[ExI] Are Dyson swarms a good idea?

[Ben Zaiboc]

On 27/01/2026 14:51, John K Clark wrote:
> On Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 8:12 AM Ben Zaiboc via extropy-chat <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
>     > Saying we are 'the first' is pretty meaningless, given what Einstein has to say about the universe
>
>
>  
> Not at all, it means we will never observe a civilization that is older or more technologically advanced than we are. 


Suppose a civilisation arises 10 light-years away from us, and 13.79 billion years after the big bang, they build large orbiting structures that are plainly obvious to anyone who can see their system.

We are 13.79 billion years after the big bang here, and can't build such things yet, so they are clearly more advanced than we are.

But we can't see the evidence, and won't for another 10 years. We won't be that advanced in 10 years, so at that point, we'll be seeing a more technologically advanced civilisation, as they were 10 years ago.

-- 
Ben