Comments on: Science Idol cartoon winner announced

By: Neil

Neil — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:37:30 +0000

Scientists have more important things to concern themselves with than the pursuit of political power.

By: SSTragus

SSTragus — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:19:37 +0000

I think more accurately, we are destroying species and habitats, and ultimately ourselves. If we manage to drive ourselves to extinction, the planet will no doubt rejuvenate itself. I think a more people- and species-centered approach is needed in place of a planet-centered approach.

By: Chris Lintott’s Universe » Mistranslations

Chris Lintott’s Universe » Mistranslations — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:05:03 +0000

[...] Tip : Phil addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fchrislintott.net%2F2008%2F08%2F21%2Fmistranslations%2F’; addthis_title [...]

By: Tyler Durden

Tyler Durden — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:23:35 +0000

Source error – another blog post.

Would be about 75,000 years at its speed of approx. 3.6 AU per year, since it is about 270,000 AU from current position to Proxima Centauri.

However I would note that this probe was simply meant to explore this solar system – a probe designed with current and near-future propulsion techniques could easily be expected to make it in 75 years not 75,000.

By: MaDeR

MaDeR — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:56:31 +0000

“Not really too energy intensive. If Voyager 1 had been aimed to make it to Proxima Centauri, it would have made it there in about 80 years.”
Since when Voyager flies at about 15 000 km/s away from us (relative to Earth)? You got major blooper, poor boy. Check actual Voyager speed and count needed time again.

By: Tyler Durden

Tyler Durden — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:05:42 +0000

I fully support colonizing and mining the entire solar system.

I have doubts however that any government is going to do it. It’s very difficult to sell these kinds of visionary ideas to the average taxpayer.

“Mining asteroids? Won’t that cost hundreds of billions of dollars? Why not save the money and just mine stuff here?”

If it will be done at all it will be done by private corporations and eventually private individuals.

However, a threat to the survivial of the human race is something that no one could realistically refuse to hedge against. It may be just the right push out the door we need to go out and colonize the galaxy.

Finding a habitable planet would be almost as good. An entire planet and all of its resources, unspoiled and ripe for the taking – that would attract a great deal of interest and most likely multiple expeditions to reach it.

By: Gary Ansorge

Gary Ansorge — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:33:37 +0000

Tyler Durden: I did say “may be too energy intensive”. It all depends on what we eventually learn to control. Using a high powered (solar) laser to accelerate a payload via solar sails is one way to achieve very high velocity. Asteroid colonies, self contained nearly to perfection, might well make the journey to our neighboring stellar OORT clouds, which gives the colony access to essential renewable resources. “Nearly perfect” self containment still requires supplementation but OORT clouds have the right ingredients. ie, H2O, carbon, etc. I expect it will take several centuries of techno progress in space colonies to get it right but if we have sufficient time and other resources, we’ll do it.

What I was trying to point out is that it doesn’t matter if interstellar travel is practical. We have an ENORMOUS resource base in THIS solar system to call upon. We just need to go out and do it,,,
,,,then,maybe, the interstellar access will fall into place,,,

GAry 7