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Can Richard Branson Make Space Travel Available to the General Public?

January 24, 2018 3

Many people grow up dreaming of going to space. If you asked a class of kindergarteners what they would like to be when they grow up, I guarantee you that most them would say that they wanted to be an astronaut. As we grow up, reality sets in and our dreams of going up into space begin to dwindle. For the average person, becoming an astronaut is a statistically improbable plight. Each year, NASA
receives around 2,000 submissions of highly qualified applicants who want to become astronauts. Only around 10 percent of them are picked. If you are thinking, “Hey, that’s not so bad!”, keep in mind that you need at least a bachelor’s degree in math, engineering or a hard physical science and
they also require you to have either three years of job experience of 1,000 hours of experience being a pilot-in-command of a jet aircraft.… Read the rest

Want to Go to Space — What Will it Cost?

January 23, 2018 3

For nearly a century science fiction writers have predicted commercial space travel. They imagined consumers taking an interstellar cruise or simply hopping a shuttle from the earth to the moon for a vacation. Back in 1964 one science newsletter predicted that earthlings would be jaunting up to a space station by 1980 — for$11,700 which translates to about $90,000 in 2014 dollars.

Now, we know that space tourism isn’t a reality yet, but it will be by the end of the decade. Experts predict that 2020 is the year that private companies will begin sending people into space. It will likely be a quick trip out of the atmosphere, with a mere five minutes experiencing zero gravity before returning to land, but it still counts as space travel.… Read the rest

Health Benefits of Doing It Yourself

January 19, 2018 3

Scientific studies have proven that taking care of your mind has tremendous health benefits. Confidence, self-esteem, completing goals and connecting with other people all reduce risks for things like heart disease, high blood pressure, and other stress-related ailments. It stands to reason then that tackling a do it yourself (DIY) project can actually improve your health.

DIY projects are usually touted for their financial benefits. Who hasn’t considered making a minor repair or undertaking a small construction project to save the cost of hiring a professional? Whether you’re changing your car’s head light using a Chilton manual (www.chiltondiymanuals.com) or assembling that furniture from Ikea, you’re officially a DIYer.… Read the rest

Women at the Forefront of Scientific Breakthroughs

December 19, 2017 1

Women make up more than half of today’s workforce, yet the number of women in the STEM professions (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) continues to lag, with women representing only 23% of the total science work force in 2011. That number has essentially remained stagnant since 1990, but that doesn’t mean that female scientists aren’t changing the world in a big way. Here’s a rundown of some of the most influential women scientists from around the globe.

Dr. Livia Eberlin specializes in mass spectrometry at Stanford. She’s a post-doctoral chemistry scholar who developed a technique to help more efficiently diagnose and evaluate cancer.… Read the rest

Top Science News of 2014

December 26, 2014 0

December is the time to look back at the year that is ending and make note of the most exciting and newsworthy stories. In science, that means chronicling discoveries, inventions, and advancements. Here are some of the scientific stories that 2014 will be remembered for.

Space

2014 will be remember for exploration as NASA took a “Giant Leap Forward” and humanity landed a probe on a comet.  Commercial space flight had setbacks when a Antares rocket exploded on October 28th and a few days later SpaceShipTwo crashed on a test flight, killing one pilot.  Such accidents are always a part of developing new technologies, but they may lead to setbacks in the ability of commercial programs to find backers and, eventually, passengers.… Read the rest

Advanced Medical Technology Is Everywhere

October 19, 2014 1

For decades science fiction has depicted medical robots as part of some far distant future.  Something for our great-great grandchildren.  That future is actually the present.  Robotic surgeries are performed every day, supported by other advanced technologies that make medical diagnosis more precise and the treatment of illnesses and injuries more successful.

In a recent ranking of the top hospitals in the world for high tech medical treatment a California hospital finished in first place — and the US took slightly more than half of the top 30 spots.  However, 60% of the hospitals in the top 10 are outside the US.… Read the rest

Where Does Money For Medical Research Come From?

June 23, 2014 2

Have you ever wondered where all that money for medical research comes from? Maybe you had a loved one who suffered from a serious disease, and you want to know how to get more money into your cause. Or perhaps you are just curious because you hear on the news about all sorts of medical research, but you never know how it is funded. In this post, you’ll learn about some of the sources of money for medical research.

The Many Sources Of Medical Research Funds

One of the largest sources of money for medical research is the United States government.… Read the rest

Test Version of Orion is Dropped C-17

April 25, 2014 0

A test version of Orion is dropped from a C-17, while flying 13,000 feet above the Arizona desert at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground on April 23. The spacecraft is released from the airplane on a sled that moves it safely away. Then a series of programmer parachutes get it into position for the test before the three massive orange and white main parachutes deploy. This was the first parachute test to simulate a launch abort scenario.

… Read the rest

Invoice for Mars Mission: $1 Trillion?

March 22, 2014 1

Sending humans into space has become mundane.  In addition to various government space programs, there are now private corporations either sending people to space or planning commercial space flights.  The holy grail of all this development is to send a human mission to Mars.

In 1969 the first humans stepped onto the surface of the moon in a program that cost between $20-23 billion.  Adjusted for inflation and current market prices, NASA estimated that the six moon landings of the Apollo program would cost $170 billion today.  That seems likes peanuts compared to the estimated cost associated with sending one mission to Mars by 2040. … Read the rest

Rover Finds New Evidence of Water on Mars

February 23, 2014 1

Over ten years ago, the first Rover was put on the surface of Mars to learn a variety of things about the “Red Planet.” One such discovery was that water may have existed at one time on Mars, but is now long gone.

New evidence has been found by two Mars Rovers, Curiosity and Opportunity, that suggest that Mars was once a water-rich planet. This information is highly important not just to understand more about Mars, but understand other planets in our solar system including our own. Read on for a look at why the Rover find is so important, and what is next for the Rover fleet.… Read the rest

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