It is not exactly considered a compliment to say that someone is living in a bubble. But exactly this type of “spaced out” state could be the way for humankind to embark on its colonisation of the universe. To demonstrate its patented method, a US company is currently looking for funding. The process resembles that of the bubbles blown by children – only in this case it is a spacecraft that injects the film, consisting of polymer, and then pressurises it, inducing it to form bubbles. These are then hardened and sprayed with metal, and can be blown up to a diameter of several hundred metres.

If the funds could be provided, it would be possible to carry out a demonstration. That would certainly be helpful – after all, it would be quite disastrous to have the bubble burst just as humankind reaches for the moon.