@earthman2110: The possible (it may be they orbit each other and the apparent approach is just part of an elliptic path) merger of the Andromeda galaxy with ours will probably produce interesting galactic structures (an "antenna" double galaxy, a giant elliptic one...), but the individual stars will not be affected very much.


I suppose you think about space colonization by nano probes - it could be done; tiny probes containing the information to replicate sentient beings and utilize the material present in the solar system to be explored and colonized in order to create outposts would be very efficient and could travel at speeds far below light speed; of course feedback to earth, let alone "governing" of the "colonies" would make no sense, given the distances we deal with; but those probes would transform lifeless planets into thriving paradises and send forth second generation probes and so on; in a couple of hundred thousand years, the galaxy could be "colonized" - we have all the time in the world, so to speak.

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"The Earth is the cradle of the mind, but we cannot live forever in a cradle". - Tsiolkovsky

Yes, that is indeed one variety.
But my favorite application of nanotech would be super selfish.
Nanites in every cell of my body which repair immediately any damage to it, effectively rendering myself to be immortal.

And yes, I WOULD like to live forever, thank you.

Ponder this: It's going to happen one day.
The ultimate goal of medicine is to remove all disease and suffering of the body, and to conquer death itself. And if things keep going the way they are now, you may just see the result of this in your lifetime, which will probably exceed 100 by the time you get there.
I can't wait!
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!

Here is a really cool site on the subject of a possible future for nanotech and other things:
http://www.orionsarm.com/intro.html

-Meme

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-Anonymity in the world of men is better than fame in heaven, for what's heaven? What's earth? All in the mind.
~Jack Kerouac

I predict an infinitely repeating cycle of humanity gaining high technology, using it to destroy civilization, rebuilding, and destroying itself... over and over. Each time we have the previous technology as a starting place, however, so eventually we'll make it off this rock and start the cycle up somewhere else.

Gee, I sound like Mr. Morden.

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Do try not to take me too seriously.

That's what they say.

Maybe you read the book "ageless body, timeless mind" (see here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...25715?v=glance ), one of the many examples how to stop aging.
It may be OT, but indeed we need means to stop and even revert aging.

Combining techniques in a step-by-step approach will lead to the ultimate goal of immortality.

Step One: Keep your body healthy (I'm not sure about antioxidants and other presumable aging-stoppers though).
Step Two: Embrace everything that might postpone death and try to survive by delaying death.
Step Three: Once nanotech-based repair mechanisms are available, hop on THAT bandwagon. I estimate you'll have to make the year 2050 at least, but that should be possible, too.

What do you think about cryogenics as an option to stay in a state of suspended animation until we are advanced enough to have ousted the grim reaper btw?

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"The Earth is the cradle of the mind, but we cannot live forever in a cradle". - Tsiolkovsky

Funny you should ask.
I am 35 now, and should be around for the bio-nanotech tech to affect me, but I think it will be much sooner than 2050. I think much closer to 2020 we will start to see real nanites that can have benefit.
But on the issue of cyrotech, I totally can see myself doing that.
However, two issues prevent me from committing.

1. It's rather costly.
Somewhere between 50 to 100 grand to freeze just the head. (Ah, visions of futurama abound) and 180 to 200 grand for the body.
You can obtain special insurance for it, but try to convince the wife that she will get El zippo after your death just so you can come back 1000 years after her death is fairly hard.
All I have gotten in that argument was: "You just want to come back when robot wives are both cheap and plentiful."
Man, does she know me....

2. What if, upon your reanimation, things are actually worse than they are now. Like, it's a million years from now, and teenagers bought your head in a kit offered on meta-ebay, and you are now some bizarre science project, or society has changed, and past cryro frozen people are seen as evil demons and they reanimate you only to torture and purge you from existence.
But hey, anything can happen right?

Here's a company that does this:
http://www.alcor.org/

-Meme

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-Anonymity in the world of men is better than fame in heaven, for what's heaven? What's earth? All in the mind.
~Jack Kerouac

If all you have to do to make a robot is be lazy, I should have like fifty of the things by now.

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"Most editorials are written by people that love to argue but got kicked off debate team for not making any sense." -Seanbaby

28 grand, actually, at the cryonics org: http://www.cryonics.org/.

If hoewever you are not prepared for a little "future shock" (like teens selling your head on the equivalent of Ebay), don't even think about it.
The probability of this is IMO very small.
Smaller than that we find something to prevent early (or any) demise soon.
I'm 39, btw, but judging from my overall health, we still have plenty of time

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"The Earth is the cradle of the mind, but we cannot live forever in a cradle". - Tsiolkovsky