So I haven't made a good science thread in a long time (Science news don't count because those are just copying and pasting), and megastructures are cool, so here it is.
[B]#1- Space Elevator[/B]
Lets start with a classic: The space elevator. Featured in Arthur C. Clarke's classic novel, The Fountains of Paradise.
Now, before you think it's crazy: It's not. The elevator consists of a platform or station located somewhere on Earth's equator, and a space station (Often called Terminus, for this means 'The end of the line'. The space station would preferably be an asteroid to use as a counterweight, keep tension and all), connected by a Carbon Nanotube tether. The elevator, also known as climber, would go up and down the tether, taking several tonnes of cargo, several times per day, at a very low cost ($1,600 per kg, that's actually pretty low compared to today's cost. But this is an estimate).
Currently, it can't be built, basically for two reasons:
- There are no materials capable of withstanding that (Carbon Nanotubes are still being researched, we have produced some, but we can make them better)
- We would have to send a lot of them into space. A lot of tonnes of carbon nanotube tether.
But there's a company that will build it once the nanotech becomes available :neckbeard:
[url]http://www.liftport.com/[/url]
[QUOTE]COUNTDOWN TO LIFT: October 27, 2031
21 years, 148 days, 20 hours, 26 minutes, 4 seconds[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Who is LiftPort Group?[/B]
LiftPort Group, founded in April, 2003, is a group of companies dedicated to building the LiftPort Space Elevator. Our goal is to provide the world a mass transportation system to open up the vast market opportunities that exist in space, many of which haven't even been imagined yet, to even the smallest entrepreneur. These new markets can only become viable through safe, inexpensive, routine access to space. Our motto is, "Change the world or go home," and we strive each day to make that change a reality.
Primarily targeting the hardware of the space elevator, the LiftPort Group member companies are researching and designing the nuts and bolts in the fields of carbon nanotube production, robotics, photo voltaics, power beaming and targeting, and permanent floating structures for the ocean. Outside of that, we also are responsible for project management, web design, public relation, accounting, and legal issues for each member company of the group.[/QUOTE]
[B]#2 - Dyson Sphere[/B]
First of all, the Dyson sphere is in NO WAY a solid shell, because that would be really unstable and require materials that we can't even imagine. Besides, there would be no gravity at the poles and any atmosphere would just float into the central star, and other disasters such as...
*Ahem*
A dyson sphere is a series of thousands, even millions of O'Neill-like colonies, each one with its own individual orbit. They have huge solar collectors to capture as much sunlight as possible, evnetually using most of the star's energy, to supply themselves, and for other uses. That much power would allow us to build gigantic particle accelerators and manufacture antimatter in amounts so ridiculous, we could build thousands of Valkyrie rockets and send them to the stars at no cost.
Most people agree that once a civilization grows to the point where they need a lot of energy, a Dyson sphere will be built. Mind you, this is [I]The Future[/I] so the colonies could either have life and habitats inside or simply be spheres of Computronium, the brain of some sort of AI God or another one of Ray Kurzweil's wet dreams.
If advances civilizations are very common, there should be a lot of Dyson spheres, no? How do we find them? Visual observation would probably be futile, but these colonies would produce a lotof waste heat. A shitfuckload ofwaste heat, that one has to radiate, and the star would look a bit too red for its spectral type, red due to the radiated heat.
Pretty pictures:
[IMG]http://www.phys.boun.edu.tr/~semiz/universe/far/20ext/dyson.gif[/IMG]
[IMG]http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dyson_sphere_diagram.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://21stcenturywaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/dyson1.jpg[/IMG]
[B]#3 - Lofstrom Loop/Launch Loop[/B]
The Lofstrom Loop is basically a gigantic maglev train, capable of taking six million tonnes of cargo into Low Earth Orbit per year, at a total cost of three dollars per kilogram.
It would be the perfect way of getting into space, and the best part is, it could be done with today's technology. The total cost would be 551 million, nothing much all things considered, but the cost of building it would go up to 10 billion due to the problems of getting the materials into space, a problem the Lofstro Loop itself would solve forever after its construction. The other problem is construction permits for like five states, even countries, due to the loop being fucking huge, and the people going "NO NO I DUN WANT A BIG SPACE TRAIN ABOVE MY HOUSE WHAT IF IT FALLS? HURR".
Only pretty picture:
[IMG]http://www.orionsarm.com/im_store/lofstrom.png[/IMG]
[B]#4 - Stellar Engine[/B]
This section of the thread is to whomever said "There are no retarded ideas".
A stellar engine is basically a huge mirror placed next to a star. The gravity pulls the mirror closer, but the mirror itself acts as a solar sail, so the thrust:gravity remains the same and the mirror remains in place. The star would then shoot photons only in one direction.
A 'photon drive' (Propulsion using light) would take 300 terawatts of power for a single shitty newton of thrust. The star is incredibly massive and photons shoot off in all directions, so the thrust is amazingly low. So low, it takes 10 billion years to reach a speed of 20 kilometers per second. When that happens, the star will be dead. Seriously, who proposed this? 20 kilometers per second, in space, is like walking.
And the mirror would have to resist a lot. Small micrometeorites could pierce it. A person in a ship would have to wait for a couple millions of years to get hit by anything larger than space dust, but this mirror would be huge, much larger than a ship, and it would be there for billions of years. It would eventually get hit by some interstellar planet or a wandering moon, and it would knock the mirror off-course, and the amount of disaster that would cause is nearly unimaginable.
Some pictures:
[IMG]http://listverse.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/350px-class_c_stellar_engine-tm.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.daviddarling.info/images/stellar_engine.jpg[/IMG]
[B]#5 - Dyson Sphagetti, a.k.a: Everyone on Orion's Arm is crazy Jesus Christ what is this I don't even[/B]
I just... Don't... Here's a picture:
[IMG]http://www.orionsarm.com/im_store/CABLEVILLE2.jpg[/IMG]
And here's a link: [url]http://www.orionsarm.com/xcms.php?r=oaeg-view-article&egart_uid=48ac37b0e82ba[/url]
[B]#6 - Dyson Trees[/B]
Freeman Dyson proposed that we could created genetically engineered plants able to grow on the harsh environments of comets, that would produce food and oxygen for an environment inside the comet (The comet iself would be hollowed out, its resources tuused for construction, ice electrolyzed into oxygen an hydrogen which couuld be used to make water or simply used as reaction mass for an ion drive. Or a chemical rocket, if you are smalltime.
[IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2413584588_170e91047b.jpg?v=0[/IMG]
[IMG]http://indieflux.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dysonss01.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://cienciadebolsillo.com/uploads/textos/arbol%20Dyson%20tree.jpg[/IMG]
[B]#7 - Ringworld [/B]
Fuck yeah Ringworld! If you haven't read this novel, do it now! I found it pretty good but didn't think it was THAT awesome. The sequel, 'The Ringworld Engineers', however, is BEYOND AWESOME.
It's basically a big... Ring. With flattened surfaces, rotating to produce gravity, with two tall walls (Tall as in 1000 miles) to keep the atmosphere in.
A material with such tensile strenght is way beyond imagination, so Niven said it was "scrith", a material with the strenght of the nuclear forces. Some guy said Ringworld could be, at least mathematically, treated as a suspension bridge with no endpoints.
While it might be a bit unstable (It's a solid body, so it's not technically "in orbit", every single section of the Ringworld should fall straight into the star), but I think the biggest problem (Besides, you know, construction materials :downs: ) is the 20 Jupiter masses of reaction mass required to get that shit to spin. I wish 20 MJ was an exaggeration, I really do.
Back on the topic of how awesome this shit is:
It has everything!
[B][I]Bussard Ramjets![/B][/I]
[IMG]http://www.itsf.org/brochure/images/ram-scoop-manchu.jpg[/IMG]
[B][I]Nanotech![/B][/I]
[IMG]http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content/cell-repair-nanorobot2.jpg[/IMG]
[B][I]Furries![/B][/I]
[IMG]http://i49.tinypic.com/2exmtl3.jpg[/IMG]
[B][I]A nice landscape![/B][/I]
[IMG]http://www.orionworks.com/shop/SVJShop/planetary/RingWld/Approaching_Dawn_1000.jpg[/IMG]
[B][I]Interspecies sex![/B][/I]
Now I don't have a picture for this one, but here's a quote from the book :q:
[QUOTE]“That is not funny. Rishathra is the way to seal a truce!”
“Oh. All right. Back to the fire?”
“Of course, we need light.”
She pulled the pot a little back from the flame, to cook more slowly. “We must discuss terms. Will you agree not to harm me?” She sat down across from him on the ground.
“I agree not to harm you unless I am attacked.”
“I make you the same concession. What else do you want from me?”
She was brisk and matter-of-fact, and Louis fell into the spirit of the thing. “You will transport me as far as you can, subject to your own needs. I expect that's as far as, ah, River's Return. You will treat the artifacts as mine. You will not turn them or me over to any authority. You will give me advice, to the best of your knowledge and ability, that will get me into the floating city.”
“What can you offer in return?”
Here now, wasn't this woman utterly at Louis Wu's mercy? Well, never mind. “I will attempt to find out if I can save the Ringworld,” he said, and was somewhat astonished to realize that it was what he most desired. “If I can, I will, no matter what the cost. If I decide the Ringworld can't be saved, I will try to save myself, and you if it's convenient.”
She stood. “A promise, empty of meaning. You offer me your madness as if it held real value!”
“Vala, haven't you dealt with madmen before?” Louis was amused.
“I have never dealt with even sane aliens! I am only a student!”
“Calm down. What else can I offer you? Knowledge? I'll share my knowledge freely, such as it is. I know how the City Builders' machines failed, and who caused it.” It seemed safe to assume that the City Builders were Halrloprillalar's species.
“More madness?”
“You'll have to decide that for yourself. And ... I can give you my flying belt and eyepieces when I'm through with them.”
“When is that likely to be?”
“When and if my companion returns.” The lander held another flying belt and set of goggles, intended for Halrloprillalar. “Or let them be yours when I die. And I can give you half my store of cloth now. Strips of it would let you repair some of the City Builders' old machines.”
Vala thought it over. “I wish I were more skilled. Well, then, I agree to all of your requirements.”
“I agree to yours.”
She began to take off her clothes and jewelry. Slowly, seemingly titillatingly ... until Louis saw what she was doing: stripping herself of all possible weapons. He waited until she was quite naked, then imitated her, dropping the flashlight-laser and goggles and the pieces of impact armor some distance from her, adding even his chronometer.
They made love, then, but it wasn't love. The madness of last night was gone with the vampires. She asked his preferred technique, then insisted, and he chose the missionary position. It was too much a formality. Perhaps it was meant to be. Afterward, when she went to stir the cooking pot, he was careful that she didn't get between him and his weapons. It felt like that kind of situation.
She came back to him, and he explained that his kind could make love more than once.
He sat cross-legged with Vala in his lap, her legs closed tight around his hips. They stroked each other, aroused each other, learned each other. She liked having her back scratched. Her back was muscular, her torso wider than his own. A strip of her hair ran all the way down her spine. She had fine control of the muscles of her vagina. The fringe of beard was very soft, very fine.
And Louis Wu had a plastic disc under the hair at the crown of his head.
They lay in each other's arms, and she waited.
“Even if you don't have electricity, you must know about it,” Louis said. “The City Builders used it to run their machines!”[/QUOTE]
Okay that's it.
I like your science threads. Keep making them.
I love the idea of #6, by the way.
Another person interested in science!
Love these posts, too bad there's like 5 science geeks on face-punch...
[quote]She had fine control of the muscles of her vagina.[/quote]
What the hell.
Great thread, keep it up!
The sex thing was kinda... well, creepy and unrealistic.
[QUOTE=darkrei9n;22452809]What the hell.[/QUOTE]
:siren: :pcgaming: :siren: [B] Larry Niven is a perv someone think of the children :siren: :pcgaming: :siren: [/B]
Ok, you have redeemed yourself with this thread.
I really like the Lofstrom loop idea very innovative,creative and lucrative.
Couldn't you just build the Lofstrom loop over the sea?
very nice thread, i love the dyson spheres and ring worlds, also i noticed you got a new avatar :smile:
[quote]
She began to take off her clothes and jewelry. Slowly, seemingly titillatingly ... until Louis saw what she was doing: stripping herself of all possible weapons. He waited until she was quite naked, then imitated her, dropping the flashlight-laser and goggles and the pieces of impact armor some distance from her, adding even his chronometer.
They made love, then, but it wasn't love. The madness of last night was gone with the vampires. She asked his preferred technique, then insisted, and he chose the missionary position. It was too much a formality. Perhaps it was meant to be. Afterward, when she went to stir the cooking pot, he was careful that she didn't get between him and his weapons. It felt like that kind of situation.
She came back to him, and he explained that his kind could make love more than once.
He sat cross-legged with Vala in his lap, her legs closed tight around his hips. They stroked each other, aroused each other, learned each other. She liked having her back scratched. Her back was muscular, her torso wider than his own. A strip of her hair ran all the way down her spine. She had fine control of the muscles of her vagina. The fringe of beard was very soft, very fine.
And Louis Wu had a plastic disc under the hair at the crown of his head.
They lay in each other's arms, and she waited.
“Even if you don't have electricity, you must know about it,” Louis said. “The City Builders used it to run their machines!”[/quote]:awesome:
Dyson's a beast.
Halo has ringworlds, but they made them bombs or some shit.
Now I feel like my childhood was stolen.
Interesting read
The space elevator would be very fucking scary though
On the Ringworld topic, I hate to sound like such a prick, but a Halo style Ringworld would be much more plausible(not saying much considering the engineering needed for either, however). The Ringworld encircled a solar system, thousands of AU in diameter, no? A dyson ring only 10k KM in diameter is much easier to build.
[editline]08:57PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=TheChantzGuy;22452954]Halo has ringworlds, but they made them bombs or some shit.
Now I feel like my childhood was stolen.[/QUOTE]
Gamma Radiation bursts :v:
[editline]08:58PM[/editline]
also, space elevators are going to happen eventually, possibly in this century
Two thumbs up and keep it coming
Rated hearts because I love Eudoxia and his science threads.
[QUOTE=TheChantzGuy;22452954]Halo has ringworlds, but they made them bombs or some shit.
Now I feel like my childhood was stolen.[/QUOTE]
A smaller version of the Ringworld. I think it's called Banks Orbital. I should add that to the thread as soon as I have some time.
I actually understood most of that this time.
my dick is a space megastructure
inb4 gaybow
[QUOTE=dutchy;22453626]my dick is a space megastructure
inb4 gaybow[/QUOTE]
Please don't spam with stupid stuff. Thank you.
EDIT:
This is important stuff.
[QUOTE=GoodAyres;22453645]Please don't spam with stupid stuff. Thank you.
EDIT:
This is important stuff.[/QUOTE]
serious business
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;22452842]:siren: :pcgaming: :siren: [B] Larry Niven is a perv someone think of the children :siren: :pcgaming: :siren: [/B][/QUOTE]
Lol, the "Tasp" AKA orgasm-gun. :v:
[QUOTE=Arachnidus;22453105]On the Ringworld topic, I hate to sound like such a prick, but a Halo style Ringworld would be much more plausible(not saying much considering the engineering needed for either, however). The Ringworld encircled a solar system, thousands of AU in diameter, no? A dyson ring only 10k KM in diameter is much easier to build.
[editline]08:57PM[/editline]
Gamma Radiation bursts :v:
[editline]08:58PM[/editline]
also, space elevators are going to happen eventually, possibly in this century[/QUOTE]
Once we have carbon nano tubes able to be mass produced it will be built.
[editline]01:49AM[/editline]
Also, with the loop why not put it in Antarctica?
I don't understand the point of the stellar engine. :confused: Why would you put a giant mirror in equilibrium with a star? to reflect lost sunrays?
[QUOTE=Dolton;22454012]Once we have carbon nano tubes able to be mass produced it will be built.
[editline]01:49AM[/editline]
Also, with the loop why not put it in Antarctica?[/QUOTE]
Canada or Russia would be the better places for that, there's nothing in the north,
[QUOTE=Sirias;22454067]I don't understand the point of the stellar engine. :confused: Why would you put a giant mirror in equilibrium with a star? to reflect lost sunrays?[/QUOTE]
It slowly moves the star.
Very slowly.
The slowness of it is just unimaginable, I swear to God I have problems thinking about it. It's just to... Slow. So... fucking useless.
[QUOTE=Sirias;22454067]I don't understand the point of the stellar engine. :confused: Why would you put a giant mirror in equilibrium with a star? to reflect lost sunrays?
Canada or Russia would be the better places for that, there's nothing in the north,[/QUOTE]
The problem with that is that they would get far to big of a diplomatic tool.
[QUOTE=Dolton;22454012]
Also, with the loop why not put it in Antarctica?[/QUOTE]
The rotation of the Earth is what keeps the Lofstrom Loop in suspension, it would have to be put somewhere as close to the equator as possible. You could theoretically put it in Antartica, but then you would have to send small payloads from one end of the Loop to the other to keep it floating through momentum transfer.
I think.
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;22454089]It slowly moves the star.
Very slowly.
The slowness of it is just unimaginable, I swear to God I have problems thinking about it. It's just to... Slow. So... fucking useless.[/QUOTE]
It can be good for slight adjustments.
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;22454089]It slowly moves the star.
Very slowly.
The slowness of it is just unimaginable, I swear to God I have problems thinking about it. It's just to... Slow. So... fucking useless.[/QUOTE]
How would it? i mean, if the mirror is pulled by the gravitation force of the star but keep itself away by being a solar sail, doesnt it simply stay there? If i pull you and push you at the same time, its not like i'm going to move. unless the mirror would be big enough to generate a gravitational pull in himself?
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;22454169]The rotation of the Earth is what keeps the Lofstrom Loop in suspension, it would have to be put somewhere as close to the equator as possible. You could theoretically put it in Antartica, but then you would have to send small payloads from one end of the Loop to the other to keep it floating through momentum transfer.
I think.[/QUOTE]
That is indeed true. Constant motion would have to be applied for it to maintain structural stability.
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