Re: A New Solution to the Fermi Paradox

Robert Woodward wrote:

quadibloc wrote:
>

I remember reading some time ago that a faster-than-light ship
designed using some derivative of the Alcubierre warp drive...
would devastate the distant solar system it was trying to visit
as soon as it tried to stop moving.
Ouch.

>
It wouldn't happen to be a Randall Garrett story, ... checking ... ,
"Time Fuze".
>

This recently suggested an idea to me.
What if beings in general, like us, are so desperate to achieve
FTL... that what almost always happens is that they end up blowing
up their home planet in their first attempt to launch an FTL
spaceship?
It might be that FTL is a bit trickier than we will realize when
the time comes.

>
OBSF reference: "Catspaw" by George O. Smith (ASF September 1948 issue,
reprinted in _The Worlds of George O._ (Bantam Books, 1982).

A flying saucer blows up the whole durned universe in SLAUGHTERHOUSE-
FIVE by Vonnegut:

    "How-how does the Universe end?" said Billy.

    "We blow it up, experimenting with new fuels for our flying
    saucers. A Tralfamadorian test pilot presses a starter button,
    and the whole Universe disappears." So it goes.

Alcubierre's warp drive does not contain "closed causal curves,"
concludes its creator. [1] Is it crazy to say the Tralfamadorian
universe is also not closed?

    "If You know this," said Billy, "isn't there some way you can
    prevent it? Can't you keep the pilot from pressing the button?"

    "He has always pressed it, and he always will. We always let
    him and we always will let him. The moment is structured that
    way."

Note.

[1] <https://arxiv.org/pdf/gr-qc/0009013>

Danke,

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