Distorted sound of the early universe suggests we are living in a giant void (theconversation.com)
from Pro@mander.xyz to science@mander.xyz on 27 Jul 09:41
https://mander.xyz/post/34763105

#science

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Cube6392@beehaw.org on 27 Jul 11:11 next collapse

we’re under quarantine. we are crikket. the rest of the galactic community saw what were up to and is putting us in the isolation void until they observe that we can act right

teft@piefed.social on 27 Jul 12:28 collapse

The rest of the galactic population is in the void with us. It’s the rest of the universe outside the local void that has quarantined us.

reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net on 27 Jul 11:12 next collapse

The data and rationale seem quite compelling!

FundMECFS@quokk.au on 27 Jul 11:35 next collapse

In fact, it appears we live in a giant cosmic void with roughly 20% lower than the average density of matter.

Okay that’s a little less dramatic than I envisioned given the use of the word “void”

Coolkat@slrpnk.net on 27 Jul 12:32 next collapse

No dark forest yaaaay

eleitl@lemmy.zip on 27 Jul 13:07 next collapse

Dark Forest is not self consistent. Ability to travel implies nanotechnology which allows metabolizing any resource which deterministically leads to expansion which leads to self-selection for fastest expanders which soon means relativistic expansion which is hard to observe since observation window is short while pre-expansive observers are extinguished. Alernative is that nucleation density is very low and/or (reaching the stage of) travel and expansion is impossible. This is consistent with what we see, so Occam’s razor cuts Dark Forest.

acockworkorange@mander.xyz on 28 Jul 02:12 next collapse

Those are definitely words.

mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 28 Jul 04:02 next collapse

This reads like a manifesto.

TauZero@mander.xyz on 28 Jul 14:11 next collapse

Robin Hanson is in the house!

CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org on 28 Jul 16:31 collapse

Ability to travel implies nanotechnology which allows metabolizing any resource which deterministically leads to expansion

Both of those aren’t really supported. Maybe all matter will be useful, or maybe rare elements will still be preferred, and what exactly nanotechnology will look like is up in the air (it could be that life has explored the space of possible nanomechanisms pretty well already). Similarly, it’s totally plausible an advanced species could stay in place. I actually worry we won’t have the attention span to fund slow interstellar expansion.

I’d agree there isn’t really a rational reason to cross interstellar space just to be a dick. Irrational reasons are possible, but seem unlikely. The only way dark forest makes sense is if competition is an issue, and the nature of space warfare leaves a strong pressure to strike early.

CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org on 28 Jul 16:32 collapse

We’re still in a galaxy.

drspod@lemmy.ml on 27 Jul 12:43 next collapse

Our region is dark low-energy and dark doesn’t matter.

CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org on 28 Jul 16:36 next collapse

It’s not really a smoking gun, but if their analysis is correct it’s highly suggestive, especially when alternatives to LambdaCDM still consistent with measurements have proven really hard for the theorists to make.

Edit: Although what does this say about the cosmic distance ladder?

BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world on 28 Jul 15:31 next collapse

That lines up with my existential dread.

MotoAsh@lemmy.world on 28 Jul 16:45 collapse

“Void” is much too dramatic of a word for science communication… 20% less dense than city population doesn’t even get you to suburban levels of density, let alone anything near “void”.