Adam Frank
@AdamFrank4
Followers
20K
Following
3K
Media
766
Statuses
14K
Astrophysicist. Author of the Everyman's Universe newsletter and The Little Book of Aliens. Stuff shows up at The Atlantic, NYT, etc
University of Rochester
Joined August 2011
And its done! The Little Book of Aliens. Everything you need to know about everything there is to know about life in the Universe (out there and, you know, maybe but probably not, here). This week's @bigthink post. #Arewealone.
bigthink.com
We may be the last generation not knowing if we are alone in the Universe. "The Little Book of Aliens" will help you understand this journey.
37
27
142
Here is my interview with the always creative and thought provoking @annakaharris on the nature of consciousness - perhaps the most important question emerging for the 21st century. @bigthink .
bigthink.com
A conversation with Annaka Harris on shared perception, experimental science, and why our intuition about consciousness is wrong.
2
1
6
I ❤️ O'Neil cylinders.
@Kosha_Official @FakeWhiteKnight @AdamFrank4 Here's the guy who came up with O'Neill cylinders. His name is O'Neill
0
0
8
This was one of the very cool ideas from your proposal.
@AdamFrank4 Although, we could maybe do this….
0
0
4
Oh my god. Friggin' Eric Weinstein. Why do any of us have to deal with anything Eric Weinstein says.
Lord, give me the strength to not amplify Avi Loeb, the serenity to ignore Eric Weinstein, and the wisdom not to engage about Terence Tao.
6
2
45
The ISS orbits within the Earth's magnetosphere.
@AdamFrank4 Nonsense. The radiation level is not higher than on ISS. And if you think any place in Solar system is better than Mars, you are plainly wrong.
1
0
4
What do you mean self-sustaining? I am talking about having millions of people living there. That's a lot of launches. But you raise an interesting point about giving the habitats atmospheres. I assume that's why you are point to N2.
@robert_zubrin @AdamFrank4 The mass required for the N2 for a modestly sized space habitat exceeds the mass of payload to Mars to make it self sustaining. And i can actually run you the numbers.
1
0
3
Don't get me wrong. I love Mars and would go there in a heartbeat. But hospitable it ain't. The lack of a magnetosphere means everything must be built underground or 100% chance of cancer. My musings on going to Mars.
everymansuniverse.com
A short mediation on a one way trip to the Red Planet.
@yan__solo @AdamFrank4 Mars doesn't have a magnetosphere, so what. ? It doesn't change anything, Mars is the most hospitable place for humans in Solar System, and obvious first place to go and settle.
4
1
18
Thanks. By the way, you were the best NASA administrator of my lifetime. Thank you.
@AdamFrank4 Interesting read!.
1
0
3
Say you true beltalowda.
@AdamFrank4 There's a moment in the expanse books where Bobby's nephew says something to the effect of "but dad, Mars doesn't even have a magnetosphere". And that single line stuck with me because even though some incredibly smart people have put a lot of brain cycles into terraforming this.
2
0
7
Nah. Space is very big and you could move the asteroid if problems show up.
@AdamFrank4 Should be temporary because that asteroid could collide with something or be attract by a bigger spacial thing.
2
0
8
It was the Expanse series that introduced me to the idea (and Kim Stanely Robinson). So we took it seriously and did the calculations on what would, and would not, work.
@AdamFrank4 Reminds me of an orbital from Iain Banks Culture series. I love the idea.
0
0
8
People could create the societies they want. Some might be Morman city-states. Some might be Corporate pseudo-republics. Some might be radical democracies. Anything would be possible and that, in itself, represents an exciting future.
2
0
9
Imagine a future with hundreds of thousands of asteroid habitats. Each one could have the same habitable inner surface as New York City. Scattered across the solar system each one would be an experiment in human society and, hopefully, human flourishing.
1
0
11
Planets like Mars may not be the future for a settled solar system. Getting in / out of gravity wells will make construction dangerous and expensive. Building vast space cities from asteroids could be an easier path forward over the next few centuries.
everymansuniverse.com
There's a better way.
30
33
226
That's exactly it. I spend everyday thinking about how to find life in the Universe (dumb or smart). Wouldn't do it if I didn't believe it was out there. But I don't want to believe. I want to know!!! Only one path forward. Rigorous brutal honest responsible science.
@Bot1397642 @AdamFrank4 @GaryMarcus I recently began following @AdamFrank4 and my impression is that he isn’t claiming that aliens aren’t here, but rather the evidence is insufficient, and drawing the distinction between what we can’t rule out as alien and what the general professional consensus says.
6
5
40
Project Hail Mary! . Hungry Black Holes!. Dumb-ass policies on mRNA research and more. Today's news roundup with links on Everyman's Universe.
everymansuniverse.com
Stories for you about Cosmos and Culture
1
0
4
Another one bites the dust. 3rd Trappist-1 system shows no evidence of atmosphere. Are M-dwarf stars too active to allow atmospheres to survive on their planetary children?.
arxiv.org
The nearby TRAPPIST-1 system, with its seven small rocky planets orbiting a late-type M8 star, offers an unprecedented opportunity to search for secondary atmospheres on temperate terrestrial...
2
0
6
Can anyone think of an example where a scientist proposes a classification scale and names it after themselves?.
5
0
4
wise words from @GaryMarcus. ”Science is not a popularity contest; you can’t bully your way to truth. And you can’t make AI better if you drown out the critics and keep pouring good money after bad. Science simply cannot advance without people sticking to the truth”.
8
18
98
We are friends forever. As long as you love the Mets.
@AdamFrank4 Adam, that comment was not directed at you. I know you're an expert, I was replying to someone else in the comment chain and you got tagged. I wish there was a setting that auto removed people the reply was not directed at.
2
0
3