this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2024
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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Some cool ideas. Thanks for sharing. Perhaps it is my perspective from isolation due to physical disability, but I think generation ships are way over blown in the negatives. People always adapt to their environmental challenges. Someone raised on a gen ship would likely post You Duct videos on the terrifying openness of planetary life and the unimaginable fear of getting lost in any direction of endless wilderness and monstrous creatures like squirrels, mountain goats, and deer. The idea of nothing securely above you and unconstrained spaces would be terrifying.

[–] boletus 4 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Phosphorus deficiency will always be a problem. If we can solve the problem of generating phosphorus, we'd cut out many negatives.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

First I’ve heard of this problem. Wouldn’t this be the same for mars colonization? Or this is unique to the gen ship?

Also do we consider long term stasis a gen ship use case, or is it no longer “generational” at that point?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Is that with or without recycling the dead into the food chain? I mean, it's macabre but it would definitely make up for a shortfall of resources.

I'm thinking some kind of genetically engineered fungus could do the job pretty well. And then we could have something else edible grown on harvested mushrooms if we're squeamish about still only being one level removed from eating grandma.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

If we can solve the problem of generating phosphorus

Any more info on this? Curious about phosphorus, haven't heard about it before in context of long-term space travel.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Classic sci-fi discussion. I love it