Japan and JAXA, the country’s space administration, have spent decades trying to make it possible to beam solar energy from space. In 2015, the nation made a breakthrough when JAXA scientists successfully beamed 1.8 kilowatts of power, enough energy to power an electric kettle, more than 50 meters to a wireless receiver. Now, Japan is poised to bring the technology one step closer to reality.Nikkei reports a Japanese public-private partnership will attempt to beam solar energy from space as early as 2025. The project, led by Naoki Shinohara, a Kyoto University professor who has been working on space-based solar energy since 2009, will attempt to deploy a series of small satellites in orbit. Those will then try to beam the solar energy the arrays collect to ground-based receiving stations hundreds of miles away.Using orbital solar panels and microwaves to send energy to Earth was first proposed in 1968. Since then, a few countries, including China and the US, have spent time and money pursuing the idea. The technology is appealing because orbital solar arrays represent a potentially unlimited renewable energy supply. In space, solar panels can collect energy no matter the time of day, and by using microwaves to beam the power they produce, clouds aren’t a concern either. However, even if Japan successfully deploys a set of orbital solar arrays, the tech would still be closer to science fiction than fact. That’s because producing an array that can generate 1 gigawatt of... Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2023-05-28 21:43:38 UTC ]
This year's World Science Fiction Convention, held in Scotland's largest city August 8–12, hoped to put a year and change of controversy in the rearview mirror. To publishers’ minds, those hopes were met. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This year's World Science Fiction Convention, held in Scotland's largest city August 8–12, hoped to put a year and change of controversy in the rearview mirror. To publishers’ minds, those hopes were met. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The winners of the 2024 Hugo Awards—one of science fiction and fantasy’s most prestigious awards, decided by the popular vote of WorldCon members—were presented this weekend at the 82nd WorldCon in Glasgow, Scotland. A hearty congratulations to all of the winners as well as all of the finalists... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-08-12 14:32:13 UTC ]
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New releases in fiction, nonfiction and comics that caught our attention. Hum by Helen Phillips Robots have become a regular fixture of the workforce, and humans are losing their jobs to AI. Climate change is wreaking havoc on the planet. It’s getting harder and harder for the average person to... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-08-10 19:43:55 UTC ]
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Add four excellent new science fiction and fantasy titles to your TBR this week. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-08-09 15:15:00 UTC ]
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Good morning, Boston. Happy National Root Beer Float Day. Here are the five things you need to know in local business news to start your Tuesday, before you go get that Black Cow. The biggest business news of the day — unless you include the continuing Wall Street meltdown — is the finding by... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal
[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2024-08-06 10:16:18 UTC ]
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A business out of science fiction — a robotics repair workshop — is now in Houston, aiming to provide automated workers to local businesses. Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal
[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2024-08-02 19:28:12 UTC ]
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Travel into this week's new science fiction and fantasy books, as well as two compelling portal fantasy reads. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-08-02 15:00:00 UTC ]
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In “The Future Was Now,” former Entertainment Weekly film critic Chris Nashawaty explores the significance of the summer of 1982, which featured the release of eight groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy films Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2024-08-01 22:54:26 UTC ]
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This week's new science fiction and fantasy reads include two that explore fantastical worlds about literature. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-07-19 16:00:00 UTC ]
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Dive into this double dose of new science fiction and fantasy releases out this week. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-07-12 16:15:00 UTC ]
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By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) Science fiction has reinvented the Robinsonade – a narrative based on the scenario described in Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe – on numerous occasions and in a variety of ways. We’ve had individuals stranded on a whole planet rather than a mere... Continue reading at Interesting Literature
[ Interesting Literature | 2024-07-10 14:00:26 UTC ]
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An epic fantasy inspired by Nigerian mythology, a found family wuxia fantasy, a historical fantasy set in the 1920s, and more of today's best science fiction and fantasy deals. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-07-01 14:30:00 UTC ]
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Science fiction and technological innovation feed off each other in an ongoing back-and-forth that can play out over decades. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-06-28 12:18:28 UTC ]
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What are your favorite science fiction novels that have yet to see a film adaptation? Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-06-27 10:30:00 UTC ]
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Get to know the Nebula Awards for science fiction and fantasy writing, with outstanding, must-read examples to pick up right now. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-06-21 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Photo by Arturo Villarrubia Science fiction writer Ted Chiang has won the 2024 PEN/Bernard and Ann Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story. The award is given each year to a writer who has “demonstrated exceptional achievement in the short story form.” Ted Chiang has published two... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-06-12 14:52:48 UTC ]
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In which Robin Sloan writes Moonbound—a science fiction book about science fiction—and our writer writes his way into total insanity. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2024-06-11 11:00:00 UTC ]
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An elaborate water trap, three generations of empathetic witches, a space thriller, and more of today's best science fiction and fantasy book deals. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-06-10 13:30:00 UTC ]
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The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of American (SFWA) has announced the winners of the 2023 Nebula Awards, one of SFF’s most prestigious honors, “given to the writers of the most outstanding speculative fiction works released in 2023.” Here are the winners: NOVEL Vajra Chandrasekera, The... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-06-10 12:14:36 UTC ]
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