A Talk with Wally Rippel — Is There Hope for Our Civilization?
Yesterday’s interview with my friend Wally Rippel that I conducted for the book I’m preparing on renewable energy is a moment in time I’ll never forget. I know I’ve commented on Wally numerous times here, and so I’ll try not to burden readers with too much repetition on the wonderful grasp he has on both physics and philosophy, blending what we must do with why we must do it.
Perhaps my favorite few minutes of our dialog over lunch concerned the “Drake’s equation” – the famous attempt to quantify the probability of extraterrestrial life. Drake famously identified and multiplied together the many factors that come together to affect this number: the total number of stars in the universe, the percentage of those with planets, the percentage of those planets with carbon, water, etc.
Wally pointed out the most important factor in all of this may be the brief period of time between which life initiates on a planet until that life is extinguished. Until the advent of nuclear weapons less than a century ago, few people considered the possibility that life on this planet could come to an end in the absence of an extremely unlikely, naturally occurring event, e.g., a collision with a huge asteroid or the sun’s burning out. But now we have the interesting possibility that extraterrestrial life might be hard to find because there is a very brief window between the point that a civilization develops radio technology (enabling us to find them) and the time at which they develop nuclear weapons (enabling them to destroy themselves). The question then becomes, of course: Are we teetering on the edge ourselves?
This subject came up when I had exhausted by list of questions about from quantum physics and its applications to real-world technology. From there, we moved to a discussion of the politics that makes certain technologies far more likely to be deployed than others. Not to oversimplifiy, but the question is really one of good and evil. I hesitate to make such broad generalities, but I really see people who actively inhibit the rapid migration to renewable energy in a world desperately trying to stem global warming as evil. I wouldn’t know what else to call someone who considers his personal profit more important than the health and safety of the other 6.8 billion people on the planet.
In any case, I have to say that the process of conducting these interviews is among the most stimulating thing I’ve ever done in my 54 years traipsing around this planet. As I told my wife when I got home last night, if a fraction of the leaders of this world were as enlightened as Wally, this would be a terrific world in which to live.
The Drake equation is made up stuff. The probabilities are bogus butt-numbers.
It all comes down to the Fermi paradox: “If they existed, they would be here.”
Most people take this to mean that since we haven’t seen them, they don’t exist.
My view is that we are too blind to see what is right in front of us: that our physical existence is one of the simplest manifestations of life as anti-entropy (Schroedinger), and that we are so limited in our senses and imagination that we wouldn’t believe intelligence if it sat in front of us and explained the cosmos.
They are probably here already. Enough evidence has been collected to illustrate the point. Now what should we do about it? If Life is the anti-entropic force as Schroedinger describes it, then why are we working so hard for the other side? Perhaps that’s what the crop circles are saying, much like the tourists in “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” are yelling to Steve Martin and John Candy, “YOU’RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!!”
While we stupidly drive to the mall to buy a bigger TV and say, “How do they know where we are going?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MLvq73TX94&feature=related
‘Enjoyed your info about Wally Rippel.
Wally is my first cousin (our Dad’s were brothers), I’m 66. and I have yet to meet him. There are also 2 other first cousins, one in his 70’s in Cairo, NY and his sister – my age – living in Florida. We’re all hoping that perhaps we can get in touch with Wally through e-mail or phone. (I’ve been accumulating family documents and photos throughout the years, and would enjoy sharing them with Wally, if he’s interested.)
The next time you talk to Wally, could you pass along my e-mail and other information? I really would appreciate it.
Thanks for your assistance with this.
Ellen Rippel
elliesue42@hotmail.com
706 Giles Lane, Socorro, NM 87801
575-838-2067
Hi, Ellen. I’ll let him know immediately. You should be very proud.
Hello Wally, I beleive that we are related. I am Bill Rippel’s Grandson. I have waited a long time to contact you. If I am correct in contacting you then we have some stories to share. If I am wrong then I am sorry for bothering you.
Wow, Neil. You’re the second one of Wally’s long lost relatives that has read this blog and wants to reconnect! I’m performing a service I never intended! 🙂 Seriously, I’ll email this to Wally to make sure he sees it.
Hello Craig,
It’s clear to me that I am related to Wally… I’m not trying to meet a celebrity. I am a well experienced Mechanic that’s going to college to become a Mechanical Engineer. I am trying to touch base with Wally for two reasons: I would like to meet my family and I have been working on an idea for a new type of engine that I think he may be interested in. I am hoping to keep this idea with family. No other motives!
Regards, Neil W. Brokaw Jr.
I’ll ask him to contact you. Do you know you are (I think) the THIRD long lost relative whom I’m reconnected with Wally?? I had no idea I’d be performing such a service when I opened this blog!