RE: Science Nerds: Could Jupiter's Magnetic Field be harvested for energy?
May 4, 2021 at 3:47 pm
(This post was last modified: May 4, 2021 at 3:55 pm by vulcanlogician.)
(May 3, 2021 at 7:59 pm)Anomalocaris Wrote: What are you thinking of using Jupiter’s magnetic field to power?
A civilization.
The Jovians live on orbital rings that they have built around the moons of Jupiter. Using a large "wire" (even several hundred kilometers long) would be possible for them to build. They are the most advanced civilization in the solar system. But I want it to be (theoretically) possible. Otherwise, I'll consider using fusion.
(May 4, 2021 at 6:24 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Since it's science fiction, why bother making the power source plausible? Artificial gravity isn't plausible, nor phasers, transporters, light sabres, and so on and so on.
Since you're setting this far into the future, it stands to reason that there would be some significant scientific advancements during that time. Just postulate a synthetic element (you have my blessing to call it 'borudium') that transforms magnetic fields directly into usable electricity.
Boru
You could go two ways with science fiction. Most space operas do what you suggest and invent new science to make things (like faster than light travel) possible. Star trek is probably the best example of this. I'm trying to do "hard science" fiction, where everything is grounded in our current understanding of physics, but there is a technological advance that makes cool things possible.
What I'm trying to make unique about my setting is that there are many alien races (like Star Trek) but no interstellar travel in one lifetime (as most physicists think would always be the case). And even if you could, there'd be complications with abusing time dilation and such.