Hello, and welcome to The Edge, the newsletter that brings you groundbreaking stories from the frontiers of technology and science.
We’ve got some great stories for you today including public air taxi flight reservations, a major discovery in the search for extraterrestrial life and China’s floating spaceport. As always, we’ve added extra stories under each article should you find yourself in a curious state of mind.
Floating rockets
Modern problems require modern solutions. Image credit: CASC
China is Building a Floating Spaceport to Launch Rockets
According to Universe Today, China is busy constructing a floating spaceport. The ultimate goal is to launch rockets from the spaceport off the cost of the city of Haiyang. Known as the “Eastern Aerospace Port”, the port is being built by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), which happens to be China’s largest defence contractor.
The spaceport will serve other uses aside from its primary purpose of launching smaller rockets. It will also be used to build and maintain satellites, rockets and other craft heading to space.
Launching from the sea has numerous advantages, specifically safety - the further from cities launches take place, the less chance of a catastrophic accident. SpaceX is also looking into building ports like this one, with the goal of launching their Starship rockets.
What will space tourism look like?
Today is…
…the International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Created in 1995, the International Talk Like a Pirate Day encourages people to talk and dress like a pirate.
The stereotypical pirate accent (“Arrrrr”) was actually invented by Disney.
Julius Ceasar was actually captured by pirates when he was 25 but subsequently released once his ransom was paid.
A fascinating look at pirate economics and society.
Quick science
Other incredible stories from the world of science and technology
Looking for your ticket to the International Space Station? This reality TV show might be your chance.
A Swedish consortium has revealed a wind-powered car-transporting boat with a capacity of 7,000 cars.
Eavesdropping plants observe cues from their host plants so they know when to flower.
Book a ride on a flying taxi
Hailing a cab just got vertical. Image credit: Volocopter
This Company Just Opened Reservations for Public Air Taxi Flights
Volocopter, a German start-up, recently announced that it’s now taking reservations for electric air taxi rides on VoloCity, their airborne taxi. Tickets go for 300 euros and require a 10% deposit. Also, Volocopter only made 1000 tickets available so if you want in, you’d better be quick.
Next to that, you’ll have to wait up to three years for the ride. Christian Bauer, Volocopters COO, said: “While the final certification for air taxis is still pending, we do have a detailed realistic timeline to launch commercial VoloCity flights in the next 2-3 years.” Your 300 euros will get you a 15-minute flight, a video of the flight and a limited edition certificate.
The VoloCity is a fascinating aircraft in its own right, with 18 rotors and space for up to two passengers with hand luggage. It can also reach speeds of 110 km/h or 68 mph. Nonetheless, a future full of flying taxis is still a distant one. Necessary infrastructure needs to be built, legislation needs to be drafted and new traffic management systems need development.
A lot of things need to change for a flying-car future.
Video of the week
“How Long Does Curiosity Have Left?”
Primal Space releases great videos about space, and this video is no exception. Curiosity, NASA’s tenacious Mars rover, has been roaming the plains of Mars for years. In fact, the rover far exceeded it’s predicted operational lifetime, providing scientists with a huge quantity of data and information about the red planet.
Sadly, all good things come to an end. This goes for Curiosity’s ability to operate as well. Electrical systems deteriorating, dust storms and components breaking down are all harsh realities of Curiosity’s life on Mars, all of which will eventually lead to the end of the rover’s ability to function. As for how long Curiosity actually has left, only time will tell.
Crescent Tech’s incredible dual camera headband
Crescent Technologies is a Dutch start-up based in Delft. What makes the start-up special is the Crescent Vision, their dual camera headband.
The Crescent Vision makes possible medical live streaming. Specifically, the headband is able to capture high-quality real-time 3D images, which can then be shared in real-time as well. The camera headband is used during precision surgical procedures, allowing people to “see through the eyes of a surgeon”, according to Crescent Tech’s website. The headband allows students and clients to get a clear view of what the surgeon would see, which allows deeper learning and understanding of medicine and surgery.
Next stop - Venus
A breakthrough discovery. Image credit: NASA/Victor Tangermann
Breaking: Researchers Discover Signs of Life on Venus
Researchers have made an incredible discovery - a possible sign of life on Venus. Specifically, they discovered large quantities of phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere. Phosphine is a colourless, odourless gas which is often a by-product of organic matter being broken down here on Earth.
Led by Cardiff University’s Jane Greaves, the research was published in Nature Astronomy. At first glance, Venus wouldn’t be the obvious candidate when searching for extraterrestrial life. The planet’s surface consists of toxic and sweltering vapours, with temperatures reaching 426 degrees Celcius (800 degrees Fahrenheit). Sulfuric acid rains down from the skies and thick clouds block most sunlight. The life we know here on Earth wouldn’t stand a chance.
However, the researchers hypothesise that microbial life might be alive and well in the planet’s atmosphere and clouds. Specifically, they argue that standard abiotic (non-living) mechanisms that produce phosphine wouldn’t cover the high quantity of the gas they found in the atmosphere of Venus. Put differently, most of the gas could have been the result of organic processes - processes which could be part of life. According to the researchers’ calculations, natural, abiotic sources of the detected phosphine would only account for a maximum of one ten-thousandth of the quantity detected. The rest might have come from living microbes.
So how could life survive on such a harsh planet? It’s important to keep in mind that the environment in Venus’ clouds is very different from that of the surface. Temperatures there range from 0 to 60 degrees Celcius and pressures are much more similar to those on Earth.
While further research is needed (and hopefully a visit someday), we hope you’ll agree that the search for extraterrestrial life is getting more and more thrilling by the day.
This rocket company is wasting no time paying a visit to Venus.
What we’ve been reading
A small selection of the articles we read this week.
People who really miss the office are listening to its sounds at home
Assange Lawyer Says She Saw Trump Ally Offer to Arrange Pardon
Thanks for reading!
We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Edge.
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