Cabinet of Science & Fiction

The Ark and the Abyss: The Perilous Dream of Generation Ships


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What does it truly take to send a piece of humanity on a one-way trip to the stars? In this episode, we open the Cabinet to examine the monumental challenge of interstellar generation ships—vessels where generations will be born, live, and die before reaching a new world. We delve into the Project Hyperion design competition, which lays out the staggering engineering needs: 1g rotation, Earth-like atmospheres, and shielding from cosmic threats. But the greatest obstacles aren't just technical; they're human. How do you maintain a stable society and preserve knowledge for 250 years? Can a closed ecosystem truly survive that long? And what are the ethical implications of our descendants waking up to colonize a planet that might already be inhabited? Join us as we explore the thin line between a noble ark and a flying tomb, and question whether humanity's future among the stars might look less like us and more like something else entirely.

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Cabinet of Science & FictionBy Ricardo Alberto