Is faster-than-light (FTL) travel possible? Ever since astronomers found that Earth and the Solar System are not unique in the cosmos, humanity has dreamed of the day when we might explore nearby stars and settle extrasolar planets. Unfortunately, the laws of physics impose strict limitations on how fast things can travel in our Universe, otherwise …
Author Archives: Universe Today
Voyager 1 is Generating Random-Looking Telemetry Data
NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft has technical problems, it is generating random-looking telemetry data, and as a result, the spacecraft doesn’t know where it is.
When Will Humanity Become a Kardashev Type I Civilization?
There are several ways we can measure the progress of human civilization. Population growth, the rise and fall of empires, and our technological ability to reach for the stars. But one simple measure is to calculate the amount of energy humans use at any given time. As humanity has spread and advanced, our ability to …
Continue reading “When Will Humanity Become a Kardashev Type I Civilization?”
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity [A Summary]
In the history of science and physics, several scholars, theories, and equations have become household names. In terms of scientists, notable examples include Pythagoras, Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, Planck, and Hawking. In terms of theories, there’s Archimede’s “Eureka,” Newton’s Apple (Universal Gravitation), and Schrodinger’s Cat (quantum mechanics). But the most famous and renowned is arguably Albert …
Continue reading “Einstein’s Theory of Relativity [A Summary]”
Early Earth was a horrible place for Life because of UV radiation
Earth has had a long and complex history since its formation roughly 4.5 billion years ago. Initially, it was a molten ball, but eventually, it cooled and became differentiated. The Moon was formed from a collision between Earth and a protoplanet named Theia (probably), the oceans formed, and at some point in time, about 4 …
Continue reading “Early Earth was a horrible place for Life because of UV radiation”
