Entertainment Pictures/Alamy Photograph Captured

Entertainment Pictures/Alamy Photograph Captured

In the realm of travel, the pace of progress has been a topic of interest for almost a century. However, when it comes to commercial airline speeds, significant increases have not been observed in recent decades. This is primarily due to economic, technical, and regulatory constraints rather than the absolute cruising speeds achieved, which are already close to optimal for current technology and operations.

Fuel efficiency and operating costs are key factors. Higher speeds generally require exponentially more fuel due to increased aerodynamic drag, making faster commercial flights economically unsustainable on typical routes. Airlines prioritize fuel efficiency to keep ticket prices competitive and reduce environmental impact.

Technical limitations of engines and materials also play a significant role. Commercial jet engines and airframes are optimized around speeds slightly below the speed of sound. Going significantly faster generates extreme heat and stress on materials, requiring costly advanced materials and cooling systems.

Supersonic flights over land are restricted due to sonic booms, limiting where high-speed travel is feasible. Regulatory frameworks also emphasize safety, noise, and emissions, further limiting design choices.

Incremental speed increases yield progressively smaller travel time savings relative to cost and complexity. Typical long-haul routes are well served by current speeds balancing all factors.

Even new aviation categories expanding speed and weight limits for smaller sport and light aircraft indicate growing flexibility but are mostly unrelated to commercial airliners. While hypersonic commercial travel (above Mach 5) is a technological goal, it remains decades away due to extreme technical challenges such as engine development and thermal protection.

Meanwhile, in a different corner of the world, Jalapão State Park in South America's biggest savannah offers a unique experience. Known for sand dunes, sparkling waterfalls, and natural karst springs called fervedouros, this park has gained popularity after a popular 2017 Brazilian telenovela was set in the park. Swimming in a fervedouro feels like floating in a pool of champagne due to the gurgling of water from a subterranean river. The biggest known fervedouro in Jalapão is Fervedouro do Ceica.

As we look ahead, tomorrow, Victoria Jaggard will cover the latest in science. If you have an idea or a link, you can send it to [email protected].

In other news, Baikal, the world's deepest lake, holds 20% of the world's freshwater. Time travel, often envisioned as moving forward or backward as easily as pushing buttons, currently exists only in imagination.

Sign up to receive newsletters from Rachael Bale on animals, Whitney Johnson on photography, and Debra Adams Simmons on history. Kimberly Pecoraro and Gretchen Ortega helped produce the newsletter, which was curated and edited by David Beard, with photographs selected by Jen Tse.

Passenger jet travel may not have seen a significant increase in speed in recent decades, but the world continues to be fascinated by the possibilities of exploration and discovery.

Engaging in a conversation about travel, one may find interests intertwining with various aspects such as history, lifestyle, and entertainment. The potential for faster commercial flights, albeit promising, encounters constraints due to factors like fuel efficiency, engine limitations, and regulatory restrictions.

Meanwhile, in contrast to the progress in air travel, there's a unique allure in exploring terrestrial landscapes. Jalapão State Park, nestled within South America's expansive savannah, offers an intriguing experience as it has recently gained popularity after being featured in a Brazilian telenovela.

While we eagerly anticipate advancements in science and technology, it's worth recognizing that the world's deepest lake, Baikal, stores a fifth of the planet's freshwater. Time travel, on the other hand, remains confined to the realm of imagination.

Lastly, keeping up with our fascination for exploration and discovery, subscribe to our newsletters from Rachael Bale on animals, Whitney Johnson on photography, Debra Adams Simmons on history, and stay tuned for Victoria Jaggard's latest updates on science. Each issue is carefully curated and edited by David Beard, with photographs chosen by Jen Tse, brought to you by Kimberly Pecoraro and Gretchen Ortega.

Read also: