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Three billionaire entrepreneurs – Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Richard Branson – are each vying to usher in a new era of private commercial space travel.

Here is how their rival ventures compare in the race to open up space travel.

Tickets

Bezos, Branson, and Musk have been investing billions of dollars in their space startups, each promising to ferry paying customers on rides to space – and it will cost a pretty penny to be part of it.

Branson’s Virgin Galactic is reported to have more than 600 ticket reservations already, priced around $250,000 (roughly Rs. 1.8 crores). It expects to begin a full commercial service in 2022 and eventually hopes to slash the ticket price to around $40,000 (roughly Rs. 30 lakhs).

Reuters reported in 2018 that Bezos’ Blue Origin was planning to charge passengers at least $200,000 (roughly Rs. 1.4 crores) for the ride, based on an appraisal of Branson’s rival plans and other considerations, though its thinking may have changed. Blue has not divulged its long-term pricing plans.

An as-yet unidentified person secured one of the seats on Blue’s first suborbital mission, slated for July 20, with a $28 million auction bid.

Musk’s SpaceX has already taken a crew to the International Space Station, and the company has plans to send an all-civilian crew into orbit in September. Musk has also said SpaceX will fly Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa around the moon with its forthcoming Starship rocket in 2023.

Design

Virgin Galactic’s reusable SpaceShipTwo system will see its VSS Unity spaceplane lifted to altitude by a large carrier aircraft called VMS Eve before separating.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket-and-capsule combo shoots into suborbital space before separating. The rocket section returns to the launchpad, with the pressurised capsule falls back to earth under parachutes. It features six observation windows – the largest ever used in space.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule sits atop a reusable Falcon rocket which it uses to reach space.

Crew and passengers

Virgin Galactic’s spaceplane can hold six passengers: two crew and four passengers.

Blue Origin’s craft can take six passengers and flies autonomously.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule is capable of carrying up to seven people.

Itinerary

Virgin Galactic boasts a flight time of around 90 minutes from take-off to landing, including several minutes of weightlessness.

Blue Origin’s capsule suborbital flight is around 10 minutes after separation. Again, those on board experience a few minutes of weightlessness and see the curvature of the planet before returning to Earth.

The SpaceX missions are expected to last three to four days from launch to splashdown.

Funding

Typical of Branson’s ventures, Virgin Galactic is publicly funded. Its shares peaked at almost $60 (roughly Rs. 4,480) following FAA approval in June 2021.

Blue Origin is privately owned, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos previously indicating he would sell around $1 billion (roughly Rs. 7,470 crores) in Amazon stock annually to fund the venture.

SpaceX is also privately owned and has raised billions of dollars in successive funding rounds. Key investors include Alphabet and Fidelity. Musk says fees charged for SpaceX’s charter flights will go toward missions to the moon and eventually Mars.

© Thomson Reuters 2021

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New Soil Carbon Measurement Method Could Boost Trust in Carbon Credit Markets

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January 20, 2025

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New Soil Carbon Measurement Method Could Boost Trust in Carbon Credit Markets

Direct soil carbon measurement techniques are being explored as a method to improve accuracy in carbon credit markets, especially in agriculture. Measuring stored soil carbon rather than relying on predictive models can provide solid data on the effectiveness of climate-smart agricultural practices. It is believed that this method will enhance the reliability of carbon credits, offering greater confidence to buyers and better supporting global climate goals. Soil carbon measurement is also being recognised as a tool to boost soil health and agricultural sustainability.

Reliable Verification of Soil Carbon Changes

According to a study published in Environmental Research Letters, using direct soil carbon measurement methods alongside epidemiology-based study designs could address the challenges of verifying carbon storage. By sampling approximately 10 percent of fields across large areas, the research team demonstrated that carbon storage could be accurately measured over extended periods. These findings indicate that scaling up direct measurement techniques may offer a cost-effective alternative to predictive models in carbon credit markets.

Expert Insights on Soil Health and Climate Benefits

Mark Bradford, E.H. Harriman Professor of Soils and Ecosystem Ecology at Yale School of the Environment, noted in the study’s findings that direct measurements could extend beyond carbon markets. When talking to phys.org, he highlighted their potential for validating greenhouse gas accounting and supporting national emission reporting. This approach could also improve soil biodiversity, nutrient retention and resilience to extreme weather, leading to enhanced food security.

Technological Tools Supporting Farmers

To assist farmers, Eric Potash, research scientist at the Agroecosystem Sustainability Center, developed an open-source application enabling users to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of soil carbon projects. This tool helps calculate profitability based on variables like project size and sampling strategies.

As noted by the study’s authors, addressing measurement concerns is key to supporting policies and investments that protect soil health. By ensuring accurate and scalable carbon storage verification, this approach aims to strengthen confidence in the environmental and economic benefits of climate-smart agriculture.

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

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Massive Private Bathhouse Uncovered in Pompeii, Revealing Elite Roman Lifestyle



Xiaomi 15 Ultra Tipped to Feature Proprietary ‘Small Surge’ Chip With Unknown Purpose

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Early Human Ancestors Had Plant-Based Diets, Research Suggests

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January 20, 2025

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Early Human Ancestors Had Plant-Based Diets, Research Suggests

A significant revelation about the dietary habits of early human ancestors suggests a strong reliance on plant-based foods rather than meat consumption. Evidence from fossilised teeth of Australopithecus africanus has provided a clearer picture of their dietary preferences. These findings, based on the chemical composition of tooth enamel, indicate that this early bipedal species, existing over 3 million years ago, may have subsisted largely on vegetation and possibly other non-meat sources of energy.

Study Analyses Fossilised Teeth for Clues

According to a study published in Science, researchers analysed nitrogen-bearing organic material within the enamel of fossilised teeth from Australopithecus africanus. A total of 43 specimens from the Sterkfontein caves in South Africa, including seven individuals of the species, were examined. The nitrogen isotopic ratios present in the samples were compared to those of other extinct mammals from the same site and to modern African mammals. These comparisons revealed that the early humans’ diet was variable but lacked a significant proportion of mammalian meat.

Implications for Early Human Evolution

As explained by Dr Tina Lüdecke, geochemist at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, to Science News, the findings provide insights into the dietary behaviours of early ancestors. The absence of a meat-rich diet suggests that adaptations such as bipedalism, shorter snouts, and the ability to thrive in savanna ecosystems likely preceded the consumption of high-protein meat. These traits are believed to have played a role in early human survival and ecological success.

Possible Protein Sources Beyond Meat

Dr Lüdecke further noted that occasional consumption of meat or energy-rich termites by A. africanus cannot be ruled out. Termites, being a reliable food source, might have contributed to their diet without influencing the nitrogen isotopic markers significantly. Observations of modern apes fishing for termites reinforce this possibility.

This research lays the groundwork for future investigations into dietary transitions among later human species, potentially shedding more light on the role of diet in human evolution.

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Giant Horned Dinosaur Fossils Rediscovered in Egypt, WWII Lost Treasures



Realme P3 5G RAM and Storage Configurations, Colour Options Leaked Ahead of Launch in India

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Lost and Found: Giant Horned Dinosaur Fossils Rediscovered in Egypt!

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January 20, 2025

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Lost and Found: Giant Horned Dinosaur Fossils Rediscovered in Egypt!

Fossil evidence of a massive horned dinosaur has been rediscovered through previously unseen photographs of remains destroyed during World War II. The dinosaur, named Tameryraptor markgrafi, lived approximately 95 million years ago in what is now Egypt. Spanning an estimated length of 33 feet, the species is considered one of the largest known terrestrial predators. The fossils were initially unearthed in 1914 in Egypt’s Bahariya Oasis and housed in Germany before being lost in a wartime bombing.

Revelation Through Archived Images

According to the study published in PLOS One, the fossils had been mistakenly classified as belonging to the Carcharodontosaurus group. Newly discovered photographs, stored in the Huene Archive at the University of Tübingen, revealed features such as a prominent horn and an enlarged braincase, differentiating the specimen from others in the group. Maximilian Kellermann, a doctoral student at the Bavarian State Collection for Paleontology and Geology, noted the significant distinctions upon reviewing the photographs. Speaking to Live Science, he expressed initial confusion, followed by excitement as the differences became apparent.

Historical Context and Classification Changes

The fossils were originally categorised by German paleontologist Ernst Stromer, who associated them with specimens from Algeria. Over time, additional Carcharodontosaurus fossils were discovered, with a skull from Morocco becoming the representative specimen for the group. However, comparisons of Stromer’s documentation and illustrations with the archived photographs revealed substantial variances, prompting the classification of a new genus and species.

Implications for Dinosaur Diversity

Researchers believe this finding highlights a richer diversity of dinosaur life in North Africa than previously understood. Kellermann suggested further exploration of Stromer’s archives could provide new insights into other species from the region, such as Deltadromeus and Spinosaurus, which may also require reclassification. These findings underscore the importance of revisiting historical data to refine knowledge of prehistoric ecosystems.

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