To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery

How do the authors use mythology to explain various scientific ideas? Use at least two specific examples to illuminate the connections between ancient mythological texts and contemporary science.

How does popular culture influence how the general public understands the concept of space and/or the possibilities for space exploration? Does the Hollywood version of science, with its sacrifice of accuracy for spectacle, undermine the advancement of space travel?

How does war engender the advancement of science? Use at least two specific examples to show the intersection between war and science.

How does the greenhouse effect work both to shield the Earth from outer space (unlike Mars) and cause potential damage to the Earth (like Venus) and its inhabitants?

What are the political and philosophical implications of the discovery of exoplanets?

What are the political and philosophical implications of terraforming (Mars being the most likely candidate? What are the political and philosophical implications of intergenerational space travel?

What constitutes a working definition of space, both in terms of its location and its composition? How do these definitions impact the progress of space exploration?

How might the spacetime continuum be described? What are worldlines, and how do they function within spacetime?