Free Republic

As the 21st century unfolds, radically different forms of air and space vehicles will replace the clunky machines of today, whisking passengers at ultra-high speed around the Earth and outward into space. Laboratories scattered around the world are delving into novel and exotic forms of propulsion. Breakthrough physics could well make possible ambitious human treks across interstellar distances. Work is underway to harness antimatter as a way to shave travel time to the Moon down to minutes, or between Earth and Mars to a day. Meanwhile, laser and microwave technology is rapidly advancing the idea of beaming people and payloads...

AS MARK THOMPSON of Time magzine writes, "Every war has it's wonder weapon. And in an upcoming war aginst Iraq, we are told to "get ready to meet the high-power microwave." The way Thompson describes it, the "HPM" sound almost too good to be true: They "fry the sophisticated computers and electronic gear necessary to produce, protect store and deliver [chemical and biological] agents. The powerful elctromagnetic pulses can travel into deeply buried bunkers through ventilation shafts, plumbing and antennas. But unlike conventional explosives, they won't spew deadly agents into the air, where they could poison Iraqi civilians or advancing...