NASA's Perseverance rover sends stunning images

I think that the double slit experiment shows that this isn't an issue... Since we are summing with all other noise in the universe, it doesn't matter exactly which photons came from my transmitter, if any at all, but the total count will still (probabilistically) reflect the the we're after...

Self-clocking signals are useful when the ambient noise level is low with respect to the signal, but if your signal is just "these two droplets in an ocean" you will not be able to filter out enough of the signal to detect the edges of the original signal.

Having a very reliable clock frequency means you can apply a very exact filter to lock on to the signal you want, thereby making the transmission less sensitive to interference from other radio signals. Just having a sensitive receiver isn't enough, because a sensitive receiver will also pick up more of the other radio signals.

If you use a self-clocking signal, then effectively the information you are sending consists of both the clock timings and the information you're really trying to send. If your channel capacity is very low, you will find there is no channel capacity for even the clocking information, let alone the information you really want to send.

I'll start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolipile

The winds and sand aren't mechanically very strong - the Martian atmosphere isn't dense enough to transmit much force even at high wind speeds. The only real dangers are obscuring the sun (important because Ingenuity runs on solar power) and getting dust in all kinds of places. But the landing site is pretty low latitude, and it's early in northern hemisphere spring right now, so power shouldn't be a problem.

Mars isn't quite as dead as the Moon, but still - you would be surprised how well things are preserved on dead rocks. As long as you can withstand the radiation and the cold, of course.

https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/

https://fas.org/sgp/othergov/doe/pu50yc.html

https://mjosefweber.medium.com/nasa-needs-plutonium-ea3bbaad...

It's hard enough getting rid of an old lead-cell battery.

Note: With alpha emitters, it's 'safe' if it's outside your body, your skin can absorb it. But once you eat or inhale it, you get the full blast right into the quickest dividing cells in your body.

I wish I could say that’s a good thing. But no, after the first of them, nuclear weapons seem to have justified their own existence, no matter the cost.

I would rather see remaining weapons material repurposed as deep-space power sources. If that were to solve problems.

Anyhow, Perseverance makes me happy.

Will it? The ocean is very, very big. Contaminated water from Fukushima is a literal drop in a bucket.

I would think the major use for them beyond space probes would be providing last resort backup power/heat for life support on outside earth orbit space habitats/crewed vehicles as the cost will still be at least $500/watt.

The reality is that the reason we do these things is to make ourselves feel better. Ah, yes, my daily shot of endorphins from recycling. Ah yes, my bumper sticker makes sure everyone knows I'm one of the good ones -- my social standing is safe.

This philosophy is why middle class first world kids pay thousands of dollars to go on missionary trips to build a single well in a far away village. Yes, you got dirty with the natives and did something.

I think it's all hollow. If you aren't making a real impact -- actually moving the needle -- you are doing nothing. It's just a vanity.

I believe in donating money to causes that have high impact. Given my skillset, I'm confident that's by far the best thing I can do. And aside from that, I don't sweat the small stuff. I have a keurig. Yep you heard right. Also donated enough to save a few lives from malaria. Exactly one of those facts about myself made any difference at all to the world.

> While numerous international press reports have made reference to allegations that the majority of exports to Ghana are dumped, research by the US International Trade Commission found little evidence of unprocessed e-waste being shipped to Africa from the United States,[9] a finding corroborated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Memorial University, Arizona State University, UNEP, and other research.[10] In 2013, the original source of the allegation blaming foreign dumping for the material found in Agbogbloshie recanted, or rather stated it had never made the claim that 80% of US e-waste is exported.[11]

People who get outraged about it don't understand that due to cheaper wages and energy costs, plus the need for raw feedstock in the manufacturing countries it's actually a really decent system. It's a closed loop where plastic goods are produced in Asia and recyclable plastic returns on the same ship, it gets processed and keeps raw material prices low for continued use in manufacturing for export again. It doesn't just get shipped there and thrown in a river.

The real problem, especially in South East Asia is very much cultural, many assumed that societies would become more environmentally friendly as they got richer but that is not the case, they are polluting more than ever. It's incredibly common to see people throw rubbish on the ground despite being right next to a bin. Nearly every waterway is horrendously polluted with plastic consumer products.

It's an externality that the rest of the world must bear. The other poster here is on the money, nearly all of it comes from a few catchments.

Half the plastic in the ocean comes from 5 countries, all are in Asia.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/09/asia-s-plastic-proble...