Erik Max Francis <max at alcyone.com> wrote in message
news:3810B0FA.8EDFDD89 at alcyone.com...
> Ronnie Sahlberg wrote:
>> > Who needs fancy stuff like that. FTL communications are much easier:
> > look at the heat-dissipation equations.
> > Heat travels infinitely fast, that's much much faster than light.
> > Using heat-dissipation for communications would allow intergalactic
> > communication systems with close to zero RTT.
>> Uh, you're obviously not using the right equations.
>> > Question; if the sun goes nova, it will take 8 minuteas for us to see
> > it.
> > Would anyone see the nova (even _very_ briefly) from earth?
> > or would we all 8 minute old fries by then...
>> Well, the Sun won't go nova (or supernova for that matter), so unless
> you specify how you're obliterating the Sun, it's hard to answer. Even
> if the Sun were to go supernova (which it won't), people on the dark
> side of the Earth would survive long enough to realize they're in deep
> shit.
Seems reasonable from the standpoint of heating, but how about radiation
(and particles, which one might assume are ejected from a super-nova at
something close to c)? Even with the diameter of the Earth for protection,
is there enough dust around us for back-scatter to do us in quickly? And
what if the moon is full (well, Larry Niven[?] may have covered that one)?
Just looking on the bright side...
- bill
>> --
> Erik Max Francis | icq 16063900 | whois mf303 | email max at alcyone.com> Alcyone Systems | irc maxxon (efnet) | web http://www.alcyone.com/max/> San Jose, CA | languages en, eo | icbm 37 20 07 N 121 53 38 W
> USA | Fri 1999 Oct 22 (42%/950) | &tSftDotIotE
> __
> / \ But who shall dwell in these worlds if they be inhabited?
> \__/ Johannes Kepler
