Yves Rossy and his jetpack, about whom and which we reported awhile back, made a quick flight today across the English Channel.
Click through for video.
Category Archives: Science
LHC watch
There have been a number of articles (written, seemingly, by those with neither the knowledge nor experience needed to check “scientific” conclusions) about the perceived risk of CERN’s new Large Hadron Collider creating a quantum black hole that will swallow the Earth. Well, as a public service, someone has created the Has the Large Hadron Collider Destroyed The Earth? to monitor the situation. (Be sure to view the page source.) Incidentally, odds are good that every electron in existence already meets the “quantum black hole” criteria, so I wouldn’t be too concerned.
Warp drive design?
“It is possible to travel faster than light. You just wouldn’t travel faster than light.”
In short, you could do distant travel with a drive that warped spacetime.
Glitzy Space Elevator Commercial
joe__gee writes, This is *not* science fiction. The folks at Carbon Designs, Inc. have put together an amazing goosebump inspiring video. According to other pseudo-commercial sites, as well as the video, much of the technology required is now available.
Continue reading →
Virgin Galactic to Reveal the “White Knight Two”
The move brings space tourism one step closer to reality.
Water on the Moon
The moon may be a harsh mistress, but it appears she contains at least some water, according to a team of researchers. Whether there’s enough extractable water to assist a future lunar colony is another matter. Other stellar news stories suggest the near future will bring about home-made black holes and Weddings in Space….
Robots for the Household…. And Bedroom
It’s the twenty-first century…. And we may finally see those helpful robots of fiction.
Of course, they’d likely be made for other purposes, too….
Pluto gives its name to certain Kuiper Belt Objects
Pluto, Eris, and others will hereafter be known as Plutoids, according to a bone thrown to American astronomers still bemoaning Pluto’s change in status recent decision by the International Astronomical Union.
Milky Way Losing the Arms Race in Space?
Actually, our conception of our local galaxy has changed. It appears the Milky Way only has two major spiral arms, instead of four.
In more local news….
Supernova In Flagrante Delicto
rickyjames writes, Supernovas have long held a special place in science fiction, so it’s worth noting that one has just been caught for the first time in the act of detonation by astrophysicist Alicia Soderberg. This woman is lucky beyond belief, her discovery is about like hitting a royal flush in the final hand to win the World Series of Poker… I’m not to sure about rickyjames’ analogy. My gut tells me the Royal Flush is quite a bit more likely; I’ll have to double check the math on that to be sure.