RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Unfolding Universe (discovery channel)

["Ross, Matt" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Taking some rough (and probably inaccurate) numbers, lets say the human race
doubles in population every 100 years.  I've heard sci-fi, and other sources
make claims that the earth can't support over 20 billion of us, so this
means we have 2 centuries left before we're too populous. (of course, more
say we're already overpopulated, but I disagree with that).  Another
statistic I saw in the past was that one in every thousand solar systems
should have a planet that can be terraformed (somewhere between earth and
mars).  With a randomly selected number of 1 billion stars in our galaxy,
that means 1 million potential worlds, and for the sake of this argument,
I'll say each matches earth in population density.  In 16 centuries from
that (3800 AD) we will be too numerous to exist only in terraformed planets
in our own galaxy.  If we find some method such as a dyson sphere to be
feasible, we can probably last till 5000 AD within our own galaxy.  Another
key point is, this would require a constant group to be in transit in
generation ships to avoid overpopulation on any given planet.

Now, I know this is very inaccurate, but unless the people population is
better controlled, I think population pressure will result in something like
this.  I don't think "stop thinking about moving" makes sense.

> > At this point in time, I will be surprised if humanity 
> outlives Twinkies
> > produced yesterday. Not unless folks realize the word, 
> "mine" is a lie.
> > Our greed will consume the resources of the Earth far 
> faster than the
> > sun will consume its hydrogen.
> 
> I don't think we'll perish that quickly, but I do think we 
> have to learn
> to manage the Earth and stop thinking about moving to other planets.
> 
> I don't think we'll move to distant galaxies, but who can 
> say?  We might
> discover something that we can't even conceive of now.
> 
> Mike
> 
> 
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