Astronaut Vitalie is a thought experiment. A thought experiment, as defined by Oxford Languages, is “an assignment carried out only in the imagination.”

When I asked my rocket-scientist father—now in his 90s—what speculative fiction book I should write next, he responded, “How are humans going to survive in space?”

I knew exactly what he meant. Between radiation, the absence of gravity, the lack of oxygen, and the sheer scarcity of everything that nurtures the human form, we remain astonishingly naïve about space survival.

With deep respect for the hardworking scientists tackling these challenges, I have turned to my science-fiction imagination to explore possible solutions—starting with surviving radiation through DNA modification.

I’ve also woven in the intriguing potential of non-verbal, long-distance communication. And, for a little spice, some alien interference.

Enjoy this imaginative romp through speculative possibilities. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll inspire an invention or two along the way.

Web Log #1