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 EnthusiasmSpace 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 PlanetsStudent projects are fun learning experiences. Some focus on dissecting frogs to learn about anatomy. Others germinate dried beans to learn about botany. However, some students prefer founding their own space agency. This is what students decided to do at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. The organization, Space Concordia, conducts outreach campaigns in local schools. It also designs its […]
Read More Students’ Very Own Space Agency: Space ConcordiaThe leading space program in Latin America is that of Brazil. The Barreira do Inferno Launch Center, for instance, began launching rockets in 1965. The center has since launched over two thousand sounding rockets, and it furthermore provides satellite tracking services. Another main facility is the Alcantara base, which in 2004 successfully launched its […]
Read More Brazil Leads Latin America’s Space AmbitionsInternational politics is a tough game; countries have no one to turn to but themselves. Despite best efforts to create international institutions that promote more cooperative behavior, countries inevitably, it seems, revert to pursuing self-interest first and foremost. Today’s rise in nationalism, in stark contrast to the heady days of post-Cold War globalization, clearly […]
Read More Nations Compete in the Space ClubWhat can an individual do to advance space exploration? For a long time, the answer seemed to be: not much. Space exploration requires enormous resources that not even most states can afford. Nearly four decades ago, Carl Sagan, the doyen of space science and an inspiring science communicator, decided to do something to cultivate popular […]
Read More The Planetary Society: Bringing Space to the Ordinary CitizenElon Musk and NASA are quarrelling about whether it is possible to terraform Mars. The debate is an old one. Terraforming (sometimes called ecopoiesis in the scientific literature) means to engineer an ecosystem so that it is suitable for human habitation, and the idea has been featured in popular culture for more than a […]
Read More Terraforming: Stranger than Science FictionIndia is a unique player in the space industry. Historically its space program has had a developmental focus that distinguishes it from the more militarily-oriented American and Russian programs. But India’s space focus is changing, as exemplified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcement of plans to carry out a manned space mission by 2020. Recent years have […]
Read More India Rises to the Stars