RE: The Extinction Challenge

Billy Brown (ewbrownv@mindspring.com)
Wed, 4 Aug 1999 15:01:55 -0500

hal@finney.org [SMTP:hal@finney.org] wrote:
> I think there may be a math error here. The area of a sphere 1
light-year
> in diameter is is 4 pi r^2 or 10^33 square meters. If energy of 10^44
> ergs is spread out over that area it implies 10^11 ergs per square meter,
> not < 1 erg per square meter.

Yes, <wiping egg off of face> it appears that there is. I think I hit 'volume' instead of 'surface area' - that's what I get for being in a hurry.

I'm going to go back and revisit the energy numbers (and the potential for deadly effects), but it will have to wait until next week.

Billy Brown, MCSE+I
ewbrownv@mindspring.com