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"If we're going to be consistent and advocate freedom of speech we have to advocate freedom of encrypted speech too. The genie is out of the bottle, cryptologically."
- Neal Stephenson
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| Atmosphere Tester | ||
| A device used to test the composition of a sample of the atmosphere on another planet, to see if it is breathable by humans. |
When Al and Joe arrive on a planet in an unknown universe, they would like to take off their uncomfortable space suits. But will the atmosphere sustain human life?
| "How about removing our space suits? I always feel uncomfortable in them," Al continued.
"Just a moment while I test this atmosphere to see if it's livable." Joe extracted from the pocket of his suit a clever little device. The turn of a valve, the pressure of a button, and an electric coil heated a sample of the atmosphere. A glance through the tiny spectroscope attachment, and its constitution was revealed. "Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide - the same gases that make up our air And just about in the same proportions. Alright Al, we can breathe this atmosphere. Off go the suits!" |
| From The Emperor of the Stars,
by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat). Published by Wonder Stories in 1931 Additional resources -
|
Very practical device; this is an early reference to the idea, as far as I know.
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'... it will be easy to form an alphabet which shall enable us to converse with the inhabitants of the moon.'
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