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #108

Gosh, Delphinus Sep 2012 #112

This is when I do not regret my age.... Swede Atlanta Sep 2012 #115

I'm guessing 150 years kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #123

Some of this seems plausible, but......... AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #243

It's already gone ibegurpard Sep 2012 #136

Discouraging. countryjake Sep 2012 #148

What can our group at DU do about this? flamingdem Sep 2012 #149

I plant trees. raouldukelives Sep 2012 #171

+1 tama Sep 2012 #183

Well if nothing else, this explains the lack of time travelers Duer 157099 Sep 2012 #150

Sorry, no such thing as time travel johnlucas Oct 2012 #273

We won't disappear as a species. We are just too resilient. Kennah Sep 2012 #152

You nailed it. renie408 Sep 2012 #173

Can we please wait about five years? MercutioATC Sep 2012 #153

the world we know is going away, but not because of climate change. HiPointDem Sep 2012 #157

Then there is no point in worrying about it. renie408 Sep 2012 #158

You really think there are too many humans for this planet to sustain right now? sabrina 1 Sep 2012 #205

The Mayans warned us about this ages ago..... MzShellG Sep 2012 #162

I just had a crazy idea. Ganja Ninja Sep 2012 #163

So those 5 missing nukes are planted in Yellowstone Park.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #165

Yeah or that. Ganja Ninja Sep 2012 #166

Whew... now THAT would be one hell of an explosion... not the nukes.. defacto7 Sep 2012 #189

Why tama Sep 2012 #184

It would likely be more than just the rich and powerful that survive as far as mankind is concerned. Ganja Ninja Sep 2012 #187

I wish... 99Forever Sep 2012 #170

"What we hoped was that we could stop the coming end of the world." Zorra Sep 2012 #185

Yep. In fact, if we want to improve humanity's condition, we have NO choice in the matter. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #216

Can I have your stuff? snooper2 Sep 2012 #186

Makes me wonder MitchS Sep 2012 #188

You have made a sensible post. People are getting too carried away johnlucas Sep 2012 #255

I remember when we passed 350 ppm stuntcat Sep 2012 #190

CO2 and methane should be viewed as valuable resources. Blanks Sep 2012 #191

Guess how many pounds of CO2 in a tank of gasoline? Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #196

Let me see if I've got this straight: Blanks Sep 2012 #206

It's CO2. That's one C and two O's from the air. Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #207

OK, fair enough. Blanks Sep 2012 #210

Re: "Are the RW radio hacks spreading this bullshit?" No, in fact, quite the fucking opposite. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #231

Get a clue? Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #235

I may have been a tad harsh. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #242

Agreed! It is too early to hang our heads and start crying. Jessy169 Sep 2012 #200

It will be a heck of a lot worse Chico Man Sep 2012 #194

A volcano eruption could cause global cooling. Blanks Sep 2012 #211

Sad but true. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #215

Plan B: hide head between knees and scream till the oxygen is gone librechik Sep 2012 #197

350ppm of what? HDCowboy Sep 2012 #201

Good point - and until most people wake the F up and truedelphi Sep 2012 #209

Isn't this that there science stuff? Rick Santorum doesn't approve tarheelsunc Sep 2012 #203

Things change. The world as we know it changes every day... yawnmaster Sep 2012 #212

Most of the spike in CO levels has been in the last couple decades - Asian industrialization leveymg Sep 2012 #226

Hey, you're getting off the narrative here slackmaster Sep 2012 #228

I was just drawn that way . . . leveymg Sep 2012 #229

That is SO fucking sad.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #238

The only thing constant in the world I know is change slackmaster Sep 2012 #227

The Earth changes...just like everything else in the Universe johnlucas Sep 2012 #233

That was easy, Write off thousands of research studies with a sentence or two.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #237

What? Angry that I reminded you that human beings have limitations? johnlucas Sep 2012 #244

Nah, We're trashing the place. Thousands of gigatons of CO2. Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #251

Trust me, the Earth has seen worse johnlucas Sep 2012 #253

When you look at Earth from space, human activity is obvious muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #252

Remember humans are not the only heavily populated species on the planet johnlucas Sep 2012 #254

The carbond dioxide from fossil fuel burning far outweighs the heat output muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #256

No, I'm just arguing from your framework johnlucas Sep 2012 #258

Your reply is rambling and largely off topic muriel_volestrangler Oct 2012 #261

And my point was we only affect habitats on Earth not Earth's climate itself johnlucas Oct 2012 #262

So it comes down to wishful thinking on your part muriel_volestrangler Oct 2012 #264

1,450 years? Are you serious? johnlucas Oct 2012 #265

You're sticking you head in the sand to ignore what you don't want to hear muriel_volestrangler Oct 2012 #267

Scientists are human. They CAN & DO get things WRONG johnlucas Oct 2012 #271

Kinda sounds like what I'm hearing from the far right, we're headed the way of Greece Hippo_Tron Sep 2012 #234

More doom and gloom, eh? MineralMan Sep 2012 #239

According MIT computers, the global collapse will occur in 2030 davidn3600 Sep 2012 #240

From Post Carbon Institute Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #241

And I used to feel badly that the sun will burn out in a billion years! Auntie Bush Sep 2012 #259

Mr. President, I would not rule out the chance to preserve a nucleus of human specimens. slackmaster Oct 2012 #266