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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   11942 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of July 6, 2026

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It doesn't seem physically implausible for a supernova to be triggerable by targeting the star in some fashion. Such an "unnatural" supernova could even be more destructive than a regular one, and regular supernova can already be dangerous to life in nearby solar systems.

Then there's stuff like nanites that can just scourge arbitrary areas, etc.

I agree it may be impossible, but it's really hard to tell with our still rather limited understanding (and, arguably, intelligence).

It doesn't seem physically implausible for a supernova to be triggerable by targeting the star in some fashion. Such an "unnatural" supernova could even be more destructive than a regular one, and regular supernova can already be dangerous to life in nearby solar systems.

It seems absolutely physically implausible, and the possible properties of a synthetic supernova are barely even conjecture. If pigs could fly, stars could be blown up on demand, and that would surely be very impressive.

Then there's stuff like nanites that can just scourge arbitrary areas, etc.

Fun fact about nanites: There isn't stuff like them.

I agree it may be impossible, but it's really hard to tell with our still rather limited understanding (and, arguably, intelligence).

And I think it makes more sense to work with the boring, limited knowledge we have than with the wild imaginations of science-fiction.

We're literally talking about theoretical civilizations far beyond our tech level, though. If you think speculation is pointless that's your prerogative, but limiting oneself to current "boring" understanding makes as much sense as, say, upon hearing of the possible existence of snakes for the first time, presupposing they must be bi- or quad-pods, since all the mammals you have seen so far are.

It seems absolutely physically implausible, and the possible properties of a synthetic supernova are barely even conjecture. If pigs could fly, stars could be blown up on demand, and that would surely be very impressive.

No offense, but your opinion (let alone level of confidence) goes, ironically, against our current understanding. After double-checking with google and AI, current consensus from theoretical astrophysicists seems to be that it is probably possible to trigger a supernova, but we don't know a practical way to achieve it. In addition, most scientists neither believe we know all possible types of natural supernovae, certainly not completely different unnatural possibilities. Which stacks the deck in favor of "probably possible in some fashion" further.

Trigger supernovae, just like it's possible to travel faster than light by simply building an Alcubierre drive, because theoretical physicists say so? Call me when someone builds a proof of concept.

RE: Snakes - If someone tells me they observed a novel form of locomotion, I'm all ears. If I know them to be an ethusiast for imaginary forms of locomotion, I'll remain skeptical.

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