Random thoughts on politics, current events, popular culture, and whatever else interests me.
Friday, September 30, 2022
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Monday, September 26, 2022
Nuclear power plants, especially those built with newer technology, are the solution to California’s energy crisis. The technology may also be a political winner for California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom, it is rumored, would like to run for president in 2024. Currently, the case for his candidacy is very weak, considering all of California’s self-inflicted woes. But if Newsom embraces nuclear power and starts adding it to California’s grid, the argument for electing him president becomes considerably less absurd.
Sunday, September 25, 2022
Currently, NASA is studying the concept of a Uranus orbiter and atmospheric probe as its next, big multibillion-dollar flagship mission. A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket would launch the mission in 2032 or 2033. It would use an Earth flyby and a Jupiter flyby gravity assist maneuver for an arrival in 2044 or 2045. While one part of the robotic probe would orbit the great ice giant planet, examining it and its moons and rings for several years, another would plunge into Uranus’ atmosphere to study its secrets. The Uranus Orbiter and Probe would do for the ice giant what Galileo did for Jupiter and Cassini did for Saturn.
Saturday, September 24, 2022
Friday, September 23, 2022
Thursday, September 22, 2022
An excellent idea, by the way. Bring the truth to the long suffering people of Iran.
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Monday, September 19, 2022
Sunday, September 18, 2022
The Chinese Chang’e 5 mission has returned a new mineral from the lunar surface. Chinese scientists call the mineral “Changesite-(Y).” The mineral has been described by the state-operated news agency Xinhau as a “kind-of colorless transparent columnar crystal.” Also, the Chinese claim that the new mineral contains helium-3, an isotope that many scientists have touted as a potential fuel for future fusion reactors.
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Friday, September 16, 2022
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
However, even as the progressive Left inveighs against oil, gas, and coal, scientists are developing ways to recycle carbon dioxide emissions to make useful products. While a company called NET has developed a natural gas power plant that captures and stores carbon dioxide, the private sector is working on ways to make everything from liquid fuel to food from the captured gas. Even Elon Musk would like to use carbon dioxide to make rocket fuel for his private space program.
Now, according to Phys.org, a group of researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago has developed a way to turn carbon dioxide into a substance called ethylene. Just add water and electricity and the process transforms 6 tons of carbon dioxide into 1 ton of ethylene. Manufacturers use ethylene to make a variety of plastic products, antifreeze, vinyl siding, and sterilizing agents for medical instruments.
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Monday, September 12, 2022
Sunday, September 11, 2022
One benefit of the commercial space launch revolution has been the lower cost of planetary missions. Launch systems such as the SpaceX Falcon 9 have enabled public-private partnerships such as the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program in which NASA has partnered with small businesses to launch probes to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis moon-exploration program. The costs of these missions are a fraction of the past NASA-only missions.
Now, Rocket Lab, a launch company that is rapidly becoming a competitor to SpaceX, is taking cheap robotic space exploration one step further. The joint American-New Zealand company is sending a probe to search for life in the upper atmosphere of Venus, the second planet from the sun.
Saturday, September 10, 2022
Friday, September 09, 2022
Thursday, September 08, 2022
Wednesday, September 07, 2022
Tuesday, September 06, 2022
Monday, September 05, 2022
Sunday, September 04, 2022
Most of the civilized world is thrilled at the mission of Artemis 1, the NASA-led first step for returning human beings to the lunar surface. The same cannot be said about China. An article in the Global Times, China’s English language mouthpiece, has some snarky things to say about Artemis and NASA in general. The article stated, “as NASA is trying hard to relive its Apollo glories, China is working on innovative plans to carry out its own crewed moon landing missions.”