"Mining" is a handy little word that covers just about any activity used to procure a resource in quantity. These magical aliens need to procure some kind of matter that they require to (hand-wave) magically transform it into energy. What "it" is and how they go about getting it becomes academic at that point - but "mining" certainly covers its acquisition. We mine for solids, liquids - even gases. Even if your magical aliens just scoop hydrogen off a near-by gas giant that is "mining" when you get right down to it.


The point remains that regardless of what the matter is that they magically transform into energy... they still need to obtain that matter in the first place.


So, yea, I'll just keep laughing.

 

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Good boy, now where do they find that matter? Kansas dust?

What has a lot of mass?

 

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Cabby's mom?

 

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NERDS

 

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Regardless of 2-4 number 1 is all that really makes sense given our current understanding. While 2 and 3 are possible 4 is just stupid.

 

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Ever wonder if you've been trolled?

 

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There is enough raw material in the solar system to maintain us for millennium. If we end up being able to travel to the stars, it won't be to grab raw materials from aliens.

Of course, if we end up electing generations of folks who don't believe in basic tenets of science, the whole question is moot.

 

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I believe the universe is full of life including intelligent life. I do believe that the universe is so vast we will probably never encounter any of that life. Humanity should explore and colonize the solar system though. We might find some out there some place.

 

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