I spent a lot of my time as a child reading and dreaming about space and space travel. As with most geeky males my age, Star Wars pretty much defined my existence from the time I first saw it (I think I was seven) right up through, well, today. Part of that existence died today when some dirtbag radiologist at Johns Hopkins said light speed travel would never be possible because it would kill everyone inside whatever space craft they were using and short-circuit the entire vessel.
William Edstein says the problem lies in the small amount of hydrogen gas that exists in space. When you’re traveling close to the speed of light, say at 98% or so, that hydrogen becomes a friction bomb from hell. The hydrogen would release 7 teraelectron volts, which is essentially the equivalent of standing in the LHC when it’s running full steam. Obviously, that makes people dead, and it would pretty much trash any piece of electronic equipment in the area.
Edstein’s final thought? “Hydrogen atoms are unavoidable space mines.” Sure, until we find a way to avoid them.
Source: New Scientist
Few things entice me more than a glass of small batch bourbon. Over the past several decades, the list of quality craft whiskeys has grown exponentially, yielding a market place that can be as confusing as it is rewarding. F. Paul Pacult wants to help you navigate the sea of options and blends with an iPhone app called iWhiskey from Jolt OS.
