PV Gap

Bernard Said:

What song is playing on the Science Channel commercial for 'Wonders of the Solar System'?

We Answered:

Up in the Sky by Oasis

Alicia Said:

why do people think everything is a scam?

We Answered:

Because the world is filled with so many scams that people just can't trust anyone these days.
Society screwed up humanity, that's what.

Constance Said:

What are the odds that mankind will leave our solar system in the next 100 years?

We Answered:

Somewhere between 0 and 100%.
Honestly, we cannot predict it.

On the one hand, we know that the best we can do with technology we have or can extrapolate means that we cannot reach a speed that is meaningful to allow true space fairing.
On the other hand, how can we predict now what may be discovered 20 or 30 years from now, some totally game changing physics?

You probably have heard of 'Watson', the computer that plays Jeopardy (it was all over the news today)?
Now imagine how much more powerful a 'Watson' like system would be 20 years from now -- using Moore's law, a machine just like 'Watson' would be the size and cost of a mundane PC in less than 13 years. So, what power would a super-computer, as large and costly as present day 'Watson' is, would have 13 years from now?
Can you envision a super-computer, with the 'mental' power of a dozen Einstein, able to work 24/7, that you could walk to, and be allowed to ask: 'Can we travel to the stars?' and be answered: "Yes, here is how..."

The point is that there is a discontinuity coming, called the 'singularity', the point where a computer will be smarter than a human, and thus be able to design and program still more powerful computers than humans could ever dream of designing and programming themselves. Such machines may come up with technology and concepts that we cannot understand. Predicting what they may invent is beyond our capacity.

Chad Said:

Helium 3 - How long will it take for commercial mining of the moon for Helium 3 to become feasible?

We Answered:

Many years. The Chinese will go to the moon around 2018 and they have intrest in He-3. I'm sure they will try and make it economical by then. The US is going back to the moon in 2020.

Alexander Said:

Helium 3 - How long will it take for commercial mining of the moon for Helium 3 to become feasible?

We Answered:

First of all, I'm a graduate student doing fusion research and the DHe-3 reaction is a beautiful thing. I believe it to be the future. If we burn this fuel in Fusion reactors using direct energy conversion and not steam cycles, then we should be able to build plants with 90%+ efficiency.

The problem with the theory of mining the moon for He-3 is that we can produce it on the earth though the D-D reaction cheaply. In fact if we do things right we could use the D-D reaction to make power as well. The only reason I see to mine the moon would be if we established a fueling base for spacecraft on the moon. And that sort of space travel is decades a way. (I guess the same is true for fusion so who am I to judge?)

I'm happy you asked this question if you have any more questions on He-3 please feel free to email me.