Market Theocracy

This RAND report by Stephen H. Dole is now available [as a free PDF download](http://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R414/). Fascinating as spec science and a real treasure trove for SF writers who want to build their worlds in as realistic a fashion as possible.

An attempt to make an estimate of the probabilities of finding planets habitable to man, where they might be found, and the number there may be in our own galaxy. The characteristics of a planet that can provide an acceptable environment for man are presented in detail. The stars nearest the earth, most likely to possess habitable planets, are itemized. The author also discusses special and unusual planets that may be discovered, how new environments might affect people who migrate to them, how to search for habitable planets. He also gives an appraisal of the earth as a planet and describes how its habitability would be changed if some of its basic properties were altered. 171 pp. Bibliog.

Excellent stuff.

Props to: John Joseph Adams @ [The Slush God Speaketh](http://www.tuginternet.com/jja/journal/)

[*The blueprint for a tiny, ultra-robust mechanical computer has been outlined by US researchers.

The energy-efficient nano computer is inspired by ideas about computing first put forward nearly 200 years ago.

Writing in the New Journal of Physics, the scientists say the machine would be built from nanometre-sized components, just billionths of a metre across.*](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6912023.stm)

The most exciting thing about the above, to me, are three claimed features:

1) Immune to EMP.

2) Low power consumption.

3) A practical workaround to the heat barrier implicit in Moore’s Law.

The above qualities make the nano-babbage chips (microdifference engines? )an  ideal basis for the wearable/implantable devices that will make [hyperconnection](http://www.the-boondocks.org/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=622&start=0&) possible.

Yeah — I’m obsessed.

(Props to William Gillis @ [Human Iterations](http://williamgillis.blogspot.com/2007/07/nano-babbage-engines-are-like_30.html) )