This has been a doozy of a year. And it’s the best year so far blah blah. So how are you all coping? Does it hit anyone else like a bolt of lightning that probably I - we - won’t die of old age?

  • aidan@lemmy.world
    1·
    5 months ago

    If a population exponentially grows does that mean it will continue infinitely? Why would the reverse be certain to be different?

    • LustyArgonian@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      0·
      5 months ago

      If a population is given infinite resources, sure, theoretically. The energy that comes from the sun is cumulative and may as well be considered infinite since the sun isn’t going out any time soon. Did you really think that was a gotchya?

      Look at every other planet. That ours happens to be energetically at a temp to support life is the exception. The rule in the universe is that it’s literally unlivable for us everywhere else we know of. Literally. This is pretty much it.

      • aidan@lemmy.world
        1·
        5 months ago

        If a population is given infinite resources, sure, theoretically.

        I didn’t say they were given infinite resources. I said if a population is growing exponentially does that mean it will continue to do so.

        The energy that comes from the sun is cumulative and may as well be considered infinite since the sun isn’t going out any time soon.

        Yeah?

        Did you really think that was a gotchya?

        What? It was a question you didn’t answer. Why do you assume just because something is exponential that it will continue. Another example- transistor size in processors exponentially shrinks. Does that mean eventually it’s going to reach zero nm? (hint the answer is no)

        I’m also not saying that this disproves something can exponentially fall to zero. I’m just saying, stating the current relationship doesn’t guarantee it will continue.

        Look at every other planet. That ours happens to be energetically at a temp to support life is the exception.

        Earth is very far removed from other planets in terms of atmospheric conditions.

        • LustyArgonian@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          0·
          5 months ago

          If given infinite resources, yes. I answered you.

          The current population will likely be zero, perhaps simply approaching the limit of zero if tardigrades and extremophiles survive. But in terms of multicellular life, yeah, there can be a zero for sure. Because the energy from the sun can theoretically increase exponentially.

          It would be cool if our ozone was working perfectly, then, huh? But it’s not any more, and is getting worse: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/climate-change-mitigation-reducing-emissions/current-state-of-the-ozone-layer

          • aidan@lemmy.world
            1·
            5 months ago

            If given infinite resources, yes. I answered you.

            I again didn’t ask that. Its also not true for all populations(such as human populations)

            The current population will likely be zero, perhaps simply approaching the limit of zero if tardigrades and extremophiles survive. But in terms of multicellular life, yeah, there can be a zero for sure.

            I did ask if there can be either. I asked why you assume it would be.

            It would be cool if our ozone was working perfectly, then, huh? But it’s not any more, and is getting worse:

            That source seems to indicate that they’re not entirely sure why it is getting worse, but it is a combination of factors. However NASA and the the UN say recovery of the ozone layer is still on track for 2040.