Elon Musk's SpaceX megaconstellation plans, space data centers, melatonin use and global pesticide risks

In this episode, New Scientist examines Elon Musk's announcement about merging SpaceX with XAI to launch a vast satellite constellation, potentially aiming for a Kadashiev type 2 civilization, and the practicalities and implications of placing data centers in space. The show also covers concerning trends in melatonin use among children and the rising toxic burden of pesticides since Rachel Carson, exploring regulatory responses and potential alternatives. The discussion touches on astronomy, Starlink’s impact on observations, and Musk's broader Mars goals.

Introduction and the SpaceX megaconstellation concept

The discussion opens with Elon Musk’s suggestion to merge SpaceX with XAI and to deploy up to a million satellites, a figure treated as a provocative, perhaps aspirational target. The guests explain the Kardashev scale and how a Type II civilization would harness the power of its star, noting Musk’s remarks as ambitious, if not fully practical. SpaceX already operates 9,500 satellites with Starlink, which would become dwarfed by a future cloud of satellites, potentially powered by SpaceX to feed AI and data needs.

Technical rationale: orbital data centers and Starlink as a stepping stone

Jonny O’Callaghan points out that SpaceX’s Starlink is a mass market space internet, with tens of thousands of satellites planned. Beyond communications, several companies are exploring orbital data centers to power AI workloads. In a demonstration last year, Star Cloud One launched an Nvidia chip to orbit to show that training language models in space could be feasible, leveraging abundant solar energy and avoiding Earth’s heat and water constraints. The panel discusses radiators in space and the challenges of heat rejection in a vacuum, suggesting that large radiators or alternative cooling methods would be central to any orbital data center design.

Kardashev II practicality and Musk’s strategic motives

Panelists acknowledge that taking Starship to the scale of a million satellites would require thousands of launches and a robust, reliable vehicle. They also discuss Musk’s potential motivations, including Starlink revenue, a cash flow to fund lunar and Martian ambitions, and the broader strategic edge over AI competitors. The notion of a “land grab” for space in the FCC filing is discussed, along with how SpaceX could position itself as a dominant AI player with superior power and cooling access in space.

Astronomy and space infrastructure implications

The talk shifts to astronomy. Starlink and other satellites affect observing conditions, with studies suggesting that 5, half a million satellites would contaminate nearly all astronomical images. While telescopes in space could mitigate some issues, the sheer number of satellites would still pose significant data challenges. The panel notes astronomers already face Starlink interference and that solutions will require algorithms, higher-orbit telescopes, and possibly new observational strategies.

Musk, Mars and the future of spaceflight economics

Beyond satellites, the conversation covers Musk’s ongoing Mars ambition. If Starship proves capable and launch rates improve, it could accelerate transport to Mars and help SpaceX become financially self-sustaining to fund Moon and Mars programs. The speakers discuss how a successful cadence could reshape space policy and commercialization of space infrastructure, including potential implications for the geopolitics of space power.

Melatonin use in children and regulatory responses

The show then shifts to a separate report on melatonin use in children. In the US and Australia, many parents have given melatonin to help children sleep. Regulators warn that melatonin gummies are unregulated with high and inconsistent dosing, and hotlines report rising overdose calls. The group discusses the lack of long-term safety data for high-dose, regular melatonin use in kids, noting a potential link to delayed puberty in one small study and the regulatory actions of Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration as they crack down on imports and advise border controls to seize non-prescription products.

Pesticides, Carson and the challenge of measurement

The final segment revisits pesticides, 60 years after Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Michael LePage explains the UN goal to halve pesticide risks by 2030, but points out the lack of a robust, universal measure of risk. German researcher Rolf Schultz proposes the Total Applied Toxicity measure, combining exposure data with regulatory toxicity assessments across hundreds of pesticides and countries. The results show troubling trends with increases in applied toxicity for fish and other groups, driven by population growth, more food production, and pesticide resistance. The discussion considers organic farming and integrated pest management as potential paths forward, but notes the economic realities for farmers and the need for supportive policies and subsidies to transition to safer practices.