The European Space Agency started with 27 proposals for its next M-class mission, due for launch in the mid-2030s. After reviewing the missions, they winnowed the list down to ten, then five, and now they're down to three. The choice is between M-Matisse, which would study Mars with spacecraft, the seven-spacecraft Plasma Observatory to study Earth's magnetosphere, and Theseus to look at gamma-ray bursts. One mission will be chosen by mid-2026
@fraser As a former co-investigator for two of the instruments on ESA's Cluster mission to the magnetosphere, I would rank M-Matisse and Theseus over the proposed magnetosphere mission.
It is completely ludicrous that anyone is still talking about hydrogen for home heating - it’s far less efficient, less safe, more expensive and less flexible than heat pumps. This report is the last nail in a coffin that is already more nail than coffin.
Heat pumps are frowned upon in poorly-insulated Brexitania as many English seem to prefer higher indoor temperatures in winter than they typically enjoy in summer. All so they can wander around the house dressed in no more than undies. A bit weird, but there you go.
Who needs a medic? All one requires are copies of Grey's Anatomy and the British National Formulary, a craft knife set, and some needle and thread. Sorted!
I'm at a loss to understand why Labour conference bothers with voting when policy making is reserved to the party leader, just as it is with the Conservatives.
Labour Party members are no more than letterbox stuffers.
It's not about 'activist' involvement. The Green Party gives every member a vote in policy, which is first debated at length within working groups made up of people with expertise in their respective areas. Pre-conference workshops with people who study policy statements make a recommendation to conference.
The Green Party will not be in government, at least for a while. But it is a political party, and not a pressure group.
"Voters aren’t talking about Brexit, says Lib Dem leader"
The Tweedledee of England's opposition doesn't want to talk about Brexit. Oh no. This follows Tweedledum's fantastic thinking about rewriting the EU withdrawal agreement.
Oh well, at least the Green Party will go into the election with a firm and honest statement on Europe. I should know, as I'm helping write it.
"We need a weight tax on vehicles, including one on electric vehicles, to encourage cars of all types to become lighter and less damaging to the environment, roads and pedestrians."