It’s a long old flight to get to anything of interest once you leave planet Earth behind. So for lengthy missions, you’ll need a compact and fuel efficient power-source, which is why NASA are testing a new breed of ion thruster. The NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster, or NEXT, uses xenon gas and solar power to provide its push, which is 2.5 times greater than previous designs could muster.
Category Archives: Blog
Life’s Components In Comets?
How exactly the basic molecular components for life ended up here on Earth has always been a contentious point, thanks to lack of evidence. However, the discovery of atomic nitrogen in interstellar gas clouds suggests that the same material may be found in comet ice, much of which must have crashed onto the surface of Earth in its youth. The formation of complex molecules is greatly simplified with nitrogen present, and the element may have kick-started the entire course of molecular biology.
NASA On Storm Watch
Despite the recent alteration of their mission statement, NASA are still looking to help their home planet. A team of their science experts are going to observe the thunderstorms that start in Africa and turn into hurricanes as they cross the Atlantic towards the US. They hope that the data they collect will make it easier to predict (and hence protect against) these powerful weather systems.
An Empire Built Of Straw
All-round visionary and future-pundit Bruce Sterling checks in at Viridian Design with a hefty link-laden rant, one that largely discusses the potential merits of moving the US to a new economic model based on making ethanol fuels from prarie grasses.
“This scheme means covering the USA with a Saudi Arabia of prairie. That means sucking CO2 out of the air and turning into a vast sea of sod. Most of the fuel plant is roots, so it remains underground. You’re not going to burn that part. You’re using green plants to suck the burnt coal and crude-oil out of the sky and turn it into topsoil. Unlike nuclear power, this scheme is a chance to actively grab the excess CO2 out of the sky and get rid of it. It’s better than a closed carbon loop. It’s carbon sequestration.”
Thought-provoking stuff.
Make The Transition To Flight
Ever lusted after your own Jetsons-esque flying car? Those yearnings will be a step closer to reality if new start-up Terrafugia have their way, and their ‘Transistion’ Personal Air Vehicle will be soaring across landscapes from 2009. A mere $150k is the predicted asking price; for around $8k you can get your name on the list for the first roll-out. And don’t worry about space – this baby will take no more room than a normal family car. No mention of a biodiesel/ethanol option, though.