Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X' • Hacker News Board

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#21

Post by jackmodern » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 6:45 PM UTC

NathanKP wrote: post #16

Razengan wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It seems probable that such neural implant tech and automation could be created long before a practical interstellar travel solution is created, which would also be a depressing, but realistic explanation for the Fermi paradox. So everyone out there is basically sleeping in their beds? :)

That'd be my guess. The tech wouldn't even have to be that sophisticated to be the most addictive thing ever, unfortunately. Your brain already has the ability to hallucinate worlds very vividly (in fact it does so every night when you sleep). All you need is a device that keeps you sleeping and dreaming, while periodically triggering your brain to dump a bunch of dopamine. Maybe I'm just too nihilistic, but the way…

"Now imagine a neural implant that makes you feel like you simultaneously ate a great meal, had the best orgasm of your life, and did the best work of your life"

It's called acid, and other psychedelics. Sure, people get addicted to it, but not a huge number percentage wise.

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#22

Post by gnarbarian » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 6:48 PM UTC

wyck wrote: post #3

"So you think there's a chance" - Niburu Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nibiru_cataclysm

I really hope they name it Niburu.

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#23

Post by kaybe » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 6:49 PM UTC

NathanKP wrote: post #19

cubano wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So in the end, you envision addiction destroying humanity. It's an interesting insight but I can't really see it happening the way you describe. There are already many substances (opiates, crack, meth to name a few), some that have been around for centuries, that give intense dopamine-release rushes. Yet, only a small percentage of people, around 5-10%, seem to have the addictive personality required to completely di…

People who don't get addicted to chemical drugs don't get addicted because they have things in their lives (rewarding work, good relationships/sex, religion and other forms of self actualization) which gives them dopamine triggers that are more enjoyable than the drug. On the other hand people who lack things that give them the natural dopamine trigger tend to get highly addicted to chemicals that trigger the dopamin…

A less pessimistic view on the future would be not a divergence of humans and AI/computers but a co-development. If we can merge we might be able to keep up.

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#24

Post by ars » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 7:11 PM UTC

jackmodern wrote: post #21

NathanKP wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That'd be my guess. The tech wouldn't even have to be that sophisticated to be the most addictive thing ever, unfortunately. Your brain already has the ability to hallucinate worlds very vividly (in fact it does so every night when you sleep). All you need is a device that keeps you sleeping and dreaming, while periodically triggering your brain to dump a bunch of dopamine. Maybe I'm just too nihilistic, but the way…

"Now imagine a neural implant that makes you feel like you simultaneously ate a great meal, had the best orgasm of your life, and did the best work of your life" It's called acid, and other psychedelics. Sure, people get addicted to it, but not a huge number percentage wise.

> Sure, people get addicted to it, but not a huge number percentage wise.

Is that because they don't get addicted, or because they don't try it?

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#25

Post by vkou » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 7:21 PM UTC

greenwalls wrote: post #2

It would be interesting to know where we are currently on this theoretical mass extinction cycle. Hopefully we have a few million years left.

We're currently the primary cause of an on-going mass extinction. [1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#26

Post by jpalomaki » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 7:34 PM UTC

Would it be possible to see this planet X with optical telescopes if we knew where to look at? (Assuming the figures given in article, mass 10 times earth, distance from sun 1000 times earth's distance)

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#27

Post by Chronic51 » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 7:34 PM UTC

vkou wrote: post #25

greenwalls wrote: post #2

It would be interesting to know where we are currently on this theoretical mass extinction cycle. Hopefully we have a few million years left.

We're currently the primary cause of an on-going mass extinction. [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

That's fine. We still have a thousand years or two. We should be off this planet by then.

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#28

Post by Retra » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 7:38 PM UTC

vkou wrote: post #25

greenwalls wrote: post #2

It would be interesting to know where we are currently on this theoretical mass extinction cycle. Hopefully we have a few million years left.

We're currently the primary cause of an on-going mass extinction. [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

Humans are dangerous!

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#29

Post by Retra » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 7:40 PM UTC

NathanKP wrote: post #19

cubano wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So in the end, you envision addiction destroying humanity. It's an interesting insight but I can't really see it happening the way you describe. There are already many substances (opiates, crack, meth to name a few), some that have been around for centuries, that give intense dopamine-release rushes. Yet, only a small percentage of people, around 5-10%, seem to have the addictive personality required to completely di…

People who don't get addicted to chemical drugs don't get addicted because they have things in their lives (rewarding work, good relationships/sex, religion and other forms of self actualization) which gives them dopamine triggers that are more enjoyable than the drug. On the other hand people who lack things that give them the natural dopamine trigger tend to get highly addicted to chemicals that trigger the dopamin…

>People who don't get addicted to chemical drugs don't get addicted because they have things in their lives (rewarding work, good relationships/sex, religion and other forms of self actualization) which gives them dopamine triggers that are more enjoyable than the drug.

That sounds like something you should back up with unambiguous evidence.

Re: Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'

#30

Post by krapp » Sun, Apr 03, 2016, 7:41 PM UTC

NathanKP wrote: post #8

Razengan wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If certain science fiction is to believed, there is a pan-dimensional super-intelligence that feeds on all sentience once they cross a certain technological level, so it's all futile anyway.

In my opinion it's much more likely that sentient beings apathy themselves into extinction. Humans already show a tendency towards addiction to technology that exploits dopamine triggers, as social networks like Facebook do. Now imagine a world in which matrix style neural implants give you all the dopamine fulfillment that you want with no need for any effort. And combine this neural implant replacement for reality…

Your definition of "sentient being" seems too anthropocentric to me. Why should anyone but humans happen to have evolved something like a brain with dopamine centers and the capacity for pleasure or addiction?