Oppenheimer - with Robert J. Sawyer
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- čas přidán 10. 06. 2023
- Science Fiction author Robert J. Sawyer talks about Oppenheimer and about his Alternate History book: The Oppenheimer Alternative.
Where to find 'The Oppenheimer Alternative" book?
Robert J. Sawyer's website: sfwriter.com
* Trinity moment - AI vs. Nuclear
* 'Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds'
* The Jewish connection to the Manhattan project and the Nazi nuclear program
* Nuking Japan
* Oppenheimer personality
* Nuclear as a Double Edge Sword. Existential risk of a nuclear Holocaust
* Thermonuclear - the rivalry with Edward Teller
* Alternate History - the end of the world by 2030
* Military driven science vs. science driven by scientists
* Nuclear energy in space
* The Orion project - Nuclear Impales propulsion
* Controversy of Wernher von Braun
* Role of science fiction
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Awesome every time you two chat.
And I cannot wait for the movie, knowing that CN will push it over the top. I hope he goes for a documentary style, but expect some disappointment...
Going to reread Oppenheimer Alternative, now that I've seen the Christopher Nolan movie. Glad the theater had a caption device. It usually mentions which character is speaking, as compared to my transcribe app, which gets things hilariously wrong. When it comes to history, what was said is occasionally less important than who was saying it. I'm also a fan of Sims, and multiple save files can give the "what if?" I've played out some of those. But Rob's vision of the "what if?" with Oppenheimer? I enjoyed it. I'm curious if he'll do a different alternate history at some point. My friends in the SCA have taught me different histories, different time periods. But those involving world altering science? That's definitely a big deal.
As far as living in a trash can? Well, Rob knows, there have been points in my life when that would have been a step up for me. Now, I can go to karaoke night, and sing Oscar the Grouch's version! But to do it on a trip to Alpha Centauri? Hold that thought, let me dig out a suitcase while I consider this. Sorry kids, I'll miss you, but had to get my name in print one way or another. Try not to blow up the Earth while I'm gone?
Thank you for watching the episode with Rob Sawyer.
I read the Oppenheimer Alternative before the interview, but I didn't see the Oppenheimer's movie yet. I plan to watch it next week.
If you want to write to Rob Sawyer directly, his web site is: sfwriter.com/
Take care.
I loved the interview.
I just want to object to Rob's comment that the only thing that Musk has delivered with regards to Starship is "a lot of spectacle." That is of course true if you are just looking at the Starship program. But it completely overlooks the fact that SpaceX has completely revolutionized launching material into space. Last year SpaceX launched more rockets into space than all other rocket companies and counties space programs combined. Rob's comment disregards that the last test and the other tests before it were just that, tests. I expect the next test, which will have a much better launch platform, designed for the incredible rocket thrust, will be more successful. (Debris from the launch likely damaged some of the engines near the start of the process.) Moving away from hydro-mechanical controls to electronic controls for the engine positioning system will likely be a step in the right direction as well. I expect that the next test will be more successful, but I recognize that it too is still just a test. Musk and SpaceX are living out the Scouts saying: plan-do-review.
I'm also not convinced that Musk has ruined Twitter either. I've been using the platform a lot more since the transition in leadership, and I applaud a lot of the changes.
I should say that I really enjoyed reading "The Oppenheimer Alternative." I thought that the ending was particularly brilliant.
As always, I enjoy listening to Rob's insights, even if I don't always agree with everything he says. 🙂
This is the charm of an interview. Unexpected topics.
I agree with your comment about SpaceX.
I didn't push back on this topic during the interview because it's off topic. And I wanted to progress on the actual discussion topic. Oppenheimer and nuclear.
Elon has lowered the cost per Pound to Orbit by several orders of magnitude, which paves the way to the universe!
And, the only person you would totally agree with would be your own clone; that is if they were nurtured the same way. (Covering both bases there...)
"Space was non military" -- but that doesn't mean it never would be.
If they stopped the a-bomb research, who's to say the USSR doesn't develop it eventually in the 60s or China closer tomodern day. It would eventually exist and so you can't put your head on the sand. Simple prisoner's dilemma.
He's an interesting guest on science but the policy/politics quite idealistic.