It’s a Conspiracy! NASA Uses Photoshop! (Discovery News)
I grew up immersed in photos from various JPL planetary probes (having a father working in aerospace, and all). Believe me…you’d rather …
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5 Science Fiction Technologies We’re Still Waiting On
For a SF writer, it gets harder and harder to find those science things that are “indistinguishable from magic”. Harder, but not impossible. There are still wonders we don’t yet have.
Read more...Earth’s Atmosphere Top to Bottom | Infographic
While I love stuff like this, my inner geek did a dance of joy that it also included Godzilla (seriously). Earth’s Atmosphere …
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Making Obama’s Space Policy Fashionable
Every time President Obama unveils more details on his vision of America’s space future, I get increasingly sad. In some ways he’s making his predecessor look like a visionary. I think it’s fair to say that Obama’s plan is so greatly in need of visionary correction that even Lasik might not be very effective.
Read more...13 Things that Saved Apollo 13 | Universe Today
Not just a list, but thirteen articles focusing on sometimes surprising elements that had to happen for Apollo XIII to be the …
Read more...Guenter Wendt, 85, Pad Leader for NASAs Moon Missions, Dies
Not as well known to the public as the astronauts, Herr Wendt was at least as indispensable. SPACE.com — Guenter Wendt, 85, Pad …
Read more...Wait, how big is NASA’s budget again?
A graphic sometimes gives you better info than hearing the numbers. Wait, how big is NASA’s budget again? | Bad Astronomy | Discover …
Read more...Space Vision: A Whole Lot of Nothing
There are a lot of rumors floating about what President Obama will opt to do with NASA and manned spaceflight. Much of this is based on the report Obama received from the Review of Human Spaceflight Plans Committee. While some of the rumors are doubtless based on administration “trial balloons”, I do think a paradigm shift is definitely in the offing.
Read more...The Physics of Space Battles – Gizmodo
The diff between “hard” SF and “soft” SF? You worry about stuff like this when you write the “hard” stuff. The Physics …
Read more...NASA Selects 15 Finalists For End-of-Shuttle Commemorative Patch Contest
Many are inspiring, but many are also clearly not created by graphic designers (i.e. “too busy”). NASA selects 15 finalists for end-of-shuttle commemorative …
Read more...Antimatter Lightning Discovered On Earth!
Science is definitely cool. And nature, too, for that matter (or antimatter). Antimatter Lightning Discovered On Earth! (via @dailygalaxy)
Read more...Great NASA Tech Spinoffs Come Down to Earth
NASA has always relied upon extreme engineering to tackle the extreme challenges of space exploration. Much of that engineering has now come …
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Witnessing the First Moon Landing
On July 20, 1969, two men landed and walked on the Moon. For the first time, we were the aliens. I got to witness this extraordinary event. But I almost missed it.
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Why We Need to Restrict Light Pollution
When I was a kid, I lived in a small town that was more or less out in the middle of nowhere. Most businesses would close up around six (give or take), and most people stayed home. There were some streetlights, but not a lot. And at night, there were stars.
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The NASA/Colbert Kerfuffle
I think I’ve found a solution to the Node-naming mess that has erupted between NASA and political humorist Stephen Colbert.
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The SNOT Approach To Clearing Space Debris
With the total number of objects both large and small in Earth orbit increasing by the year, the chance of more collisions is constantly on the rise. It is long past the time that we need to deal with the problem. I think the best plan is to start with something low-tech: snot.
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Mankind’s Next Evolutionary Step – Cyborgs and Robots?
I’ve been devoting a fair amount of thought to how humanity will be able to extend its reach beyond our planet and solar system. Even if we solved all of our local problems and could survive for an indefinite time on our planet, the fact is that the universe has a gun pointed at us. Whether it’s due to our aging sun or the impending collision with our neighboring galaxy, our time on Earth has an expiration date. How can we beat this cosmic clock and endure?
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Living In The Science Fiction World
When I sit back and look around our world at all of the mundane stuff we take for granted, I can’t help but be amazed. So many things were only in the wild imaginations of science fiction writers—not centuries ago, but within my own lifetime. What a wonder it all is.
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