Will solar sails take us to the stars?

FromStuff You Should Know

Start listening View podcast show

Will solar sails take us to the stars?

FromStuff You Should Know

ratings:

Length:

25 minutes

Released:

Dec 31, 2013

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

We have within our grasp here on Earth the technology that could make interstellar travel a reality within as little as a few decades and it doesn't require any exotic fuel. In fact, it only requires sunlight and an initial blast into orbit to begin a steadily increasing sail to the stars. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Released:

Dec 31, 2013

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Skip carousel

Are Dogs Really Man's Best Friend?: Check out the story of Hachiko, a loyal Akita who waited for over ten years for his master to return. Learn more about Hachiko and loyalty in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
5 min listen
How Swearing at Work Works: Swear words are usually considered workplace taboos -- yet the debate continues over whether these words are inappropriate, or examples of free speech. Learn more about using swear words at work in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
5 min listen
Does Gum Stay in your Stomach for Seven Years?: Does gum really stay in your stomach for Seven Years? Josh and Chuck take on the parental myth of gum swollowing. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
How Altruism Works: Is there such a thing as a truly unselfish act? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast and learn more about the nature of altruism. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
How Grassoline Works: Could switch grass become the car fuel of the future? Learn more about alternative fuel in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
5 min listen
How Contagious Yawning Works: Yawning is contagious, but why? Check out the leading theories on contagious yawning and empathy in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
How Antibacterial Soap Works: Could the routine use of antibacterial soap increase the presence of drug-resistant bacteria in your home? Learn more about the disadvantages of anti-bacterial soap in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
How Cannibalism Works: Cannibalism is one of humanity's near-universal taboos, but it has been practiced in widely varying circumstances throughout history. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn the difference between the three types of cannibalism. by Stuff You Should Know
19 min listen
How Lame Ducks Work: In U.S. politics, a lame duck is a president who will not be re-elected because he or she has been passed over for election, or already served the maximum two terms. Learn more about the origin of lame duck presidents in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
Are Nazi War Criminals Still At Large?: After the close of World War II, Nazi war criminals fled Europe and attempted to hide under assumed identities. Some may still be at large. Learn more about Nazi war criminals in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
5 min listen
How Trolley Problems Work: The trolley problem is an ethical dilemma that proposes a difficult decision about choosing whether a group of strangers lives or dies. Learn more about ethics and the nature of sacrifice in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
Can People Really Get Hysterical Strength?: During times of emergency, people have been known to preform feats of great strength. Learn more about going from the dull stare of the dairy cow to the eye of the tiger in seconds flat. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
Why Does Toothpaste Make Orange Juice Taste Bad?: Why does toothpaste make orange juice taste bad? Chuck recounts his first-hand experience, and how it works. by Stuff You Should Know
5 min listen
How Manufacturing Water Works: The United Nations has found that 22% of the world's population does not have access to clean drinking water. Could we fix the water shortage by manufacturing water? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about manufacturing water. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
Can I feel pregnant when my wife is?: Sympathy pregnancy is the condition where a man feels pregnant while his wife actually is. Learn more about the symptoms for sympathy pregnancy in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
How Murphy's Law Works: Murphy's law originates in 1949, and states 'anything that can go wrong, will.' Check out this HowStuffWorks to learn more about how the Air Force discovered Murphy's law. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
What's the most expensive toilet in the world?: The most expensive toilet in the world is made of solid gold and can be found in Hong Kong. Learn more about the world's most expensive toilet in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
5 min listen
How Ripperology Works: The unsolved murder spree of Jack the Ripper has captivated generations of amateur investigators, each with their own theory of the killer's identity. Learn more about one particularly thought-provoking suspect in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
Will robots get married?: Some researchers believe that weddings between a human and a robot could be possible by the year 2050. Take a look at our HowStuffWorks article to learn more about robot rights. by Stuff You Should Know
15 min listen
How Death-Proof Cars Work: Could high-end digital auto systems such as blind-spot detection and collision prevention overcome the errors of human drivers? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about the death-proof cars of the future. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
Will we soon be extinct?: Is Earth due for a mass extinction? Population ecologists think so. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more mass extinctions. by Stuff You Should Know
11 min listen
How Midnight Regulations Work: After the election in November, outgoing Presidents have an opportunity to pass last-minute (often unpopular and unpublicized) legislation as 'midnight regulations.' Learn more about midnight regulations in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
25 min listen
10 Terribly Bungled Crimes: Ten terribly bungled crimes throughout history are explored, such as drug deals gone wrong. Find out which ones are at the top of the list for Josh and Chuck in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
11 min listen
How The Eye of a Tornado Works: In recorded history, only two people have entered the eye of a tornado and returned to tell the tale. Learn more about the inside of tornadoes in this HowStuffWorks podcast. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
Can I Survive a Shark Attack by Gouging Out Its Eyes?: Although it can be intimidating, a shark is not invulnerable. Punching its nose, gouging its eyes, or grabbing its gills can stun the shark and give victims a chance to escape. Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn more about shark attacks. by Stuff You Should Know
6 min listen
How Graceland Works: Graceland attracts millions of visitors every year. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about Elvis and Graceland, which Elvis bought when he was only 22 years old. by Stuff You Should Know
16 min listen
Is quitting smoking contagious?: Everyone knows it's tough to quit smoking -- but did you know quitting can be contagious? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about smoking. by Stuff You Should Know
20 min listen
How Eco-anxiety Works: Eco-anxiety -- a chronic fear of environmental doom -- is a recent, specialized type of anxiety disorder gripping an estimated 40 million people in the United States. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about eco-anxiety. by Stuff You Should Know
14 min listen
Is there a worst way to die?: But there's no consensus among professionals about which method of death is the least desirable. A person's fears may factor into his own personal worst way to die. Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn more about the worst way to die. by Stuff You Should Know
15 min listen
What's the ultimatum game?: The ultimatum game is an economics experiment that provides insight into the human psyche. Check out our HowStuffWorks podcast to learn about the rules to the ultimatum game. by Stuff You Should Know
13 min listen

More Episodes from Stuff You Should Know

Skip carousel

10 - Yes, 10! - Dumb Criminals by Stuff You Should Know
46 min listen
Short Stuff: Titanic Survivors! by Stuff You Should Know
16 min listen
Misophonia: More Than an Annoyance by Stuff You Should Know
48 min listen
Selects: The Legends of Lost Nazi Gold by Stuff You Should Know
47 min listen
Atomic Clocks, Ahoy! by Stuff You Should Know
52 min listen
Short Stuff: Getting Winded by Stuff You Should Know
12 min listen
The Village People Episode by Stuff You Should Know
54 min listen
Selects: How the Beagle Brigade Works by Stuff You Should Know
49 min listen
The Awful Crimes of Georgia Tann by Stuff You Should Know
47 min listen
Short Stuff: The Sad, Strange Tale of Margaret Schilling by Stuff You Should Know
13 min listen
The Power of the Wind by Stuff You Should Know
52 min listen
Selects: Special Effects: A Short History by Stuff You Should Know
55 min listen
Hitchhiking: Two thumbs out! by Stuff You Should Know
51 min listen
Short Stuff: The Amazing Tale of Juliane Koepcke by Stuff You Should Know
13 min listen
The Dubious Science of Arson Investigation by Stuff You Should Know
47 min listen
Selects: How Famines Work by Stuff You Should Know
49 min listen
Testosterone and Estrogen: Wondrous Hormones by Stuff You Should Know
49 min listen
Short Stuff: Straitjackets by Stuff You Should Know
13 min listen
The 1977 Women's Conference That Changed America by Stuff You Should Know
50 min listen
Selects: All the Gold In Fort Knox: Meh by Stuff You Should Know
52 min listen
The Everglades: Wowee by Stuff You Should Know
54 min listen
Short Stuff: Knock on Wood by Stuff You Should Know
11 min listen
Greedflation Is Real by Stuff You Should Know
56 min listen
Selects: Who is The Man of the Hole? by Stuff You Should Know
38 min listen
The Pulitzer Prize: A major award! by Stuff You Should Know
49 min listen
Short Stuff: Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre by Stuff You Should Know
11 min listen
Love Canal: Even Dirtier Than It Sounds by Stuff You Should Know
47 min listen
Selects: MOVE: Or When the Philly Police Dropped a Bomb on a Residential Neighborhood by Stuff You Should Know
52 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

SETI Live - From Earth to Mars: The Incredible Story of the Ingenuity Helicopter: Recorded 15 February, 2024. With a first flight on April 19, 2021, NASA's Ingenuity helicopter broke ground on new capabilities for remote planetary missions. For nearly three years, the little drone far exceeded the originally planned technology... by The 365 Days of Astronomy
32 min listen
2588: Harnessing Space for Earth: A Conversation with Peter Platzer of Spire: In this pisode of the Tech Talks Daily Podcast, I had the privilege of engaging with Peter Platzer, the visionary CEO of Spire, a company at the forefront of utilizing space technology to address some of the most pressing challenges on Earth. As we... by The Tech Talks Daily Podcast
28 min listen
Podcast Ep. #38 – Momentus is Developing a Transfer Vehicle for Space: Alexander Wicks is the Chief Development Officer at the California-based startup Momentus Space. Momentus is developing the in-space equivalent of the connecting flight we all know from airline operations. by Aerospace Engineering Podcast
29 min listen
New Space Economy Ep. 3 | The Future of Rocket Launches by The Digital Transformation Journey
18 min listen
Introducing: The Latitude: A new podcast about the new frontiers of clean energy and climate technologies. by The Latitude
3 min listen
How big does a meteor have to be to reach the ground?: If you've spent much time looking up at the night sky, then you've probably seen some spectacular meteor showers. But how big do these things have to be make it through Earth's atmosphere and reach the ground? Tune in and find out. by BrainStuff
5 min listen
Beaming 24/7 solar… from space: A science-fiction author came up with the idea. But could it actually be closer to reality than we think? by Catalyst with Shayle Kann
49 min listen
Wind Tunnels: More Important Than You Realize by Stuff You Should Know
45 min listen
NASA throws a DART at an Asteroid and Green Hydrogen for Ammonia Energy by This Week in Engineering
5 min listen
Space Elevators: Learn more about an alternate way to get to orbit by Everything Everywhere Daily
15 min listen
Are there secret space programs?: For millennia humankind has dreamed of reaching the heavens, and in recent decades several countries have begun turning these dreams into reality. Yet the path to the stars isn't all altruism and noble scientific advancement -- in fact, human activities i by Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
58 min listen
Redwire (RDW) Goes Public: The Future Of Space Technology by Schwab Network
7 min listen
Ørsted Secures Long-Term Vessel Charter, Quinnbrook’s Solar Fund Closes, and CPPIB Consolidates Offshore Wind Holdings: Ørsted forms long-term charter with Cadeler for a new wind turbine installation vessel, Quinnbrook Infrastructure Partners successfully closes of its $600 million Quinnbrook Valley of Fire Fund, and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board consolidates its... by The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast
8 min listen
The LIUniverse: Weather Satellites with Andy Green: Can you turn your passion for science into a career that helps keep millions of people safe from severe weather and includes launching your own satellites into space? To find out. Dr. Charles Liu and co-host Allen Liu welcome Andy Green, the entrepre... by The LIUniverse with Dr. Charles Liu
31 min listen
Accelerating the use of space for life on Earth.: ESA and EU agree to accelerate the use of space. Thales Alenia Space approves a mock up of the Lunar I-Hab. The UK announces funding for startups. And more. by T-Minus Space Daily
30 min listen
1824: What Sci-Fi Gets Wrong About Space Travel: Daniel Bock, CEO & Co-Founder at Morpheus Space by The Tech Talks Daily Podcast
21 min listen
The company transforming CO2 into clean alcohols and fuel by Sustainability In The Air
30 min listen
Interview: Where Barbecue Meets Rocket Science: Some serious engineering is required to bring us to space -- and to bring us really good barbecue. We chat with Dr. Howard Conyers about how he applies his knowledge of each to the other as a rocket scientist and barbecue pitmaster. by Savor
37 min listen
The Digitalized Future of Space Travel: Welcome to Talking Aerospace Today – a podcast for the Aerospace & Defense industry. A place that brings the promise of tomorrow’s technology to the ears of our listeners today. What if someday…we could all travel into space? Not only would space travel be more accessible to the general public, but it would be more affordable. To make this a reality, companies today are exploring different ways of reducing flight costs. Digitalization is proving to be one of the best ways to achieve this because it allows for the design, testing, and flying of a spacecraft before anything gets built. Joining the podcast today is Tom Vice, Chief Executive Officer at Sierra Space. A company building the Dream Chaser, a spaceplane set to begin NASA resupply missions to the International Space Station in 2023. Sierra Space also developed the LIFE habitat, an inflatable, modular commercial space research by Talking Aerospace Today
42 min listen
Podcast Ep. #40 – Earth-observation Satellite Constellations with SatRevolution: In this episode I am speaking to Damian Jamroz and Grzegorz Marzec of the Polish NewSpace company SatRevolution. The company was founded in 2016 and specialises in real-time earth observation for civilian and military applications. by Aerospace Engineering Podcast
34 min listen
Quaise Energy Digs Deep - Into The World Of Geothermal by The Interchange: Recharged
52 min listen
Wings for India’s first Vyomanauts.: India selects its first four Vyomanauts. UNSEENLABS raises €85 million in a new funding round. The FAA closes its Starship mishap investigation. And more. by T-Minus Space Daily
32 min listen
Technician-Base growth, Giant Vestas Turbine, In-tower data centers: An article about the benefits of being a wind technician is bringing attention to the industry! After some advice for getting into the industry, we discuss Vestas getting the green light on their GIANT new offshore turbine - the V236-15MW. by The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast
49 min listen
Robot Farmers: How satellite technology and advances in robotics may revolutionise the future of farming. by Costing the Earth
28 min listen
Space has a trash problem -- and it’s getting worse (The Daily Charge, 11/16/2020): Dead satellites and other debris have created a Great Garbage Shell around Earth. by The Daily Charge
9 min listen
SpaceX lives by the sword.: SpaceX joins FAA in environmental lawsuit. Three companies to buy Virgin Orbit assets. Arctic Space and One Web approved for Ground Station. And more. by T-Minus Space Daily
29 min listen
Cities in the Sky: Is antigravity possible? From impractical flying machines to cities in the clouds, we take a look at science fiction technology that allows us to slip the bonds of Earth. Is any of it possible? by Fw:Thinking
51 min listen
Fervo Energy Co-Founder & CEO Tim Latimer: Emily talks with Tim about his mission to spark a geothermal renaissance. by Watt It Takes
61 min listen
Ep 2: Honda Announcement, VW DIY Assembly Tour, Rolls Royce, Largest Prototype Offshore Wind Turbine & Tesco: Fluoride-Ion batteries, Honda, are they telling FIBs? Honda’s announced it’s just completed development of a new type of high-density batteries that use a fluoride ion instead of a traditional lithium ion, resulting in almost 10 times more energy... by The Fully Charged Podcast
50 min listen
Jupiter, get ready for this JUICE.: JUICE is out here making news. Space systems are critical infrastructure. There's money on the table for satellite broadband. More ISAM in GEO. And more. by T-Minus Space Daily
25 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Will solar sails take us to the stars?

Will solar sails take us to the stars?

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Stuff You Should Know

Related podcast episodes