[rational-future]

Not much of a resolution. If our progress continues to accelerate with same rate as of the last 10K years, in 100K years we'll have the capability to change completely the structure of our galaxy. Why can't we see any such grand-scale projects from other civs?

[marktangotango]

One explanation is that the extrapolation of 'progress' to 'change completely the structure of our galaxy' is false. Just because we've gone from point A to point B in 10k years doesn't mean we'll ever get to point C, no matter however many years. Ie either altering the structure of the galaxy is impossible (as lack of evidence would suggest) or progressing to that level would take even longer, such that no civilization has reached it yet.

Just playing devils advocate here.

[randallsquared]

The impossibility of changing the structure of the galaxy implies some exciting new physics that would explain why.

[nodata]

Who says we're not that?