cyberscriberofalabama
-
Video: Bombproof Wallpaper vs. a Wrecking Ball
- Technology
Kaboom! Blitzer Railgun Completes First Successful Test Firing
11.22.2009 at 10:12am - Comment by cyberscriberofalabamaWell how about a non destructive application for this. If it can move a mass that fast.(ie faster than escape velocity). Then why not build one up the side of a mountain and propel space cargo into orbit. It would be far less polluting to the atmosphere than chemical rockets (solid or liquid) and running from electricity, could reduce the payload cost per pound 3 or 4 times what it currently is. It's a brave new world. The last frontier could be getting canisters of building materials, water, compressed gas, at a fraction of the cost with little or no air pollution. By altering the magnetic fields near the end of the tube or barrel, slightly different trajectories could be obtained. While not suitable for humans (instant g acceleration would prove fatal), for non organic materials, it would be perfect. You could use built up solar power charge, or hydro-electric power to get cargo into space. A technology doesn't have to be a gun to destroy something to be worth developing. The barrel or tube could be several miles long, the diameter of a real rail road car, and hey,,,why not evacuate the atmosphere from it too. The lack of any atmospheric drag as it burst through the end of the tube would really be fast (and less flames). The partition at the end of the tube the mass cargo would have to shatter would only have to be strong enough to hold back 10 to 14.7 psi to get a near vacume condition to improve the ballistics effect. Dream large.
- Technology
Air Force Shoots Down Runaway Drone Over Afghanistan
A drone pilot's nightmare came true when operators lost control of an armed MQ-9 Reaper flying a combat mission over Afghanistan on Sunday. That led a manned U.S. aircraft to shoot down the unresponsive drone before it flew beyond the edge of Afghanistan airspace. The U.S. Air Force stated that a manned aircraft took "proactive measures" to shoot down the Reaper, which ended up crashing into the side of a mountain. Reaper drones have typically engaged in hunter-killer missions over Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan by targeting enemies on the ground with Hellfire missiles.
9.20.2009 at 07:51am - Comment by cyberscriberofalabamaWell this seems a bit scary to me. Since the Global Hawk is the first unmanned drone that can file its own flight plane with the FAA with no prior notice or monitoring, and it is authorized to operate in Civilian air corridors in the United States, it represents a potential threat to all commercial aviation flying in North America. Are we not in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting wars because Al-Quadea caused 3 of our airliners to crash on 9-11? We could get the same or similar effect now, blame it on a computer glitch, and have no one to blame but our-selves. Whats next? Computer software that corrupts itself and then spawns a series of viruses and Trojans, leaving no person responsible, just millions of dollars damage? Brilliant achievement. Usually it takes an act of the U.S. Congress, assisted directly by the President himself, to screw up things this badly. For all we know Usammma Bin Laden himself might have taken control of one of our armed fighting drones from the comfort of his underground cave. Russia and China? They have their own militants to worry about, without having to borrow any terrorists from the West. What's next? Atomic Weapons that we have no human fail safe included on and accountability for? Who you gonna call? "Bill Gates?"
- Technology
Air Force Shoots Down Runaway Drone Over Afghanistan
A drone pilot's nightmare came true when operators lost control of an armed MQ-9 Reaper flying a combat mission over Afghanistan on Sunday. That led a manned U.S. aircraft to shoot down the unresponsive drone before it flew beyond the edge of Afghanistan airspace. The U.S. Air Force stated that a manned aircraft took "proactive measures" to shoot down the Reaper, which ended up crashing into the side of a mountain. Reaper drones have typically engaged in hunter-killer missions over Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan by targeting enemies on the ground with Hellfire missiles.
9.20.2009 at 07:48am - Comment by cyberscriberofalabamaWell this seems a bit scary to me. Since the Global Hawk is the first unmanned drone that can file its own flight plane with the FAA with no prior notice or monitoring, and it is authorized to operate in Civilian air corridors in the United States, it represents a potential threat to all commercial aviation flying in North America. Are we not in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting wars because Al-Quadea caused 3 of our airliners to crash on 9-11? We could get the same or similar effect now, blame it on a computer glitch, and have no one to blame but our-selves. Whats next? Computer software that corrupts itself and then spawns a series of viruses and trojans, leaving no person responsible, just millions of dollars damage? Brilliant achievement. Usually it takes an act of the U.S. Congress, assisted directly by the President himself, to screw up things up this badly. For all we know Usammma Bin Laden himself might have taken control of one of our armed fighting drones from the comfort of his underground cave. Russia and China? They have their own militants to worry about, without having to borrow any terrorists from the West. What's next? Atomic Weapons that we have no human fail safe and accountability on? Who you gonna call? "Bill Gates?"
- Technology
Close-Range F/A-18 Flyby Causes Freakouts, Coffee-Spitting in Detroit Apartment Building
Believe it or not, this image isn't Photoshopped in any way.
7.21.2009 at 07:15pm - Comment by cyberscriberofalabamaBet it scared the birds off the roof.
- Science
Science and Religion: Bridging the Divide
Over the last century, science and religion have been like oil and water: They just don’t mix. Scientists and people of faith seem to disagree about everything, particularly when it comes to hot-button issues like evolution and stem cell research. But not everyone thinks the two groups should be so polarized. John Polkinghorne, a theoretical physicist who worked at Cambridge for 25 years before becoming an Anglican priest in 1982, has spent his career trying to bridge the divide.
3.24.2009 at 09:06pm - Comment by cyberscriberofalabamaOops,,,couple of typo's slipped through the last one. Hey look I had to grit and bear a lunatic college educated Geologist as he insisted that the world was only 10K years old. Relative time would stop this clown and have him hide under the bed when we go to day light savings time. Yes this EVANGELIST even had the nerve to bring up the Scopes trial, Darwinism and how a failure to get Genesis and the 24 hour creation down solid was a direct cause to the evils of abortion. No it didn't make me quit my Church, (But almost,,,I didn't attend for a month to cool off.) There are certainly things in my personal experience that I cannot rectify or explain through the scientific method. Does it mean a total abandonment to reasonable logic and scientific study? Of course not. Are there questions that could be raised about some if not all religions, albeit some perhaps as trivial as semantics or the interpretation of a word once translated from Greek, to Latin or Arabic, to German and then to English and 30 more languages. Certainly. Does that leave me questioning my faith,,,or questioning translation. A person need only read the Bible, The Koran, The Vedas the I Ching, and other great religious texts with an open mind and an open heart. If you do you'll find all the basic rules are the same, the prophets doing basically the same thing, and the massage of LOVE and Harmony with each other and the Universe pretty much spelled out. Hey when they say a new Christian will experience the Holey spirit and become more peaceful and aware of everything and every one around him. That a new Christian will feel changed or reborn. Another religion says upon reaching Cosmic consciousness and one ness with the universe, one will experience bliss, and transcend the earthly burdens. Gee,,,sounds very similar to me. Certainly not sufficient difference to slaughter a few million people in some war over whose poetry is better, or more true. Err note. You Cats in the Holey LAND. GOD'S COUNTRY. The birth-place of three major faiths from Gods relationship with one guy named Abraham. Try acting Holey for 24 hours will ya. If you want peace in the middle east,,,Gods Answer is "STOP KILLING!". Everything else will work it self out in a few hundred years. Gods not going to send a 6000 page document of treaty and maps to assign who gets what and who shares with who. Just STOP KILLING. It's in all three faiths hand-book. It is the will of God. Two Words equal peace. How damn difficult can that be?
- Science
Science and Religion: Bridging the Divide
Over the last century, science and religion have been like oil and water: They just don’t mix. Scientists and people of faith seem to disagree about everything, particularly when it comes to hot-button issues like evolution and stem cell research. But not everyone thinks the two groups should be so polarized. John Polkinghorne, a theoretical physicist who worked at Cambridge for 25 years before becoming an Anglican priest in 1982, has spent his career trying to bridge the divide.
3.24.2009 at 08:42pm - Comment by cyberscriberofalabamaCurrent news from physicists at CERN and the large hadron collider suggest that the existence of multiple dimensions and even parallel universes is not only possible but likely. A recent award given to the french Scientist Espagnat (million Euro) by UNESCO, an award also given to such notable religious figures such as the late Mother Terresa, tend to confirm that science can't really explain the real universe, the real world or the real empirical anything, with absolute certainty. Why then is it so difficult to arrive at the conclusion, that there are two distinct possibilities. Either 1) GOD in some form metaphysical or philosophical exists, and is therefore the basis of LOVE and HOPE, especially for a continued spiritual existence beyond this world. OR 2) That God doesn't exist, and that all of man made religions, hope and dreams are a shame designed to dupe people into better behavior and out of their money. God intends it seems to have the animal man, pick the fruit from the tree of knowledge, hence gaining intellect and consciousness, nut not necessarily complete God like understanding of the entire Universe. I can relate to that. Besides, what angel of the Lord wants the duty to explain particle physics and Einsteinian Relativity, to a bunch of Goat Herders before the birth of Christ. If we had absolute proof of God and the after life, then there would be no need for faith or belief,,,,only servitude to a higher being under the threat of eternal pain and suffering. Me I prefer the free will choice. And I choose to believe despite the lack of proof for a full understanding. That's called faith in the unknown. Besides some Eastern monk summed it up when he said "When you stop striving to understand,,,then you will KNOW,,,,without understanding." In short. I think Science supports religion as both are seekers of the truth.
- Technology
Seastead, Ahoy!
Economy got you down? Not sure if this whole “American capitalism” thing is working out for you? Looking for cheap housing? Well, you can always start from ideological scratch and build a new society on a free floating platform in the high seas.
3.8.2009 at 04:49pm - Comment by cyberscriberofalabamaIt'd be an easy shot to say this idea won't float or hold water, but the technology exist. I'm rather surprised more land based governments haven't taken to erecting such places for prisons since (Like Gitmo) They represent a questionable legal status in regards to national and international law. It would of course pay a designer or developer of such establishments to include in their National microsystem the important things of self sufficiency. That is the ability to grow your own food and supplement your agriculture with sea farming. A self defense force of some type, against pirates, and even other sea cities,,as well as against land based nations. Naturally long term viability like staying afloat is critical. Other items like water resource, waste elimination, Taxes (And ALL the world shall be taxed), and MEDICAL CARE should be addressed before the establishment of such oceanic colonies. People do live on islands for their entire lives,,,why not a floating one? After all haven't any of you seen the movie "The legend of 1900?". I'm certain that if you had sufficient funding,,enough steel cargo barges, old ferries, the remains of an old Navy purchased at as a scrap, mothball fleet sale, and you cold keep all of it afloat with welders, divers, mechanics, doctors, engineers, and maybe a lawyer and a minister and a monarch, or other governmental element (A constitution, or playground rule book) a few cops or Army, Navy types to enforce the rules, then in fact you could make it work. Getting recognition from existing countries and or a body like the United Nations, would help. Of course being recognized and becoming a formal nation, would also create new challenges and threats, as well as advantages and problems. Treaty, agreements to honor international laws, copyright and other intellectual property laws, extradition of criminals etc. There would be a need to become formal and established before recognition as a defacto-nation entitey would proceed. It's almost as interesting as America and Russia staking claim to millions of square miles of ocean seabed and the resources contained there in with the simple planting of a flag, and making a claim. Like the CEO of Face Book, just claiming you automatically own something forever, just doesn't make it so. Possession is 9/10s of the law as the old cliche goes. But in historic terms it might take a few basement nuclear weapons to make your aquatic nation, a self secure, and thus recognized piece of metal floating in the sea. The historical might makes right is a rule that tends to negate international law. Hey, it worked for Israel.
- Science
The Secret of Successful Kissing
Can drooling make you a better kisser? Scientific evidence suggests that wet, sloppy smooches pack a bigger biochemical punch than dry kisses and thus may be more likely to lead to sex and reproduction, says Rutgers University researcher Helen Fischer, who spoke today at the AAAS conference in Chicago.
2.13.2009 at 05:16pm - Comment by cyberscriberofalabamaUuuuuh, like not to disagree with any scientists,,,,but when DOGS (like in the picture) want to gauge Estrogen Levels or transmit testosterone with a member of the opposite gender, they tend to sniff and lick at the other end of their prospective mates gastrointestinal tract. Which if I'm not mistaken is just a smidgen closer to their reproductive glans which secrete said, a fore mentioned hormones. (Well it's true!) Perhaps MAN or the lady professor at Rutgers got it ass backwards, the effect of pheromones at the nasal cranial nerve (part of the brain) notwithstanding an already proven receptor utilized for determining the value of those parameters. ( My Biological Punch is bigger than your biological punch!)
- Technology
Der CyberKrieg
Just outside the small town of Rheinbach, the German army has begun preparations for a new kind of war. Following on the heels of attacks against the Internet infrastructure of Estonia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, as well as a large scale hacking attack by China against a number of European countries, the German army, or Bundeswehr, has established its first unit dedicated solely to cyber war.
2.13.2009 at 04:55pm - Comment by cyberscriberofalabamaHey that's great. America has its NSA that really doesn't exist on acres of Computer Farms in Virginia. So the German Army is developing a Cyber Attack/Defense Unit. "What do these Cyber-Soldiers do in Basic Training?" Well the learn BASIC, then FORTRAN, and C+. "How to you condition your Cyber-soldiers for Battle against other hostile Cyber Armies?" Well they learn to jump over and crawl under Firewalls on the obstacle course. "And what do Cyber-Soldiers Eat? Oh they get a little Byte here and a little byte there, when ever they find time. In the field they will undoubtedly be given C+ Rations." "Who leads these cyber-soldiers into battle?" Cyber-Sargent s. of course. Does America need to worry about the German Cyber-Army?" Well if they are half as good as America's non-existent Cyber Spook Troops, then they already have your Mothers phone number and address. "Does the German Government allow GAYs oops I mean the Gender Preference Challenged into it's Cyber Army? Well not like America's "Don't Ask, Don't tell" policy, lets just say our motto is "Never leave your buddies behind." "So it's safe to say your troops are a tightly networked group of fighting geeks ready to take on the world?" We like to think of them more as Data Stream Information Pimps. "OH" One last question, "What kind of equipment will these troops use in the up-coming cyber wars?" Well they'll all be issued screwdrivers, multimeters, and will wear Hack-Jackets. To steady themselves before entering combat each platoon will join hands, and they'll all chant OHMmmmmmm,,,,,Ohmmmmm. " Thank You Herr General"
Download Our iPhone App
Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing
Follow Us On Twitter
Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed
Become a Fan On Facebook
Share links with friends, comment on stories and more
December 2009: Best of What's New
In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.
Check out the best of what's new here.
Popular Science Photo Pool
Popular on Popsci
Most Viewed
- IBM's Blue Gene Supercomputer Models a Cat's Entire Brain
- Intel Wants Brain Implants in Its Customers' Heads by 2020
- Mesmerizing, Isn't It?
- Batteryless Remote Control Pulls Power from Your Button Presses
- New Reactor Uses Sunlight to Turn Water and Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel
- High-Pressure Diamond Anvil Creates a New Solid from Xenon and Hydrogen
- The Dubai Airshow As Seen From Orbit
- So Do Prosthetic Limbs Give Sprinters an Advantage Or Not?
- Robotic Surrogate Takes Your Place at Work
- Boeing's Latest Mobile Laser Weapon Tracks and Shoots Down Drone
Most Commented
- Guess This Part, Win a Tool
- This Week in the Future, November 16-20, 2009
- Intel Wants Brain Implants in Its Customers' Heads by 2020
- IBM's Blue Gene Supercomputer Models a Cat's Entire Brain
- This Week in the Future, November 23-26, 2009: Thanksgiving Special
- New Reactor Uses Sunlight to Turn Water and Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel
- So Much For "Hopenhagen"
- CERN Successfully Brings Large Hadron Collider Back Online
- NASA Robotic Rocket Plane To Survey Martian Surface
- Rat Brain Modelers Denounce IBM's Cat Brain Simulation as "Shameful and Unethical" Hoax
Most Emailed
- New Reactor Uses Sunlight to Turn Water and Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel
- World's First Osmotic Power Plant Goes Live in Norway
- High-Pressure Diamond Anvil Creates a New Solid from Xenon and Hydrogen
- President Obama Hopes to Jumpstart Science and Technology Education With New Initiative
- Mourning the Death of the Meta Media Experience
- The (Slightly) Poorer Man's Tesla: ECOS Harbinger
- Decoded Corn Genome Promises Higher Yields, Better Biofuels, New Plastics
- Everything You Need To Know About Chrome OS
- Roboticists Want to Make You an Electric Car Customized for Your Personal Commute
- "Time Traveling" Web Browser Let's You Search Like It's 1999
Today on PopSci.com
Copyright © 2009 Popular Science
A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
