deviledeggs

I never knew that about exhaust velocity. So as propellant mass efficiency goes up linearly, power use goes up exponentially? does that make fast interstellar travel impossible?

Japan gets more flak because it's physical and historical isolation plus high cultural homogeneity have resulted in unique societal quirks.

Going to western Europe feels like the US. Going to Japan from the west still feels like traveling the world once did. Its unique culture is appreciated worldwide, even from closest neighbors.

They had smartphones almost a decade before we did. They had high speed rail before anyone else . Manga and anime are now worldwide, but they were born in Japan. Kawaii has spread to south Korea and to some extent the west, but it was born in Japan. Hanko instead of signatures is unique. Bowing. Onsen. Sumo. Vending machines. Much of the food... There's countless examples.

We're should be celebrating human uniqueness, Japan is a special place