Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
1–10 of 30 posts
Re: Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
#2I'd like to note that this is probably the biggest borderline-plausible hard SF idea not to have caught on (at least on a large scale) in genre fiction. And that I shamelessly strip-mined Mr Bradbury's mountain of ideas for props in "Accelerando".
(In case you were wondering where SF writers get their ideas from ...)
Re: Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
#3http://home.fnal.gov/~carrigan/infrared_astronomy/Fermilab_s...
The link above is to a fermi lab program to look for Dyson spheres. The Matrioshka brain is a subset of the Dyson sphere. Something made famous, unfortunately, by Trekkers.
Re: Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
#4One would imagine that on a Dyson sphere sized computer, intercommunication (limited by speed of light) will become major bottleneck. At some point amassing components will stop winning you performance due to physical dimensions.
Re: Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
#5I'd like to note that this is probably the biggest borderline-plausible hard SF idea not to have caught on (at least on a large scale) in genre fiction. And that I shamelessly strip-mined Mr Bradbury's mountain of ideas for props in "Accelerando". (In case you were wondering where SF writers get their ideas from ...)
Of course it has. Dyson Spheres are famous in SF.
The Matrioshka Brains are just distant relatives of the same.
Re: Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
#6i hope no one is taking this seriously, becayse the logic/"science" presented here is well... science fiction i guess.
Re: Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
#7I'd like to note that this is probably the biggest borderline-plausible hard SF idea not to have caught on (at least on a large scale) in genre fiction. And that I shamelessly strip-mined Mr Bradbury's mountain of ideas for props in "Accelerando". (In case you were wondering where SF writers get their ideas from ...)
Wow, Charles Stross, I didn't know you were on HN. I'm a big fan. I love the sheer intensity of your work. Props!
Re: Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
#8http://home.fnal.gov/~carrigan/infrared_astronomy/Fermilab_s... The link above is to a fermi lab program to look for Dyson spheres. The Matrioshka brain is a subset of the Dyson sphere. Something made famous, unfortunately, by Trekkers.
Why is that unfortunate?
Re: Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
#9I'd like to note that this is probably the biggest borderline-plausible hard SF idea not to have caught on (at least on a large scale) in genre fiction. And that I shamelessly strip-mined Mr Bradbury's mountain of ideas for props in "Accelerando". (In case you were wondering where SF writers get their ideas from ...)
Heh, I wanted to post a comment pointing out that anyone who likes this article should definitely read Accelerando... Great book, thanks for writing it! :-)
Re: Matrioshka Brains: computing at the limits of physics
#10One would imagine that on a Dyson sphere sized computer, intercommunication (limited by speed of light) will become major bottleneck. At some point amassing components will stop winning you performance due to physical dimensions.
If you're pooling enough people's resources to make a machine that big, you're probably going to get enough independent tasks to make good use of it too.