Hitchhiker

By Rob Coppinger Published 27 September 2016 comments Comments Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Entrepreneur Elon Musk has outlined his vision for establishing a human colony on Mars for people that can afford a $200,000 ticket price. Mr Musk, who founded private spaceflight company SpaceX, was speaking at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Tuesday. His colonisation plan uses a fully reusable transportation system that would take 100 people and 80 days to get to Mars and eventually as little as 30 days. This transportation system consists of a spaceship that is refuelled with methane and oxygen in Earth orbit and also on Mars after landing there. Mr Musk explained that to achieve the $200,000 price, the entire transportation system has to be reusable. He spoke of a colony of a million people to make … [Read more...] about Elon Musk outlines Mars colony vision

This article was featured in One Story to Read Today, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a single must-read from The Atlantic , Monday through Friday. Sign up for it here. For years, Kyra Sims, a New York City–based musician, never went on tour without her buddy Otto. She describes Otto as loud, funny, and reliable. Once, when a train strike left them stranded in Eastern Germany, they were forced to hitchhike at night—but Otto helped Sims keep her cool. “She was in the backseat with me, and I had one hand on her the whole time in case I needed to roll out of the car,” Sims told me. Otto, her beloved French horn, has been there for the grind and the glory of Sims’s career: countless practice sessions, the triumphs and rejections of auditions, concerts at Carnegie Hall, even a performance onstage with Lizzo at the Grammys. After years of playing the instrument, Sims bought a case with OTTO embroidered on the front. This label—originally a reference to a different … [Read more...] about Naming Objects Is the Opposite of Thoughtless Consumption

Police are continuing to appeal for sightings of a New Plymouth man who was last seen a month ago. Steven Walton was reported missing from his Frankleigh Park home on April 13, and last seen in the Midhirst area the following day around 3pm. The 53-year-old is described as a solid build, with a bald head. However, he was likely wearing a brown/beige coloured cap at the time. READ MORE: Taranaki campground homicide: police name victim Arson-hit house demolished as highway safety work continues Alleged dog killer granted interim name suppression in New Plymouth District Court In a statement, police said it was possible that Walton was hitchhiking around the rural roads when he was last seen. “Both police and his family are concerned for his welfare and would like to see him return home,” the statement said. Anyone who has any information of Walton’s whereabouts, or who saw him in the Midhirst area, or on the rural roads, is asked to contact police on 105 and quote … [Read more...] about New Plymouth man still missing after a month

Connie Flores finds 'bed bugs' on Princess cruise line mattress Sign up for FREE health tips to live a long and happy life SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Bites alone may not raise suspicion to a bed bug infestation - instead, you need to be aware of various clues that highlight their existence. What are they? According to pest control company Rentokil, there are four signs of bed bugs in your home. Stains The first thing you need to look out for is "dark or black stains" that may be on the mattress or surrounding area from bed bug excreta. The blood spots will "usually appear in a linear, row-like arrangement". Trending READ MORE How do you know if you’ve been bitten by a flea? Smell … [Read more...] about Bed bugs: The Cimex lectularius parasite may be hiding in your house

With their flamboyant blooms, heady perfumes and exotic shapes, the lure of foreign plants is often irresistible to gardeners. But wildlife experts are urging people to ‘buy British’ to prevent accidentally importing invasive species, which have already left red squirrels, juniper trees and earthworms fighting for survival. A host of troublesome interlopers have hitched a ride into the UK in plants in recent decades, including voracious red lily beetles , aggressive harlequin ladybirds , and oak processionary moths , which devastate trees and can cause breathing problems. Sales of plants from the continent are also thought to be behind the rise in Spanish slugs – known as ‘super slugs’ – which destroy garden plants, crops and wildflowers, and are resistant to poisons. A number of worrying species are also currently moving closer to Britain from continental Europe, including emerald ash borer beetles , twoleaf water milfoil plants and Asian hornets . Craig … [Read more...] about Buy British plants to prevent another red squirrel disaster, warns Wildlife Trust

Since I agreed to do Hitchhiker part six a lot of people have approached me to say how brave I am. I knew I was being cheeky saying yes to this project. Optimistic, even. But brave? Hardly brave. Brave is diving into a swollen river to rescue a photogenic child. Brave is admitting that yes, you did notice that woman who just sashayed past. But finishing someone else's sci-fi series, surely that shouldn't be classed as brave. It's not as if there's any actual danger, I thought at the time. I think a little differently now. I have known for decades that H2G2 is an extraordinary series. More than extraordinary. Brilliant. A lightning bolt across the worthy sci-fi landscape, jazzing up those tired old electrons, getting those sluggish matter transporters firing on all cylinders again. It was just what we needed in 1979, when sci fi was all about "chosen ones": Arthur Dent was everyman and therefore us and by extension me. Finally, I remember thinking, I get to go into space. I … [Read more...] about Author, author: Writing a sequel to H2G2 by Douglas Adams