Recent content by RussB

Why is the accelerating expansion of the universe not explained simply by the perspective of acceleration caused by a constant (non accelerating) universal expansion? Let's take two particles (X,Y) in a 1d expanding universe where it expands universally by 1 unit per per unit time. O represents...

Unfortunately I think there's 0 reason to have any faith in NASA's ideas here. The big reason for this is the SLS. That program is not about pushing space forward, but about pushing Boeing/Lockheeds profit margins forward on the back of the taxpayer. Even though it's relatively simple iteractive...

Don't straw man me. I never in any way stated or suggested we ignore viable issues. The whole point of what I am stating is that there are numerous viable avenues of research and development to pursue. Many people have radically different views on their relevance. There is no 'right' answer. The...

I think that is a nonstarter of an argument. There will always be problems on Earth. Fixing one problem opens another. I'd assume you might approve of Gates' attempts to eliminate malaria. It sounds nice, but in reality will have very little real effect. With one problem comes another. The vast...

I never understood exactly how this was a question. Who doesn't have the desire to discover and seek out things that are unknown? Exploration in the physical world is the direct analog of education in the academic world. While some may learn only as a means to an end, I think for many the...

This is a rather long read but extremely informative about the nuance of loyalty to nation vs hierarchy that's already been ongoing in Syria. The military's most fundamental oath entails their ultimately loyalty is to the constitution and to the nation - not to the government. There is a lengthy...

While we can only speculate, I think the answer is almost certainly no. In a way our armed forces are designed to preempt this sort of possibility. Every individual in the US military takes an oath. The oath varies distinctly for officer versus enlisted. The officer one is the one that matters...

Dragon 2018 is not sending several tons, it's sending 8-10, making it a near magnitude order of payload contrasted against NASA. And proving the viability of retropulsive landing will open the door to far greater to come. Elon's timeline is also 8 years, not 10. He plans the first human launch...

I think there are a vast number of reasons to look to not only send an expedition to Mars, but ultimately colonize it. One is the ostensibly hyperbolic ensurance the survival of the human species. On our planet there have been 5 mass extinction events. And those were caused by relatively...

I'm not sure it's necessarily just a PR problem. Here is a PDF from the Pew Research Center surveying Muslims throughout the world on a variety of issues: http://www.pewforum.org/files/2013/04/worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-full-report.pdf The overwhelming majority of Muslims want...