Lifeboat Foundation

A star’s stellar endgame may offer astrobiologists a rare opportunity to remotely detect surface life on far-flung extrasolar moons.

An experience to remember…

“The challenge is that the day before something is truly a breakthrough, it’s a crazy idea. And crazy ideas are very risky to attempt”–Peter Diamandis.

Continue reading “Podcast Special Edition: X Prize Future of Longevity Impact Roadmap” »

BERLIN—German research organizations cheered a decision announced today by state and federal ministers to increase research budgets by 3% a year for the next decade—a total boost of €17 billion over that time. For more than a decade, German research organizations have enjoyed consistent budget increases—3% boosts every year since 2006, even during downturns in the German economy. But some observers have worried that falling tax revenues and deep disagreements between state and federal ministers could bring an end to the largesse.

State and federal government pledge €17 billion in extra funds through 2030.

A few years ago, a friend and fellow author Manu Saadia (author of Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek) posed a question to me about the viability of creating actual cities on other planets. It was, in his mind, one of the few things about Star Trek which seemed unrealistic, because of the fact that cities here on Earth thrive due to one important reason: imports/exports, i.e. resource exchange.

As we continue planning ahead for the future of both space travel and space colonization, the need for advanced 3D printing will ultimately dictate our ability to maintain viable civilizations on other planets.

Continue reading “3D Printing and the Viability of Interplanetary City Construction” »

What’s the ultimate reason we die? In this video, science writer Michael Shermer discusses the universal laws that preside over why stars fade out — and we do, too.

A very good presentation at RAADFest by Liz.

It might be tempting to not take your contacts off before bed, however, graphic images of an eye ulcer that formed when someone slept with their soft lenses might make you think twice about it.

Patrick Vollmer, an eye doctor who works at the Vita Eye Clinic in Shelby, North Carolina, posted stomach-churning photos of a patient he recently treated, who had a cultured pseudomonas ulcer from wearing their contacts when they slept, The New York Post reported. Vollmer shared the graphic images on Facebook and urged people to think about the harmful consequences of sleeping with contacts.

“Astronauts at the international space station expecting a delivery on Monday that private company SpaceX launched a cargo capsule loaded with supplies from Cape Canaveral early this morning the shipment. The company’s seventeenth to the orbiting outpost includes a new instrument to measure CO two in the atmosphere. Then peers Rebecca hersher reports it will be attached. To the space station measuring how much carbon dioxide is. In the atmosphere is really fundamental for understanding how the climate is changing. But it’s difficult for one thing. The amount of co two varies each day and each season and each year and measurements have to be both global and extremely precise. The new instrument can do both. It’s designed to scan the earth measuring not only how much co two is entering the atmosphere. But how much of the greenhouse gas is being absorbed by plants and oceans the instrument is called the orbiting carbon observatory three two other versions. Have previously been launched. Overall. NASA says the ability to measure co two from space has already helped scientists better understand our climate and predict how it will change”

KQED Radio

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Space technologies will one day take us to asteroids, Mars and back to the moon, and the impact of these missions will be felt back on Earth, says George Whitesides, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Galactic and co-chair of the Global Future Council on Space Technologies. In this interview, he explains how the latest developments in space technologies will help bring about revolutions in wifi access, travel and beyond. science space science cool science space and science universe space science.

What is the state of space technology today?

We are at an exciting moment. What we see are several converging trends that will change how we approach space technologies, at a rate of innovation that we haven’t seen in a long time. science space science cool science space and science universe space science.

Continue reading “Where will space technology take us by 2030, and what does this mean for life on Earth?” »