“It’s not going to do any good to land on Mars if we’re stupid.”–Ray Bradbury
“You cannot be serious.”–John McEnroe
Is Vladimir Putin serious? He’s really going to put Russians on the moon by next year? Live Russians? Human Russians? Russian manikins, maybe. Or how about those nested Russian dolls? I have my hunches about his obvious hyperbole. Like maybe he’s goading a certain Western leader I won’t name to take it seriously and go broke trying to compete with him. All the while what he’s really doing is focusing his resources on hacking democracy and wreaking havoc.
While you’re reading about all this week’s future-related news, don’t forget that you can subscribe to Seeking Delphi™ podcasts on iTunes, PlayerFM, or YouTube (audio with slide show) and you can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook
Matryoshka dolls. Send these to Mars?
Space Exploration– Yes, according to Futurism.com, Vladimir Putin did say that he intends to send both manned and unmanned missions to Mars, possibly as soon as next year. This timetable is a full 5 years ahead of SpaceX’s most optimistic scenario. He might have his work cut out for him. The Russian space agency has not attempted to reach beyond earth’s gravity well since a 2011 launch failed and fell out of orbit.
–Next Big Future reports on the progress–and relative merits–of AD-Astra’s VX200SSTM VASIMR® prototype space propulsion engine. Recent test firings have brought them one step closer to enabling earth to mars transit in as little as 4 to 6 weeks. SpaceX, with its BFR, has aims at making the transit at similar speeds.
Quantum Computing–IBM released it’s 5 in 5 list–five inovations that will change our lives in five years. Most notably they, predicted that quantum computing will be mainstream within five years. If you listened to my podcast with whurley from SXSW 2018, you’d know that enabling broad use of quantum computing is exactly what he’s aiming for with his new company, Strangeworks (YouTube link below).
Quantum Computing featuring whurley, recorded March 12, 2018 at SXSW, Austin, TX
—Age of Robots reported on the marriage of quantum computing with biological data. Specifically, researchers at USC have demonstrated how a quantum processor could effectively predict certain processes in the human genome.
3D printing-–A vehicle its maker says will be the first mass-produced, 3D-printed car, is slated for availability in 2019. With a price tag of less than $10,000, but with a single-charge range of only 90 miles at a maximum speed of 45mph, it might seem more like a golf cart on steroids than a real car. Dr. Paul Tinari talked about 3D-printed cars in Seeking Delphi™ podcast #7 in March of 2017.
Dr. Paul Tinari on 3D printing cars, homes and–good grief–even human beings. Seeking Delphi™ podcast #7, from March 2017
Self-Driving Cars–In the wake of the Tempe, Arizona pedestrian fatality involving an Uber self-driving car, the New York Times published this guide to how self-driving cars sense the world.
Google-modified Lexus. Source: Google
Up next: one final special edition mini-cast out of SXSW. Exteme Bionics: The Future of Human Ability.
A reminder that the Seeking Delphi™ podcast is available on iTunes, PlayerFM, blubrry , and has a channel on YouTube. You can also follow us onTwitter and Facebook.
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