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Why We Need to Expand into Space

Zentropa writes "Why do humans need to explore and colonize space? To save the planet and our species, argues an opinion piece in Cosmos, an Aussie science magazine. It makes some good points from an angle you may not have previously considered; for example, it's in the universe's best interest to keep us around. We make things fun. 'So what if humans pass into history? It's not just a tragedy for us, but also one for nature. Without us, there is no one to witness its infinite beauty; no one to marvel at a sunset, revel in a view, or thrill to the breaking of a wave on a beach. As the late astronomer and author Carl Sagan once said, "we are a way for the universe to know itself". But we also deserve to continue because we have created things greater than ourselves. Not only scientific and engineering knowledge, valuable as this is -- we have also created new and beautiful ways to see the world through art, music, literature and performance.'"

11 of 460 comments (clear)

  1. Benefit or detriment? by Harmonious+Botch · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are we humans a benefit to the universe, as TFA suggests, or are we a detriment? Each point of view will certainly be represented in the posts that follow. FWIW, I think we are a benefit.
    For those who think that we are detrimental to the universe, I suggest that the only logical thing to do is to kill yourself. Now. For the good of the universe.
    Quit reading; do it now. Thank you.

    1. Re:Benefit or detriment? by coaxial · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, but they ants don't and they out number you untold billions to one.

    2. Re:Benefit or detriment? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I don't give a rat's ass about the planet. I don't give a rat's ass if we go extinct. I don't care about bio-diversity, sustainability, progress, education, or any of it. The world will last long enough for my lifetime, and if it doesn't - who cares.

      So fuck you and fuck future generations. I'm waiting for The Rapture.

      With Love,
      George Walker (Texas Ranger) Bush

    3. Re:Benefit or detriment? by kestasjk · · Score: 1, Funny

      >Conscious things like ourselves are the only way the universe can be concerned about anything.

      Prove it.
      It's a tautology, I don't have to prove it.
      --
      // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
  2. Of course we need to expand into space... by Glowing+Fish · · Score: 2, Funny

    You just can't expand into time.
    You also can't expand into say, love, or the scent of almond, or square root of negative 1.
    When it comes to extension, expansion is only possible in space.
    Duh.

    --
    Hopefully I didn't put any [] around my words.
  3. Marveling at a sunset? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Get back to work, you lazy ass. This is precisely why we humans will never amount to a thing!

  4. Walk or Die! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    At the rate things are going, if we stick around for long enough we'll have generated so many mountains of shit we'll be able to walk into space. Self-healing problem, or something.

  5. Anthropomorphizing the universe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Be careful!

    the universe hates to be anthropomorphized. It'll get all grumpy on you!

  6. Absolute proof - God/no god by untaken_name · · Score: 3, Funny

    You know, I have an idea for a solution to this whole God/no god debate. It would absolutely answer the question for ALL TIME. It would be completely inarguable whether God exists or what form He/She/It/Bob takes if He/She/It/Bob exists. It would let us know undoubtedly whether there is a Heaven or Hell, a Nirvana (not the band), a Valhalla, a Marble Tulip Juicy Tree. All we'd have to do is ring the planet with nuclear bombs, every nuclear bomb currently in existence or that we could manufacture in time, and set them all off at once. BOOM! Problem solved. Question answered. Then, I'd get to stop reading this pointless and endless debate rehashed OVER AND OVER in every single fucking thread. Really, it'd be a relief. I don't see how anyone can say this is a bad idea. Theists would get to (from their perspective) prove that they're right, and atheists don't have anything to look forward to, anyway. Agnostics would finally just make a damn decision already...Really, I think it's a big win all around. Plus, as a bonus, it would also solve every single problem humanity is currently facing. Win/win/win.

  7. Re:Babylon 5 by geminidomino · · Score: 2, Funny

    Plus, you're mixing commanders.

    That line was uttered by Cmdr. Jeffery Sinclair, who was replaced by Capt. John Sheridan...

    *sigh* ...and another week without getting laid. When will I ever learn? :(

  8. Re:Offsite backups by jcgf · · Score: 2, Funny
    A handful of women and some frozen genetic material should suffice to get started,

    Nah, the women would just gossip amongst themselves and nothing would get done. You'll need a man around to give them the odd smacking or two.

    funny or flamebait? that is the question.