Assple

So I recently took up KSP and I absolutely love this game and what it teaches me about space travel. One issue I have is that my only knowledge-base with regards to space is what I've picked up through shit ton of book reading and online research. Would love if you guys could point me somewhere to learn about these more basic concepts!

For Delta V: My question is this. When your Rocket has a Delta-V of 3,000m/s it has the energy potential to reach that acceleration without gravitational influence, right? Do I have to account for atmospheric drag when figuring out what Delta V I need for a launch?

Can someone explain the difference between Delta V current and Total?

So to clarify: I loved how Interstellar explored the insane possibilities in the universe such as the >!spinning black hole with the water planet caught in orbit, plus the conceptualization of god-like extraterrestrial life!<.

I've been reading through Bobiverse, Contact, Jupter Run, The Martian, etc. But nothing ever seems to explore unrelatable cosmic phenomena in the way Interstellar does. The only thing that comes close for me is Singularity Trap.

Anything else I should see or watch with this idea?

Sorry if this is the wrong place, but don't really know where to ask.

I've been reading about anomalous titanium spheres containing biological material of non-terrestrial origin found in the stratosphere. This seems a little far out there and I'm wondering with this in mind, how do you determine the validity of a study?

So I'm looking at doing a moderately light build for a battlewagon involving mainly just simple mods. I don't want to do much more than a lift, bumpers, skidplate, amenities, and cosmetics but need the car to be pretty reliable. I'd be driving this thing mostly on highways or pretty rough unmaintained desert roads, but nothing a stock cherokee couldn't handle.

The problem here is that I'll be doing a lot of solo day-driving through pretty remote desert so I need a car that can be worked on in the field (Any classics that have reasonable trip reliability?) that also hopefully won't badly strand me.

I was thinking an early-00s Outback, but I've heard they commonly have headgasket issues.

I've got a list going of my next reads since I'm going through books like crazy. I was thinking this would be pretty awesome to read.

Would be cool to read something that involves physics and some of the crazy astronomical phenomena we all love to learn about. Black holes, supernovae, pulsars, galactic superstructures, etc would make for some great story science I'd have to think!

Edit: I should specify that I'm hoping to find sci-fi rather than science books

Between this thread and the First Contact one I'll be set with reading content for ages. You guys are great, thank you!

For relevant context: I'm a local to Las Vegas and obsessively hike pretty much every remote place I can within reasonable driving distance. So I know ammonites are pretty damn common basically everywhere I go, but I'd love to find something more unique.

Any idea how I might figure out locations to search that might improve the likelihood of coming across this type of find? Would love some guidance on how to research this!

Edit: Might also want to mention that I'm doing this as a photographer and pretty strictly don't bring things home with me unless I'm outside of a park and somewhere that doesn't have hiking activity.