Comments on: Does Peak Oil Explain the Fermi Paradox? http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/ A music blog with a techy twist, twisted content, and other entertainment oddities viral and live from Northern California. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:24:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Sean OBrien http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-163982 Sean OBrien Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:34:34 +0000 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-163982 I've posted an alternative explanation for Fermi's Paradox, one which the Darwinists will hate: The probability that any galaxy will evolve one or more sentient species is well below 100%. Thus sentient life never evolves in most galaxies, and very few galaxies (if any) have 2 or more. The answer to Fermi's Paradox is that we are the only sentient species in the Milky Way and that will probably be true forever. http://www.spacetimestories.com/commentary/fermis-paradox/ I’ve posted an alternative explanation for Fermi’s Paradox, one which the Darwinists will hate:

The probability that any galaxy will evolve one or more sentient species is well below 100%. Thus sentient life never evolves in most galaxies, and very few galaxies (if any) have 2 or more. The answer to Fermi’s Paradox is that we are the only sentient species in the Milky Way and that will probably be true forever.

http://www.spacetimestories.com/commentary/fermis-paradox/

]]> By: Red Light Green Light RoShamBo, 5/19/08: Peak Oil and Losing That Ugly 3,000 Pounds | Synthesis Magazine Blog http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-143738 Red Light Green Light RoShamBo, 5/19/08: Peak Oil and Losing That Ugly 3,000 Pounds | Synthesis Magazine Blog Tue, 20 May 2008 17:49:48 +0000 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-143738 [...] been tracking some crazy gas price increases ever since…well, about the same time the phrase “peak oil” entered the popular lexicon. Some of us have been hearing that phrase for a little longer, but [...] [...] been tracking some crazy gas price increases ever since…well, about the same time the phrase “peak oil” entered the popular lexicon. Some of us have been hearing that phrase for a little longer, but [...]

]]> By: Al http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-142982 Al Mon, 19 May 2008 07:08:47 +0000 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-142982 Hi People, I've been 'into' PO since about 2003. One of the concepts that jumps to mind is a concept known as "The Olduvai Theory". It states that a planetary system has only one chance at becoming civilised through the harnessing of the most powerful energy source by the most intelligent species. It would seem that, barring some new energy source from way out of left field, humans have squandered their chance at leaving their planetary confinement and spreading throughout the solar system and subsequently the galaxy. We have wasted our most precious endowment on a disposable economy, burnt it travelling to feed our fat faces or waged war over it, thereby burning even more. I believe that walking on the moon may very well be our Everest- the highest achievement mankind will ever embark upon. No other species in the future, no matter how smart the manifestation they evlove into, will have the resources to escape Earth. They will look back and curse us! Unless of course oil is abiotic-which is crazy. Prepare for the end people- it is now. I feel like an idiot standing on the beach watching a tidal wave coming in, while everybody else is still sunbaking. Embrace the horror. Hi People, I’ve been ‘into’ PO since about 2003. One of the concepts that jumps to mind is a concept known as “The Olduvai Theory”. It states that a planetary system has only one chance at becoming civilised through the harnessing of the most powerful energy source by the most intelligent species. It would seem that, barring some new energy source from way out of left field, humans have squandered their chance at leaving their planetary confinement and spreading throughout the solar system and subsequently the galaxy. We have wasted our most precious endowment on a disposable economy, burnt it travelling to feed our fat faces or waged war over it, thereby burning even more. I believe that walking on the moon may very well be our Everest- the highest achievement mankind will ever embark upon. No other species in the future, no matter how smart the manifestation they evlove into, will have the resources to escape Earth. They will look back and curse us! Unless of course oil is abiotic-which is crazy. Prepare for the end people- it is now. I feel like an idiot standing on the beach watching a tidal wave coming in, while everybody else is still sunbaking. Embrace the horror.

]]> By: mike3 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140943 mike3 Wed, 14 May 2008 03:39:25 +0000 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140943 "Ultimately if you consider that we live in a finite planet with in a finite time span, then all of our behavior should be according to this. It shouldn’t matter if the end will come from resource depletion of through the inevitable demise of our sun. I don’t know if it was ignorance or greed that got us to these crossroads but the world should be calling for a behavioral change not a technological fix." Actually we need _both_, since even if we moved to a growthless economy and cut our oil use to a tenth o what it is now, in 500 years the oil would still be all gone! If we want to last to the sun burns out we have to stop using oil entirely and that means BOTH have to be done: change our consumption habits AND (not OR) the sources of the remaining energy. BOTH must be done. It's not an either/or game. It's a game we've got to give our all if we want to have a civilization that goes for hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, or more, of years. Do you understand this point? “Ultimately if you consider that we live in a finite planet with in a finite time span, then all of our behavior should be according to this. It shouldn’t matter if the end will come from resource depletion of through the inevitable demise of our sun. I don’t know if it was ignorance or greed that got us to these crossroads but the world should be calling for a behavioral change not a technological fix.”

Actually we need _both_, since even if we moved to a growthless economy and cut our oil use to a tenth o what it is now, in 500 years the oil would still be all gone! If we want to last to the sun burns out we have to stop using oil entirely and that means BOTH have to be done: change our consumption habits AND (not OR) the sources of the remaining energy.

BOTH must be done. It’s not an either/or game. It’s a game we’ve got to give our all if we want to have a civilization that goes for hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, or more, of years.

Do you understand this point?

]]> By: Poul Andreasen http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140593 Poul Andreasen Mon, 12 May 2008 21:06:21 +0000 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140593 It makes a lot of sense to me that many alien civilizations may have reached a dead energy end, thus preventing them from ever making contact. Allen Fuller above: "Oil possesses nowhere near the energy for interstellar travel, so if it is difficult for a civilization to surmount an oil crisis, then it is flat-out impossible to achieve interstellar travel. This would suggest that the fundamental limitation is not oil, but the lack of an alternative technology that is feasible". I think you fail to understand that in order to get to the next energy level (fusion or whatever) you need to have high energy. So oil is in this respect a stepping stone for the next level(s). And if oil is dwindling and civilization torn apart by wars for energy and food, we might never reach the next level. But then again: You may be right that the next level may not exist. But now we shall never know... It makes a lot of sense to me that many alien civilizations may have reached a dead energy end, thus preventing them from ever making contact.

Allen Fuller above: “Oil possesses nowhere near the energy for interstellar travel, so if it is difficult for a civilization to surmount an oil crisis, then it is flat-out impossible to achieve interstellar travel. This would suggest that the fundamental limitation is not oil, but the lack of an alternative technology that is feasible”.

I think you fail to understand that in order to get to the next energy level (fusion or whatever) you need to have high energy. So oil is in this respect a stepping stone for the next level(s). And if oil is dwindling and civilization torn apart by wars for energy and food, we might never reach the next level.

But then again: You may be right that the next level may not exist.

But now we shall never know…

]]> By: Larry http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140504 Larry Mon, 12 May 2008 15:08:37 +0000 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140504 Sillyness. In a generation the oil age will be a dream. People will be happily cruising along in 200Mph+ electric trains powered off wind and solar wondering why there parents wanted to deal with traffic jams. Sillyness. In a generation the oil age will be a dream. People will be happily cruising along in 200Mph+ electric trains powered off wind and solar wondering why there parents wanted to deal with traffic jams.

]]> By: Allen Fuller http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140487 Allen Fuller Mon, 12 May 2008 13:55:16 +0000 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140487 Oil possesses nowhere near the energy for interstellar travel, so if it is difficult for a civilization to surmount an oil crisis, then it is flat-out impossible to achieve interstellar travel. This would suggest that the fundamental limitation is not oil, but the lack of an alternative technology that is feasible. On the flip side, if a hypothetical civilization manages to achieve the level of technology sufficient to make interstellar space travel common enough that we would expect visitors, then it is clear they no longer need oil, period. Oil possesses nowhere near the energy for interstellar travel, so if it is difficult for a civilization to surmount an oil crisis, then it is flat-out impossible to achieve interstellar travel. This would suggest that the fundamental limitation is not oil, but the lack of an alternative technology that is feasible.

On the flip side, if a hypothetical civilization manages to achieve the level of technology sufficient to make interstellar space travel common enough that we would expect visitors, then it is clear they no longer need oil, period.

]]> By: Randy Park http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140423 Randy Park Mon, 12 May 2008 12:05:38 +0000 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140423 Yes, we live on a "finite planet" with finite resources; and the "disaster to come" - as far as Western civilization at least - is not unknown, but in front of us: Peak Oil. The challenge is for people, governments, and businesses to recognize that this is a serious issue, that can't be ethanolled away; we need to revise not only the way we live, but our definitions of success such that they require less energy. And this needs to start soon. Look at the animated world map of oil production at www.EnergyPredicament.com/worldoil.htm to get a good sense of what is going on with oil. Or look at current oil prices. Yes, we live on a “finite planet” with finite resources; and the “disaster to come” - as far as Western civilization at least - is not unknown, but in front of us: Peak Oil.
The challenge is for people, governments, and businesses to recognize that this is a serious issue, that can’t be ethanolled away; we need to revise not only the way we live, but our definitions of success such that they require less energy.
And this needs to start soon. Look at the animated world map of oil production at http://www.EnergyPredicament.com/worldoil.htm to get a good sense of what is going on with oil. Or look at current oil prices.

]]> By: Adolfo Doring http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140080 Adolfo Doring Sun, 11 May 2008 15:52:16 +0000 http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/05/08/does-peak-oil-explain-the-fermi-paradox/#comment-140080 Hello I just finished a documentary exploring some of the same questions as A Crude Awakening. It is called Blind Spot and it consists of a multi-disciplinary approach to how we got to where we are and what the impact of Peak Oil might be. Ultimately if you consider that we live in a finite planet with in a finite time span, then all of our behavior should be according to this. It shouldn't matter if the end will come from resource depletion of through the inevitable demise of our sun. I don't know if it was ignorance or greed that got us to these crossroads but the world should be calling for a behavioral change not a technological fix. Hello
I just finished a documentary exploring some of the same questions as A Crude Awakening. It is called Blind Spot and it consists of a multi-disciplinary approach to how we got to where we are and what the impact of Peak Oil might be.

Ultimately if you consider that we live in a finite planet with in a finite time span, then all of our behavior should be according to this. It shouldn’t matter if the end will come from resource depletion of through the inevitable demise of our sun. I don’t know if it was ignorance or greed that got us to these crossroads but the world should be calling for a behavioral change not a technological fix.

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