Probability
Control
Prerequisites:
Required Theory:
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Required or Contributory
Development:
- Algorithms
- Psychic Powers (if possible)
- Thermodynamics
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Contributory or Required
Observations:
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Description:
This is the ability
to literally control the probability of events. This could be as
simple as dodging a bullet that should have hit you, or as complex as
causing a spaceship to spontaneously and instantaneously tunnel
(quantum mechanically) several light years. Both events are
possible, merely their probabilities differ (The odds of the tunneling
happening are of the order of ten to the several hundred to one
against). It should even be possible to cause the energy in hot
objects to spontaneously collect together so you can harness it all
over again (which is blatantly against the observations which led to
the Second Law of Thermodynamics, but so is this whole theory).
If psychic powers exists in a particular universe,
especially if it allows prediction of the future, that could lead to a
(mild) form of probability control. For example, in the Dune series by Frank
Herbert, interstellar travel is achieved by a machine that occasionally
moves you across light years of distance, but usually just kills
you. The navigators use their prescience to predict which path
will be safe.
If all of the allowed technologies are included,
this is a universe-shaping technology. Those races/organizations
which have the technology will flourish, and those without will be at
their mercy.