Nuclear fusion or any larger power source that can be put into space combined with superconductors will enable antimatter production that can be 100,000 to one million times more effient in terms of cost than earth based systems. * A $50-100 million system with 200 KW of power using current (or conservatively within four year …
The 140th edition of Carnival of Space is at Lights in the Dark This site provided an in depth look at the Vasimr plasma propulsion for a lunar tug and the funding of a nuclear fusion propulsion research center Centauri Dreams looks at Interstellar Archaeology to cosmic-scale artifacts like Dyson spheres or Kardashev civilizations. Suppose …
There is an analysis of the model income of the world from 1970 and 2006. Model income is the level of income that is most common in the world. The graphs show on the left vertical the population with a particular income level and the bottom horizontal shows the income level. In 1970 about 50 …
Continuing liveblogging of Foresight 2010. Oscar Custance winner of the 2009 experimental Feynmann prize presents his work on the experimental demonstration of mechanosynthesis Oscar Custance’s website Oscar Custance is a scientist specialized in atomic resolution dynamic force microscopy (DFM) operated using the frequency modulation detection method –a technique also known as non-contact atomic force microscopy …
Rocketpunk Manifesto has an interesting article that references my article “Historical Colonization versus Historical Navies and Future Spaceships” In 1600 the economies were estimated at : China and India and other nations had larger GDP but it was Spain, Portugal, France, Netherlands and Britain that were the players in colonizing the Americas. Region / Country …
Nature Nanotechnology: Electrostatic focusing of unlabelled DNA into nanoscale pores using a salt gradient The technique uses electrical fields to feed long strands of DNA through four-nanometer-wide pores, much like threading a needle. The method uses sensitive electrical current measurements to detect single DNA molecules as they pass through the nanopores. The need for DNA …
The quantum cascade laser (QCL) is based on inter-subband electron transitions inside a quantum well structure, which can be tailored to emit different wavelengths simply by changing the thickness of the constituent layers. In other words, we are no longer limited by inherent band gaps, and can demonstrate a very versatile source using one material …
By the year 2020, you won’t need a keyboard and mouse to control your computer, say Intel Corp. researchers. Instead, users will open documents and surf the Web using nothing more than their brain waves. (H/T Sander Olson) Scientists at Intel’s research lab in Pittsburgh are working to find ways to read and harness human …
1. The British government wants to have 10 nuclear power plants online by 2018. They want the reactors to generate a quarter of Britain’s power, compared with 13 percent today. 2. China is building another six AP1000 reactors. These new units are to be the first built independently after the technology transfer that was part …
The New York Times reports that new CDC H1N1 death statistics that will be released Nov 12-19, 2009 will be about 4000 deaths This is up from prior estimates of 1200 H1N1 deaths in the USA. The actual release date of the updated estimates depends upon the completion of further review. The larger number of …
There is a live streaming console with video, pictures and up to date messages 19:45:03 PST:NSS has now provisionally qualified to compete in the Games Summarizing Space Elevator Feasibility ArticlesFor a Carbon Nanotube tether that is 30 MYuri [A MYuri is the name we gave the SI equivalent of N/Tex, or GPa-cc/g] strong, and a …