Author: daudgill01

Air-burning plasma thruster may be competitive with jet engines. I usually approach papers on the subject of alternative thrusters with a certain degree of cynicism. But we’ve finally been given a study on microwave thrusters that doesn’t rely on impossible physics. Instead, it used a plain old plasma thruster. Plasma thrusters have generally been thought of as a means … Continue reading Microwave thruster makes for clean-burning jet Continue Reading →

Pandemic disrupts broadband progress as cities halt construction. Enlarge / A CenturyLink service van parked in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on May 2, 2019. CenturyLink’s slow broadband deployment, already a problem before the pandemic, has gotten even slower as the public health crisis causes cities and towns to halt construction. Since 2015, CenturyLink has received $505.7 million each year … Continue reading CenturyLink still hasn’t met 2019 FCC deadline, now faces pandemic roadblocks Continue Reading →

Consumer Gmail users are seeing a “Google Meet” section in the sidebar. Amid the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders greatly increasing the demand for video calls, Google is slowly trying to whip together a viable video call platform after ignoring the market for years. Last week, it added a free tier to its latest video … Continue reading Google Meet, Google’s Zoom competitor, gets wider Gmail integration Continue Reading →

Because the airline industry can monetize literally anything, apparently. Enlarge / A Frontier plane landing back in 2016, when sitting crammed next to other passengers was still deeply unpleasant but didn’t feel as potentially life-threatening. With schools and businesses closed, conferences and conventions canceled, and travel restrictions in effect, very few of us are flying anywhere at the … Continue reading Frontier will charge up to $89 for social distancing on flights Continue Reading →

There’s nothing wrong with cheap and cheerful—it starts at just $14,730. Late last year, we reviewed Nissan’s new Sentra. As small sedans go, it was attractive and affordable, if a bit uninspiring to drive. As it turns out, if you’re looking for an inexpensive new car, Nissan actually has a better option for you—one that’s even … Continue reading This is Nissan’s cheapest new car (and also one of its better ones) Continue Reading →

Regulatory “flexibility” was never meant to allow fraud, agency says. Enlarge / MAY 4, 2020: A health worker handles a blood sample on the first day of a free COVID-19 antibody testing event. After a gush of bogus coronavirus blood tests, the US Food and Drug Administration announced Monday that test makers must submit data within 10 days … Continue reading FDA: Makers of coronavirus antibody tests must now show tests actually work Continue Reading →

Data can be retrieved even after owners perform a factory reset, researcher says. Enlarge / Inside a Tesla. Tesla infotainment systems are a marvel to behold. Among other things, they display Netflix or YouTube videos, run Spotify, connect to Wi-Fi, and of course store phone numbers of contacts. But those benefits require storing heaps of personal information … Continue reading Hacker buys old Tesla parts on eBay, finds them full of user data Continue Reading →

The Raptor rocket engine burned for about 4 seconds. Enlarge / A view into the maw of SN4, showing a single Raptor engine mounted inside. For the first-time, a full-scale prototype of SpaceX’s Starship vehicle lit its engine on Tuesday evening. After ignition, it appeared that the Raptor rocket engine burned for about four seconds. At the … Continue reading SpaceX has fired Starship’s Raptor engine, and the vehicle still stands Continue Reading →

A mutation in the virus seems to be getting more common, but we don’t know why. Enlarge / YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA – MAY 06: An Indonesian health official wearing a protective suit prepares test kits during a mass rapid test for COVID-19 amid the coronavirus pandemic on May 6, 2020 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. When SARS-CoV-2 made the jump … Continue reading We don’t know yet whether a mutation has made SARS-CoV-2 more infectious Continue Reading →

NASA has already assessed the viability of the Falcon Heavy for the task. Enlarge / Artist’s concept of initial configuration of the Lunar Gateway. Last week NASA announced awards to three companies to develop Lunar Landers as part of the Artemis Program. But the space agency did not say much about its “other” major program near the Moon, a … Continue reading NASA planning to launch an integrated Lunar Gateway in 2023 Continue Reading →