The flawed F-35 has formidable defenses (as a program, if not as an aircraft). Killing the project would require mollifying a wide variety of political interests within the United States, as well as large chunks of the defense industrial base. It would also require unruffling the feathers of allied governments, many of which have devoted …
There are currently large air supported structures on Earth for covering football and baseball stadiums. These structures are built to support a lot of snow and withstand strong winds. They could be used for large early Mars colonies In a deflated state, robots can push regolith onto the pre-inflated structure. After they are inflated, the …
France President Hollande is committing to getting rid of all coal power generation by 2023. The Cordemais Power Station is the largest thermal power station in France. It is also one of the country’s largest electricity producers and one of the largest thermal power plants in Europe having four generating groups, two coal-fired groups with …
A Chinese environmentalist has an idea on how to stop his country from building military infrastructures in the Spratlys: Use the Green card. “I think we should approach [the dispute] from marine conservation because no government has the right to destroy the eco system, the endangered species, corals, sea turtles, tropical fish, and dolphins,” Wen …
Could seaplane technology be a force multiplier aligned with advances in stealthy, electrically-powered “E-Planes”, some of which could be airborne almost indefinitely? Today, other maritime nations, and nations with maritime aspirations – such as Russia, China, Japan, Germany and Canada – each have impressive seaplane or amphibious aircraft programs underway. For purely military considerations, seaplanes …
Economic historians have re-examined sterling’s (UK pounds) downfall, in search of clues about how the impending tussle between the dollar and the yuan might unfold. The research yields lessons in three broad areas—how a currency attains reserve status, whether a two-currency system is possible, and how poor policymaking can speed a currency’s decline. The pound …
A Russia-India joint venture is entering the final stages of work on a hypersonic missile. Russians have announced creation of special fuel for hypersonic vehicles and missiles, as well as the creation of an oxygen-free engine for the PAK FA fighter jet. Maxim Kuzyuk, CEO of the Aviation Equipment Holding (part of the state corporation …
An arxiv paper looks at possible engines for a manned Mars mission that are currently being tested or with flight proven capabilities. One propulsion system that was examined that is unproven is the “Pure Electro-Magnetic Thrust” (PEMT), presented in 2002 by Carlo Rubbia. In his proposal, the engine produces thrust as a Solar Sail, but …
The Carnival of Nuclear Energy 251 is up at Neutron Bytes Atomic Power Review – SMART SMR Moves Ahead – in Saudi Arabia and at Home It has been announced that South Korea and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which includes the construction of SMART Small Modular Reactor nuclear plants. SMART …
US Crude oil hit new post 1972 highs of 9.366 million barrels per day. Total liquids oil production hit a new all time high of 14.556 million barrels per day US daily crude oil production history from 1920 to today. The peak was in 1970 and was just short of 10 million barrels per day. …
There are some possibilities for some cures for cancer, heart disease and alzheimers related to vaccines and gene therapy treatments for different aspects of the different diseases. Heart disease and alzheimers have the hope (though not the certainty) of broad spectrum treatments. Various gene therapy possibilities seem the most promising for new Heart disease treatments. …