Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

Starcloud, a company building AI data centers in space, is developing humanity’s first interstellar probe through a nonprofit effort by its co-founders called “Fermi Explorer.” If all goes to plan, it will launch in 2029 and head for Alpha Centauri, the star system nearest our own — though it won’t arrive for roughly 80,000 years. The thread lit up with a wide range of reactions: disbelief at the almost incomprehensible travel time, half-joking doubts about whether humanity will even still exist by then, and genuine scientific questions about whether the expansion of the universe might affect the probe’s arrival.

Joe Hindy (CNET News) Translation/editing: Editorial staff, September 3, 2026, 6:44 AM

US-based Starcloud is a company that builds AI-focused data centers in space. Its co-founders — Philip Johnston, Adi Oltean, and Ezra Feilden — have launched a nonprofit mission called “Fermi Explorer.”

They’re developing humanity’s first interstellar probe, which, if all goes according to plan, will launch in 2029 and head toward Alpha Centauri, the star system closest to our own. However, it won’t arrive for roughly 80,000 years.

Source: japan.cnet.com / Original article here

*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Science News+) thread “US Company to Launch Probe Toward the Star “Alpha Centauri,” Possibly by 2029.”

The Railway Research Club at Kaisei School posted an apology on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, admitting that members violated manners during a trip aboard the Sunrise Seto/Izumo sleeper express. In response, the club says it will suspend travel and other activities. Thanks partly to the novelty of a prestigious school’s club being involved, the thread on 5ch’s News Express+ board took off — sparking criticism of the train fans’ misconduct itself, the perennial “photographers vs. riders, which type is more of a nuisance” debate, and, via Kaisei’s reputation as an elite prep school, a tangent into the age-old argument over whether success in middle-school entrance exams comes down to talent or effort.

Kaisei School Railway Research Club

@kstekken

[Apology] Regarding manner violations by our club aboard the Sunrise Seto/Izumo

Source: x.com / original post here

*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (News Express+) thread “[Tokyo] Kaisei School Railway Research Club Suspends Travel and Other Activities.”