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One Small Breath For Man
An anonymous reader writes "The New York Times reports on a new technique that may allow Oxygen to be wrung from the soil on the moon. This may pave the way for a moonbase, and allow permanent habitation on Earth's only natural satellite." From the article: "Lunar soil brought back to Earth is in short supply and highly prized, so Nasa researchers have been using matter with the same composition for its tests. The soil contains about 45 per cent oxygen by weight, but it is mostly 'trapped' in the form of silicon dioxide ... At the moment, all oxygen supplies would have to be brought from Earth, which is so expensive and energy-inefficient that it effectively rules out a permanent Moon base. "
Oxygen don't grow on trees.
Picture it. Fights between "our reserves are finishing soon" versus "it's going to last for long".
Campaigns on the line of "Have children, they'll only take n cubic metres of soil per year".
New religions venerating resurrection via burial: "Oxygen you are and in oxygen you'll become".
Mr President Of The Moon declaring "We as a nation have an addiction to oxygen".
The article title made me think /. had finally opened its' much-awaited Corsetry section...
The role of the writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say. -Anais Nin
Fact: Silicon dioxide is also known as silica.
:)
Fact: Inhaling crystalline silica dust can lead to silicosis or cancer.
I thought they were amusing facts. +1 Important please Mods.
This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.
2 days ago...
2 7/1639243
Science Ability Down in U.S. High Schools
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/
How true.
People, people, you got it all wrong.
The reaction is: Earth+Fire=Air.
Don't they teach proper alchemy anymore?
Be wary of any facts that confirm your opinion.
we can test that.
My script don't crash! She crashes, you crashed her!