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this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2024
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science
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Space is big enough that even if we tried to “pollute” it we could not. We would need Von Neumann self replicating probes to even stand a chance. But even then if we are talking intergalactic we wouldn’t register.
Yes, and a few broken down satellites in the ocean is but a mere drop in the bucket. Being irresponsible is irresponsible, no matter how you try to excuse it.
A drop in the bucket isn’t event close to a good understanding of how big space is. A satellite in the ocean is grossly misleading when it comes to the scope of space.
Maybe a single O2 molecule in the ocean might be closer but even then that’s not even close to the scope of space.
Space is big. So big that the light cone of our “pollution” can’t physically interact with most of it even if we did our best to “pollute” as much as we can and some alien species did their best to find that “pollution”. Space is so big that physics dictate the impossibility of our “pollution” interacting with most of space.
Fun fact this is why the chance of aliens visiting us here on earth is basically 0.
You can’t use earth scale thinking, that’s how big space is.
This all being said we should do our best to not pollute the earth. We should use earth scale thinking when it comes to earth.
I've always enjoyed this video to give a perspective on size
https://youtu.be/i93Z7zljQ7I
I usually increase playback speed, it's a bit slow at start.