Science: space travel without fuel

Eric Allie, Cagle

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At the current stage of development, dreams of space travel start in the range of 30 and 50 micro-Newtons in thrust (NASA reporting on the Cannae drive). Currently there are two candidates for space propulsion that don't require tons of fuel to launch and propel. Keep in mind interstellar travel (going outside our solar system) will require more time than a human is currently allotted in a lifetime. Take a look at Kate Mulcahy's "Top 10 Problems with Interstellar Travel" for more information.

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Gravity Probe B, ListVerse

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Still, developing propulsion without fuel is an important step.

The first candidate is the EmDrive, developed by Roger Shawyer, and introduced in 2010. This drive has been validated by NASA and built and tested by the Chinese.

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EmDrive (photo by Elvis Popovic), DVICE

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The other candidate is the Cannae Drive, reportedly a 'reactionless' engine. As reported by The Independent,

A NASA study has recently concluded that the "Cannae Drive," a disruptive new method of space propulsion, can produce small amounts of thrust without the use of propellant, in apparent discordance with Newton's third law. According to its inventor, the device can harness microwave radiation inside a resonator, turning electricity into a net thrust.

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Cannae Drive, gizmag

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Wired includes the Cannae and EmDrive engines in "10 questions about Nasa's 'impossible' space drive answered."

Travel within our solar system using one of these fuelless drives is being discussed, but to me the most interesting stuff lies beyond the heliosphere.

-- Marge

Ides of March in history and cartoons

Today being the Ides of March, here's some history from the History Orb and a few cartoons (the 5th of March has funnier cartoons at TheWeek; why it that?).

Yesterday a new Pope, who will be known as Pope Francis, was elected.  Here's Daryl Cagle's image of  "His Argentinean Holiness:"

David Horsey may or may not have actually taken a survey of gun owners, but he makes an interesting point in "Weapon Hoarders."

The remainder of my selection for today is, of course, about the budget/sequester.

Eric Allie, who currently draws Prickly City, "Financial Relapse:"

Jack Ohman, "Crying Wolf:"

Christopher Weyant, "The Rainbow's End:"

Stay healthy.

-- Marge

Political cartoons with perspective

Overwhelmed by all the controversy about gun control, immigration reform, the Boys Scouts of America, Sarah Palin, etc., etc, etc., I've selected the following cartoons on the basis of the viewpoints they present.  Their subjects are still based on recent news.

From About.com here's a cartoon by David Fitzsimmons:

Published at TheWeek is this cartoon by Eric Allie.  (Don't get me wrong -- I think it's great that we've finally got something that addresses health care.  But it's a first step and needs refining.)

There are many cartoons about gun control being published right now; this one at U.S. News & World Report and by Walt Handelsman may capture the basic problem.

From Time Magazine is this cartoon by Mike Luckovich, because it made me laugh.

And that's it for today, folks.

-- Marge