NY to Sydney in two hours? Coming soon

Scramjets, which could make the world a lot smaller--but not necessarily safer--may get off the ground sooner than expected. The peak speed of the fastest jets is currently Mach 3, but engines that break Mach 6 are being tested--and new technologies develop faster than expected. But the breakthrough that could get you around the world in two hours could also be adapted for killer missiles.

Read the full story on Popsci.com: The Hypersonic Age is near.

[DryHeatDave]

BEFORE this technology enters commercials use - let us be clear about what the environmental impact will be.

1. Compare the amount of polution created, per person to fly a "regular" flight verus a scramjet.

2. What will this do to the number of people who take flights (everything else aside, I would be more likely to fly to Oz, if it only took 2 hours (I have done a 16 hour flight from San Francisco to Sydney).

- So, do we ban any technology that results in a increase in the total amount of polution created ? Do we require the new technology be cleaner ?

[dondarko]

no we just need to celebrate at our genius at making yet another thing to destroy this planet, us and every other living thing.