Reported on TV last night:
dark energy comprises 95% of the universe;
its nature is unknown, hence "dark";
it counteracts gravity;
therefore, the rate of cosmic expansion is increasing, not decreasing;
dark energy might come from another universe;
precise measurements of the movements of millions of galaxies will test theories of the nature of dark energy.
In Poul Anderson's Tau Zero:
the universe is composed only of observable mass-energy;
nothing counteracts gravity;
therefore, the universe cyclically expands and contracts.
Thus, Tau Zero is as dated as:
Wells' Selenites and Martians;
Heinlein's and others' inhabited Solar Systems;
EE Smith's idea that planets originate when stars pass close to each other;
the pre-1929 idea that our galaxy was the entire universe.
I do not know whether any sf was written on that pre-1929 premise but someone could now write a retro-novel.
Anderson's Genesis will not date quickly.
One last thought: Are there dark energy intelligences who do not notice our 5% of the universe - like having a biverse within our universe within maybe the multiverse?
6 comments:
<aor, Paul!
I have to agree that TAU ZERO, based on the cosmology of the 1960's, is one of Anderson's dated books. And a writer as scientifically minded as he was accepted that some of his stories became dated rather quickly.
Anderson did speculate in some of his earlier stories about the Solar System having other intelligent races besides ours. THE WAR OF TWO WORLDS, "The Martian Crown Jewels," and "Sister Planet" being three examples.
Besides GENESIS, I would include some short stories such as "In The Shadow" as touching on ideas about "dark energy" and the possibility of intelligences existing in that kind of "parallel" universe.
And some writers have written retro-science fiction. Such as Stirling's two Lords of Creation books: THE SKY PEOPLE and IN THE COURTS OF THE CRIMSON KINGS, both of which I love!
Ad astra! Sean
I really like the idea of dark energy intelligences! Perhaps their existence comprises forms as complex as what we see around us. If they were to develop the scientific method would they become aware of that tiny amount of other matter scattered in their cosmos and perhaps speculate on the ghostly creatures that might inhabit that realm. For we would indeed be ghosts in their universe. As they perhaps are in ours.
Right on.
Kaor, Lee!
I agree! And if intelligences exist in that "dark energy" universe I am sure some of their own equivalent of SF writers are speculating exactly like that!
Ad astra! Sean
Cyclical universes are somewhat back in fashion in cosmology these days, though.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And I've tried to catch up a bit about current trends in cosmology this year by reading Frank Tipler's book THE PHYSICS OF CHRISTIANITY.
I've repeatedly tried to read Stephen Hawking's A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME, but I've bogged down and stopped reading at about page 46. I'm not at his level of brain wattage!
Ad astra! Sean
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