GeekSpeak subject for Saturday 14th November at noon SLT:

 

GeekSpeak – Asteroids!  Are they a threat or an opportunity?

 

Join us in GeekSpeak to talk about asteroids.  How many kinds of asteroid are there?  How were asteroids made?  We have visited and sampled a few asteroids now.  Are there plans to catch one?  (The answer is yes.)

Which asteroids are a threat to us, and which ones could be useful?  What would happen if a fluffy asteroid like Bennu (sampled 2 months ago) were to hit Earth?  And what would happen if a very heavy one like Psyche were to hit us? Is there anything we can do to defend ourselves?

Will we ever find life on an asteroid?

Ask all the questions about asteroids that you never dared to ask before.  Hopefully we can get some answers.  Bring a spacesuit, and your friends!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at 1pm SLT in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – reaching a Kardashev Type 1 civilization. Join the Discussion on Saturday, August 31st at 12pm SLT

Reaching level 1 on the Kardashev scale means storing and using all the energy that the earth gets from the sun.  We will reach this when we increase our energy production about a million-fold.  Can we ever get there?  Will we need to hollow out the earth and use all the asteroids around?

What will happen if we do not reach it?  Will we fall back to stone age energy levels, or is there a middle way?

What will life be like if we do reach it?  Imagine spending a terawatt for your morning breakfast!

Come and discuss our energy future on a long timeline.  Bring your friends.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – Asteroids – what should we do to avoid collisions? Join the Discussion July 14th at 12pm SLT

Asteroids have hit Earth in the past and will hit Earth in the future.  What should we do to protect ourselves?  Should we be spending money on technology that will deflect asteroids?  Since there are 10,000 near earth objects that might cause problems perhaps we should see asteroids as a serious danger.

Or should we attack asteroids ourselves?  Should we harvest them until nothing remains to threaten us?  What will we find in asteroids and what will we do with it?  And will there be a demand for whatever we find in asteroids?

If you think we should mine them then how soon do we start?  Or do you think we should leave them alone?

Come and join us to talk about big fast-moving rocks in space.  Bring a helmet.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have any ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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