The Lucifer Project

First of all, let me explain the title. The Lucifer Project is a conspiracy theory, in a sense. Apparently, NASA has been planning to crash the Cassini–Huygens orbiter into Saturn. This crash could cause a nuclear fusion reaction (triggered by Cassini's fissable, reactor grade, plutonium core) that would ignite the Jovian planet into our solar system's second sun. This project's primary goal is transforming Titan's environment into a more habitable atmosphere - specifically more habitable to human life (think mass relocation).

This conspiracy has sparked some debate concerning safety (possible environmental and physical effects to Earth) and 'morality' (Scientists playing God). Let me first comment on the safety issue to get it out of the way. I'm definitely not prepared to go into detail on the effects this ignition would have on our atmosphere, what with it being constantly bombarded with chemicals from below and all. Or the consequences of the inevitable aftershock of the initial blast. This whole idea, in this regard, just seems like a bad idea to me...even if we would have a second planet to which to ship the population overflow. The second issue is my favourite and makes me all tingly inside. This takes me back to a blog I wrote well over a year ago (and since deleted). The conservative religious sect preaching that godlessness is synonymous with immorality. I'm an atheist, but by no means do I consider myself immoral - I'll go into this another day. The issue is that some people are concerned about the scientists trying to play god. In order to really have any rational problem with this one, I think, would require a belief in god. In my opinion it's this attitude that keeps us from conquering other feats that could be solved with, say, stem cell research?! Not to mention the possibility of creating new life on another planet. Now I know I said I was against the idea, but, for the sake of argument, let's assume I could be convinced that the whole thing is safe.

I used to get pretty excited about human advancement - technological advancement to be specific. I never used to wonder IF we were going to make it to space (as a species, not personally) but WHEN we were going to get there. I also wonder about WHEN, not IF, we will cure every disease on the planet. I'm extremely optimistic about our path and hope that elitist control freaks like Bush don't fuck it up (like banning stem cell research). You can imagine how aggravating this whole situation is to me. It is a secret hope of mine that one day religion in general (I'm not singling anyone out) would be a myth like Greek or Norse mythology. All that would be left would be a society who isn't blinded by the idea of hands of wrath waiting to smite them down at the first thought of trying to be 'godly'. Kind of like children who, not only refuse to take that first drag of the cigarette, but actually tell the parents of all the kids they see doing it - nobody likes that kid! Speaking of rebellion and Lucifer, I find it interesting how a generation that glorified the rebel with movies such as Cool Hand Luke, Godfather, and just about every James Dean movie, can not see that it is almost an exact reference to the ultimate symbol of rebellion, Lucifer (or any other name by which this particular character goes in other religions). This guy was disowned by his family and fought a tyrannical higher power. A story like that with any other protagonist would be a heroic tale, don't you think?

Now, back on track. Human advancement, god-like heretics, and the pursuit of happyness (but not actually). Again, EXTREMELY excited about the possibilities the future of our civilization holds. How will our minds and bodies evolve? Would that evolution be natural or artificial? A Scottish author named Iain M. Banks wrote a series of books about a futuristic culture practising a form of Libertarian Socialism. There were no laws and definitely no law enforcers. everyone was telepathic but nobody intruded on anyone else's thoughts without permission. there was no crime, just complete harmony. This culture completely abolished every disease known to man and were biologically perfect in every way. If humans were to breed together and eventually become one race, or at least blur the borders enough, racism would cease to exist. It's hard to look at certain aspects of our own technology and not wonder how that will lead to similar advances. Inventing bionic enhancements for sight and sound, Bioengineering perfect babies and air scrubbing organisms, or discovering telepathic qualities to our own DNA. Breakthroughs like these paint an identical portrait to those 'predicted' by Banks. It's exciting to think those worlds could be less than a dozen generations away. But, hey, it's immoral to play god, right?