Tag: Virgin Galactic

Birthday

~ J.S. Pailly ~ 3 Comments

Today is my birthday.  You may be wondering how old I am.  To quote Mr. Worf when asked the same question, “I am… old enough.”

Sadly, the one thing I really want—to celebrate my birthday in space—is still not possible.  At least not at any price I can afford.  So I’m counting on you, SpaceX, and you, Virgin Galactic, and you other private space tourism companies to make my birthday wish come true some day if not today.  Keep building your spaceships, keep improving your technology, and as your industry booms keep your promises to gradually lower your prices.  If you guys really want to spoil me, you should look at ways to get me to the Moon or Mars within my lifetime.

I suppose if I can’t go to space this year, an acceptable alternative would be the discovery of the Higgs Boson.  The Higgs Boson is a theoretical particle, sometimes called the God particle, which would explain why other subatomic particles have mass.  CERN, the European nuclear research agency currently leading the search for the elusive boson, has hinted that they’ve found something.  They’re planning to make an announcement in early July.

If nothing else, I am happy I was born in an era with so many exciting advancements in science and technology.  That alone is worth celebrating.

Science Gone Wild

~ J.S. Pailly ~ 2 Comments

Whether it’s a newly discovered planet, enormous dinosaur fleas, or Virgin Galactic’s latest spaceship design, science news tends to get me excited.  If you’re a regular reader of this blog, it probably gets you excited too.   But sometimes scientists do things that are more amusing than exciting.  Here are a few recent examples.

Last year, scientists working at CERN, a European research facility, measured neutrinos traveling slightly faster than light.  Neutrinos are a somewhat mysterious type of subatomic particle; however, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity said nothing can travel faster than light.   Scientists involved in the experiment now believe a faulty cable gave them inaccurate readings.  So it seems out Einstein was right after all.  For more on this faulty cable, click here.

A scientist from Lithuania has designed a fun, new way to commit suicide.  The Euthanasia Roller Coaster takes victims high into the air then sends them plummeting towards the ground, passing through a series of loops on the way.  The G forces built up during the ride are high enough to be lethal.  As far as I can tell, this roller coaster is only in the design phase, and there are no plans to actually build it.  Click here for more information.

Lastly, a new study claims to prove that rich people are more likely to steal candy from babies than poor people.  It also shows they are more willing to lie or cheat to get ahead in life.  The greed of the rich is now apparently a scientific fact.  I guess the Occupy Wall Street protestors know what they’re talking about.  For more on that, click here.

I read a lot of science news during the course of my day.  Some of it is pretty cool.  Some of it gives me ideas for science fiction stories.  And sometimes it just makes me laugh.  These three stories made me laugh (not all for the same reason).  How about you?  Please leave a comment on your reaction or share some piece of wacky science news of your own.

Sci Friday – Solar System Monopoly

~ J.S. Pailly ~ 1 Comment

Space entrepreneurs have a lot of big dreams.  There’s money for space tourism and contracts with NASA, now that the space shuttle program has ended.  There are also valuable resources in space.

One entrepreneur predicts that the 21st Century will become a game of “Solar System Monopoly”—something already envisioned by writers like Ben Bova and Arthur C. Clarke—and warns that the Chinese government is ready to make the first move.  See “China Will Own the Moon” for more on that.

Here are this week’s sciency links.

Also, the world is ending today.