Intergalactic Colonization
Isaac Arthur・26 minutes read
Isaac Arthur's show discusses interstellar colonization, highlighting the challenges and potential technologies required for humanity to colonize other galaxies over vast timescales, emphasizing the value and opportunity of exploring new frontiers for billions of years to come.
Insights
- Interstellar colonization requires massive vessels capable of sustaining life for long journeys, with the crew potentially cloning themselves or transferring their minds to androids for multiple missions.
- To reach Andromeda for colonization, proposed methods include using a Shkadov Thruster, a giant laser for speed, and an intergalactic bridge system for resupply and reinforcement, showcasing the complexity and innovation required for intergalactic travel and human expansion into new frontiers.
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Recent questions
How long does it take to reach Andromeda?
Less than ten million years.
What is the purpose of the Laser Highway system?
To colonize star systems along the way.
What are the challenges of using a Shkadov Thruster?
Potential breakdowns during the journey.
How can galaxies within a billion light years be slowed down?
By using various propulsion methods.
What is the significance of colonizing star systems along the way?
Ensuring resupply and reinforcement options.
Related videos
Summary
00:00
"Interstellar Colonization and Beyond with Isaac Arthur"
- Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur is wrapping up its third year, hosted by Isaac Arthur.
- The show started with 15 episodes in the first year and transitioned to a weekly setup in the second year.
- Interstellar Colonization was discussed at the end of the first year, hinting at the possibility of reaching beyond the galaxy's edge.
- Traveling to another solar system for colonization requires massive vessels capable of sustaining life for long journeys.
- Fiction often portrays Faster Than Light (FTL) travel within galaxies but rarely explores settling in other galaxies.
- Distances between galaxies are relatively short compared to distances within galaxies.
- Intergalactic space is not empty, with stars acting as potential waypoints for refueling and repairs.
- Unity, an interstellar arkship, transformed into a Gardener Ship, stopping at systems to build colonies and gather resources.
- Unity's crew, now in the year 200,000 AD, contemplates heading to Andromeda or other directions for colonization.
- The crew, no longer entirely human, can clone themselves or transfer their minds to androids for multiple colonization missions.
13:57
"Interstellar Travel to Andromeda: Challenges and Solutions"
- Terminus is an extragalactic system that could be aimed to reach Andromeda with the use of a Shkadov Thruster, which involves placing mirrors around a star to provide thrust.
- Traveling between galaxies takes millions of years at a cruising speed of 20% of light speed, requiring ten million years to reach Andromeda.
- The captain considers turning Terminus into a giant spaceship to reach Andromeda faster, but the science officer is skeptical due to potential breakdowns during the ten million year journey.
- A proposed alternative involves using a giant laser to push the ship to near light speed, reducing the journey time to 2 million years, but the science officer deems it risky due to lack of resupply options.
- The defense officer suggests using a thin sail or magnetic field to slow down the ship upon arrival at the galaxy, but the science officer highlights the challenges of such a method.
- The science officer proposes building an intergalactic bridge using the Laser Highway system to colonize star systems along the way, ensuring resupply and reinforcement options for future missions.
- The plan involves building a fleet of ships that transfer fuel to a vanguard ship to accelerate and slow down at target systems, with stopovers for practice and resupply.
- Colonizing star systems along the way allows for critical resupply if needed, ensuring the ability to repair and slow down ships in case of emergencies.
- The journey to Andromeda is estimated to take less than ten million years, utilizing fusion and lasers as technologies developed by the end of the 21st century.
- Various scenarios for intergalactic travel are discussed, including the use of starlifting, laser slingshots, magnetic sails, and potential future drive options to expand the radius of human colonization efforts.
27:13
"Moving Galaxies for Colonies: A Feasible Alternative"
- Galaxies within a billion light years can be slowed down to stay bound to us, crucial for maintaining contact with colonies; the option of Birch Planets from the Mega Earths episode offers a feasible alternative for moving galaxies through brute force, despite the vast timescales involved.
- Uncertainty surrounds the existence and locations of civilizations in the Observable Universe, emphasizing the importance of claiming unused solar systems and the inherent value of life, prompting the question not of why colonize other places, but why not, as humanity potentially faces the opportunity to explore new frontiers for billions of years to come.
