Burning Garbage

The ability to recycle all garbage and waste is crucial for any society with plans to settle space. One such method is shown at Treehugger. An image for this process is shown below:













Another article in Technology Review has another method, one that seems suited for the settlement of space.

Wireless Power

Wi Fi has been a promising technology, allowing people to surf the net wirelessly at broadband speeds. People set up Wi Fi networks in their homes and connect computers (desktop, laptop, and handheld) and video game systems (The PS3, XBOX 360, Wii, PSP, and NDS all have Wi Fi capability built in) wirelessly to the Internet. It is now possible to build a JoeyPAD type of structure and device.

Let's take this one step further, as it will be possible to transmit power wirelessly. Marin Solijacic is featured in this Technology Review article:

In his wireless energy system, explains Soljac,, the base station would fill a space with a low-­frequency electromagnetic field in the range of a few megahertz. A gadget would be equipped with a receiver, like the power-­harvesting circuits used in RFID tags to collect ambient energy. Soljac's circuit would be designed to resonate at the same frequency as the radiation emitted by the power station. When the device came within a couple of meters of the station, circuitry would absorb the energy, charging the device's battery. The system could even power household electronics like televisions and toasters.

This technology gives new meaning to the phrase "always on". There is a company that is developing such a technology. The company, called eCoupled, has many resources, including videos, on their website.

Space Solar Power

Peak oil, global warming, pollution, and ecological destruction are many of the problems that face humanity in the future. The solution? Space Solar Power Satellites. Check out this video from the 2006 International Space Development Conference.

What (do you think) is Humanity's Greatest Challenge?

What (do you think) is Humanity's Greatest Challenge? (Commercial Space Watch)

The X PRIZE Foundation is sponsoring a new competion that anyone can join. Just film a 2 minute video describing what you believe to be "Humanity's Greatest Challenge" and upload it to the X PRIZE Contest page at Zannel.com. There the videos can be viewed and voted on by viewers. An X PRIZE commity will then pick a winner from the top rated videos. You may submit videos through May 13, 2007, but voting begins April 1, 2007.

The grand prize includes round trip airfare to the 2007 Wirefly X PRIZE Cup in October 2007. The winning submission will be announced on May 30, 2007. Also included: 3 nights accommodation and the winning video posted on the X PRIZE website.