At the moment asteroid mining is one of the best. Quantifies of various rare metals are limited on earth and we have companies working on making asteroid mining a reality.
Earth has laws that prevent certain economic transactions from happening. Various biotech and genetic engineering projects might get outlawed on earth. Human cloning that happens in space stations might make for an interesting story.
There might be nanotech that needs very high precision. Today an electron microscope is effected by a train braking a few kilometers away.
Nanotech could allow you to build cheap very big mirrors that redirect solar energy from one point to another. If you bundle it enough you could have a laser weapon that takes very little time to hit targets.
The energy from the mirrors could also be used for electricity generation. On earth but also maybe on Mars.
If you want a cargo to pass through customs it might be enough to bribe a single official.
On the other hand if you are doing something where a lot of people have knowledge of your illegal activity, preventing action can be more complicated.
With todays Russia you are right.
As far as China goes, I think there are cases where you aren’t.
China might outlaw companies that sell gender selection for babies in a way that isn’t easily fought by monetary bribes. China in contrast to the US throws corrupt politicians into prison when it’s in the interest of the party.
On the other hand scify isn’t out todays world. It’s about a future in which most of the powerful states could have functioning political systems that aren’t easily bribed. Third world countries where you can bribe officials might have little power and be subject to the dictates of the powerful countries.
At the moment asteroid mining is one of the best. Quantifies of various rare metals are limited on earth and we have companies working on making asteroid mining a reality.
Earth has laws that prevent certain economic transactions from happening. Various biotech and genetic engineering projects might get outlawed on earth. Human cloning that happens in space stations might make for an interesting story.
There might be nanotech that needs very high precision. Today an electron microscope is effected by a train braking a few kilometers away.
Nanotech could allow you to build cheap very big mirrors that redirect solar energy from one point to another. If you bundle it enough you could have a laser weapon that takes very little time to hit targets. The energy from the mirrors could also be used for electricity generation. On earth but also maybe on Mars.
Wouldn’t it be easier to bribe officials.
If you want a cargo to pass through customs it might be enough to bribe a single official. On the other hand if you are doing something where a lot of people have knowledge of your illegal activity, preventing action can be more complicated.
Depends on the country you are doing this in. Some place like China or Russia it shouldn’t be too hard.
With todays Russia you are right. As far as China goes, I think there are cases where you aren’t.
China might outlaw companies that sell gender selection for babies in a way that isn’t easily fought by monetary bribes. China in contrast to the US throws corrupt politicians into prison when it’s in the interest of the party.
On the other hand scify isn’t out todays world. It’s about a future in which most of the powerful states could have functioning political systems that aren’t easily bribed. Third world countries where you can bribe officials might have little power and be subject to the dictates of the powerful countries.