From: entropy@farviolet.com
Date: Sat Oct 15 2005 - 18:05:28 MDT
On Sat, 15 Oct 2005, ben wrote:
> You probably need several (at least two, maybe three) generations of
> stars to get enough heavy elements to make rocky planets, so more
> recently-formed stars will have a better chance of hosting life (as we
> know it. Gregory Benford seems keen on the idea of lifeforms based on
> magnetic fields and plasma, but that's a whole different story, and i
> don't know whether he regards that as a real possibility or just a good
> story line).
I had a conversation with another list member (Peter M) while out hiking.
It occurred to me that a dysan sphere of 'exotic materials' could be
placed within a star. The core is so hot relative to the surface that
you'd be able to make use of the stars energy very effectively with a
heat engine using that differential in core and surface temperatures.
We could have entire hidden stellar civilizations making use of the
vast energy available within a star to run them selves. The only
catch is that it requires exotic materials, ones which allow construction
of machines that can operate in a plasma. Of course some sort of plasma
based machine is one possibility, but it doesn't seem beyond the scope
of a super advanced culture to come up with solid machinery built of
exotic particles. So maybe a surprise awaits should we discover such a
material and use it to take a peak inside the sun.
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