Calculating A Theoretical Boundary To Computation 583
TMB writes "Lawrence Krauss and Glenn Starkman, astrophysicists at Case Western Reserve University (and in LK's case, author of a number of books including Physics of Star Trek), just submitted this nice little paper to Phys. Rev. Letters. It claims that in an accelerating universe, the existence of a future event horizon puts a fundamental physical limit on the total amount of calculation that can be done, even in an infinite time. This limit is much smaller than the traditional Hawking-Beckenstein entropy. Among other things, this implies that and Moore's Law must have a finite lifetime, here calculated to be 600 years, and that consciousness must be finite."
The Slashdot effect horizon? (Score:4, Funny)
Infinite Wisdom? (Score:5, Funny)
So they are saying that, using fundamental physics and mathematics, they have proof that if somebody has infinite wisdon, the universe can not be expanding?
Pr0n (Score:0, Funny)
Re:Exception (Score:4, Funny)
Dude...
I know, I totally stayed at a holiday inn express last night.
Re:Physics of star trek (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The Slashdot effect horizon? (Score:1, Funny)
The Slashdot effect, putting you web-server into a blackhole.
Limits to pr0n? (Score:2, Funny)
Eye glaze (Score:2, Funny)
Population of the universe (Score:1, Funny)
The Universe: some information to help you live in it.
Population: None.
It is known that there is an infinite number of worlds, but not every one is inhabited. Therefore there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so if every planet in the Universe has a population of zero then the entire population of the Universe must be zero, and any people you may actually meet from time to time are merely products of a deranged imagination.
Infinity (Score:2, Funny)
Would anyone like some toast?
hmmm... (Score:1, Funny)
Can't say as how I'm aware of that.
Useful analogy (Score:4, Funny)
It's like at the bar -- the later in the night you attempt to pick up chicks, the fewer of them are still available.
Re:"Consciousness is finite?" (Score:2, Funny)
In other words, they completely fudged the issue and just made up assumptions that suit their purpose.
I'm afraid that rather puts limitations upon their computations.
KFG
Re:The Slashdot effect horizon? (Score:1, Funny)
Bankruptcy
Re:Useful analogy (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah, but by closing time the ones remaining are incredibly beautiful and erudite.
Re:"Consciousness is finite?" (Score:1, Funny)
Re:And in other news... (Score:4, Funny)
I think therefore I am (Score:2, Funny)
Re:"Consciousness is finite?" (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Infinite Wisdom? (Score:2, Funny)
Ya mean, like, by setting a bush on fire or something?
KFG
Argh! Turn off SETI! (Score:4, Funny)
If there's only a finite amount of computation available, surely it's irresponsible to run things like SETI and the distributed.net cracking contests?! You're using up all of the sums, dammit!
Re:Roger Penrose's argument is sound (Score:5, Funny)
Penrose is just a carbon chauvinist with a chip on his shoulder. I've never seen him once offer actual proof of any such conjecture, only carbonist assertions that he can magically understand something that silicon-based life cannot: our future silicon overlords have a special place in virtual Hell reserved for his uploaded consciousness.
Re:That's what I call spooky action at a distance. (Score:3, Funny)
This is good (Score:1, Funny)
Harry Callahan, Magnum Force
Re:enough! Moore's law (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Encryption limits? (Score:5, Funny)
[TMB]
Re:Infinite Wisdom? (Score:2, Funny)
That's why I'm not Christian. I think I can get a much better deal!
Re:Consciousness and Turing Machine (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Encryption limits? (Score:1, Funny)
Moderators are on weed today. Or laughing gas.