Live data from Hacker News

Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

theconversation.com

51–60 of 92 posts

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#51
post #41

This is tangentially related: I've had a pet theory for a while (which may not be original, idk) that a possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox Great Filter is literally the existence of huge amounts of Fossil Fuels. It took millions of years of dead biological life on our planet to build up the supplies we have, and the big ol' meteor that hit us some 60 million years ago helped not only kill off a bunch of that…

[deleted]

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#52
post #46
post #41

This is tangentially related: I've had a pet theory for a while (which may not be original, idk) that a possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox Great Filter is literally the existence of huge amounts of Fossil Fuels. It took millions of years of dead biological life on our planet to build up the supplies we have, and the big ol' meteor that hit us some 60 million years ago helped not only kill off a bunch of that…

There is another well known corollary -- if we consume the bulk of fossil fuels this time around, it's unlikely that recovery after a major civilisation collapse would be possible. Naturally the kind of leadership that declines to consider what will happen over the next 20-30 years is even less likely to be concerned about the subsequent 200-300.

This is a pretty scary thought. We have one shot. If we waste it our species won't escape the planet for another million years, if ever. If we manage it, the stars are our's.

If that isn't another low probability Great Filter, I don't know what is. Gravity is the ultimate cage.

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#53
post #41

This is tangentially related: I've had a pet theory for a while (which may not be original, idk) that a possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox Great Filter is literally the existence of huge amounts of Fossil Fuels. It took millions of years of dead biological life on our planet to build up the supplies we have, and the big ol' meteor that hit us some 60 million years ago helped not only kill off a bunch of that…

[deleted]

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If oil were substantially less common, its feasible that we'd still live in a 1800s-esque society with some form of civilization development, but would we have radio? Certainly not space travel. We don't have space travel now...

We... most certainly DO have space travel now.

Only for values of "travel" that consist entirely of beginning in a particular location, and then staying there.

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#55
post #41

This is tangentially related: I've had a pet theory for a while (which may not be original, idk) that a possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox Great Filter is literally the existence of huge amounts of Fossil Fuels. It took millions of years of dead biological life on our planet to build up the supplies we have, and the big ol' meteor that hit us some 60 million years ago helped not only kill off a bunch of that…

I think a civilization could make a pretty good go at things without fossil fuels. The 2 big use cases for fossil fuel are the temperature of the heat itself (for things like smelting), but also how simple it is to make a steam engine with energy dense fuels (cars/trains/planes/electricity). Temperature wise, a lot of metals can be smelted with clever oven design using wood/charcoal (though another planet wont have exactly wood, obviously). Energy wise, wind mills and water wheels have been in use for thousands of years, and after the discovery of electricity, its reasonably simple to turn that mechanical energy into electricity (using wood-smelted metals).

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#56
post #48
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm not saying we don't have evidence for what happened in prehistoric times. As you said, that's hard. But the above is the outline of Mckenna's theory, taken from wikipedia. My point, is that he makes a number of claims as to the effects of psilocybin - see above - and none of those claims of what the drug can do are backed up by evidence. So, what you're saying is that it's state-of-the-art work in the burgeonin…

No. I'm saying that the effects of psilocybin claimed by Mckenna, and which are required for his theory, do not exist. Specifically, for example, psilocybin actually reduces vision, rather than improving it [1] : which invalidates Mckennas first quoted point above. [1] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01965761 This isn't a question of "evolutionary psychology", but of neuroscience.

Am I following correctly?:

- psilocybin has been proven to reduce vision capabilities under all circumstances, and this is conclusively proven in that report?

- each of his contributing sub-theories must have been true (all are pre-requisites) for his overall theory to have some unrealized truth to it?

- there are conclusive studies demonstrating it is not possible for psilocybin to effect evolutionary psychology?

Just trying to get a clear understanding of what you are saying, and what you are not. Typing is such a low-bandwidth medium.

EDIT: -1, gosh I find it frustrating how difficult it seems to be to communicate with others on certain topics.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20042550

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#57
post #41

This is tangentially related: I've had a pet theory for a while (which may not be original, idk) that a possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox Great Filter is literally the existence of huge amounts of Fossil Fuels. It took millions of years of dead biological life on our planet to build up the supplies we have, and the big ol' meteor that hit us some 60 million years ago helped not only kill off a bunch of that…

Petroleum is constantly regenerated by the mantle splashing against the crust. That’s why depleted reservoirs are always full again ten years later. Please stop spreading this “fossil fuel” conspiracy theory.

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#58
post #41

This is tangentially related: I've had a pet theory for a while (which may not be original, idk) that a possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox Great Filter is literally the existence of huge amounts of Fossil Fuels. It took millions of years of dead biological life on our planet to build up the supplies we have, and the big ol' meteor that hit us some 60 million years ago helped not only kill off a bunch of that…

[deleted]

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We... most certainly DO have space travel now.

Only for values of "travel" that consist entirely of beginning in a particular location, and then staying there.

Still counts as space travel.

Re: Complex life may only exist because of millions of years of groundwork by fungi

#60
post #41

This is tangentially related: I've had a pet theory for a while (which may not be original, idk) that a possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox Great Filter is literally the existence of huge amounts of Fossil Fuels. It took millions of years of dead biological life on our planet to build up the supplies we have, and the big ol' meteor that hit us some 60 million years ago helped not only kill off a bunch of that…

Don’t forget carbon in the biosphere was at historic lows before humans started freeing it. Carbon is permanently sequestered forever in the ocean by crustaceans, and without humans freeing up coal and oil, life would have slowly strangled. There will likely be no second chance for intelligent life after us.
Post reply on HN