Photonic Laser Propulsion has had a proof of concept demo it generated 35 micronewtons of thrust using mirrors that generated 3000 times amplification. The low power version would be great for position control of multiple satellites to nanometer precision. UPDATE: It has been proposed that extremely small payloads (10 kg) could be delivered to Mars …
The future goal of maglev launch assist would be to build a space vehicle and maglev sled—together weighing 100 tons—and accelerate them to a velocity of 255 m/s (918 km/hr). The main cost-saving areas would come from reduced fuel consumption and the reduced mass of the spaceship. This idea could be combined with hypersonic skyhooks, …
Models of the brain built from specially designed computer chips could reveal the secrets of our cerebrum and are on the path to re-engineering the brain to enable the Singularity and could lead to transhuman enhancements. Kwabena Boahen, a neuroengineer at Stanford University, is planning the most ambitious neuromorphic project to date: creating a silicon …
The drug, dichloroacetate (DCA), has already been used for years to treat rare metabolic disorders and so is known to be relatively safe. It also has no patent, meaning it could be manufactured for a fraction of the cost of newly developed drugs. Evangelos Michelakis of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and his …
Dwave Systems has fixed the dates for the demo of their Orion quantum computing system. They are going to hold two events, one at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California on February 13th, and the second at the Telus World of Science in Vancouver, Canada on February 15th. This 16 qubit system is …
Better uses for the conservative estimate of the Iraq War 1.2 trillion Currently the war is not buying much. A shift should be made to a lower cost approach. Just engage enough to prevent safe havens for terrorists. Redeploy to borders. Occasional sweeps through different cities. Reduce the objectives. Shore up allies Kuwait, Israel, Turkey, …
Organic containing metals have tuneable properties, and now they work above room temperature Brian WangBrian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging …
We can submit our challenges for friendly AI, molecular nanotechnology, large scale quantum computers, and mass producible thorium liquid fluoride reactors to the NSF. The NSF is looking for the greatest technological challenges of the next century — a nine-month process that could give birth to new research initiatives. The project, called the “Grand Challenges …
New Scientist has an article about a new fab@Home system for $2400 The fab@home This system is in the fabber category which has different systems of different capabilities. The MIT Fab lab is described in many places The MIT fablab is more expensive at $20,000-40000 There is also the inexpensive Reprap system which is about …