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jwpapi | on: Three new discoveries in mathematics, computer science, and physics
Honestly, I’m a bit scared but also a bit excited.

I’m currently reading Africa by John Reader which covers a lot of humanity storyline. From HN I get the humanity achievements that are happening right now.

The feeling digesting both daily is in order of magnitudes bigger than what any really exciting tv show did to me.

I honestly at this point don’t know anything about what could be possible and what couldnt.

I understand that this is really freightening, but also especially ETH being false gives even more hope that some fundamental problems could be solved in our lifetime, for example understanding universe, aging, colonization of planets and also our limits. I know I’m the minority, but these answers really interest me.

dekhn | parent | next
Nobody is solving colonization of planets in this lifetime unless we find a way to accelerate mass faster than the speed of light (and decelerate it at the other end) or extend the lifespan/radiation resistance or can preserve bodies in suspended animation for long periods. Even then, that just removed one of the many technical hurdles. We don't know which planets to target- are you going to send people to solar systems when you don't know if they are habitable? Modify people to be able to inhabit otherwise hostile worlds? How do you deal with boredom on a 1,000+ year trip?

Even with aging, our efforts are better spent increasing quality of life across humanity than helping a few rich people live to 150.

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kypro | parent
> gives even more hope that some fundamental problems could be solved in our lifetime, for example understanding universe, aging, colonization of planets and also our limits.

There are infinitely many more ways to kill and torture a human than to save one.

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