Kardashev scale

#1

Post by tshtf » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 2:16 PM UTC

Kardashev scale
en.wikipedia.org

Re: Kardashev scale

#2

Post by DiabloD3 » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 3:40 PM UTC

So when is Google going to start building the framework that gets us to Type I? ;)

Re: Kardashev scale

#3

Post by bane » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 3:52 PM UTC

This scale can be a wonderful focal point to explore different kinds of energy technologies. Once it gets to type I, the mega-structures we think would be required stir the imagination.

Re: Kardashev scale

#4

Post by collypops » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 3:53 PM UTC

I love that the example of Type I is a synopsis of Stargate Universe

Re: Kardashev scale

#5

Post by burgerbrain » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 4:06 PM UTC

This scale is very cool and all, but speculation about when we will acheive these levels is a guessing game. In the very least it ignores the possibility of a technological singularity, beyond which speculation becomes impossible.

Re: Kardashev scale

#6

Post by iqster » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 4:10 PM UTC

One of the coolest sci-fi ideas related to the scale is that of a Dyson Sphere (a megastructure that surronds a star to collect it's energy). I recall personally encountering the idea for the first time in a Star Trek episode. The wikipedia article mentions it. Sends a chill down my spine.

Edit: Here's a link to the ST-TNG episode: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relics_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Gen...

Re: Kardashev scale

#7

Post by drKarl » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 4:13 PM UTC

I first read about Kardashev Scale on Michio Kaku's Parallel worlds. Nice starting point to speculation!!

Re: Kardashev scale

#8

Post by phrotoma » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 4:18 PM UTC

burgerbrain wrote: post #5

This scale is very cool and all, but speculation about when we will acheive these levels is a guessing game. In the very least it ignores the possibility of a technological singularity, beyond which speculation becomes impossible.

I agree about the guessing game, but games are fun! I spent a good long while reading this site that speculates on all sorts of cool future achievements.

http://www.futuretimeline.net/

Re: Kardashev scale

#9

Post by lukifer » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 6:25 PM UTC

Also worth a link: Greydon Square's excellent science-themed hip-hop album of the same name: http://greydonsquare.bandcamp.com/album/the-kardashev-scale

Re: Kardashev scale

#10

Post by kabdib » Sat, Feb 05, 2011, 7:11 PM UTC

I also recommend _Stellar Migration and the Human Experience_, which is chock full of stuff about Dyson spheres, "star lifting" (reducing a star's mass to prolong its life), and discussion of starship design.