When you take a look at it, the quickest and most efficient way to ‘get out of the well’ and go into space is by using a rocket that has real power. Sure, the Saturn V took man to the moon but it took days to get there and was done on the barest of economy. But what if you could launch a rocket that had so much power that your ship could built like a submarine and not like a flimsy soda can? Six months to Mars? Nope, more like two weeks. Sounds like a dream doesn’t it, true science fiction. Well at one time this very idea was being worked on by some of the smartest scientists in the US. It was called ‘Project Orion‘ and the craft was to use small nuclear explosions to propel the craft into space. It’s unfortunate that the project was canceled before its time. There is still a good argument for nuclear power in space. Nuclear power in the form of radioisotope thermoelectric generators have been powering space probes and satellites for years. In fact, the two Voyager probes are still sending back data 30 years after being launched. You cant to that with regular batteries and if you tried to do that with solar cells they themselves would have to be thousands of times larger than the craft they service in order to collect enough light to make electricity. But even if you can keep the lights on you still wont get your craft there much faster than you do now. Unless you use the mighty power of the atom to give it a kick in the pants. That is exactly what the guys at Nuclear Space would like everyone to know. And before you say ‘but you will fill space with radioactivity!’ just remember that space is full of it to begin with. The site is chock full of the latest news on the state of nuclear space power and sports an active users forum. Go have a look and feel free to ask them any questions you might have about going to the stars via the power of the atom.
Belgium Doesn’t Exist!
This stunning fact was brought to my attention today:
For too long we have been told lies. The existence of the supposed European country of Belgium has been taken as gospel for years by members of the Liberati. It has long been held up as a shining example of Liberal philosophies in action. However, now is the time the truth be known. Belgium doesn’t exist…
I ,like you, were shocked to discover this. I can only hope that more people will see through the hoax and right the wrong that is the hoax of Belgium. BTW, don’t miss the shocking truth about the moon (it’s a fake no matter what your eyes tell you) and "Wisconsin: The Innocent State That Isn’t".
Production Line Built From Legos Builds Lego Cars
This is a wholly amazing example of what can be done with LEGOs and their line of microcontrollers. It’s a production line that creates little LEGO cars, you can even choose the colors of the bricks.
But can someone make a LEGO machine that builds production lines and in turn builds more production lines?
Constructigasm: Production Line Built From Legos Builds Lego Cars – Jalopnik
Japanese Vending Machines Now Sell Noodles!
What a great idea. I know from personal experience that there is nothing like getting a delicious can of hot chocolate from a machine next to a train station on a cold winter night. Being able to buy noodles the same way would be like heaven…
Kyoto-based vending machine manufacturer Fujitaka was the first company to come out with canned ramen. In May this year it began selling Sapporo-style noodles, which gained huge popularity, mainly in the Akihabara district. In June, the company added hiyashi-men (chilled noodles) to its lineup of canned products.
The noodles are made from konnyaku to prevent them from going soggy when they soak up the noodle soup. Since no hot water is needed they can be eaten straight away.
Now the company’s canned products are sold in vending machines across Japan. They are reportedly so popular that the firm is having trouble keeping up with demand.
Japanese Klled by Russian Gunfire, Work Related Accident?
Talk about rough work conditions…
A local labor standards inspection office has designated the death of a Japanese fisherman shot dead by Russia near a chain of disputed islands as a government work-related accident, and has started paying his bereaved family a pension, it has been learned.
Death of Japanese fisherman killed by Russian gunfire accepted as work accident
‘Le Magnetique’ Magnetic Fingernail Polish
This is a rather unusual application of magnetic principals. The nail polish is applied in a normal way but before you let it dry you hold the magnet (included with the bottle) over the wet polish and let the magnetic particles that are suspended in the pigment arrange themselves. When the lacquer dries the metallic particles are frozen in place and you get some clever patterns. I’m not a user of nail polish myself but I bet I could think of some science projects that this stuff would be good for.
All Lacquered Up: Lancome Le Magnetique