Ironically, it could be like the astroohage if it somehow spread on its own. The sun is dimming, so it's getting cooler, and fast. To counter this, they actually release a bunch of greenhouse gasses to keep things warm.

I wish the movie included this, because it makes it more clear it's all about climate change, and that the world needs to work together to solve the problem. Huge sacrifices need to be made, but we have to do it.

[–] I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The thing they found in Project Hail Mary also happened to be the thing that was killing the human race.

[–] DanceMomsSavedMe@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Wait the stuff at the end?

He had a breach in his ship but fixed it and went back and saved Rocky and sent the samples of whatever it was that was eating the stuff that was destroying humans.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Spoilers:

spoiler

An interstellar microbe feeding on stars (astrophage) was the danger to humanity. They figured out it breeds on planets. But the distant planet they found had different alien microbial life that just happened to be very good at feeding on the interstellar star eaters that had chosen to breed there.

So they took samples, cultured the microbe-eating-microbes, and left to take them home. But the human guy figured out they broke containment and ate some fuel his starship uses, that Rocky’s starship happened to be made of, so he used his remaining fuel to change course and warn Rocky.

So… the CO2 eater analogy actually makes some sense. If we’re lucky this could lead to major geoengineering breakthrough, like the movie microbes did (though I wouldn’t get my hopes up).

In this case, the parasite is humanity. Or emissions-heavy industry. Or oil executives. Something like that.

[–] Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I sure hope so. I work in electricity generation (not coal) and I see this being potentially massive for all fuel types. Depending on if/how it can be scaled. Combined cycle was huge for emissions reduction. But this could be a completely new level if we can reduce to zero/near zero and have a useful byproduct.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Only if there’s incentive for the added cost, though. I’m skeptical such scrubbers could produce something useful enough to offset the cost by themselves.

[–] Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

I'd imagine if the tech gets there it will be so heavily subsidized (at least in the US) that cost won't be a huge concern. Plus if its producing a useful biproduct that might be a decent revenue booster.

[–] ironycanal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago

I'm glad we don't have to worry or change anything. I was stressing there. So much relief!

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 1 points 2 days ago

Uh, that would kill amost all life on earth, if it was an excuse to keep burning coal