The Science Behind the Fiction
Discover Our World
Cosmic Ray Drive
The Anaki vessels are powered by a device the Arctangent team dubs a "cosmic ray drive," which generates electrical energy by utilizing cosmic rays. Though the name itself sounds like something from science fiction, the term "cosmic ray" simply refers to high-energy particles that come from outer space, including protons and the nuclei of various elements. In Cosmic, their spaceships are able to collect and harness the energy of those particles, providing a constant supply of fuel anywhere in the universe.
Aliens on Earth?
In Cosmic, Dr. Ryan Noland conducted research on the regenerative capabilities of axolotls, but what exactly is an axolotl? Salamanders that are only found in Lake Xochimilco, Mexico, axolotls have the ability to regrow limbs, organ tissue, and even parts of their brain. Because they are neotenic, they don't lose their larval features as they mature, giving them their distinctively adorable looks.
We're how far from Earth?!
The distances in space are mind-bogglingly vast; so vast, it would take way too long to say if we used ordinary measures of distance such as meters or miles like we do on Earth. Instead, we use light-years, which is the distance light travels in a year. Light travels at an incredible speed of about 2.99 meters/second. This means, one light-year is equal to 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion kilometers). Eridu is located about 46,000 light-years from Earth.Â
46,000 x 5.88 trillion miles = two hundred seventy quadrillion four hundred trillion miles
or
46,000 x 9.46 trillion km = four hundred thirty-five quadrillion one hundred sixty trillion kilometers
Yikes!