I think Phil Klein has it right on how Trump will end his candidacy.
Life Extension
A 25% increase in healthy lifespan in mice, by genetic surgery. It’s unclear, though, if this can be done to existing phenotypes.
[Update a while later]
Here’s a more interesting take from Ed Yong.
[Update a few minutes later]
OK, they do actually seem to be clearing senescent cells from normal mice. This is pretty exciting stuff.
Luxembourg In Spaaaaaace
Rick Tumlinson told me about this in the hall yesterday, but the official press release is out.
[Afternoon update]
Doug Messier discusses the significance of this. It’s not just about investment.
Space Resource Distribution
This article at The Space Review seems profoundly ignorant of economics and history, including the history of the Moon Treaty, because that basically seems to be what he’s proposing.
If Flint Had A Private Water System
…its water quality would be fine.
Government is just a word for things we do together, like charging city residents for toxic water that will cause permanent brain damage to their kids.
[Update a few minutes later]
Flint residents can’t sue the government. Unlike if the water company had been private like (say) General Motors. Isn’t that convenient?
Why Settle Space?
Dale Skran critiques a strawmannish article from a few days ago, so I don’t have to.
Violating The Norms And Ethos Of Science
A roundup of links and discussion of the latest in scientific “transparency.”
In my opinion, science that has any policy implications (I’m looking at you, climate and nutrition) has gone completely off the rails.
Off To DC
I got up at 3 AM to catch a 5 AM flight from LAX to DCA via ORD. Heading there for the FAA-AST Space Transportation Conference tomorrow. Earliest flight I’ve ever taken from there, I think. I had TSA pre-check, but the line wasn’t open yet, so I had to do the whole drill. The American terminal is pretty dead at 4 AM. Anyway, I’m in a flying chair somewhere over the plains with Internet. It almost feels like the 21st century.
Warning to denizens of the Beltway: I am on my way. Hide the women and liquor.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) January 31, 2016
“Literally”
They are figuratively all Joe Biden now.
Shale 2.0
Yeah, I fully expect to see oil go below $20, expecially after the shakeout and bankruptcies that allow pumping at lower prices. And it will be good for everyone except oil companies and oil kleptocracies. Other than California, look for gas below two bucks indefinitely.
[Update a few minuts later]
OK, well, this isn’t as encouraging:
During the 2007 crisis, central banks the world over made a coordinated effort that pumped large amounts of liquidity into the system, easing the pressure. However, since 2009, these same central banks have followed an easy monetary policy, inflating balance sheets to scary levels, as shown in the chart above. They will find it difficult to handle any future crises caused by low oil prices. They are now out of ammunition.
The current oil crisis will see regime changes in strategic places, and a currency crisis is in the offing. The world is staring at deflation. And while the 2007 crisis started in the US and then spread around the world, today’s crisis is affecting all major nations simultaneously. All are struggling due to low oil prices—some directly because of lower revenues, and others because of deflationary pressure.
The next crisis will be larger and longer and it will hurt a lot more than the last one. The windfall at the gas pump is a dark harbinger.
At least we’ll be able to afford to fill the tank, if we have jobs.