A while back, we wrote about the amazing Breakthrough Starshot mission, which aims to make interstellar exploration possible. Proposed back in April by world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, the futuristic project envisions using powerful lasers to launch a fleet of chip-sized robotic probes into space, sending them on a 20-year-long voyage to the nearest star Alpha…
Engineers at Lexus have recently unveiled a one-of-a-kind, single-seat spaceship concept that is so ridiculously futuristic that it will likely not be available for another 700 years or so. Similar to the company's upcoming Lexus LC coupe in some respects, the SkyJet is all set to be featured in Luc Besson's new sci-fi movie Valerian…
Although deemed impossible only a few centuries ago, space exploration like flight are easily two of mankind’s greatest achievements. In fact, they are glowing exemplars of what the human mind is capable of attaining, when left to its own devices. The outer space has long held an unshakable fascination, originating over 25,000 years ago with…
As if the world wasn’t already belligerent, Russia has embarked on an ambitious mission to militarize space. According to Sputnik, a state-owned news website, the country’s military is designing a special spacecraft that could fire lethal weapons anywhere on the planet in less than two hours. If that isn’t alarming enough, the plane will also…
A team of NASA researchers has been entrusted with the task of developing a specialized modem that could allow spacecraft and ground stations to communicate at speeds 10 to 100 times higher than today’s radio frequency (RF) systems. Scheduled for testing aboard the International Space Station in the year 2020, the mobile phone-sized contraption uses…
Since its discovery in 1892, zirconium has become one of the major players of the artificial jewelry industry. Thanks to its low cost, durability and brilliantly sparkling appearance, it serves as a substitute for diamond in fake ornaments. Zirconium, however, is more badass than one might think. Often used in power plants and even spacecrafts,…
A team of three researchers, working at Boeing, has submitted a patent application for a laser-powered aircraft propulsion system. Although it does seem ambitious, given our current, quite limited, knowledge of nuclear fission and fusion, the company believes that this self-powered engine could one day be used to propel airplanes, spacecraft and even missiles. (more…)