Comments on: Plotting the interstellar path to Proxima Centauri https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/plotting-the-interstellar-path-to-proxima-centauri/ Wed, 01 Feb 2017 18:00:52 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: jburn https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/plotting-the-interstellar-path-to-proxima-centauri/#comment-962624 Wed, 01 Feb 2017 18:00:52 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43995#comment-962624 Local,
you bring up an interesting perspective regarding immortality (baring an accidental or intentional death event). Combined with a vastly longer life, we may also merge with machines. Reading all papers ever published may take far less time than currently imagined.

If we were to achieve extraordinarily long lives, it may encourage (or perhaps mandate) our push outward into space. Where else can we find virtually unlimited energy, materials and area (space) to grow such a civilization other than moving beyond a single planet.

]]> By: LocalFluff https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/plotting-the-interstellar-path-to-proxima-centauri/#comment-962607 Wed, 01 Feb 2017 17:05:00 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43995#comment-962607 Human interstellar travel might not be as hard as traditionally understood. We are quickly increasing our average age and immortality can be just a fairly simple genetic engineering away. If you live forever you might not care so much about spending a thousand years going to a neighboring star. You could spend that time reading all papers ever published on physics. You could work and save a thousand years until the trip to afford it.

Immortality is coming and it will change society fundamentally. Maybe there will be no families. Without pensions and with a very different risk valuation (you really don’t want to die in an accident), the financial markets will be different. I’ve heard that people actually don’t get a worse memory with age (unless they are hit by some disease), it is just harder to keep track of all the information we accumulate every day. A thousands of years old human would be a very powerful being.

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