[extropy-chat] Singularity Drugs

[spike]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org [mailto:extropy-chat-
> bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of John K Clark
> Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Singularity Drugs
> 
> Robert Bradbury wrote:
> 
> > John, can you *prove* that evolution
> > never came up with supersonic flight?
> 
> No of course not. Outside of pure mathematics you can never *prove* that
> something has never existed...   John K Clark

If we are talking about this particular planet, we can prove that natural
supersonic flight never existed (until 1947 when evolution produced Chuck
Yeager's plane.)  The proof would go thus: evolution produced jet propulsion
in some sea creatures (defined loosely, in squids) but not in land beasts.
Supersonic flight cannot be achieved by flapping wings or with screw
propellers.  That leaves freefall as a means of achieving high speeds.  The
ballistic coefficient required to get that much speed is a straightforward
calculation, but suffice it to say the beast would need to be very long and
very massive with an extremely low frontal area.  The longest skinniest
modern python would not do, but it is getting in the right range.  Of course
it would need to fly to great altitudes, then be able to fold its wings for
the plunge.  If it ever managed the feat, it is unclear how it could recover
from the dive, which would at least explain the lack of recognizable
fossilized remains of such a beast.  {8^D

If the panspermia theorists are correct, Yeager would not be the first beast
to travel at supersonic speeds, but rather the title would go to the
bacteria that were on the rock that fell to Earth from elsewhere, perhaps
Mars.  If the panspermia theorists are not correct, Yeager still loses out
to those beasts that resided in or upon the earth based rock that was struck
by an incoming meteor that then exited at supersonic speeds from the impact.

What a silly topic for a Sunday morning.  {8-]

spike