Putting a million solar panels 22,000 miles above Earth to collect continuous sunlight might sound like a good idea, until you remember that batteries exist. A Dollar-Store Dyson Sphere is an expensive, complicated solution in search of a problem.
Source: simon_ritchie2000
3 Comments
From Bloomberg Opinion (gift link above):
“A Dyson Sphere is a theoretical structure built around a star to tap all of its energy. It’s pure science fiction. But our Big Tech overlords seem determined to build a Dollar-Store Dyson Sphere around Earth, surrounding it with enough orbiting solar panels and data centers to blot out the stars.
“In theory, a Dyson Sphere is evidence of a highly advanced civilization. In our reality, the Dollar-Store Dyson Sphere suggests our civilization might be making too many expensive, complicated solutions for problems that don’t really exist.”
I don’t worry about stuff like this. All these stupid ideas from our Big Tech Overlords, sooner or later, run into the real restraints of economics and physics.
We’re not getting solar panels in orbit.
We’re not getting AI server farms in orbit.
We’re not getting Mars colonies.
We’re not going to be mining asteroids.
Its control. Panrls and batteries terrestrial are scaleable and cheap. Everyone can do it to some degree. Put that generation in space and its a revenue stream. Then ban terrestrial generation as unsightly ect. Reap the revenues.