139540238
submission
Max_W writes:
The near-Earth asteroid Ryugu measures approximately 900 (2950 feet) meters in diameter and is a dark object of a rare spectral type. For comparison, the Chelyabinsk meteor of 2013 was 20 meters (65 feet) in diameter. Ryugu was discovered only in 1999.
The samples were collected on the asteroid and delivered to the Earth by the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2. In my opinion, it is a good idea to start studying such asteroids.
However, I doubt that it was a good idea to produce an explosion on the asteroid's surface. Could not this move its orbit in a dangerous direction? Everything has been fine for the last few million years. Do we really have to rock the boat, knowing that a collision with such an asteroid could have very serious consequences not only for humanity, but for the life itself.
84586899
submission
Max_W writes:
Every year we hear about people dying in plane crashes. This does not have to continue as there is a new revolutionary pod plane design. A passenger pod is not heavy because it does not contain fuel, engines, avionics, etc., so in case of an accident it can be ejected and land on parachutes. The obstacle to this new invention is that the whole obsolete airport and airline infrastructure must be rebuild. So what? Shall we continue to get killed because it is easier to produce aircraft with a design from 1950s?
83710435
submission
Max_W writes:
After days of massive search finally, -"Report: Signals detected from EgyptAir Flight 804 in Mediterranean" http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05...
Why not to record GPS/GLONASS track constantly into a text file on say twenty flash USB drives enclosed into orange styrofoam with an serial aircraft number on it? In case of an accident, these waterproof USB flash drives are released outside overboard. Certainly the text file is encrypted.
Such a floating USB flash drive would cost maximum a hundred USD even if equipped with a tiny LED lamp; while an aircraft costs millions, and a search may costs billions let alone thousands of tons of burned fossil fuel.
48620451
submission
Max_W writes:
Here is the text of the Article #12 http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a12 :
"No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks."
The United Nations insists on the compliance. U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said yesterday http://news.yahoo.com/snowden-case-shows-leakers-protection-u-n-rights-192207562.html : "While concerns about national security and criminal activity may justify the exceptional and narrowly-tailored use of surveillance programs, surveillance without adequate safeguards to protect the right to privacy actually risks impacting negatively on the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms."
Is it realistic to expect the compliance with this article from the world's major players in the age of large storage disks, fast networks and computers? Or are we entering a new brave world, a new phase of human civilization, where quaint notions of privacy and traditional moral principles are becoming ridiculous?
Then what to do with the Article #12? Shall it be "intentionally left blank"? Shall it be updated to a new wording? What words could they be?
8911224
submission
Max_W writes:
Aleksey Dymovskiy, an officer of the Russian militia, whose videos on Youtube were seen by millions of Russian speaking viewers, is arrested on January 22, 2010. He is in prison in the south of Russia.
It seems only a president is allowed to have a video blog in Russia.
