Society Archives | Filling Space

How do you break an African amateur rocketry record?

A four-man team in South Africa recently broke an amateur rocketry record by launching a homemade rocket to ten kilometers’ altitude. Two of the members…

Society

In Africa, what are the latest space sector developments?

Editor July 19, 2019 Africa astronomy Astrophysics black holes cosmic objects extraterrestrial intelligence galaxies gravitational waves science communication supernovae

The space sector in Africa is growing, though this may come as a surprise to some. Making people aware of scientific progress is the realm…

Society

How does one help women of color overcome barriers to STEM careers?

Editor July 12, 2019 Africa Astrophysics female astronomers marginalized communities South Africa STEM careers STEM education STEMinism the space sector the Square Kilometer Array

Africa’s space sector is growing, but will it include marginalized communities? A common criticism of STEM fields is that they exclude women and people of…

Society

Who defines law in outer space?

Editor July 5, 2019 celestial bodies NewSpace outer space space Law space mining space products space resources spacecraft the Outer Space Treaty the space sector

As humanity increasingly establishes itself off Earth, what laws will govern its activities? On this planet, governments enforce their own national legal systems, and international…

Society

Should humans stay on Earth?

Editor June 14, 2019 anarchy existential risk militarization mutually assured destruction preemptive strikes space colonization the Cold War the Hobbesian trap the Leviathan the security dilemma

Should humans leave Earth at all? Oftentimes, particularly in communities of people who are interested in outer space, this question is given little real consideration.…

Society

What is it like being a space journalist?

Editor May 24, 2019 Astrophysics popularizing space science science communication science journalism Space Journalism space science the BBC the Space Age the space race the United Kingdom

It’s a job that many space enthusiasts would love: being a space journalist. It allows one to cover exploration of the cosmos and also fulfill…

Society

How does one address gender inequality in the space industry?

Editor May 17, 2019 female engineers gender inequality imposter syndrome NASA promoting diversity space exploration STEM fields STEMinism the space industry workforce diversity

If there’s any demographic that seems to dominate the space industry, it’s straight white males. But hopefully that is changing. Many organizations and individuals are…

Society

Religion and Space Colonization

Editor April 5, 2019 atheism ethics Mars Mars colonization morality philosophy Religion religious systems science fiction space colonization

Religion and science are typically thought of as being like oil and water: they don’t mix well. But some individuals consider the intersection of the…

Machine Society

Featured Project: Alabama Rocket Engineering Systems

Editor March 8, 2019 Alabama Rocket Engineering Systems Avionics fundraising kickstarter rocketry space engineering space science STEM education STEM fields STEM outreach

The student-led Alabama Rocket Engineering Systems (ARES) plans to shoot rockets off the surface of the Earth. Besides giving university students valuable opportunities to learn…

Society

Racial Identity and Physics

Editor January 11, 2019 discrimination homophobia marginalization oppression physics racial identity racism sexism STEM disciplines transphobia

What is the relationship between racial identity and a scientific field like physics? At first glance, they seem disconnected: one is a phenomenon of human…