Surprising Science — January 2, 2011

Corporate Sponsors for Space Travel

Companies that specialize in science fiction and futuristic space travel will embrace the commercial space age.

As part of the new space policy of the United States, NASA is now in the process of figuring out how to seed and stimulate commercial crew access to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Because of these efforts, I predict that there will be an explosion of interest in commercial space companies, which are trying to create more efficient crew access to LEO.

Buoyed by NASA’s support, corporate sponsorships will come into play, much like these companies support professional sporting events and exploration expeditions. Companies that specialize in science fiction and futuristic space travel will embrace the commercial space age. Imagine flying the Playstation Commercial Crew Transportation Spacecraft from the launch pad to the International Space Station, and then back through the Earth’s atmosphere to a safe landing!

— Leroy Chiao, astronaut

Image courtesy of Flickr user Matthew Simantov.

a computer generated image of a human brain.

Thinking

The great free will debate featuring Michio Kaku and Steven Pinker

Who — or what — really controls your mind?

Building destroyed by the Halifax Explosion. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

The Past

The largest accidental explosion of all time

More than a century ago, Halifax suffered an accidental blast one-fifth the size of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

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The Well

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If you don’t feel better after the weekend, the “burnout paradox” could explain why.

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7 min

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with

Laurie Santos

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