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Proxima Centauri has a Earth-like planet

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Re: Proxima Centauri has a Earth-like planet

#5
I appreciate it's 100% speculative, as we are stuck with a sample set of only one, but I'm increasingly of the belief that we're rare (as opposed to first or fucked [1]).

Heavily swayed by a recent reading of Nick Lane's excellent book on Mitochondria[2].

The fact that even our nearest neighbour probably has an earth-like planet is, from this angle, a bit depressing.

[1] http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power,_Sex,_Suicide

Re: Proxima Centauri has a Earth-like planet

#6
post #5

I appreciate it's 100% speculative, as we are stuck with a sample set of only one, but I'm increasingly of the belief that we're rare (as opposed to first or fucked [1]). Heavily swayed by a recent reading of Nick Lane's excellent book on Mitochondria[2]. The fact that even our nearest neighbour probably has an earth-like planet is, from this angle, a bit depressing. [1] http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.ht…

The Percolation Theory reasons that Earth might linger in an uninteresting part of the Milky Way: its galactic backwaters. See:

* [1998] http://www.geoffreylandis.com/percolation.htp

* [2014] https://arxiv.org/abs/1404.0204

Re: Proxima Centauri has a Earth-like planet

#7
post #5

I appreciate it's 100% speculative, as we are stuck with a sample set of only one, but I'm increasingly of the belief that we're rare (as opposed to first or fucked [1]). Heavily swayed by a recent reading of Nick Lane's excellent book on Mitochondria[2]. The fact that even our nearest neighbour probably has an earth-like planet is, from this angle, a bit depressing. [1] http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.ht…

You may find the "dark forest hypothesis" that's put forward in the Three Body Problem/Dark Forest series bu Liu Cixin an interesting possible solution for the Fermi Paradise.

Interestingly, a planet on Proxima Centauri is a major plot point in the novels.

Re: Proxima Centauri has a Earth-like planet

#8
post #7
post #5

I appreciate it's 100% speculative, as we are stuck with a sample set of only one, but I'm increasingly of the belief that we're rare (as opposed to first or fucked [1]). Heavily swayed by a recent reading of Nick Lane's excellent book on Mitochondria[2]. The fact that even our nearest neighbour probably has an earth-like planet is, from this angle, a bit depressing. [1] http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.ht…

You may find the "dark forest hypothesis" that's put forward in the Three Body Problem/Dark Forest series bu Liu Cixin an interesting possible solution for the Fermi Paradise. Interestingly, a planet on Proxima Centauri is a major plot point in the novels.

Yup, I've read the first two of this series, and it's an interesting proposition, but also pretty depressing.

Nation states and / or races are a hopeful and cheery counter example... or in for a hard time.

Re: Proxima Centauri has a Earth-like planet

#10
post #9

WHAT. That is one implausible SF premise that just allegedly came true there.

They've refused to deny it, so they've confirmed it.

When I saw the headline, I literally went 'Oh come on!' out loud. Apparently there's a bloody Earth-like planet everywhere if even our neighboring star has one.

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