GoKawiil
Tech News
A new analysis argues that long-standing estimates of Australia's Indigenous population before European contact were far too low. Researchers say the actual pre-colonial population was likely much larger than previously assumed, based on updated modeling and evidence.
A new analysis suggests that future lunar settlements could tap abundant sunlight to generate massive amounts of solar electricity, potentially enough to support large populations. However, researchers warn that water, largely locked as ice in permanently shadowed lunar craters, may not be sufficient to sustain such large-scale habitation.
Kurt Polzin, chief engineer of NASA's space nuclear propulsion project, and Robert Schleicher of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems roughed out a nuclear rocket engine design on a napkin during a conference conversation last year. The concept remains at an early paper-planning stage, following a long tradition of major technical breakthroughs first appearing as napkin sketches, from Compaq's portable PC to Vishay's power resistor.
Researchers describe a newly analyzed stem-group insect fossil that shows features intermediate between aquatic arthropod ancestors and fully terrestrial hexapods, suggesting an amphibious lifestyle. The find, discussed alongside a broad review of arthropod and plant terrestrialization timelines, helps fill a gap in understanding how early insects transitioned from water to land.