Learning how to live underwater would teach us how to live in space, and will get us used to living underwater on planets/moon such as Europa. Since 3/4 of the planet is covered in water, maybe we can spread "West" into the ocean? It's prettier down there anyway and chicks dig dolphins. Running out of air down there would be less consequential than in a vacuum. Most likely we will be shooting for a planet outside our solar system only if it has water. High radiation levels etc would be easier to avoid underwater, and I think it would take a long time for oceans to evaporate should global warming become global boiling.

To what accuracy is the thrust nozzle lathed? In the rocketry movie October Sky http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0132477/ I recall that the nozzle/motor was the most important build. Which component required the most math/sweat/swearing?

I use this option most often if I have a PC or smartphone up and available. Evernote is the best for having a notepad that is always available from almost any internet device. Otherwise, a good old pen and notepad is fastest when trying to dictate, doing a discovery, or making a to-do list.

If the US wants to vault ahead of other countries making the next generation of computers we should be taking a damn hard look at graphene and get low cost manufacturing functioning for this, what I believe, is the most exciting prospect in computer technology. I think this is the closest we'll ever get to a superconductor with quantum properties using extremely low power and temperatures and it's really ingenious how the scientists have been inventing technologies to explore graphene. I applaud the strides that have been made by these researchers; in my book they deserve the multi-million dollar contracts. Not the sports stars and celebrities...

Prospects for new nuclear reactors. Currently, there is one nuclear power unit under construction, TVA's 1,150 MW Watts Bar 2, which is scheduled to be in operation in 2012. Initial construction of Watts Bar 2, which began in 1973, was suspended in 1988 and resumed in 2007. TVA may also complete Unit 1 at its Bellefonte site, which would enter operation in the 2018-2019 time frame. TVA suspended construction of Bellefonte in 1988. During 2009, one application was submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the construction of two nuclear units at FPL's existing Turkey Point facility. This compares to applications for 16 units during 2008 and 8 units in 2007. The NRC also granted an Early Site Permit to Southern Company's/Georgia Power's Vogtle nuclear power units 3 and 4 (August, 2009) and preliminary site preparation has begun.20

Doesn't Israel also do an interview with all potential passengers as well? I've read that a personal interview is the single-most effective tool Israel uses to prevent terrorists from flying.

Robots could be supple loving comfy cozy affectionate machines. But when the kids start prefering to play with them than me, then we have a problem.

...our Canadian Government Scientist Muzzling Overlords! Thanks to them I can happily enjoy my media-induced pleasure place in peace. Excuse me now while I clean the blood from my orifices.

With advancements in medicine and the declination of our environment, I for one, am looking forward to ending my artificially enhanced 212 year old life in the blaze of a fiery meteoroid blast!

I wonder if the burst was close enough to LIGO for it to pick up a Gravity Wave? That's the theory anyway that gravity waves should be measurable in association with GRBs... But waves in the ocean travel much slower than the wind that creates them, so maybe there's a lag between the event and the actual measured wave.

Skaters would have a good time using moving sidewalks! Probably hit like 50mph coming off those things.

No one else has mentioned this cut, but I'm not overly suprised. Tri-Tip is huge (wildly popular)in California. In my limited travels, I haven't seen it much. It is an excellent cut and marinades very well. I enjoy it medium rare but rib-eyes are my favorite rare at the Tee-Off in Santa Barbara. Their RibEyes are ginormous! I digress. The only particular "style" Tri-tip I've found is the Santa Maria style with lots of seasoning. However, most like to put tri-tip on french rolls with lots of salsa or bbq sauce. I like it best on camping trips cooked over coals with no marinade, wheat tortillas, and lots of fresh tomato salsa and avocado.