NASA’s upcoming Parker Solar Probe might as well be walkin’ on the sun

The Parker Solar Probe is scheduled for launch this summer aboard a Delta-IV Heavy rocket, and its mission is to study a star closer than ever before. What’s more, NASA has invited the public along for the ride.

Named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker, discoverer of what we now call the solar wind, the probe will actually touch the surface of the sun on a daring mission where temperatures will climb as high as 1400 degrees Celsius (about 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit).

As detailed at Skymania, the probe will enter an elliptical orbit, coming closer and closer to the sun each time. After seven years, it will finally reduce its orbit enough that it can fly past the giant star without getting sucked into its gravitational pull.

About the size of a small car, the probe will fly into the corona, the uppermost part of the sun’s atmosphere, less than four million miles from the surface. That’s far inside the orbit of Mercury and as close as any manmade object has ever gotten to the star in the center of our solar system. For comparison, Mercury’s orbit is about 29 million miles from the sun.

Protecting the spacecraft is a 4.5-inch thick shield of composite carbon, which will keep the payload at room temperature.

The spacecraft will be really moving too, due to the gravitational pull of the sun. At its closest approach, Parker will be travelling at approximately 430,000 mph, or fast enough to circle the Earth in 3.3 seconds.

The probe will gather data that will help scientists unravel the mysteries of the sun, such as why the corona is so much hotter than the surface, and how solar winds are created. It may also give us some insight into dangerous massive solar flares, which could cause massive communication failures here on Earth and cause up to two trillion dollars in damages.

NASA will also include a memory card on the voyage containing the names of anyone who wants to add their name to the list. William Shatner, an avid fan of NASA, had his name added to the virtual passenger list for the InSight Lander, and he’s narrated a video inviting you to sign up for the ultimate “Hot Ticket.” If you’d like to send your name to the sun, you can sign up here before April 27.

Editors’ Recommendations

• NASA is planning an interstellar mission to Alpha Centauri — but not until 2069
• NASA’s InSight lander passes its final tests, ready for the trip to Mars
• NASA just tested the tiny nuclear reactor it could use for a Martian colony
• NASA and Google A.I. team up and discover a new planet
• The final frontier? Astronauts could recycle their waste into protein paste

Here are the best (and least likely to explode) hoverboards you can buy

We know, we know. Technically, these boards don’t actually hover, but “hands-free scooter” just doesn’t sound as cool. It’s been a tough few years for the hoverboard industry. For a time, the damn things just wouldn’t stop catching fire. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, hoverboard-related fires between December 2015 and February 2016 were responsible for more than $2 million in property damages nationwide. Some college campuses and airlines have banned self-balancing scooters altogether, and the United Kingdom has completely outlawed their use in any public space.

With all this negative publicity, you might wonder, “why buy a hoverboard?” Uh, because they’re awesome. These motorized, self-balancing devices are easy to pick up and tons of fun to ride, and, honestly, the hardest thing about a hoverboard is trying to look cool while riding it. These puppies can actually be an effective mode of transportation, capable of reaching speeds close to 10 mph and “hovering” for nearly 20 miles on a single charge. Best of all, there are finally self-balancing scooters on the market that are guaranteed not to explode violently at your feet! Amazon even rescinded its February 2016 decision to cease hoverboard distribution.

With that in mind, here are our picks for the best — and least explode-y — hoverboards on the market.

Our pick

Razor Hovertrax 2.0

Why you should buy this: It’s compact, affordable, and simple to control.

The best

Razor Hovertrax 2.0

Razor’s Hovertrax 2.0 is a fantastic basic hoverboard at a decent price.

$348.00 from Amazon

Who it’s for: Anyone and everyone

How much will it cost: $400

Why we chose the Razor Hovertrax 2.0:

Remember Razor? Chances are, you’re familiar with the scooter that put them on the map around the turn of the millennium. They haven’t gone anywhere, and now that they’ve received their UL 2722 safety certification, they’re making moves to get into the hoverboard game. The Hovertrax 2.0 — so named because the first edition was pulled from stores after safety concerns arose — is a true rival for the Swagtron series, offering all the same bells and whistles, for the same price, with a more recognizable brand name.

The Hovertrax is also capable of supporting 220 pounds for about an hour of riding, and it features a battery pack that automatically shuts off once it reaches a full charge. Razor’s board doesn’t bring anything new to the table, sure, but it’s bringing competition to a market that didn’t have much, if any, which is only a good thing for the future of hoverboarding.

Razor also released an upgraded version, called the Hovertrax DLX 2.0, that includes some awesome new paint jobs and multi-color LED displays. Unfortunately, they’re currently only available from Brookstone for nearly $600.

Read more here

The safest hoverboard

Segway MiniPro

Why you should buy this: It’s attractive and unique, with superior battery life and easy-to-master gyroscopic controls.

Who it’s for: Those who prefer a little more support while riding

How much will it cost: $600

The safest hoverboard

Segway miniPRO

It’s not as funky, but Segway’s hoverboard is safe and easier to ride.

$299.95 from Amazon.com

Why we chose the Segway MiniPro:

Okay, so this guy isn’t exactly what you were expecting. The MiniPro blends the typical self-balancing scooter with the Segway flagship aesthetic to create a hands-free personal transportation device that’s truly one of a kind.

The MiniPro’s unique knee steering bar — adjustable from 20 inches up to 34 inches high — allows the rider to turn by simply leaning into the knee pads, and simultaneously provides a sense of stability and balance. The knee bar is detachable for storage and transportation purposes, but the board won’t function without it.

Capable of carrying up to 220 pounds and traveling around 14 miles on a full charge, the MiniPro offers a simpler, safer experience than your average hoverboard. The MiniPro also works in concert with a Bluetooth app that lets you customize the color and pattern of the scooter’s tail lights, as well as providing antitheft security and data for your most recent trip.

Oh, and you can control the scooter remotely from the app. The MiniPro is also UL 2272 certified, so you won’t need to worry about your personal scooter unexpectedly turning into a personal rocket launcher.

The best all-terrain hoverboard

Epikgo Classic

Why you should buy this: It’s rugged, reliable, and built to last.

The best all-terrain hoverboard

Epikgo Classic

The Epikgo Classic can take a beating and go anywhere.

$599.99 from Amazon.com

Who it’s for: Those looking to take their hoverboard off the beaten path.

How much will it cost: $600

Why we chose the Epikgo Classic:

The Classic self-balancing scooter, from Silicon Valley-based Epikgo, is the ultimate all-terrain hoverboard. High-tread tires ensure safe navigation across any ground cover, be it grass, dirt, or pavement, and the scooter’s sturdy design helps push it safely to a maximum speed of 10 mph. Riders can count on the Classic to last for about 10 miles on a single charge, and both the battery pack and the scooter itself have been certified safe under UL 2271 and 2272.

This water-resistant bad boy can climb at inclines of up to 15 degrees, and LED headlights will keep you from losing your footing while ‘boarding at night. The aluminum fender cover — advertised as “indestructible,” though we’re not certain of this — protects the wheels from harm, while the durable ABS chassis prevents the board’s inner workings from taking any damage.

Epikgo also offers a Sport Plus model, boasting a more powerful motor and a Bluetooth speaker, and a Premier model is in the works as well. The Classic isn’t as flashy as the other boards on our list, but it’s got a certain rugged je ne sais quoi that earns it a spot on our list.

Most Kid Friendly hoverboard

Halo Rover

Why you should buy this: Sturdy and reliable, you can trust this set of wheels more than it’s driver.

Who it’s for: Parents who are buying one for their kids.

How much will it cost: $997

Why we chose the Halo Rover:

With a top speed of 10 miles an hour, a range of 10 miles, a 2272 (non-exploding) certification, and speakers to boot, the Halo Rover is packed with just about everything you could want in a hoverboard. Certified front to back with safety features and three tiers of calibration for riders of different experience levels, this is the hoverboard to get if your kid is clamoring for a set of wheels.         -0

That’s not to say this machine is dumbed down or not suited for more experienced riders. The Halo Rover has a weight limit of up to 224 lbs, and can handle inclines of up 20 degrees, so hauling your groceries home or lugging your books to class should be no problem. It also comes in two flavors (regular and X) if you prefer a more edgy body design.

In the end, what makes the Halo Rover stand out isn’t any outlandish or over-the-top features, it’s simply that it’s a reliable, safe piece of hardware that you don’t have to worry about.

How we choose

We do not do on-site hoverboard testing at Digital Trends, but we compiled this list with a lot of research. The Razor Hovertrax 2.0 is a staple in our New York office, where members of the DT team can be seen whizzing from room to room and pulling donuts in the hallway, and it’s the best hoverboard we’ve used, all around. As far as we can tell, the most important trait for a self-balancing scooter is safety.

Your best bet is to make sure the hoverboard you’re buying is certified under UL 2722, and we are not recommending any boards that do not meet this safety standard. The labs put these toys through a rigorous series of inspections to make sure they’re safe; below is a list of tests that UL requires to certify a scooter under UL 2722 (Electrical Systems for Self-Balancing Scooters).

Note: This list was sourced from the “UL/Safety” tab from the SwagTron T3 Hoverboard site. These tests are strictly meant to ensure the safety of the device from an electrical and flame retardancy perspective. They do not evaluate for performance, reliability, or rider safety.

• Overcharge Test
• Short Circuit Test
• Over discharge Test
• Temperature Test (Determines the failure temperature of a product.)
• Imbalanced Charging Test
• Dielectric Voltage Test
• Isolation Resistance Test (Testing Isolation Transformer.)
• Vibration Test
• Shock Test
• Crash Test
• Drop Test
• Mold Stress Test
• Water Exposer Test
• Thermal Cycling Test (Testing the effects of extreme differential temperature change.)
• Label Performance Test (Comparing products against other leading brands.)
• Strain Relief Tests
• Motor Overload Test
• Motor Locked Rotor
• 20mm End Product Flame (Test that determines flame resistance.)

Alternative options

There are a few UL-certified boards that didn’t make the cut. The Kiwano KO-X made a big splash last year as an all-terrain option, but the Kiwano website appears to be experiencing some technical difficulties, and Amazon stock is running out fast. Swagtron, one of the most popular brands, has several board options that are certified safe, but the differences between the X1 and X2, as well as the T1, T3, and T5, are difficult to discern. A little transparency goes a long way when considering products with safety concerns.

Hoverzon’s XLS scooter has received UL 2272 certification, and it’s certainly a defensible choice. Target also offers the Jetson V6 hoverboard, which boasts a unique aesthetic design and a dedicated mobile app that allows you to change the maximum speed and steering sensitivity — essentially, a child lock system.

There are also several brands and different types of scooters out there that haven’t yet been certified under UL 2272. Beijing-based Ninebot — which acquired Segway in 2015 — has its own line of scooters called the Ninebot One, which look like some kind of cross between a unicycle and the rolling ‘droideka’ battle droids from Star Wars: Episode I. The Ninebot, priced between $450 and $1,300, figures to make an impact on the hoverboard market if it received UL certification.

We’re not sure what the next move is for companies like PhunkeeDuck and IO Hawk, who manufactured high-end (read: more expensive) hoverboards, of which they sold thousands when self-balancing scooters blew up in 2015 (literally and figuratively). PhunkeeDuck claims that their battery cells are UL certified, but it’s unclear whether the boards are altogether safe. IO Hawk has made no such claims.

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NHL’s first eSports tournament begins March 24th

Multiple pro sports leagues have already welcomed eSports with open arms, but what about the NHL? Where’s the official hockey tournament? Don’t worry, it’s almost here. The league is launching the NHL Gaming World Championship, a global tourney that pits players against each other in the PS4 and Xbox One versions of EA’s NHL 18. Register and you can compete in qualifiers that start March 24th, with the top eight players from each region competing in-person at events throughout May. The championship proper takes place at Esports Arena Las Vegas on June 19th, and the winner will take home “their share” of $100,000.

The regional competitions will stream live on Twitch and broadcast on national TV networks. Viasat will air the European event on May 6th, while Rogers’ Sportsnet will broadcast the Canadian event on May 11th; Americans have to wait until May 20th for their regional final, which will broadcast on NBCSN.

The relatively free-form structure of the Gaming World Championship contrasts sharply with parallel eSports organizations like the NBA 2K League, which revolve around teams of dedicated players. Nonetheless, the goal is the same — the NHL wants to have an official presence both to profit from the rise of eSports and to foster interest in real-world games.

Via: Polygon

Source: NHL, FaceIt

New Entry-Level Mac Notebook Expected to Adopt Retina Display, Likely Launch at WWDC in June

Earlier this month, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is expected to introduce a cheaper MacBook Air sometime during the second quarter of the year, and a few days later a second report backed up Kuo’s claims with a claim of a price point starting at $799 or $899.

DigiTimes is now reporting that Apple is planning to launch a new 13.3-inch “entry-level MacBook” late in the second quarter of the year, which suggests an introduction at WWDC in June. While DigiTimes calls the notebook a “MacBook,” it is unclear whether it would be part of the MacBook or MacBook Air line, but the entry-level nature of the machine and the MacBook’s positioning at a similar 12-inch size suggests this new machine might be part of a refreshed MacBook Air family.

However the new entry-level machine is marketed, DigiTimes says the pricing will be the same as or slightly higher than the current MacBook Air, which starts at $999, and the machine will include a Retina display.

The 13.3-inch a-Si panels for the new notebook feature the same resolution as Apple’s 13.3-inch MacBook Pro at 2,560 by 1,600.

LG Display will begin supplying the panel in April with the new MacBook scheduled to enter mass production at the end of May or the beginning of June.

The report claims that Apple is targeting shipments of six million units of the new notebook through the end of the year, although DigiTimes analysts believe four million is a more likely figure considering the estimated pricing.

In addition to the new MacBook Air or MacBook, DigiTimes says Apple is also preparing updated entry-level iPad models for release in the second quarter and new iPad Pro models for the second half of the year.

Related Roundups: iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, iPadTag: digitimes.comBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Neutral), MacBook Air (Caution), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Neutral), MacBook (Caution), iPad (Don’t Buy)
Discuss this article in our forums

How to use AR emoji on the Samsung Galaxy S9

Apple and Samsung have been trading blows for years now. Each time one introduces a new feature to its smartphone lineup, the other is quick to respond. It should come as no surprise, then, that after Apple introduced “Animoji” (animated emoji that could replicate the movements of a user’s face), Samsung fired back with a similar feature called “AR Emoji.” Developed to work with the forthcoming Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, the feature gives users the ability to create digital, cartoon versions of themselves which they can then animate using their phone’s camera. Although the results aren’t always stellar, it’s a feature with a lot of potential for fun. So, how exactly does it work?

Step 1: Launch the Camera app, and make sure you’re using the front-facing camera. If you’re not, just tap the camera switch icon.

Step 2: At the top of the screen are a host of options — swipe to or tap AR Emoji.

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

Step 3: Tap the face symbol at the bottom of your screen, followed by Create Emoji.

Step 4: Center your head in the viewfinder. Then, remove your glasses if you’re wearing any, make sure you don’t have hair blocking your face, and smile with your lips closed.

Step 5: The app will then ask whether you are male or female. After you respond, it will create your AR avatar, and allow you to make a variety of tweaks. Among other things, you’ll be able to choose from two different face styles, adjust your skin or hair color, add glasses, and select one of several outfits. When finished, you’ll see your newly-minted emoji below the viewfinder in the Camera app.

Now that you’ve successfully created an AR Emoji, how do you use it? In the Samsung messaging app, tap the Sticker button. Your phone will have already used your AR Emoji to create GIFs expressing a variety of emotions — simply tap one to place it in a text.

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

You can also go into the Camera app and tap the AR Emoji, then create pictures or videos. The emoji should mimic any facial expressions you make while facing your camera. If you find the cartoon version of yourself a bit too uncanny, you can always opt for one of several cartoon characters that Samsung includes by default.

The company also announced that it is partnering with Disney to create AR Emoji versions of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and various characters from The Incredibles. Now, let’s just hope Samsung brings beloved characters from the Marvel cinematic universe into the fold at some point.

David Cogen — a regular contributor here at Digital Trends — runs TheUnlockr, a popular tech blog that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him on Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.

DIRECTV NOW is offering new customers 3 months of service for just $30

New customers can score a sweet deal.

DIRECTV NOW is no stranger to offering promotions, but most of the time they involve prepaying for the service and getting some streaming hardware for free. If you aren’t looking to pick up a new streaming stick but want to check out the service, this is the deal for you.

Right now the company is offering 3 months of service for $30, which breaks down to just $10 a month. Normally, the base plan costs $35 a month, but when you enter coupon code YESNOW3 during checkout you can save $25 a month for the first three months.

It’s important to note that after the first three months, DIRECTV NOW will bill you the full $35 plan cost for each month that you continue the service. Getting signed up for the service is extremely easy, and should only take a few minutes of your time. If you decide that it doesn’t meet your needs or you just don’t want to continue the service, it’s super simple to cancel your account as well.

Don’t forget that DIRECTV NOW is also offering a free Amazon Fire TV 4K when you prepay for one month of service or a free Apple TV 4K when you prepay for 3 months of service.

See at DIRECTV NOW

OnePlus 5/5T get Android 8.1 with OxygenOS Open Beta

The February 2018 security patch is also included.

Keeping up its legacy of offering speedy software updates, the OnePlus 5 and 5T recently started getting Android 8.1 Oreo through OnePlus’s Open Beta program for OxygenOS. This marks Open Beta 6 for the OnePlus 5 and Open Beta 4 for the 5T.

With these updates, both phones are getting the following:

• Android 8.1 Oreo
• February 2018 security patch
• New auto pick up gesture (answer an incoming call by raising the phone)
• Added more clock styles for ambient display
• Added new optimizations in gaming mode for immersive gaming experience including power saving and pausing adaptive brightness
• For OnePlus Switch, added support to migrate application data, allowing you to switch between devices seamlessly
• General bug fixes and improvements

In addition to the above goodies, the OnePlus 5T is also getting optimizations for its full-screen gesture system that was first introduced in late January.

If you’re already enrolled in the Open Beta on your OnePlus 5 or 5T, you should receive an OTA soon (if you haven’t already gotten it) to download the latest software.

OnePlus 5T and OnePlus 5

• OnePlus 5T review: Come for the value, not the excitement
• OnePlus 5T specs
• Should you upgrade from the OnePlus 3T?
• OnePlus 5T vs. Galaxy S8: Beast mode
• All of the latest OnePlus 5T news
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus
Amazon

Google’s planning to re-brand Android Wear as ‘Wear OS’

Big things could be coming down the pipeline.

Android Wear is pretty much at a standstill right now. Fashion brands continue to release new hardware running the OS, but it’s been a hot minute since a major tech company has put any real time or effort into releasing new products with it. Thankfully, Google appears to be planning a complete rebrand for Android Wear to breath new life into it.

Thanks to a screenshot from one Redditor on the /r/androidwear subreddit, it looks like the Android Wear name will be replaced by “Wear OS.” The screenshot shows Google Play Services’ Nearby feature that pops up when it detects a new Android Wear watch can be paired, but as you can see from the image below, it references Wear OS and shows a new colorful logo that sort of mimics the Google Assistant’s branding.

This change was found in the latest 12.5 beta for Play Services, and while there’s not much else it reveals, it’s exciting nonetheless.

Android Wear used to be my personal favorite wearable OS, and I religiously wore the Samsung Gear Live, Moto 360, and Huawei Watch. However, thanks to lackluster hardware that was released to debut Android Wear 2.0, the platform’s kind of been in a rut for over a year now.

I’m guessing Google will formally introduce Wear OS this coming May at Google I/O, and while I don’t anticipate any hardware announcements at that time, I’m hoping and praying for a Pixel Watch this October alongside the Pixel 3.

Anything you’re hoping to see in Wear OS?

Android Wear

• Everything you need to know about Android Wear 2.0
• LG Watch Sport review
• LG Watch Style review
• These watches will get Android Wear 2.0
• Discuss Android Wear in the forums!

Sophisticated malware attacks through routers

Security researchers at Kaspersky Lab have discovered what’s likely to be another state-sponsored malware strain, and this one is more advanced than most. Nicknamed Slingshot, the code spies on PCs through a multi-layer attack that targets MikroTik routers. It first replaces a library file with a malicious version that downloads other malicious components, and then launches a clever two-pronged attack on the computers themselves. One, Canhadr, runs low-level kernel code that effectively gives the intruder free rein, including deep access to storage and memory; the other, GollumApp, focuses on the user level and includes code to coordinate efforts, manage the file system and keep the malware alive.

Kaspersky describes these two elements as “masterpieces,” and for good reason. For one, it’s no mean feat to run hostile kernel code without crashes. Slingshot also stores its malware files in an encrypted virtual file system, encrypts every text string in its modules, calls services directly (to avoid tripping security software checks) and even shuts components down when forensic tools are active. If there’s a common method of detecting malware or identifying its behavior, Slingshot likely has a defense against it. It’s no wonder that the code has been active since at least 2012 — no one knew it was there.

The malware can effectively steal whatever it wants, including keyboard strokes, network traffic, passwords and screenshots. It’s not certain how Slingshot gets into a system besides taking advantage of the router management software, but Kaspersky pointed to “several” instances

The combination of this sophistication with the spying focus led Kaspersky to believe that it’s likely the creation of a state agency — it rivals the Regin malware GCHQ used to spy on Belgian carrier Belgacom. And while text clues hint that English speakers might be responsible, the culprit isn’t clear. Just shy of 100 individuals, government outfits and institutions fell prey to Slingshot in countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Libya and Turkey. It could be one of the Five Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US) keeping watch on nations with significant terrorism issues, but that’s far from certain.

Slingshot should be fixed as of recent MikroTik router firmware updates. The concern, as you might guess, is that other router makers might be affected. If they are, there’s a possibility that Slingshot has a far wider reach and is still taking sensitive data.

Via: Ars Technica

Source: Kaspersky Lab, SecureList

Witnessing the Church of Elon Musk

SXSW plays host to big-name speakers all the time. Mother! and Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky was on stage yesterday, Apple’s Eddy Cue is on a panel tomorrow and Moonlight director Barry Jenkins had a keynote this morning. But something felt different at the Moody Theater in downtown Austin. The crowd was unusually excited, expectant. A thousand or so SXSW attendees, a large number of them press, had congregated with only 12 hours’ notice to hear Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk speak.

The panel was scheduled for noon, but at 12:15PM people were still shuffling in. Either Musk was running late or officials were stalling to let the audience take their seats. A small group in the venue’s upper tier began clapping, as though calling for an encore after a concert, and the rhythmic applause swiftly pulsed around the theater, to no avail.

Minutes later, and the easy listening instrumental track being piped through the theater died down. A whoop from somewhere in the venue sparked some excited chatter. A journalist sitting in front of me asked her neighbor “Is that him at the side there?” (It wasn’t.) Someone started chanting “Elon, Elon, Elon,” and it briefly caught on before dissolving into an insecure giggle as the next jam faded in.

By the time SXSW director Hugh Forrest took the stage around half an hour behind schedule, excitement was at fever pitch. After selling the audience on some SXSW merch, Forrest sang Musk’s praises, describing his speaker as a visionary, throwing in a couple of conference-appropriate jokes (“he’s founded a couple of successful startups”, etc.) that the audience lapped up.

Musk emerged to rapturous applause; off the scale for a tech event. It felt like a film premiere — the fervor somewhere between James Cameron’s Avatar preamble (a solid 9/10) and Quentin Tarantino’s profanity-laden mic drop before the London debut of Inglourious Basterds (literally the most hyped I have ever seen a crowd).

The Q+A session used an AMA-inspired system — anyone in the venue could submit a question via an online form, and then vote on other people’s submissions. This populist approach, when combined with the extreme levels of Musk fandom in the venue, led to a lot of softball questions; a cut above “describe your dream date,” but not by much. Moderator Jonathan Nolan (in town promoting Westworld season two) set the tone early, bringing another round of applause by saying “we are going to the moon, we are going to Mars, and it’s down to you.” The panel then started in earnest with a question asking “how can we help” Musk get to Mars, to which the answer was, unsurprisingly, that you can’t really.

“Right now the biggest thing that would be helpful is support and encouragement, goodwill,” Musk said. SpaceX is making good progress with its “BFR” rocket, and should be ready to do some small “up-and-down” tests next year. Once it’s able to demonstrate that the feat is feasible, then interest will build, Musk said. “We’ll have a point of proof,” he continued, “something that other companies and countries can then go and do.” Then entrepreneurs will race to build out infrastructure, he added, looking to get rich from the new frontier.

A famously poor orator, Musk lost his way often, pausing for long moments, sometimes changing topic midway through a sentence. But that trademark mumbling style only heightened the anticipation among the audience. There’s a cult of personality built around Musk and his companies, and this was his temple. At every “um,” those captivated by Musk only leaned in closer, as though the sentence that began “getting the spaceship built” was going to end with a revelatory, life-changing message.

Musk is perhaps at his best when discussing big-picture topics. When the conversation inevitably moved toward the dangers of AI, his tone switched, and the pauses, while still frequent, were shorter. AI experts, Musk said, “think they know more than they do” and “don’t like the idea that a machine can be way smarter than them, so they discount the idea.” He pointed, as he has before, to the exponential growth of computer intelligence in recent years, noting that while the current, narrow AI uses don’t pose a threat to anything more than a few jobs, an all-purpose “superintelligence” would be a threat to civilization itself. “Yeah… yeah!” a voice from the audience chimed in agreement.

.@ElonMusk says he’s “obviously” inspired by Kanye West #tictocnews pic.twitter.com/MGRCGuyx1Q

— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) March 11, 2018

“I’m not really an advocate of regulation and oversight, but this is a case where you have a very serious danger to the public. There needs to be a public body that has insight and oversight to confirm that everyone is developing AI safely,” Musk said, as a dozen or so heads around me nodded in unison. “The danger of AI is much greater than the danger of nuclear warheads. Mark my words: AI is far more dangerous than nukes. Why do we have no regulatory oversight? It’s insane.”

The further off the sci-fi deep end the talk went, the more the audience lapped it up. Martian colonies are a necessity before a World War III-induced dark age breaks out, Musk said, to apparently not a single raised eyebrow. After a quick “Emperor of Mars” joke, Musk then proposed a direct democracy, where new laws are created with a 60-percent consensus, and old laws can be killed with 40-percent agreement. He also believes a sunset provision would be a valuable part of a Martian constitution, meaning laws would automatically expire unless there was interest in keeping them around.

These weren’t the only political moments of the Q+A. Over the 80-minute running time, Musk also covered the need for a carbon tax (“CO2 has a great cost, but economically zero cost … In the absence of that price, we pretend that there’s no cost”) and his hatred of overregulation (“It’s like Gulliver, trapped by tiny strings, he can’t move …. hardening the arteries of civilization with rules and rules and rules.”)

It’s difficult to see libertarian views being so readily accepted from anyone else at SXSW, but Musk can do no wrong. He’s a businessman, which in America is enough to earn adulation by itself. For all the talk of Mark Zuckerberg’s political influence, Musk’s sway over society seems stronger. But he’s more preacher than a politician, and today, SXSW was his church.

Catch up on the latest news from SXSW 2018 right here.