Irenes (many)ireneista@irenes.space
Oct 8, 2026, 7:47 PM@argv_minus_one @lina @reflex they just don't need to, because they have enough other ways to produce explosions
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Oct 8, 2026, 7:52 PM@ireneista @argv_minus_one @lina Yeah, like theoretically conservation is still a factor, adding an unnecessary conversion loses energy, just use energy directly for the task.
argv[-1]argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.orgOct 8, 2026, 8:02 PMPer the TNG Technical Manual via Memory Alpha https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Photon_torpedo a photon torpedo contains 1.5kg antimatter, resulting in a yield of roughly Tsar Bomba. An energized boulder would make a much bigger boom than that.
- argv[-1]argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.orgOct 8, 2026, 8:05 PM
Conservation of energy doesn't preclude there being a way to convert matter to energy efficiently. We currently don't have any known way to do it, but that doesn't mean there isn't one, nor would it violate the laws of thermodynamics.
The energy is, in fact, conserved. It is merely changed into a different form.
Such a discovery would, however, make it easy to blow up entire planets. It would be to nukes what nukes are to candles.
- Irenes (many)ireneista@irenes.spaceOct 8, 2026, 8:08 PM
@argv_minus_one @reflex @lina DS9 demonstrated that any of these ships had the ability to sterilize planets, all along, trivially, without even drawing on any resource they bother to count. they were just showing great restraint by never talking about the possibility.
blowing up a planet is overkill, only necessary if you're trying to institute a Vader-esque reign of terror. sterilizing them is enough for all practical purposes.