Will the Sun be substantially disassembled before 2040?
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2040
5%
chance

The concept of starlifting or stellar mining involves the extraction of matter from a star for use in various applications, such as fuel for fusion power plants or resources for construction of megastructures. While various theoretical methods for starlifting have been proposed, none have been implemented or demonstrated at a significant scale. Disassembling a star, like the Sun, would require an extraordinary level of technological advancement and a vast amount of energy. The time frame for such an endeavor is uncertain, and the feasibility of achieving it before 2040 is a matter of debate.

Will the Sun be substantially disassembled, involving the extraction of a significant amount of its mass for use in various applications, before January 1st, 2040?

Resolution criteria:

This question will resolve to "YES" if, before January 1st 2040, the Sun is publicly and credibly documented to have been substantially disassembled, as evidenced by:

  1. The extraction of at least 0.1% of the Sun's total mass (1.989 x 10^30 kg), equivalent to approximately 1.989 x 10^27 kg of solar matter.

  2. The establishment of a large-scale, sustainable infrastructure for extracting solar matter, which must include:

    a. A method or technology capable of overcoming the Sun's gravitational pull and extracting matter from its surface or interior.

    b. A containment and transportation system for handling and moving extracted solar matter to desired locations.

    c. The ability to process extracted solar matter into usable forms, such as fuel or construction materials.

  3. The successful application of extracted solar matter in various real-world applications, including but not limited to:

    a. The provision of fuel for fusion power plants or other advanced energy production methods.

    b. The construction of megastructures, such as Dyson spheres, space habitats, or other large-scale infrastructure projects.

    c. The development of advanced propulsion systems utilizing solar matter as a fuel source.

A successful demonstration must be accompanied by:

  1. A publicly accessible report or documentation detailing the methods, technologies, and infrastructure used for solar matter extraction, containment, transportation, and processing.

  2. Independent validation of the results by at least two separate entities with expertise in astrophysics, aerospace engineering, or related fields. These entities can be research groups, institutions, or companies.

  3. The publication of the findings in one or more peer-reviewed scientific journals.

  4. The monitoring and verification of the Sun's mass reduction by international astronomical observatories or space agencies, confirming that at least 0.1% of the Sun's total mass has been extracted.

I will use my discretion when resolving this question, possibly in consultation with experts.

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One way or another, stars have a significant impact on corporate mental health https://us.calmerry.com/mental-health-for-employees/ This theory has been proven in practice by doctors from Harvard University, namely physicist Andrew Blue, who was nominated for the Darwin Award in 1995, so it is important to undergo an examination on time

predicts NO

This seems to require a fast doubling time of total power controlled by either humans or AIs. If you use all your energy to build nothing but solar panels, there's a limit to how fast you can get more solar panels even though the growth is exponential. I think you probably couldn't do it with solar power, and would need fusion? Someone should do the marh.

predicts YES

@ThomasKwa I looked up some numbers for the Moon here. I think building the solar panels themselves could potentially be done, but this is 27000 times as much mass and gravity at the surface of the Sun is 28g, so I agree you couldn't lift it all with solar power and you'd need some other energy source.

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