The Final Frontier.

Von Neumann probes will probably the easiest way of seeding the Galaxy, self replicating, inteligent probes, fired off to areas in the Galaxy, there they will establish themselves, and if technology permits, they may be able to produce humans in situ, then once it is established they build more Von Neumann probes and fire them off, eventually exponential growth would see the entire Galaxy colonized.

Humans themselves imo will never be able to travel to other solar systems, the easiest method by far would be to grow humans at the destination, then you don't need cumbersome radiation shielding (at least not in the sizes needed to protect the humans, all you'd need is a shield to protect any cargo/computer systems). You wouldn't need bulky environmental support or food production or oxygen recycling, you could develop the spaceship for speed and ease of construction, ignoring all the difficult manufacturing and equipment requirements to keep humans alive.

Have a read of the Manifold seies of books by Stephen Baxter (Time, Spacem Origin, Phase Space) they deal remarkably well with ideas behind human colonization of the Galaxy.
 
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I agree with the majority here - If you look at everything we take for granted that didn't even exist 30 years ago - anything is possible given enough time.
 
We obviously won't see it in our lifetime but it will come-assuming we survive long enough. "Simply" a technological problem to overcome. Early days yet.
 
Damn, Tefal - couldn't you find a bigger picture? :)

And to give my answer to the OP - God, I hope so. Humans are basically pretty good at expanding their borders when it comes down to it, and we're running out of borders on this planet.
 
AcidHell2 said:
If we cracked fusion and super conductors and proabably a thousand and one other things couldn't we shield space crafts with a huge magnetic field?
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We're already part way there on this front:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7706844.stm

Wormholes - no evidence that they do or can exist AFAIK. Generation/stasis ships would still take massive amounts of time (relative to us) to get anywhere. One of the problems with that endeavour is that by the time your ship gets anywhere, we'd already be able to catch up with it given technological advancements back on Earth - making the initial journey redundant.

Yes maybe we could send AIs out to colonise for us but if we can't communicate with them in realistic timeframes then what exactly is the point? We'll probably just create future civilisations for ourselves to war with. :p

P.S. You win blix!
 
Burt said:
No. The distances involved make any meaningful journey impossible without travelling at speeds ludicrously faster (you win an internets if you get the reference) than light!
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Ludicrous Speed!
spaceballs_large_02.jpg

I hope and believe one day it will happen, there is as already stated much to overcome and that is the main thing to overcome. On a Trekky theme quite how we overcome could be interesting, will it be over a great time on our own or could it be with help from an outside source/visitor?
 
I cant see why we wouldn't, unless we have been gobbled up in a giant global curry dish by the zards.
 
Burt said:
Yes maybe we could send AIs out to colonise for us but if we can't communicate with them in realistic timeframes then what exactly is the point? We'll probably just create future civilisations for ourselves to war with. :p
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Good point: perhaps some kind of communication using quantum teleportation will become viable. Still, it'll ensure the slightly more long-term survival of intelligence in case something goes nova nearby!
 
strudey said:
Think big. Within 30-40 years I should think it'll be possible to make a computer at least as intelligent as a person. Then you can fire them off to wherever you like. If you really want biological people you can grow some once you arrive.
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Assuming you trust it not to bluescreen and need a 3-finger-salute to start growing the meatsacks... ;)


Burt said:
Wormholes - no evidence that they do or can exist AFAIK.
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They didn't know that Stephen Hawking's black holes existed until they found one. Now they've found loads. It's got Einstein's name on it, I'm happy enough to accept them as reasonably plausible. That said, without the ability to control their creation and direction, they're not overly useful.

Burt said:
Generation/stasis ships would still take massive amounts of time (relative to us) to get anywhere.
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That's what puts me off them. I'd be happy enough to go adventuring, but I'd also like to be able to see my parents when I get back. Returning to find everyone I'd ever know had been dead for a century would take the edge off the thrill of visiting another solar system for me.

Burt said:
One of the problems with that endeavour is that by the time your ship gets anywhere, we'd already be able to catch up with it given technological advancements back on Earth - making the initial journey redundant.
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Wasn't there a story about that? The first generation cryo-ship gets sent off to a distant planet, and when they arrive, they find it populated by their descendants, because every couple of generations, the people back home built faster, more advanced ships which got to the planet ahead of the previous ones.

Burt said:
Yes maybe we could send AIs out to colonise for us but if we can't communicate with them in realistic timeframes then what exactly is the point? We'll probably just create future civilisations for ourselves to war with. :p
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Depressingly plausible :/
 
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