Technology, Science and the Environment.

[ozleicester]

38 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

You know they don't burn diesel right? 

oh.. goodo...

SpaceX's rocket fuels produce black carbon, soot, and other pollutants that can trap heat and even threaten our ozone layer. The planned rocket launches to maintain the proposed satellite mega-constellations will release soot in the atmosphere equivalent to 7 million diesel dump trucks circling the globe each year

[ozleicester]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

The events that killed the dinosaurs, caused the Ordovincian-Silurian extinction event and reduced humanity to a mere handful of numbers 70000 years ago are not mysterious.

 

Three different causes, all would happen no matter how well we take care of the Earth, all would require advanced technology, space based and/or otherwise, to even begin to stop or mitigate. They're as real as the very real problems of human suffering and biodiversity crash, to name but two.

 

Focusing on the future makes sure that there will actually be one for any or all of us. Not planning for that is... well, asking for trouble.

 

NB. I feel the same way about Musk and the privatisation of space exploration as you do - it's a recipe for dystopia. But the solution to that is to elect governments that do the same thing for the benefit of all, not abandon the matter entirely.

 

You're a good person and I'm pretty damn sure you've done more for direct aid for people that need it than I have. However, I think the future will need people like both of us.

But..the current space efforts are not about planning for mass extinction events etc...and lets be honest, our existing technology is capable of modeling our reaction to this incredibly unlikely event.

Nevertheless... im yet to see any significant positives for humanity from this folly, excluding lining the pockets and increasing the power of the super rich.

I appreciate your kind words. Im not here to judge who does more/less/better Im jusy hoping all people work toward a better world for all and currently the space industry is doing the opposite

[JonnyBoy]

17 hours ago, reporterpenguin said:

The finder is pretty helpful once it's well aligned, it has a much wider field of view which makes it much easier to find what you're looking for and get it lined up.

 

Venus is super bright at the moment in the west, it's even visible before the sun has fully set. At sunset look above and slightly to the left of where the sun sets and you should see it. Jupiter is just to the left of the Moon at the moment and is also very bright, quite a lot brighter than Mars is.

 

And on the subject of Mars, I've always found it quite underwhelming to look at with a telescope. It appears about ⅓ the size of Jupiter despite being closer, and is generally a pretty uniform blob. Depending on how it's titled relative to Earth you might just be able to see a hint of the ice caps, but it's still pretty uninteresting to see tbh.

 

Good luck!

 

Excellent, thanks for the help. yes, Mars didn't look super clear or big versus the Moon (for obvious reasons) looking at the moon last night was great. Now to find Venus and Jupiter! 

[leicsmac]

2nd consecutive new model Starship that became scrap metal not long after launch.

 

Hopefully this isn't setting a trend.

Edited 7 March by leicsmac

[SpacedX]

4 hours ago, leicsmac said:

2nd consecutive new model Starship that became scrap metal not long after launch.

 

Hopefully this isn't setting a trend.

A problem in the aft section again, which according to Space X “resulted in the loss of several Raptor engines. This in turn led to a loss of attitude control and ultimately a loss of communications with Starship".Lose enough of the centre engines and the craft starts tumbling. Starship broke apart over populated islands in Turks and Caicos, littering the islands with debris apparently. That's a second consecutive FAA mishap investigation then. 

 

The booster catch was magnificent though, and with several raptor engines down. 

 

 

 

 

[davieG]

[jgtuk]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Not sure where this is but I’ve seen these in France and I think their planning regulations state that new supermarkets have to have a percentage of parking covered in panels like this. 
On a similar note: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2l049zkvezo

[davieG]

Interesting Engineering   · 

Follow

 

In 1887, these visionary engineers took their cantilever bridge design to the next level by turning themselves into a physical model. A brilliant demonstration of how structural forces work, proving that engineering innovation has always been ahead of its time.

For more content like this, please visit: https://link.ie.social/Sr38T9

#engineering #engineeringhistory #cantilever

[leicsmac]

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2423957122

 

Our study presents a global assessment of microplastic pollution’s impact on food security. By analyzing a comprehensive dataset of 3,286 records, we quantify the reduction in photosynthesis caused by microplastics across various ecosystems. This reduction is estimated to cause an annual loss of 109.73 to 360.87 million metric tons (MT) for crop production and 1.05 to 24.33 MT for seafood production. By reducing current environmental microplastic levels by 13%, these losses could be mitigated by 14.26 to 46.91 MT in crops and 0.14 to 3.16 MT in seafood. These findings underscore the urgency for effective plastic mitigation strategies and provide insights for international researchers and policymakers to safeguard global food supplies in the face of the growing plastic crisis.

 

And all the while people who think food "just happens" don't even stop to consider how the drop in biodiversity caused by this and other sources might affect them.

[blabyboy]

How long did they give to reduce the 13% by though to hit those numbers?.

 

..and is it really achievable atm given attention is elsewhere.

[leicsmac]

5 minutes ago, blabyboy said:

How long did they give to reduce the 13% by though to hit those numbers?.

 

..and is it really achievable atm given attention is elsewhere.

From what I glean, it wouldn't take long at all through more careful application of existing plastic mitigation strategies.

 

In all honesty, I think the second line here is an excuse that should not be bought now and, should this and other problems result in catastrophe, certainly won't be bought by those who are left. "Our attention was elsewhere" isn't a great justifying line for the history books (if anyone is still thinking to write them), especially when everything about that "elsewhere" can and will sound incredibly petty and trivial compared to the magnitude of the problems that the Earth is going to give (and is already giving) our species.

[blabyboy]

9 hours ago, leicsmac said:

From what I glean, it wouldn't take long at all through more careful application of existing plastic mitigation strategies.

 

In all honesty, I think the second line here is an excuse that should not be bought now and, should this and other problems result in catastrophe, certainly won't be bought by those who are left. "Our attention was elsewhere" isn't a great justifying line for the history books (if anyone is still thinking to write them), especially when everything about that "elsewhere" can and will sound incredibly petty and trivial compared to the magnitude of the problems that the Earth is going to give (and is already giving) our species.

That's reality mate... Has a habit of not fitting with personal views.

[blabyboy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg8jkzlj03o

Early Friday morning...rise and shine for your next partial eclipse 

[blabyboy]

These are your people @leicsmac

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9vy191rgn1o

 

 

[leicsmac]

2 hours ago, blabyboy said:

That's reality mate... Has a habit of not fitting with personal views.

If the nature of reality really is that nasty, brutish and short, then fair enough.

 

Speaking personally, I'm rather thinking as a species we can do better.

 

2 hours ago, blabyboy said:

These are your people @leicsmac

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9vy191rgn1o

 

 

Sigh - exhibit A for your case right there. How sadly pointless.

[blabyboy]

13 hours ago, leicsmac said:

If the nature of reality really is that nasty, brutish and short, then fair enough.

 

Speaking personally, I'm rather thinking as a species we can do better.

 

Sigh - exhibit A for your case right there. How sadly pointless.

IKR!

Wtf are they thinking??

It's almost as if COP was run by, and for the benefit of, politicians... instead of people and scientists.

[ozleicester]

On 12/03/2025 at 05:36, leicsmac said:

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2423957122

 

Our study presents a global assessment of microplastic pollution’s impact on food security. By analyzing a comprehensive dataset of 3,286 records, we quantify the reduction in photosynthesis caused by microplastics across various ecosystems. This reduction is estimated to cause an annual loss of 109.73 to 360.87 million metric tons (MT) for crop production and 1.05 to 24.33 MT for seafood production. By reducing current environmental microplastic levels by 13%, these losses could be mitigated by 14.26 to 46.91 MT in crops and 0.14 to 3.16 MT in seafood. These findings underscore the urgency for effective plastic mitigation strategies and provide insights for international researchers and policymakers to safeguard global food supplies in the face of the growing plastic crisis.

 

And all the while people who think food "just happens" don't even stop to consider how the drop in biodiversity caused by this and other sources might affect them.

Im beginning to think the microplastics is going to be a bigger disaster than climate change

[jgtuk]

5 hours ago, ozleicester said:

Im beginning to think the microplastics is going to be a bigger disaster than climate change

The plastics industry (fossil fuel) and recycling are a big con, green lobbyists have been warning us for years. 

[leicsmac]

10 hours ago, blabyboy said:

IKR!

Wtf are they thinking??

It's almost as if COP was run by, and for the benefit of, politicians... instead of people and scientists.

I honestly don't know what the best way forward is on that one.

 

10 hours ago, ozleicester said:

Im beginning to think the microplastics is going to be a bigger disaster than climate change

In terms of causing damage to biodiversity, I reckon it certainly has the potential to be hugely damaging.

[ajthefox]

10 hours ago, ozleicester said:

Im beginning to think the microplastics is going to be a bigger disaster than climate change

They're hand in hand really aren't they.

 

Microplastics are hurting biodiversity which exacerbates climate issues.

 

The food and human health impacts are symptoms of that and our changing climate.

 

It's all one big horrible cycle.

[leicsmac]

12 minutes ago, ajthefox said:

They're hand in hand really aren't they.

 

Microplastics are hurting biodiversity which exacerbates climate issues.

 

The food and human health impacts are symptoms of that and our changing climate.

 

It's all one big horrible cycle.

It is a systemic problem that doesn't have a simple solution, yes.

 

That and the (currently) abstract nature of it could perhaps explain why there's still nowhere near enough action taken regarding it.

[Otis]

12 hours ago, blabyboy said:

IKR!

Wtf are they thinking??

It's almost as if COP was run by, and for the benefit of, politicians... instead of people and scientists.

Everything about COP seems to be an excuse for an annual jolly.

[leicsmac]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2g88y52y8o

 

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has said his Starship rocket will head to Mars by the end of next year, as the company investigates several recent explosions in flight tests.

Human landings could begin as early as 2029 if initial missions go well, though "2031 was more likely", he added in a post on his social media platform X.

 

I'll believe it when I see it. It would be nice, but never will the phrase "in spite of, rather than because of" have applied more.

[Dahnsouff]

Probably quite old to some, but watched a video from Brian Cox talking about the Fermi Paradox (bear with me, it is vaguely related) and he speaks about a Great Filter being an explanation for the paradox.

One of the potential positioning of this filter being when we as a species are unable to unite and thereby end up ‘doing ourselves in’ rather than making a meaningful attempt at getting to the stars.

 

He also suspected that space faring species may also have a short window of primacy before also fading or destroying themselves and therefore end up never seeing other such species.

[leicsmac]

21 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

Probably quite old to some, but watched a video from Brian Cox talking about the Fermi Paradox (bear with me, it is vaguely related) and he speaks about a Great Filter being an explanation for the paradox.

One of the potential positioning of this filter being when we as a species are unable to unite and thereby end up ‘doing ourselves in’ rather than making a meaningful attempt at getting to the stars.

 

He also suspected that space faring species may also have a short window of primacy before also fading or destroying themselves and therefore end up never seeing other such species.

There's a couple of quality videos from the good Professor on this topic, would very much recommend.

 

Needless to say, I agree with his viewpoint pretty much to a T here.