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"I'm a fairly visual thinker. In doing science, I think in terms of pictures of things happening, and then do the mathematics."
- Gregory Benford
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| Ship Hull Thermobatteries | ||
| Solar activated and charged batteries built into the hull of a spacecraft. |
I thought this was a pretty clever "wake up call" for when you've been drifting in space between solar systems for a few thousand years.
| "Do you realize," he demanded savagely, "that if the crew of that ship is in suspended animation, and if their coffins or containers open only from the inside - do you realize that they expect to open them themselves?
"Yes, sir," said Freddy wearily. "Of course. Why not?" "Do you realize that cables from those containers lead to thermobatteries i the ship's outer plating? The monsters knew that they couldn't survive without power, but they knew that in any other solar system they could get it! So they made sure they'd pass close to our sun with what power they dared use, and went into suspended animation with a reserve of power to land on and thermobatteries that would waken them when it was time to set to work? |
| Technovelgy from The Ethical Equations,
by Murray Leinster. Published by Astounding Science Fiction in 1945 Additional resources -
|
Leinster didn't originate the idea of thermobatteries. In 1897, American inventor Harry Reagan was granted a patent for an application of solar heat to thermo batteries. His invention was a means of collecting, storing, and distributing solar heat as needed.
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'If you're one of those rarities who haven't attended a rocket-polo "carnage", let me tell you it's a colorful affair.'
'They filed clumsily into the battleroom, like children in a swimming pool for the first time, clinging to the handholds along the side.'
'a walking balloon proceeded with long strides of its aluminum legs...'
'There was nowhere on the planet where science and technology could not provide one with a comfortable home...'
'Most men updated their PIP on New Year's Day...'
'...a misshapen, many-tentacled thing about twice the size of a man.'
