Comments on: Fine like powder, but sharp like glass

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 02:32:12 +0000

Hal Clement is the pseudonym of Harry Clarence Stubbs; he was also an Army Air Corps Reserve officer. He received a B.S. in astronomy from Harvard in 1943, an M.Ed. from Boston University in 1946 and an M.S. in chemistry from Simmons College in 1963.

He flew 35 combat missions as copilot and pilot in B-24 bombers in WWII and retired from service as a full colonel in 1976. He also taught high school science for many years.

Another of his more inventive ideas is the culture tank, from his excellent novel “Needle”. The idea is basically bacteria that produce biofuels from refuse or waste material.

By: Isegoria

Isegoria — Sun, 08 Jul 2018 12:51:57 +0000

I may have to pick up The Best of Hal Clement.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 15:06:06 +0000

Floating Lunar Dust was predicted in the 1950’s by Science Fiction writers.

“…The [Moon's] surface material is one of the lousiest imaginable electrical conductors, so the dust normally on the surface picks up and keeps a charge. And what, dear student, happens to particles carrying like electrical charges?”

“They are repelled from each other.”

From Dust Rag (1956) by Hal Clement.

By: Bob Sykes

Bob Sykes — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 11:51:31 +0000

As someone said, “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.”