Freethought & Rationalism Archive

HomerOfBorg · 05-08-2002, 03:40 PM

Some "cheery" news from the astronomy front:

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1975000/1975354.stm" target="_blank">Cosmic Catastrophe 'A Certainty'</a>

It seems we're living in a cosmic mine field.

wdog · 05-08-2002, 04:16 PM

I am more worried about the yellowstone supervolcano going off. it could happen any year now as we are 640,000 years into a 600,000-800,000 year cycle (or so the geologists say). The last supervolcano at Toba 74,000 years ago nearly killed us off according to some evolutionary biologists.

KeithHarwood · 05-08-2002, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HomerOfBorg:
<strong>Some "cheery" news from the astronomy front:

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1975000/1975354.stm" target="_blank">Cosmic Catastrophe 'A Certainty'</a>

It seems we're living in a cosmic mine field.</strong>

Sounds like a good reason for colonising the galaxy. But only if it's likely to happen before the next election.

BTW, how do they know that eta Carinae is not pointing at us? (Thinks: from what I know of quasars and active galaxies it's likely that the nasty beams are aligned with the axis of rotation. Stars earlier than F0 all seem to have rapid rotation. If they've measured the rotation of eta Carinae then its pole isn't pointed at us. Perhaps that's how they know.)

Bill · 05-08-2002, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KeithHarwood:
<strong>BTW, how do they know that eta Carinae is not pointing at us? (Thinks: from what I know of quasars and active galaxies it's likely that the nasty beams are aligned with the axis of rotation. Stars earlier than F0 all seem to have rapid rotation. If they've measured the rotation of eta Carinae then its pole isn't pointed at us. Perhaps that's how they know.) </strong>

I am not at all certain that the star's rotation prior to collapse is any good predictor of what its rotation might be in the event of this sort of "supermassive" collapse. In any case, I wouldn't bet MY planet on it keeping its exact same axis of rotation.

== Bill

Christopher Lord · 05-08-2002, 07:29 PM

I would.

20 bucks, any takers?

Hastur · 05-09-2002, 11:23 AM

Wouldn't the scenario Dr. Dar describes (say *that* 3 times fast) leave a massive amount of evidence behind? Flash-fried ecosystems, massive gamma radiation bombarment, etc. etc.
I don't think anything like that has been found.

05-08-2002, 03:40 PM	#1
HomerOfBorg Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Here Posts: 49	Is This Why No One Has Come To See Us? Some "cheery" news from the astronomy front: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1975000/1975354.stm" target="_blank">Cosmic Catastrophe 'A Certainty'</a> It seems we're living in a cosmic mine field.

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05-08-2002, 04:16 PM	#2
wdog Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 1,547	I am more worried about the yellowstone supervolcano going off. it could happen any year now as we are 640,000 years into a 600,000-800,000 year cycle (or so the geologists say). The last supervolcano at Toba 74,000 years ago nearly killed us off according to some evolutionary biologists.

05-08-2002, 07:29 PM	#5
Christopher Lord Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 808	I would. 20 bucks, any takers?

05-09-2002, 11:23 AM	#6
Hastur Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Carcosa Posts: 238	Wouldn't the scenario Dr. Dar describes (say that 3 times fast) leave a massive amount of evidence behind? Flash-fried ecosystems, massive gamma radiation bombarment, etc. etc. I don't think anything like that has been found.

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