Matthew S. Williams's Blog, page 9

A New Scale for Classifying Intelligence?

In the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), there are many limiting factors. These go beyond the usual technical limitations, where SETI researchers are reliant on existing radio telescopes that can only be used for limited amounts of time. A far greater one is the very limited frame of reference we have for measuring intelligence.

Let’s face it, our notions of intelligence are entirely self-centered and anthropocentric. We think of intelligence in terms of ourselves and rarely consider that intelligence can occur under other domains, even though many exist here on Earth, and there is a considerable body of research that takes a wider view.

Given the way SETI research has become reinvigorated in recent decades, there are many who believe it’s time to expand our notions on what forms life and intelligence could take. For my purposes, the following scheme is motivated mainly by my interest in science fiction and its unparalleled ability to explore the deeper mysteries of the Universe.

Therefore, for your viewing pleasure, I present the Intelligence Scale. It is arranged based on the nature of the intelligence (labels are frustrating and inexact) and the scale it occupies.

Class:

Type a — Distributed: Consisting of individual intelligent beings connected together through social relationships
Type b — Collective: Consisting of large groups of organisms that make up a cohesive intelligent unit
Type c — Cooperative: Consisting of individual intelligence that has merged to form a larger whole
Type d — Adaptive: Consisting of intelligence that is capable of functioning in more than one mode or environment
Type e — Assimilative: Consisting of intelligence that is collective and incorporates all organisms in its environment into a greater whole

Scale:

Type I — Micrometer: Organisms measuring a few micrometers to a few centimeters in scale (ranging from microbes to insect-like creatures)
Type II — Meter: Organisms measuring in the meter range, mammals to high-order primates
Type III — Planetary: Organisms encompassing a large geographic region to an entire planet
Type IV — Stellar: Organisms extending beyond a single planet to an entire solar system
Type V — Cosmic: Organisms occupying a large region of space, extending for light-years and possibly entire galaxies

For reference, humanity is a Type IIa species, which is arguably making the transition to a Type IIIa thanks to the digital age. Will we ever give rise to different classes ourselves, or will we find examples that challenge our notions out there in the cosmos? In both cases, I sincerely hope so!

A Humble Attempt at Predicting Future History

There’s an old saying by Kierkegaard, “Life can only be understood backward; but it must be lived forwards.” I’ve heard this adage many times, except that the word “history” was always substituted for “life.” This is certainly true, to a point. After all, history is subject to prejudices, bias, and the good old human tendency to look for patterns. In my experience, how we remember history is no less about “the winners write the books” as “the writers impose their organization principle.”

That’s what I love about science fiction’s future histories. The sub-genre owes its existence to Olaf Stapledon’s Last and First Men, a science fiction novel released in 1930. In this “future history,” Stapledon presented an imaginative romp through several futures where the descendants of humanity rise and fall many times, creating advanced civilizations and periodically slipping back into barbarism.

This novel and its overriding themes have been imitated countless times by many science fiction franchises. Since speculative and predictive science fiction are something I love dearly, I wanted to try my hand at this. The following future history is what resulted, which is based entirely on modern-day speculation about where we could be headed in the future.

For my purposes, I wanted to look at the future of humanity through the lenses of scale and accelerating change. If you take the long-view of history, you can’t help but notice that it is characterized by exponential growth and advancement (for better or for worse). This very trend could lead to our destruction (climate change and ecological collapse) or it could lead to a massive acceleration that will forever alter the trajectory of our species.

What truly inspired this idea was the notion that there could be multiple accelerations in our future, where we keep exceeding the boundaries before us and enter into one period of exponential growth after another. Each of these accelerations would be seen by historians as steps along any number of Scales (Kardashev, Barrow, etc.). As with all chapters in human history where something revolutionary took place, the prospect is both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Anthropocene (ca. 1900 — 2100 CE)

The term “Anthropocene” was coined in the late 20th century by scholars to describe the current geological era in which humanity had become the predominant force for changes in Earth’s climate. Whereas previous epochs had seen drastic changes in global weather patterns, temperatures, ice coverage, and species adaptation (and extinction), the process had been dictated by changes in Earth’s obliquity and solar output over very long periods of time.

But with the explosion of human populations, industry, and urbanization forever changed the dynamic. Significant changes occurred over the course of decades, not eons. Worse, the changes were subject to acceleration as the effects of industry, urban centers, and emissions were compounded by feedback mechanisms. Henceforth, humanity found itself as the arbiter’s of Earth fate, for better or for worse.

As the changes accelerated, so too did the pace of technological growth and innovation. This was the paradox of the Anthropocene, where the very forces that amplified humanity’s impact on the natural environment drove them towards greater technological advancement. In particular, the growth of urban environments, global trade, and communications during the 20th and 21st centuries fostered a move away from traditional industries and gave rise to a digital economy.

The growing impact on rural environments, food production, and air pollution also gave rise to environmental movements and demands for more sustainable methods. In the first few decades of the 21st century, renewable energy rapidly overtook fossil fuels as the predominant source of power generation. The deployment of space-based solar power (SBSP) arrays sped the adoption of solar networks.

ESA

By mid-century, the “Fusion Era” began as researchers and engineers surpassed the “break-even” point and achieved sustained fusion reactions that could provide abundant clean energy. This effectively ended dependence on oil and coal as power sources, leading to net-zero emissions by the 2050s, which kept the impact of climate change within tolerable parameters.

Coupled with Direct Air Capture (DAC) and Climate Restoration efforts worldwide, a climate crisis was averted, and stability was restored by the end of the century. Though the damage would take many more decades to repair and the curating and restoration of extinct/endangered species and habitats even longer, humanity’s environmental stewardship effectively saved the planet from humanity itself!

The century also saw increasing growth in the Afro-Asian and Latin American economies. Whereas Asia had experienced an “economic miracle” during the first half, the latter half was characterized by similar “miracles” in Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Oceania, and other regions. By the end of the century, the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and Oceania had achieved a level of economic parity not seen in centuries.

The growing equality between nations was mirrored by the growing equality between people worldwide. Between 1975 and 2015, the number of people living in extreme poverty was reduced from over 2 billion to less than 1 billion. While inequality continued to flourish throughout the first half of the 21st century (and several hundred million people became impoverished due to the impacts of climate change), extreme poverty was effectively eliminated by the 2070s.

This was evident from the way that space exploration and the commercialization of off-world resources became a very international affair by the second half of the 21st century. In addition to space agencies representing the U.S. (NASA), Europe (ESA), Russia (Roscosmos), India (ISRO), China (CNSA), and their many partner agencies, two major agencies joined the “space race” by the latter 21st century — the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (LACA) and the African Space Agency (AfSA).

Humanity’s gradual migration and expansion into space also began in this period, thanks to renewed exploration efforts, the rise of the commercial space industry, and advances in materials science. After decades of developing reusable systems and technologies that would allow humans to stay in space for extended periods of time, government-funded and commercial efforts began to realize some of humanity’s most ambitious plans.

This included the construction of a space elevator, which began in earnest in the late 2020s and extended into the 2050s. With the discovery of graphene and industrial techniques that allowed for mass production, like chemical-vapor deposition (CVD), engineers were finally able to overcome the pressing issue of the “tether.” With assistance from an international consortium, an orbital platform was built in geostationary orbit (GSO), while an anchor platform was built in the Maldives.

The graphene ribbons were then shipped to the orbital platform and extended downwards, using Earth’s gravity well to stabilize them. Once connected to the anchor and paired with cable cars, governments and contractors began lifting massive payloads to space. This facilitated the creation of a massive constellation of solar satellites (the Clarke Belt), debris removal, space construction, orbital habitats, and the Near-Earth Asteroid mining industry.

Two more elevators were constructed before the end of the century on the island of Sao Tome and Principe (off the coast of Gabon) and Isla Isabella (off the coast of Equador). With all three of these “Galactic Harbors” up and running, people began accompanying the massive payloads to space. The creation of orbital factories, space telescopes, direct-energy arrays, and other space infrastructure accelerated space exploration efforts.

The period that followed was called by different names, but the overriding theme was one of acceleration. Hence the popular name, “Accelerando”…

Accelerando (ca. 2100–2300 CE)

By the turn of the 22nd century, humanity began migrating to space in greater and greater numbers. After stabilizing at last, Earth’s population began to slowly decline as off-world populations continued to grow. A few generations after permanent habitats were established, entire cities were built in LEO (Asgard), on the Moon (Selene, Lunakhod), on Mars (Kin Haalʼá, Anjuman), Venus (Ishtar, Zuhura), and beyond.

This “off-world migration” had a twofold effect. On the one hand, harnessing the resources of the Earth-Moon system, Mars, and the Asteroid Belt allowed for the relocation of resource harvesting and manufacturing away from Earth. On the other, the development of technologies that would allow humans to live sustainably away from Earth led to applications that allowed people to lead less environmentally-impactful lives on Earth.

As a result, the period, henceforth known as the Accelerando, was characterized by two vastly divergent trends. On Earth, population levels finally leveled off (11 billion by the turn of the century) after three hundred years of accelerated growth. Species extinction was halted, urban growth was capped, and climate restoration began in force. In many respects, the 22nd century was a time of renewed stability after centuries of runaway growth and chaos.

On the other hand, the accelerating pace of technological innovation (inherited from the previous centuries) continued. This included the rise of the “Internet of Things,” where all aspects of life became part of the digital realm and were subject to advanced AI and analytics. The explosion of mobile and wearable devices soon gave way to “embeddables” — embedded CPUs, medical devices and monitors, and retinal and neural implants.

Advances in medicine were also a regular occurrence by the early 22nd century. This included nanobots programmed to heal wounds, eliminate viruses, repair genes, and maintain general health (medimachines). Telomere lengthening also became a regular procedure, as did genomic editing. Only a handful of people could afford life-extension treatments in the previous century. But by the 22nd century, more and more “immortals” were added to the census roles with every passing year.

Ralph Ewig

The pervasiveness of these technologies eventually led to a divide between “transhumans” (enhanced individuals) and “organics” (people who eschewed enhancement). Over time, and with the eventual elimination of a monetary economy, the technology became more ubiquitous, and transhumans became a statistically-significant group. By the 23rd century, organics were in the minority and feared for their continued existence.

Meanwhile, humanity’s presence beyond Earth also grew exponentially, vastly increasing the human population and the size of the human economy. With an established presence in cis-lunar space and Mars, efforts were made to establish a foothold in the Main Asteroid Belt, in the skies above Venus, and even on Mercury. These were paired with rotating orbital stations that facilitated trips to and from the surface. They also provided simulated gravity that allowed for “gravity therapy.”

In addition to surface settlements, engineers began work on a series of space habitats at the Earth-Sun Lagrange Points. These O’Neill Cylinders provided simulated gravity and large biospheres that mimicked environments on Earth. A permanent presence on the Moon opened the door for virtually limitless energy thanks to the construction of a Solar Band. For the first time, solar power could be beamed between the Moon and Earth, Mars, Venus, and the many space habitats orbiting in between.

An interplanetary economy followed, one based on abundant minerals, metals, volatile elements, and energy. This led to a new era of “post-scarcity economics,” effectively eliminating the entire basis of wealth that had characterized human societies since the beginning of recorded history. For the first time in history, there was more than enough to go around, and the very foundation of social distinction disappeared.

It was also during the Accelerando that the first interstellar missions, largely laser-driven lightsails, and nanocraft, reached the nearest star systems. These missions provided the first direct studies of exoplanets, which augmented scientific findings made by Solar Gravitational Lensing telescopes in the previous century. These efforts finally led to the detection of habitable exoplanets and life beyond the Solar System!

The development of nanotechnology, nanomanufacturing, and self-adjusting/self-modulating materials (aka. “smart materials”) further altered the nature of wealth. With the ability to alter elements at the molecular level, the precious metals and Rare Earth Elements (REE) were no longer precious or rare. As long as sufficient base materials were available, anything could be synthesized from anything.

Shutterstock

Henceforth, the age of additive manufacturing (3D-printing) gave way to matter compilation (aka. nanoassembly), which eliminated the last traces of waste from industrial manufacturing. Literally, all materials would henceforth be assembled at the molecular level, and all assembled materials were “smart” — drawing energy from the surrounding environment and adjusting as needed to external stimuli.

In time, nanoassembly allowed for the creation of machines that could operate at the atomic level (picotechnology). Henceforth, materials and assembled objects and goods would not only be “smart” but capable of thinking for themselves!

Allegro (ca. 2300–2500 CE)

By the closing years of the 24th century, humanity had established a foothold in every part of the Solar System. For most people living in the inner Solar System, death had become a thing of the past, a voluntary condition that humans could embrace or put off altogether. In time, work began on creating the first Dyson Band, a ring of computronium that circled the Sun around the equator.

Within this Band, countless human minds were able to live out their lives in simulated realities. This facilitated the next transition for humanity, which was now divided between transhumans and “Posthumans” (those who were no longer physically human at all). Over time, the population of the Band grew into the billions and (eventually) trillions as more humans embraced a newfound sense of “quantum immortality.”

Similarly, efforts to find evidence of intelligent life beyond Earth revealed several similar structures around distant stars. The structures appear to be defunct, and the stars were nearing the end of their life cycles. While this revelation brought closure to the Fermi Debate, it did not resolve the question of whether humanity is alone in the galaxy at the moment. From this point onward, the question was no longer “Where is everybody?” but “Is anyone still alive?”

For those who chose to remain mortal, the focus shifted to two new priorities: 1) Creating more habitable planets in the Solar System (terraforming), or 2) seeking habitable planets beyond the Solar System. Whereas efforts had begun in earnest as early as the late 21st century, the 24th century would be remembered as both the “Age of Terraforming” and the “Age of Interstellar Exploration.”

These efforts were immensely facilitated by breakthroughs in the realm of quantum physics in the previous century. With advances in picotechnology and femtotechnology, humanity was able to manipulate matter on even smaller levels. These experiments confirmed theoretical predictions regarding the existence of gravity at the quantum level and opened the door to new realms of physics.

Henceforth, vessels were capable of generating negative energy and simulating negative mass. In the past, to accomplish rapid interstellar transits (a single generation), spacecraft either had to be uncrewed or restricted to carrying human minds in quantum states. Otherwise, crewed missions were forced to spend centuries or longer in transit using massive generation ships.

In short, crewed missions were simply not feasible unless they kept their passengers in suspended states or were equipped with rotating sections (simulated gravity). With the Alcubierre Drive and artificial gravity now available, crewed missions to Alpha Centauri, Ross 128, Epsilon Eridani, 61 Cygni, Tau Ceti, 82 Eridani, TRAPPIST-1, and other nearby star systems were possible within a matter of weeks or months.

This facilitated interstellar migration, trade, and the creation of infrastructure that connected the Solar System to its immediate neighbors. Henceforth, humanity would no longer be an interplanetary species, but an interstellar one. While life is difficult in the extrasolar settlements, the challenge inspires new generations of adventurers and wanderers.

In addition to planetary settlements, O’Neill Cylinders and other space habitats were established at Lagrange Points in every neighboring star system. Ongoing efforts to find intelligence life beyond the Solar System discover more evidence of past civilizations, but nothing that would indicate that there are any we could still communicate with. 

Watsisname/Daein Ballard

At home, efforts to terraform Mars and Venus accelerated and transformed both planets into new enclaves for human civilization. On Mars, ecological engineering recreated a planet characterized by a global ocean in the northern hemisphere and highlands with many great lakes and rivers in the south. On Venus, a global ocean covered most of the surface with two major continents (Ishtar and Aphrodite), several smaller landmasses (Asteria, Phoebe, Themis, Tethus, and Tellus), and countless archipelagos.

Genetic mastery allowed for human habitation in low-gravity environments, leading to the full-scale settlement of Ceres, the Jovians, the Cronians, Triton, Pluto, Charon, and every remaining satellite and large asteroid in the outer Solar System. The population of flesh and blood humans continued to rival that of the Band population, numbering into the trillions.

Presto (ca. 2500–1,000,000 CE)

Beyond the Allegro, humanity continued its long-standing pattern of transitioning towards post-humanism at the center and remaining human at the peripheries. By the 26th century, most of the Solar System had been converted into a Dyson Shell (or Matrioshka Brain) that housed the majority of human knowledge and minds. Beyond the Frost Line, populations of transhumans continued to live and work among the many moons and asteroids.

But henceforth, the only remaining flesh and blood humans lived on extrasolar planets (the Children of Earth, or Diaspora), most of which had undergone terraforming to be made suitable for terrestrial life. Efforts to explore beyond the reach of human civilization also turned up countless examples of exotic life, including complex intelligence that existed on planetary scales. However, human explorers would not find anything they would characterize as “civilizations.”

Perhaps in response, efforts to seed “transiently habitable” planets (typically found around red dwarf suns) with bacteria and simple life forms expanded. These organisms took advantage of abiotic oxygen-rich atmospheres and evolved into more complex life forms. On habitable planets, biological agents were introduced to “uplift” less complex lifeforms and foster the development of intelligence. After many generations, nascent civilizations emerged on distant planets — collectively known as the “Progeny.”

NASA’s GSFC/Jeremy Schnittman

Beyond settling on “new frontiers” and tampering with life on other planets, the Diaspora were known to periodically travel to the Solar System. The process became tantamount to a pilgrimage before long, where flesh and blood humans visited the birthplace of their species and civilization.

Silencio (ca. 1 million to 1 billion CE)

Within a billion years of humanity’s great migration, the many species it helped evolve and uplift began traveling to space as well. These species would encounter each other, go to war with each other, and even help uplift species that were still evolving. A cosmic concert was eventually established, with civilizations across the entire Orion-Cygnus Arm engaged in commerce and diplomacy.

It did not take long before the more advanced of these species uncovered evidence of the previous human inhabitants on many worlds. After many generations of study and excavating, they began to notice a pattern. The settlement pattern was percolating in nature, where waves of ships and crews traveled outward from a common center, growing and receding over time. The farther they trace this pattern to its core, the more advanced the settlements appeared to have been.

This eventually leads them to the Solar System and the now-defunct Matrioshka Brain at its core. It is unknown how or when the megastructure became inert, but there are many theories. Foremost among them is that a solar event took place that permanently shut down the brain, that its inhabitants chose to leave, or that some deliberate act of sabotage took place.

Beyond this, popular legends emerged that the unknown inhabitants were the “Progenitor Species” of all civilizations alive today, that the Solar System was the “birthplace of the Gods,” and that they had since “transcended.” There’s also speculation that they were wiped out by a more advanced species, which seems plausible if the death of the Posthumans and Diaspora were coincident (but this remains unknown).

Beyond this, nothing is known about the mysterious species that once called itself “humanity.” In all the places where their civilization once thrived, new civilizations have found nothing but ruins “among the reeds.”

Is it possible that another migration occurred (to other stars or galaxies)? Could the last remaining descendants be living out their existence in extreme environments where they are currently undetectable (such as the vicinity of black holes)? No one knows and it’s likely no one ever will. One thing is clear, though. They DID exist. And during their time, they left their mark on the galaxy.

Episode 41 of Stories from Space – Going Nuclear! The Promise Nuclear Propulsion

This week’s topic is near and dear to my heart (I know, when aren’t they?). But this one is especially so since so much depends on it. Around the world today, space agencies and commercial space entities are developing nuclear propulsion systems. These systems come in the form of Nuclear-Thermal (NTP), Nuclear-Electric (NEP), and Bimodal Nuclear Propulsion (BNP) – where both methods are used by a spacecraft.

The technology could drastically reduce transit times to destinations beyond the Earth-Moon system, including Mars, the Asteroid Belt, Venus, and beyond. This will mean that crews will have to spend less time in microgravity, which has a serious impact on human physiology. It has the added benefits of reducing astronaut exposure to radiation and ensuring they arrive at their destinations in better health.

This technology was first explored during the early Space Age by both NASA and the Soviet space program. These efforts led to the first slow-fission nuclear reactors for space but were shelved with the closing of the Apollo Era. With space agencies looking to take the next great leap, nuclear programs have been reignited as a solution to long-duration missions to deep space. Beyond propulsion, nuclear power is also being considered to provide electricity to facilities far away from Earth.

While studies conducted between the 1970s and 1990s predicted that nuclear spacecraft could make it to Mars in about half the time as chemical propulsion (100 days instead of 8 or 9 months), current estimates have narrowed that to just 45 days. It seems pretty clear at this point that the future of space exploration hinges on nuclear power! Check it out by following the links below.

Where to Listen: Simplecast Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music

Episode 40 of Stories from Space – Signs of Life: What are “Ocean Worlds”?

This week, I got into one of the more intriguing aspects of astrobiology – the search for life in the cosmos! Right now, all of our astrobiology efforts are focused on Mars, the most “habitable” planet (by our standards) beyond Earth. But what of the icy moons that orbit Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond? For decades, scientists have speculated that moons orbiting gas giants beyond the “Frost Line” could have warm-water oceans that could support life.

These oceans result from the gravitational pull of the gas giants they orbit, causing tidal flexing in their interiors. This, it was theorized, would lead to hydrothermal activity at the core-mantle boundary, where the icy outer shell meets the rocky and metallic core. The energy this released would maintain a liquid-water ocean rich in the chemical elements we associate with life.

The theory emerged by the 1970s after scientists got a good look at some of Jupiter’s largest moons – Europa and Ganymede – which showed evidence of resurfacing, plume activity, and their interactions with Jupiter”s magnetic field. In recent years, the list of “Ocean Worlds” has expanded to include moons like Titan, Enceladus, Dione, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, Triton, Charon, and even Pluto!

In all cases, these bodies have geological activity or sufficient nuclear elements (which decay to produce heat) to maintain liquid water in their interiors. The plethora of “Ocean Worlds” in our Solar System also has implications for the search for life in extrasolar systems. After all, if icy satellites in our outer Solar System could support life, then similar bodies are sure to exist out there (in abundance). Check it out below!

Where to Listen: Simplecast Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music

Episode 39 of Stories from Space – The “Cool” Universe: Infrared Astronomy with Charles Beichman

This week, I sat down with NASA astronomer and exoplanet researcher Dr. Charles Beichman, the Executive Director of the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI) at Caltech. He’s an esteemed scientist who has spent decades searching for exoplanets and led several path-finding missions. These include the Space Interferometer Mission (SIM), the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), the Spitzer Space Telescope, and the 2 Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS).

One could say that he was looking for exoplanets before it was “cool.” Suffice it to say, the man has some very interesting stories. Very soon, he and a team of astronomers will be using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe Alpha Centauri, where they hope to find the first definitive proof of exoplanets in that system. I think I speak for everyone when I wish him and his colleagues the best of luck!

Where to Listen: Simplecast Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music

Episode 38: “The Great Migration: How Can Humans Live on Venus?”

This week’s episode was the third installment of the “Settling the Solar System” (or “Great Migration”) segment. Previous episodes covered how humans could one day live on the Moon and Mars. In this latest installment, I discussed how humans (with the right technology and strategies) could live on Venus. Well, not exactly on Venus, since the planet is a total hellhole!

The air pressure alone is enough to crush your bones, the average temperature is literally hot enough to melt lead, and there’s also sulfuric acid rain! Basically, Venus is the WORST piece of real estate in the Solar System! At least… it is on the surface. But above the cloud tops, where temperatures are mild, the air pressure is decent, and the sulfuric acid rain is sparse, floating cities could be established.

Over time, these settlements could be used to terraform the planet into an ocean paradise. Check out the episode to hear how it could be done!

Where to Listen:SimplecastApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon Music

The Reviews Are In! The Formist Series is a Hit!

A few months back, my publisher announced that, unfortunately, they could no longer publish my trilogy, known as the Formist Series. The pandemic had hit the publishing industry pretty hard, especially smaller operations, and they were no longer able to keep producing their clients’ books. Fortunately, there’s a wealth of independent author resources out there, and I have some experience with them.

So as soon as I reacquired the rights to my books – The Cronian Incident, The Jovian Manifesto, and The Frost Line Fracture – I reissued them immediately via Kindle Direct Publishing. For the first little while, nothing much changed. But a few short weeks ago, I noticed that the number of ratings had climbed considerably, especially for the first novel. Allow me to present it in table format. I like doing that!

Book Cronian Incident Jovian Manifesto Frost Line Fracture Ratings (formerly)38 (13)11 (8)2 (1)Reviews1661Avg. Rating4.34.54.5

Doing the math, CI’s ratings have increased by 292%, JV’s have increased by a comparatively modest 37.5%, and FLF’s have increased by 100% (but only because it went from 1 to 2). I’m not sure what led to this uptick, but I think the way my online profile has increased in the past decade has directed more people to my books. And it seems likely to me that this is recent since the increase has been concentrated on the first installment in the series so far.

While it’s certainly the case that most readers will pick up the first book in a series and hesitate to buy more, that much of a gap between the first books and the sequels suggests to me that anyone who bought the first one (and left a rating) are still deciding if they want to read further. Personally, I hope they do because (imho) the second book is the best one, while my publisher claimed that the third one is. I invite readers to decide for themselves!

Sharing the gift of astronomy: The Asif Astronomy Club

The field of astronomy has become increasingly accessible in recent years, thanks to the growth of online astronomical communities, citizen astronomers, and open-access databases. This growth has paralleled the creation of next-generation telescopes, instruments, and data-sharing methods allowing greater collaboration between observatories and the general public. 

Unfortunately, despite these positive developments, there are still millions of people around the world who do not have access to astronomy and would like to. This problem mirrors disparities that exist worldwide, where many communities experience lower education, health, and economic outcomes. These exist not only between nations but between urban and rural communities, where a lack of infrastructure can translate into a lack of access. 

To address this disparity, a growing number of organizations are looking to bring STEM education to traditionally underserved communities. This includes the Asif Astronomy Club, which has engaged with students in remote communities in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains since 2020.

Through its efforts, the club and its leader (El-Mehdi Essaidi) are spreading the culture of astronomy and its central message: “Space is for everyone.” They are also helping to inspire the next generation of scientists and change-makers to reach for the stars (literally and figuratively).

Origins

The Asif Astronomy Club was founded by  El-Mehdi Essaidi, a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Health Sciences Casablanca-Settat and a research intern at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Since 2020, the Club and its founder have provided workshops to school districts in remote regions across southern Morocco. 

Asif Astronomy Club

The club began in 2020 as part of “Telescopes for All,” a campaign mounted by the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO). This campaign was one of several legacy actions arising from the IAU 100th Anniversary celebrations and is overseen by the Moroccan National Outreach Committee (NOC), which represents Morocco to the IAU. 

This program aims to foster an interest in science among children, parents, and educators and “promote equal opportunities for pursuing a career in astronomy.” As one of the 17 communities selected, the Asif n Ait Bounouh Association for Culture and Awareness (AABACA) received a professionally-made telescope from the science instrument company Bresser. 

The club is centered in Tafraoute, a small town in the Tiznit municipality nestled in the Anti-Atlas (or Little Atlas) Mountains in southern Morocco. For the past three years, Essaidi and his associates have been hosting workshops with students, educators, and parents in schools across the region.

Astronomy workshops

Each Asif Astronomy Club workshop is divided into two parts, with a theory and then a practice segment. The theory segment consists of a presentation on the Solar System, its planets, and Earth’s place within it. This segment familiarizes students with the nature of each celestial body, its most important characteristics, and what we’ve come to learn about them through astronomical studies.

The students then perform activities such as listing the planets in order and making group presentations about them. This is followed by a Q&A session where each group will test their knowledge about the planet they’ve selected.

The practice segment consists of the students using binoculars and the telescope donated by the IAU in the schoolyard. This gives students a chance to experience “backyard astronomy” using professional equipment and develop the ability to study objects in the night sky more closely. Two popular activities, as Essaidi shared, are identifying features on the lunar surface and on the Sun:

“To identify the lunar surface, you can observe the Moon through a telescope or binoculars. The lunar surface is characterized by craters, mountains, valleys, and maria (dark areas on the surface). Sunspots are dark areas on the surface of the Sun that appear as dark spots or patches. They are cooler regions of the Sun’s surface and can be observed with a telescope that has a solar filter to protect your eyes from the sun’s intense light.”

Asif Astronomy Club

The Asif Astronomy Club has performed five “ITRI WASIF” workshops to date, conducting astronomy education and outreach to approximately 400 students in communities all across the Atlas Mountains.

Their efforts have been augmented thanks to the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) Global Sky Partners program, a global effort to make astronomy more accessible to under-represented communities and the developing world. The program provides educational organizations with over 1,000 hours of observing time on the LCO’s global network of robotic telescopes. 

As a partner with the LCO program, the Asif Astronomy Club has been providing students and astronomy clubs with the chance to view professional-grade astronomical images, something they would not be able to do normally because of a lack of computers or internet access in their communities.

Itri Wasif 5

In partnership with the Askin Association for Development and Cooperation and under the supervision of the AABACA, the Asif Astronomy Club recently launched a series of Astronomy workshops in the municipality of Ammelne in southwestern Morocco. The first, titled “Itri Wasif 5,” took place in the town of Tafraoute, in the municipality of Askin.

Children from all backgrounds were invited to participate and engage in a range of activities, including a presentation on the Solar System, hands-on activities using robotic telescopes, and a quiz game that tested their knowledge of the material covered. 

The children were also given the opportunity to see images taken by the LCO’s robotic telescope network. For this portion of the workshop, Essaidi helped the students access the 0.4-meter telescopes at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia and the Teide Observatory in Tenerife, Canary Islands. As the workshop’s organizers commented on the Asif Astronomy Club Facebook page:

“[T]he “Itri Wasif 5” Astronomy workshop for kids in Ammelne was a highly successful event that provided children with a unique and engaging opportunity to learn about the solar system and robotic telescopes. The organizers’ efforts in designing and implementing this workshop are highly commendable, and we look forward to seeing more such events in the future.”

Asif Astronomy ClubThe road ahead

Looking to the future, Essaidi hopes to expand the Asif Astronomy Club’s education and outreach efforts by establishing international partnerships. He also hopes they will be able to further spread the culture of astronomy by providing the club with astronomical equipment and building a planetarium. 

He further hopes to expand the Club’s efforts in the city of Tafraoute with a festival that will welcome all the children in the Tiznit region:

“This festival will be an amazing opportunity for children of all ages to explore and learn about astronomy in a fun and interactive environment. Our festival will feature a variety of educational activities and exhibits, including stargazing with telescopes, presentations by experienced astronomers, interactive displays, and more. 

“We believe that this festival will be a wonderful way to inspire children’s curiosity and spark their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Moreover, it will be an excellent opportunity for children to bond with their peers and make new friends.”

The field of astronomy has changed dramatically thanks to improvements in instruments, methods, and data-sharing. But what is especially impressive is the way the “information age” has allowed for greater accessibility and opportunities. Whereas astronomical studies and education were once confined to academic institutions and observatories, it has now reached a point where the general public can get involved.

In addition to partnerships between professional and citizen scientists, educational and STEM organizations can bring professional astronomy to underserved communities and places where access has traditionally been lacking. In so doing, these organizations are helping to inspire the next generation of astronomers, astrophysicists, engineers, researchers, and educators. 

They are also helping to ensure that children who aspire to reach for the stars and contribute to our understanding of the cosmos have opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable. Lastly, they are helping to ensure that the scientific community benefits from greater diversity and incorporates more people with varying backgrounds and perspectives. 

“Space is for everyone” is not just a slogan or a goal. It’s fast becoming a reality. 

Further Reading: Asif Astronomy Club

The Best Astronomy Podcasts for 2023

I have to this, this was a complete surprise and I didn’t even realize anyone was keeping track. And yet, my friend and colleague James Maynard brought this bit of news to my attention. The list comes from PlayPodcast.net, a site that that offers free listening for hundreds of podcasts and (apparently) ranks them according to various categories. For this list, they ranked the best astronomy podcasts this year.

Guess who made the list?

Walkabout the GalaxyThe Cosmic CompanionStories From SpaceSpacepodSpace NutsSilicon Valley Astronomy Lectures

I’m not sure if this represents their own assessment or based on reviews, but I’ll take it. Also, note that The Cosmic Companion is the podcast of my buddy James. I invite you to check it out seeing as how he has some very cool stories, is a NASA alumni, and interviews some very interesting people (scientists, researchers, astronauts, etc.).

Episode 37 of Stories from Space – “Where Are All the Aliens? The Planetarium Hypothesis” – is Now Live!

This week, I got into another favorite proposed resolution to the Fermi Paradox. In 2001, famed scientist and SF author Stephen Baxter wrote a paper titled “The Planetarium Hypothesis – A Resolution of the Fermi Paradox.” Addressing Fermi’s question, Baxter suggested that the reason humanity hasn’t heard from advanced civilizations is that the Universe (as we know it) is a simulation.

To put it another way, what we see when we look up at the night sky is a giant virtual reality “planetarium” built by an advanced species to give the illusion of an empty Universe. The purpose of this could be to keep humanity contained, possibly for its own good or that of other species (i.e., intelligent life is dangerous), or to keep less-advanced species from developing too quickly and becoming a threat.

Like the Berserker Hypothesis, the idea is science fiction gold but admittedly unlikely (phew!) Another problem is that the hypothesis is untestable. While Baxter and other scientists suggested ways this theory could be tested (based on the principles of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics), critics have pointed out that the laws of physics themselves could be part of the simulation.

Personally, I think that the laws of physics and the fact that they make space exploration so challenging is the most compelling evidence for the hypothesis. What better way is there to control the growth of a species than to set the physics model to “extra hard”? If I were an advanced civilization looking to keep a species in the dark, this is precisely what I’d do! Check it out below:

Where to Listen: Simplecast Apple Podcast Spotify Amazon Music