Re: Long term nuclear waste disposal (was: The Year 2038 Problem)

From: Gerry Quinn (gerryq_at_DELETETHISindigo.ie)
Date: 06/13/04

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    Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 16:39:18 +0100

    In article <zHmxc.18594$QT3.11481@nwrdny01.gnilink.net>,
    tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail.com says...
    > gswork <gswork@mailcity.com> coughed up the following:

    > There are a great many things that are likely to doom us as our
    > understanding of physics increases. I'd have to say that three of which
    > that are likely (eventually) are going to be:
    >
    > 1. The age old nuclear winter scenario
    > 2. Particle coliders accidentally creating a mini-black hole
    > 3. Nanobot assemblers turning us all into the "gray goo".
    >
    > #2 and #3 have many issues in the way before they actually /could/ be a
    > problem. But they're worth looking at.

    I would say that 1 is irrelevant as even if nuclear winter is a real
    phenomenon, it wouldn't come near to killing us off.

    3 is very doubtful - after all we already have green goo a.k.a. mould
    and bacteria of all kinds, and grey goo isn't going to have magic powers
    that it doesn't.

    On the other hands, an exotic high-energy event loading to a negative
    strangelet, mini-black hole, vacuum phase change (or something nasty we
    haven't thought of) is not inconceivable IMO.

    However I would say the biggest threats such as supervirulent infections
    come from the biological sciences.

    And of course there are lots of big rocks flying around out there.

    - Gerry Quinn

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    Relevant Pages

    • Re: Long term nuclear waste disposal (was: The Year 2038 Problem)
      ... > understanding of physics increases. ... Particle coliders accidentally creating a mini-black hole ... I would say that 1 is irrelevant as even if nuclear winter is a real ... is very doubtful - after all we already have green goo a.k.a. mould ...
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    • Re: Long term nuclear waste disposal (was: The Year 2038 Problem)
      ... > understanding of physics increases. ... Particle coliders accidentally creating a mini-black hole ... I would say that 1 is irrelevant as even if nuclear winter is a real ... is very doubtful - after all we already have green goo a.k.a. mould ...
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