What role do popular science books play? If done right, they cultivate interest in science among everyday people. Sometimes, they spur readers to become scientists themselves. Too often, academic pursuits are locked away in ivory towers. Popular science books break such barriers, helping experts and non-experts communicate with each other. Filling Space spoke with […]
Read More Popular Science Books: Creating Excitement and EnthusiasmIn Under Stranger Stars, the player captains a spaceship in a comedic sci-fi universe that features arcade combat, quests, and open-world exploration. The game has been under development for two years. It now has a Kickstarter campaign to support further development of music, art, and content, and also to support release on multiple platforms. […]
Read More Featured Project: Under Stranger StarsThe sun is our immediate connection to the cosmos. Its light illuminates our world. Its energy fuels most life as we know it. It is one of billions of stars, but it is a special one. It is ours. Much of today’s exciting space science regards planets and visitors from other solar systems. But […]
Read More Our Sun: The Closest of StarsArtificial intelligence is advancing space exploration. But how far will it go? To what extent will automated systems relieve humans of the burdens they must currently shoulder in space? Predicting the future is speculation, but informed experts today can offer educated opinions. For this reason, Filling Space spoke with Ella Atkins, an aerospace engineering […]
Read More Human-Robot Cooperation in SpaceRecently, an interstellar object named ‘Oumuamua entered our solar system. It was the first such observed object in recorded history. Scientists were thus already watching ‘Oumuamua when, as it came closer, it did something surprising: it sped up. Notably, it did this without outgassing, which happens with comets and explains their changing speeds. What, […]
Read More Mainstreaming SETI: ‘Oumuamua and Light-sailsSpace is becoming popular with billionaires. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson all have their eyes set on the stars. Their ventures signal a new private sector-led era of space exploration. Whether it’s space tourism, asteroid mining, or Mars colonization, private companies seem to be taking a part in everything. This is a […]
Read More Space Capitalism: Laissez-faire in the HeavensWhat is the relationship between racial identity and a scientific field like physics? At first glance, they seem disconnected: one is a phenomenon of human society, the other studies physical rules of the universe. But physics, like all scientific disciplines, is a human endeavor. As such, racism and other forms of marginalization impact individuals […]
Read More Racial Identity and PhysicsGustav Holst’s The Planets premiered 100 years ago. The orchestral suite has become a modern classic, with John Williams reputedly being influenced by it when composing the Star Wars soundtrack (see here for a fantastic mashup). The Planets’ ongoing popularity has ensured that Holst remains a well-known figure in the pantheon of 20th century […]
Read More Reimagining Holst’s The PlanetsAncient Mayan civilization was one of the most advanced societies of Mesoamerica. Mayans developed a hieroglyphic writing system and created a mathematics with the concept of zero. They built sophisticated complexes of highways, irrigation, and fortifications. Mayan artistic traditions, featuring stone sculptures and impressive architecture, influenced other cultures. Among their achievements, the Mayans cultivated […]
Read More The Sophistication of Mayan AstronomySpace travel is fundamentally a marvel of engineering, so it is no surprise that artificial intelligence is helping advance our exploration of the universe. Artificial intelligence already assists space travel technologies in myriad ways. It helps scientists classify imagery from astronomical surveys. It helps the Curiosity rover choose which Martian soil and rock samples […]
Read More Artificial Intelligence: Advancing Space Exploration