tl;dr:
Sadly, it is 600 light years away from us, but still... we could colonize it.. (If it is not yet.)
What is Dark Sky?
http://twitpic.com/662hqp/full
The next MK-38 can be used in three different ways. First, the machine gun function (180 rounds per minute) can destroy the enemies within the range of 2000 yards. The second method is the laser function; the canon can fire of “different levels of laser energy???”. I don’t know, what does it means exactly, but I’m sure, I don’t want to stand at the front of the cannon during the test phase of the weapons. J Today, officially we can burn small objects (with 10 kilowatts maximum energy) or mosquitoes with laser…maybe there are some secret developments in the background like the Death Star Superlaser in StarWars. The third function of the new MK-38 means the combination of the first and the second techniques: the laser can identify and lock on a target for the machinegun. I think this third “combination method” of the weapon should be as a basic attribute in the first function. My question is: Why would I use only the machinegun function? I have an integrated laser as well, which could help during the target selection….I don’t understand. To summarize: I think, this “new” invention tries to upgrade the previous machinegun technologies and unfortunately, we should wait again for the real laser cannon news.
source: wired.com
http://www.festo.com/cms/en_corp/11369.htmSpace Shuttle Endeavour is waiting for the final lunch. This final mission of Endeavour will probably start only on May 16. The last two launches were canceled; the reason of the delays was some technical problems. One of the main assignments of this final mission will prepare an interesting space research. I want to write now about this futuristic space story.
If we check the list of STS-134 crew members, we can find two “spidernauts”. This situation can be really easy integrated in a sci-fi screenplay, the spiders will escape and the contact with International Space Station (ISS) will suddenly interrupt… But, the truth is, there are already some spiders on ISS and the researchers are investigating the arachnid habits in microgravity environment.
In this special condition, the geometry of different spider webs will be studied. The new “spidernauts” (Nephila clavipes) spin asymmetric three dimensional webs and the most important question is how these spiders will construct a 3D web in low gravity. The other two spiders (Larinioides patagiatus and Metepeira) were launched to the ISS in 2008 and these spiders spin two dimensional webs on Earth. The researcher will compare the different webs of various spiders in low gravity. I think, we can learn lot of new facts about the webs of spiders during the mission!
The fruit flies will be the nourishment of the spiders, but the astronauts on ISS will also study the mobility and flight patterns of the fruit flies during the research program. You can follow this program on bioedonline.org and you can find some interesting teaching materials about this experience!
Source: nasa.gov
Happy new year with this video!
