Comments on: Planet found in star system nearest Earth

By: trakk

trakk — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 17:11:01 +0000

on it

By: H.K. Fauskanger

H.K. Fauskanger — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:11:44 +0000

We could hope that the planet detected is the hot “Mercury” or “Venus” of this system, and that a more Earth-like planet appears further from the star. But if the first “settlers” from earth are not biological humans, but rather non-biological intelligences that can build whatever bodies they like, even a burning hot planet could be turned into an asset — or actually a home.

It is, in any case, exiting that we have an exoplanet this close. If “only” ten per cent of light speed could be achieved, Proxima Centauri is within reach well within even the lifetime of a biological human. We can already build probes that can function for 40 years or so (the Voyagers, launched in the seventies, are still transmitting information). Ideally we should send a universal constructor that could build additional probes from local matter once it arrived, and survey the system extensively. But then we must wait for the fabled mature phase of nanotechnology.

By: Editor

Editor — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:42:11 +0000

“Citation needed” :)

By: Arbman

Arbman — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:58:19 +0000

See molten salt Thorium reactors

By: Mystic

Mystic — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:53:17 +0000

Obviously, after the singularity everyone who has ever lived will be resurrected, so don’t worry about dying in the mean time.

By: douglas deveau

douglas deveau — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 03:33:59 +0000

33 more years to go. That will make me 83.

By: melajara

melajara — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 20:40:50 +0000

It looks now that orbiting planets are the rule and the exception would be stars WITHOUT any planet. Very comforting.

By: GAUSS

GAUSS — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:48:16 +0000

We need new fuel sources to make it anywhere. Somebody needs to figure out how to achieve exotic matter in the lab. Quantum mechanics holds the key.

By: Gorden Russell

Gorden Russell — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:36:52 +0000

It was very exciting to find that an Earth-sized planet had been found orbiting Alpha Centauri, I’m certainly glad that Ms. Angelica found this story. It is a shame that this new world is so close to the star. Yet if there is this one, there could be more farther out. Just imagine what it would mean to humanity to have a nearby place to colonize after the Singularity, when we will start building starships. If we can just keep on living until the year 2046, we can see this done.