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Where do the Halos have to cleanse? *Long*
Posted By: ACEfanatic02 <acefanatic02@gmail.com>Date: 7/16/07 4:14 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Halo: Altogether Speculation. Kinda long. (Sir J3lunt)


: The core of the galaxy is a hell hole of radiation, exploding stars, massive
: antimatter jets spewing from super-massive black holes. The density of
: stars also means that stars pass close by each other very frequently,
: making any planetary orbits unstable. Its not a life supporting area and
: thus does not need halo coverage. So the halos probably only cover the rim
: as depicted in the age of conversion mural.

Bing! We have a winner.

Except, you don't need to cover the rim, either.

(Stellar evolution lecture follows.)

Stars are furnaces that build heavy elements. They take Hydrogen and Helium, fuse them together, and create every element in the universe up to Iron. Iron, however, does not fuse well--its fusion is endothermic, not exothermic. This is bad, because stars are a delicate balance between gravitational forces pulling the surface of the star inwards, and radiation pushing outwards. When Iron is forced to fuse in the core of a huge star, the reaction depletes the radiation emanating from the core. The star collapses, rebounds, and you get a supernova.

A supernova is actually both good and bad for life. On the one hand, it distributes heavy elements across the galaxy--everything from Lithium to Oxygen to Silicon and Iron. It also manufactures the heaviest of elements, including Gold, Lead, and Uranium. However, the burst of gamma radiation sterilizes everything within a few lightyears of the blast.

So, life is most likely to evolve in a place that gets the occasional supernova, but doesn't have them often enough to completely eradicate life. The galactic core is off-limits, due to the soup of radiation it's awash in. The rim is also unsuitable, because planets cannot form without large quantities of silicates and Iron. (Heavy metals are also very important, at least from the Forerunner standpoint. Your technology will be limited if you have no Uranium.)

So, the seven Halos really don't have to cover the galaxy as a whole--just that narrow band of stars that can support planets, and eventually life.

-ACE


Message Index




Replies:

Halo: Altogether Speculation. Kinda long.RoflSalad 7/16/07 7:29 a.m.
     Re: Halo: Altogether Speculation. Kinda long.RoflSalad 7/16/07 8:17 a.m.
           Re: Halo: Altogether Speculation. Kinda long.Louis Wu 7/16/07 9:44 a.m.
                 Re: Halo: Altogether Speculation. Kinda long.RoflSalad 7/16/07 10:34 p.m.
     frankie once said...scarab 7/16/07 10:22 a.m.
     Re: Halo: Altogether Speculation. Kinda long.Sir J3lunt 7/16/07 10:28 a.m.
           Where do the Halos have to cleanse? *Long*ACEfanatic02 7/16/07 4:14 p.m.



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