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New interpretations suggest the "heat death" hypothesis might not hold (2023)

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52 points hhs | 3 comments | 30 Aug 25 15:25 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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delichon ◴[30 Aug 25 16:16 UTC] No.45075821[source]▶

  As such, the second law appears to hold a chilling prophecy for humanity in the very long term.
The idea that our species is so uniquely capable of transcending extinction and surviving long enough for the fate of the universe to be relevant to it is optimistic to the point of absurdity. It fits the evidence better to suppose that we're particularly capable of self destruction.
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1. getnormality ◴[30 Aug 25 17:40 UTC] No.45076518[source]▶
Edit: nevermind, I agree I misunderstood the parent comment.

It's a common response to any interest in the destiny of humanity: "what's so special about humanity? What about bacteria, huh?"

I don't know, I'm human and humans tend to be social and interested in their own species? Is that weird? Does that not apply to you? Do you consider it petty and parochial to be more interested in one's own species? Are you "above" that?

If any bacteria or humans are interested in projecting the future of bacteria and their probability of surviving humanity, they should absolutely go for it.

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2. chamomeal ◴[30 Aug 25 17:49 UTC] No.45076605[source]▶
I don’t think that’s that delichon is saying. It’s absurd to compare the lifetime of ANY species with the lifetime of the universe. The heat death of the universe is like 10^80 years away or something insane. Humans have been around for like… 10^5 years?

Even if something from earth lived that long, it wouldn’t be human. It probably wouldn’t be remotely recognizable!

3. Trasmatta ◴[30 Aug 25 18:22 UTC] No.45076876[source]▶
That's not what the parent comment is saying at all. There's a difference between being interested in your own species and thinking your own species is somehow above the risk of eventual destruction.