posted on Feb, 6 2004 @ 09:35 PM
I was thinking about that recently, and It might actually be more likely that we delve into the realm of time before planetary colonization.
If you've read Dr. Michio Kaku's paper on the types of civilizations, he extracted a lot from existing theories, and helped out his own, but the
hypothesized idea is that there are Type I, II, and III civilizations. Type I would have basically total control over their planet, and have attained
a nearly perfect balance, with nearly 100% potential energy used, in a nearly 100% efficient way. Type II would have harnessed and used ALL of the
power available from a Star, hence the Von Neumann sphere (I think it was Von Neumann), where a sphere is built around a star to fully absorb all
energy emitted, the sphere would be built at about the range earth is from the sun, because it is so comfy. You might have seen the Star Trek TNG
where they find Scotty trapped in the transporter, they also find a Von Neumann Sphere, then get trapped, but Scotty works with Jordi to free them.
Good episode. Finally a Type III Civilisation, who has harnessed the power of an entire galaxy, such vast amounts of power that we simply can't
comprehend all of the things they could be able to do. Anyrate, the idea is that before we start to try for a Type II, we should become a type I, and
we might very well have to be able to go back and fix our own mistakes before we get there.
Just my two cents on the subject, don't think we have it yet, and I REALLY don't think (as so many of you seem to) that 'The Government' is 30-40
years ahead of civilians technologically.