Life at radically different time scales

Intelligent life might plausibly function at time scales massively longer or incredibly shorter than our own. Could there be meaningful interactions, or would oblivious death and destruction be inevitable?

Rotating spiral of a luminous clock with numbers vanishing into space.
Image credit: FlashMovie Stock Photos

Living at human speed

Living slow and probably cold

Photograph of hexagonal Iceland basalt columns.
Hexagonal basalt columns found in Northern Iceland are natural formations that appear as if they could have been built with some purpose. Image Credit: ©Mona Kasra, 2019

Fast and burning bright

Universal speed limits

Separated by scales of time

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Professor of Computer Science at UC Berkeley, Academy Award Winner, Company Founder, Advisor.

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James F. O'Brien

Professor of Computer Science at UC Berkeley, Academy Award Winner, Company Founder, Advisor.