Author: Jason Vaughn

Jason M. Vaughn earned a degree in Painting from KU, back in a majestic time called “the nineties.” In response to certain life events, he then drifted away from visual art—something he’d practiced since toddlerhood—and found himself addicted to books. Writing naturally followed. He’s published numerous poems and short stories, and his first feature-length screenplay,The Synth House Wife, won the 2012 Script Pipeline Competition. He is working now on a science-fiction book called Cerulean, which will hopefully CHANGE THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT…or at least be a good read.

Life on Mars?

Posted on Dec 18, 2014Jan 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

A tenfold spike in methane has been measured by the Curiosity rover on Mars, and organic molecules have also been discovered. Now the question is: Are these organics biological or non-biological? All that methane can only mean one thing, in my mind: Martian cows. But I could be wrong. What do you think?

Derby’s New Legs

Posted on Dec 17, 2014Jan 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

3D technology has helped a dog named Derby run for the first time.

Ready for a Magic Leap?

Posted on Dec 11, 2014Jan 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

The Magic Leap site says that Magic Leap is “an idea based in the belief that people should not have to choose between technology or safety, technology or privacy, the virtual world or the real world.” The above video gives a little more information, but there’s evidently not much else to know yet. Could this […]

Fracking 101

Posted on Dec 10, 2014Jan 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

The above video (cleanly and interestingly animated) explains the dirty, dangerous process of fracking and why natural gas should just be left in the ground. Edward James Olmos narrates with his usual quiet authority, and though he doesn’t say so, I’m sure he’d agree with me that we all need to tell the frackers of the world […]

NASA’s Deep-Space Capsule: Orion

Posted on Dec 5, 2014Jan 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

The Orion spacecraft may soon — depending on your definition of “soon” — take a crew of actual humans to Mars (no, not cardboard cut-outs of humans; not even chimpanzees dressed up as humans). But, for now, check out the take-off of its first test flight.

Sunshine States — Not!

Posted on Dec 4, 2014Jan 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

This just in: Solar-installation incentives have been eliminated in Florida. Florida. You know, The Sunshine State…. That’d be like Vermont (The Green Mountain State) saying, “Green mountains are stupid. Let’s not have those anymore.” And we shouldn’t be surprised. Big Oil has probably just seen the future, and they aren’t in it, so they’re of course putting up […]

We Are Wanderers

Posted on Dec 3, 2014Jan 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

Even if this short film by Erik Wernquist didn’t have great visuals, it would still be worth a watch because it’s got a Carl Sagan voice-over. And stopping to listen to Carl’s words and voice is never a waste of time — unless you’re in the middle of a high-speed car chase or trying to defuse a […]

Instead of Letting Our Waste Go to Waste…

Posted on Dec 2, 2014Jan 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

Humans create a lot of waste. We’re basically perpetual-waste machines. And when I say “waste,” I’m not just talking about bathroom stuff. Think of all the Cheetos you’ve dropped over the years that the cat didn’t eat. Now think of everything else. Well, what if a bus could be powered by all those food bits and…other bits. Wouldn’t […]

The Lima Summit

Posted on Dec 1, 2014Jan 24, 2015 by Jason Vaughn

Three cheers for Lima, host of this year’s United Nations Climate-Change Conference (COP20) and a city that’s already proving how possible it is — and how fruitful it will be — to build a renewable-energy world.