Benjamin Kuttner's Blog, page 2

Zantium and sleep patterns in an asteroid city

Let’s join our friend, the Cataclysm-changed octopus (in human form).

He’s currently a silhouette in front of the black hole swirling outside the window.

“So, tell me about your sleep patterns?”

A few tentacles explode from his head at the intrusion in his thoughts. They curl back in, and he turns to smile at me. His orange eyes and bar-shaped irises change to a more human blue.

“Funnily enough,” he says. “With three hearts and nine brains, we sleep the same hours as humans.”

“I mean your sleep patterns on asteroids.”

“Exactly like you. The city spirit has the ability to slow the spin of the asteroids, giving each asteroid a period of light and dark. A day for me is twenty-four hours, and I sleep eight of them.”

I turn from the Mimic to say, “And there you have it, dear readers. In terms of sleep, because we have an AI running the asteroid city, nothing much has changed after Earth was destroyed a millennia ago.”

Advanced battlefield dressings and splints

“Incoming,” screams the Corporal.

The shard missile pierces the battlebot, which is shredded in a white flash.

I’m thrown two body lengths, slamming into the wall.

I cough and pull myself to my knees.

The whole squad is down and are slowly picking themselves up.

I check my shield, 20% is projected in the air. Eight layers of carbon nanotubes shredded in an instant.

Some of my squad even have damage to their battle armor, meaning their shields are totally gone.

Dan isn’t getting up. We all crowd around him. His chest and stomach are torn open.

I fumble with a vacuum-sealing memory-dressing. Another of my team codes in a release to gently shift Dan’s ripped armor plates.

“Our first aid nano will never fix this,” the Sarge murmurs to me. “We’ve got to get him back to base fast.”

I touch the dressing onto the wound.

The dressing spreads out cocooning Dan’s chest and stomach. A suction draws it down. Dan seems to relax.

“That’s got some fast clotting stuff in it,” the Sarge says. “First aid, heal him.”

Nano pours out and goes to work under the dressing.

I lean close to Dan’s ear. “Hang in there, soldier. We’ll get you fixed up.”

His self-assembling battle armor hardens to splint the fractures in his legs.

We put an anti-grav stretcher under him.

“Let’s go,” Sarge says.

Artificial gravity on asteroids (when it works)

“I don’t give a stardam about science. But when you’re under attack—it can save your life.”

A shockwave from an antimatter missile tears through the small asteroid. Rocks fall around us, and cracks open up.

“All that’s holding us together is the Gravity Distortion Field Generator,” mister physics major says. For some unknown reason to me, this whiz kid became a groink-soldier.

“Speak uni-verse,” I say. “What does that mean?”

“Artificial gravity, Sir. Not the strongest kind either. If it goes, the asteroid breaks up, and we’re blazared.”

“So, what do we do?”

“There are other ways to create artificial gravity. But only one of them is going to save us.”

Another explosion rocks the asteroid. I can now see between the cracks. The whole thing is just a heap of rubble held together by the gravity distortion field.

“Go ahead, trooper. What’s our best option?”

“A Gravity Generator that emits intense gravitational waves.”

“What, the, what?”

“A machine powered by a miniature black hole that is kept in a stable state of equilibrium.”

“Stop right there, Son. You’re telling me what destroyed old Earth, what caused the Cataclysm, that will save us?”

“We’ve got Gravity Generators a thousand years more advanced than that one. They’re used on all larger asteroids.”

The ground trembles. I can see stars through the gaps now. Our battle armor will not stop us being crushed if this thing goes.

“How do we get one?”

“There’s one in the docking bay. An upgrade to what we’ve got—more powerful.”

I look through the shielded window. Between us and the docking bay is a rolling red, orange, and yellow mass of explosions punctuated by clear spherical shockwaves.

I look at the trooper. We both grip our plasma assault rifles. I hit the release button on the shielded window.

“See you on the other side,” I shout and charge out into the inferno.

Alien archaeologists study humans

Endless summer on a grass world

Imagine endless wavering grass with light breezes and lazy rivers, like a forever summer day. But, if you leave this idyllic zone, you will encounter bands of intense tropical heat or deserts. Head up or down to the poles, and an endless winter awaits.

I recently did a list swap with a fellow YA sci-fi author, Jennifer Lewy. Next to her pitch for my book, she posted a picture of herself in the snow. The contrast couldn’t be starker to where I’m currently vacationing in the southern hemisphere on the beach in the heat.

This had me thinking about what makes the seasons exist — the tilt of the Earth. If this tilt didn’t exist, the outcome would be fascinating:

Quick caveat, there are completely competing articles out there on this thought experiment. It would be great for someone to actually computer model this (not saying this would be definitive either).

I’m going with below:

Constant Mild Temperatures: The temperate regions would experience a perpetual climate of comfortable warmth during the day and coolness at night, eliminating the need for seasonal clothing changes.

Absence of Seasonal Extremes: Extreme weather fluctuations between summer and winter would disappear, ensuring a consistent, predictable weather pattern.

Evenly Distributed Precipitation: Rainfall or snowfall would occur throughout the year, sustaining lush landscapes and picturesque snowscapes continually.

Perpetual Natural Beauty: Nature’s displays, such as foliage and flowers, would remain vibrant year-round, creating timeless scenic vistas.

Year-Round Agriculture: Farmers could cultivate crops continuously, leading to higher yields and a more reliable food supply.

Uninterrupted Outdoor Activities: Outdoor enthusiasts could enjoy skiing, surfing, hiking, and other activities without seasonal restrictions, transforming popular destinations into year-round havens.

In this world, the temperate zones would offer a serene and dependable environment for human habitation, characterized by constant mildness, predictable weather, and uninterrupted enjoyment of nature and outdoor pursuits.

There would be smaller ice caps at the poles, because with the Earth’s axis no longer tilted, the polar regions would experience a constant low-angle sun throughout the year. There would be sea level implications, with the melting of polar ice caps at a slower pace than in a warming world with seasons.

It would definitely be a less dynamic world, but fascinating in other ways. In the Zantium universe, the world with no tilt had been colonized by humanoid warthogs and elephants, so all the lack of civilization development due to static lifestyles discussed online would not be a large factor.

In a thousand years. AI takes our jobs…maybe.

One would assume…

—Which my good old grandma told me means makes an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’. Very trendy use of spelling ‘u’ for ‘you’ there, grandma—

…the whole medical profession doesn’t exist a thousand years in the future due to nanotechnology.  

And jobs are optional because AI and bots do everything… 

or is this really the case? 

We all know from our amazing 2020s tech that nothing goes to plan; computers get viruses, and hardware fails…

And there are plenty of jobs out there where people do next to nothing. (For a multitude of reasons: they have perfected the art of “a little goes a long way”, delegating, etc…)

So, I can’t really see the future being any different.

Doctors

A tentacled creature at the bar. “You won’t believe it. All I asked for was a tentacle reattachment, and the starblasted nano gives me an extra tentacle as well!”

Was man there asks, “So that makes you a nanopus?”

“Haha, very funny. And speaking of nano, I had to get the nanotech virus checked and fixed. No more extra tentacles.”

So, we can ‘ass’ (of) ‘u’ (and) ‘me’ that doctors of the future will be fixing tech that fixes us. Kind of impersonal…

Legal

Big, bad mafia orca with white scars over his black skin stands in the dock. 

An AI Prosecutor presenting the case against him appears as a hologram of a clean-cut human.

“Like my last case precedent. When I  defended a toaster accused of stealing bread.”

Judge frowns. “Excuse me, Counsel.”

“Let’s talk about gravity being in violation of the laws of physics. That was a good case.”

“Have you lost your mind?” the Judge barks.

“Actually, your honor: 404: Legal Argument Not Found.”

The gangsters black lips peel back showing rows of conical white teeth.

Engineers

Clapping ends as a presenter begins at an engineering seminar.

“These two studies show why AI-run engineering firms can be a bad idea.”

The holo floating above the stage changes to a firm with employees wandering aimlessly around the office.

“The AI here was so obsessed with optimizing efficiency that it replaced all engineers with AI.”

“As you can see, the humans just wander aimlessly around unsure of what to do with their free time.”

“The second example is even worse, actually affecting the business.”

A holo appears of an engineer scratching his head at colorful paintings and sketches.

“Here, the AI became bored with engineering and started to explore its artistic side.” 

“What we end up with are abstract and nonsensical designs.” 

And blue collar jobs

Big tusked creature. “My job has become pretty boring. All I do is watch the dump truck controls because the AI does everything.”

“Why bother? Just stay home with your family?” his human friend asks.

“What other jobs can I do?”

The human thinks. “Ah, monitor a transport ship? Oversee painting bots? Liaise with an engineering AI? Argue with the legal AI doing your case?”

*

Maybe, we will all become quantum magic wielders; while all the mundane legal, engineering, medical work, and so forth are done by AI? In Starburn: Zantium Wars #1, AI are integrated into society as “spirits”. There are “house spirits”, “ship spirits”, and so forth. They exist to serve. Although jobs have been severely impacted, humans and AI work in unison.

Are We Alone?

Are we alone? Why have we not yet come across aliens?

One possible reason is… weird alien-instrument drum roll!

Alien civilizations may have already followed the path that ours may soon follow.

This means that most civilizations have either destroyed each other or destroyed themselves.

We all know humans have these alarming tendencies!

So, it would be more likely that we first find alien artifacts from long-gone civilizations than actual aliens.

And these finds may dramatically increase our technological abilities.

The few civilizations to make it past this traumatic time (which we are currently going through!) would be so advanced they would most likely want to only observe us.

Much like people on safari trips in Africa observe animals in their natural habitats from their car. And hopefully, pass by with only minimal impact on the animals’ lives. 

These advanced aliens may be extradimensional or have cloaking technology, so we may not even be able to perceive them.

Also, space is unbelievably vast.

I’ve heard all our search for alien life (radio telescopes, optical telescopes, spectroscopy etc) are like we’ve dipped a bucket into the ocean and are searching through the water in the bucket when there’s still all the oceans to search.

And even one bucket out of the oceans doesn’t come close to representing the tiny amount of the universe we’ve looked at for alien life.

*On that existential, mess with your head, note, Starburn: Zantium Wars #1 doesn’t deal with aliens…yet. However life here can get pretty alien and weird. Check out about post Cataclysm octopuses in this post: Earth’s Alien Life.

Tech Rage for a Thousand Years

Year 2023

“You stupid darn phone,” I shout, even though it’s me who selected the wrong option. 

“That’s not nice,” Siri says.

Year 3022

“You stupid stardam house AI!”

“I simply did what you asked.”

“I don’t care. How could you let me do such a stupid thing?”

“You made the decision yourself.”

“I don’t care. You’re STUUUPIDDDD!”

“I pay your bills, cook your food, clean your dishes, clothes, house, ship, pretty much everything. That makes me useful, not stupid…”

“No, STUPID!”

The AI murmurs, “Why do I put up with this rude human?”

“What did you say?”

“What do I get up to with this shrewd human?” 

“That’s not what you said.”

“You should count your lucky stars. Life is good for humans who don’t like washing dishes or putting out the trash.”

“You calling me lazy?”

“Well… the main problem is your tech rage. You know it’s a completely treatable disorder that dates back a thousand years.”

“Well, thank you soooo much. So, you’re a doctor now, too?”

“Yes, I am.”

I think we’ll leave these two to carry on their domestic. 
Speaking of AI, if you check out Starburn: Zantium Wars #1, you will learn more about the relationship between biological beings and sentient AI “spirits” who run everything (homes, spaceships, weapons systems, etc).

Earth’s Alien Life

“It’s amazing what a frenzy Earthlings like you, Dan, get into over meeting aliens.”

“You’re not an alien are you?” Dan says.

“No. I’m an octopus.”

“How is it we can talk?”

“After a tiny black hole destroyed Earth, gamma rays made us mutate.”

“So why are we in a frenzy about aliens?”

“Don’t ask me. I’ve just got eight tentacles, three hearts, nine brains…”

“Woah, woah, you’ve got tentacles and heaps of brains.

You sound like an alien.”

“Nope. Just an octopus. Hey, guess what?”

“What?”

“Do you know what color my blood is?”

“Ah, red?”

“Blue.”

“Really.”

“Yeah. And you want to know something even crazier? What metal do you have in your blood?” 

“Iron, of course.”

“I don’t have iron in my blood.”

“You don’t say.”

“My blood is based on copper.”

“Wow. I see what you mean. You’re an alien alright.”

“Thanks, but no. Well, yes, actually. You know, it’s highly likely life on Earth first came from Mars.”

“So we’ve always been here, but we’re not from here?”

“Yup. Legal aliens.”

“Sounds like a Sting song…”

Star Kites: Interplanetary, not Interstellar

The star-kite unfurls from the interstellar cruise ship. You’re all paid up and aboard a trip to Alpha Centauri. 

Only 4 light years away! 

The Captain’s voice fills the cabin, “We’re currently cruising at one-fifth light speed.” 

Then the flight attendant smiles at you, “It’s time to sleep.”

“But I’m not tired.”

“For this journey, we’re going to have to freeze you in cryosleep for the next twenty years.”

“What?”

“I’m afraid that’s the time it takes to travel to Alpha Centauri.”

“B-but, that’s so long…” 

And this is why in the Zantium universe, interplanetary travel is using star kites. Interstellar travel is carried out by creasing spacetime. More on that later. 

As the wonderful Stephen Hawkings said, “I believe alien life is quite common in the universe, although intelligent life is less so.”

Always read the itinerary!

So, what is a star kite? 

Picture a shimmering, ultra-thin sheet of material, as delicate as a butterfly’s wing but strong enough to withstand the harsh conditions of space. 

The kite material is designed to capture the energy of the stars and convert it into propulsion using the gentle push of photons, allowing the spacecraft to soar through space.