R.E. Kearney's Blog, page 31

Mission V – Completing the First Stages of a Mission to Mars

On January 19, 2017 six participants, which had been selected for a special NASA mission, entered a ‘dome’ located on Big Island in Hawaii. The project was hosted by The University of Hawaii, on behalf of NASA, and its aim is to determine the psychological effects of long term isolation. The living conditions were designed to reflect those that would be necessary for future missions to Mars. The ‘space’ accommodation, which housed the four men and two women, was approximately the size of a two bedroom apartment. During their stay they were allowed no physical contact with the outside world and their communication with NASA was delayed by 20 minutes, which is the same amount of time it would take during a mission to Mars.

[image error]Sian Proctor/University of Hawaii via AP

In excess of 700 applicants were put through a detailed screening process, requiring background and personality checks and several full length interviews. The team which was selected included: engineers, a biomedical expert, a computer scientist and a doctoral candidate. Crew members for expeditions to Mars will need to be in the best of health, both physically and mentally, sufficiently qualified and with an ability to solve problems as they arise. NASA plans to send a crew to an asteroid in the 2020s and Mars by the 2030s, which will take a minimum of 2-3 years to complete. The dome experiment has proved successful in showing NASA ways in which the crew will need to be supported during their journeys.

The dome where the crew stayed is operated by the University of Hawaii, and called Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS). Two previous NASA missions have taken place here, lasting a year and eight months respectively, to determine food requirements and how to build a healthy rapport with crew members. There are sleeping quarters for each crew member, kitchen, bathroom and a laboratory in the dome, and meals consist mainly of freeze dried and tin foods and snacks. The landscape on Big Island is similar to the one on Mars, with its rugged terrain. To maintain the crew’s sense of isolation, food packages were dropped off a short distance from the dome and robots sent to retrieve them.

Sian Proctor/University of Hawaii via AP

Although not confined to the dome, the team were required to wear spacesuits when going out. The outings were mainly for mapping the landscape, geological exploration or other tasks related to what the experience would be like on Mars. Each participant was also equipped with a monitor, worn around the neck, which measured their mood as well as their proximity to other crew members. Virtual reality devices were also provided to simulate comforting experiences and surroundings. As the end of the mission was approaching, even though they had enjoyed the experience, the crew members were all eager to get back to their everyday lives.

The Creation of Artificial Intelligence Modelled on the Human Brain

The human brain is one of the most important, complicated parts of the body. It is capable of extraordinary intelligence and guides the performance of actions that are necessary for our survival. Along with our spinal cords, our brains makes up our central nervous system which is the means of communication between our mind and our body. In addition, it is responsible for retaining our memories, reasoning ability, logical thoughts and subsequent actions. IBM, and other companies, have started to model their artificial intelligence systems on the human brain, to usher in a new era of technology.

[image error]This has become necessary for artificial intelligence to continue to evolve. Previously, these systems were built with all the knowledge they require, while a human brain can accumulate additional knowledge over time. They also require access to a large amount of data to be programmed. New skills require the old information to be wiped out and completely reprogrammed. The human brain, on the other hand, learns things incrementally and adds more to its storage constantly. Our intelligence is based on our reasoning capabilities and the ability to apply new information logically, based on past experiences. Artificial intelligence cannot apply logic to any situation it may be faced with, thus limiting its uses.

IBM has done extensive research into our neurological and psychological systems, and applied the knowledge they have gained from this to their development. The company’s ultimate goal is to create artificial intelligence that can learn for a lifetime, and adapt to new circumstances while retaining all knowledge it had previously acquired. The process to achieve this has been split into two sections: short-term adaptation, where a limited amount of time is spent on training a system, and long-term adaptation, which is inspired by the way that the brain forms memories.

[image error]The company’s DeepMind team has already created a synthetic neural network, which is designed to use reasoning skills to complete tasks. The systems fitted with the new network have been tested with a series of questions that have forced them to use this ability. 96% of the time these new systems could answer the questions correctly, compared to 42 – 77% in previous artificial intelligence models. The researchers are also adapting the network to store memories, by paying more attention to details and events.

IBM believes that these methods will be the way to change the future of artificial intelligence. These newly acquired reasoning skills mean that after a while the systems would be able to improve and build themselves, which many people think could be a scary possibility. If monitored correctly, however, this development would be monumental for the future of industries that rely on artificial intelligence for expansion. The technology could also be used to save countless lives, fast forward our space and deep sea exploration, and many life changing events.

Aethon Arises – Now available to preorder!

The second book in the Endless Fire series is now available to pre-order. Release date – 9 October. If you can’t wait that long there’s a downloadable free preview at the bottom of this page!

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Afire with fever the small boy cries out. He feebly begs for his mother. She cannot cradle him. She cannot love him. She is dead. Killed by the same plague raging ruin upon the little boy.

A deathly disease – an unstoppable superbug epidemic – is ravaging America. Thousands have died. Millions more may die. Nobody is immune. Nobody is safe.

Across Puerto Rico, Robert Goodfellow and a team of genetic scientists are racing to discover a medicine to stop the slaughter. Time and the superbug epidemic are not the only enemies seeking to stop them. Teams of killers are pursuing them. They are in a battle for their lives and our lives.

Time is running out. Will Robert and the genetic scientists find the medication that will save mankind? Or will they die trying?

AVAILABLE NOW TO PRE-ORDER

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[image error]DOWNLOAD A FREE SAMPLE

Download an exclusive preview of Aethon Arises with my compliments. Just click the button below and a pdf file will be automatically downloaded to your device.

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Fusion Energy – The Fuel that the Universe Provides

Fusion energy is the process that ‘powers’ the stars, including our sun, making all life on Earth possible. As our planet’s need for a sustainable solution to global energy increases, scientists are putting more effort into researching the ways that in can be created. Fusion energy is produced by fusing light atoms, such as hydrogen, at the extreme temperature and pressure existing in the center of the sun. At this heat all gases turn to plasma, which is the fourth state of matter and an ‘electrically-charged gas.’ In this state, negatively and positively charged atoms are separated. Scientists believe that as much as 99% of the Universe is made up of plasma, even though it is rarely found on Earth.

To replicate the fusion process, gases need to be heated to over 30 million degrees Celsius. This will completely ionize all atoms. The easiest reaction to duplicate occurs between two hydrogen isotopes: deuterium and tritium. When these two elements fuse they form a helium nucleus, a neutron and a significant amount of energy.

[image error]Devices have already been constructed that are capable of producing these extremely high temperatures. A ‘cage’ is created by strong magnetic fields, in the device, that minimizes thermal loss and allows the plasma to be confined long enough for fusion to occur. The tokamak, a donut shaped magnetic chamber, is presently the most advanced of these. Scientists have used it to create temperatures ten times higher than the center of the sun, producing megawatts of power for a few seconds.

[image error]Tokamak à Configuration Variable. Courtesy of CRPP-EPFL, Association Suisse-Euratom

Earl Marmar, the head of MIT’s Alcator C-Mod tokamak fusion project, has projected the use of nuclear fusion as a power source by the 2030s. The scientific community are already familiar with how the fusion creation process works, and how to replicate it. There still needs to be extensive research conducted in how to sustain the nuclear fusion once it has been produced, however. Several solutions to this problem are currently being researched including: decreasing the size of the donut hole in the tokamak to harness more energy, or increasing the strength of the magnetic field sustaining the plasma.

To meet the 2030s deadline, when the world’s urban population will have risen significantly, this research may need to be accelerated. Marmar believes that this pressure should be viewed positively, as it motivates the team. Climate change, and continue urbanization, mean that the sooner we are able to produce cost-effective, nuclear fusion energy that can be maintained; the sooner we will be able to help the planet heal from the negative effects of current power sources and expand energy provision.

Meditation – Can you control your brain?

Meditation has been practised for thousands of years to calm the mind and increase one’s awareness of self. It is widely used by spiritual leaders, and is highly recommended to combat the stresses of modern day life. A meditative state can be achieved by disconnecting from external distractions and focusing on the source of life…the breath. The benefits of meditation are endless and include: less anxiety and an increased ability to deal with stressful situations. Scientists have proven where regular meditation stimulates the sections of the brain that help overcome anxiety and depression, as well as increase pain tolerance. Other ways in which meditation can change the brain are:

[image error]Changes in Brain Waves

People that meditate regularly have higher levels of alpha waves which reduce negative feelings, and thoughts.

A Change in the Density of Grey Matter

In studies conducted, after eight weeks of meditation the grey matter in the brain associated with learning, memory and emotion was more dense. In addition, those areas of the brain associated with fear and other negative emotions had decreased grey matter. There was also increased grey matter in areas of the prefrontal cortex, responsible for planning, problem solving and regulating emotions.

Stimulation of the Hippocampus

[image error]In meditators, there is an increased cortical thickness in the hippocampus, which is the area of the brain responsible for learning and memory. Resting the mind through meditation also improves self-awareness, as well as increases goal setting and motivation.

Slows Down our Thought Patterns

Mindfulness meditation has also been shown to change the brain in ways that help to boost relationships with others. It causes the decreased activation of our ‘monkey mind’ (Default Mode Network), which is responsible for the constant stream of thought in our heads. These thoughts lead to rumination and a decrease in overall happiness. Mindfulness stimulates our brain to slow down and create deliberate thought patterns. The result is a more aware, less receptive mind and lifestyle, a decrease in our judgement of others and an increased ability to accept them. This in turn boosts our positive interactions with others.

Other Benefits

Meditation also increases the heart rate to more effectively transport oxygen and carbon dioxide through the body. Mediators are more likely to resist diseases as their system produces more antibodies, and those that are sick can use it as a tool to help with their recovery. Scientists think that shortened telomeres in our bodies help to make us ill. These special protein complexes protect our DNA. Studies have shown where meditation promotes the lengthening of telomeres in cancer survivors, effectively helping them combat the disease.

Gene Editing – Influential DNA Changes

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) is a revolutionary gene editing technology that enables efficient, accurate genome modifications, in a large number of organisms and tissues. The procedure was first identified in a prokaryotic defense system, and consists of sections of genetic code that contain short repetitions of base sequences, [image error]followed by spacer DNA segments. Jennifer Doudna compares the simple corrective procedure to a word-processing software that allows someone to correct a typo in a hefty document. The ease and low cost with which the technology can be used, render the possibilities of its application endless.

The process works to edit genes by capturing a short nucleic acid sequence from an invading pathogen, which is then integrated into the CRISPR loci amongst the repeats. This causes small RNA to be reduced by the loci, which can then be used to guide a set of end nucleuses to resist the attacks of invading pathogens in the future. There is ongoing research into using the technology to treat diseases such as cancer, sickle cell anemia and some forms of blindness. The possibility has also be raised that CRISPR can be used as a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and The Salk Institute is researching ways in which they can modify it to produce a pig with transplantable human organs.

They are not the only ones that believe that the technology will work well on animals, as Chinese scientists have already used it to delete genes that inhibit muscle and hair growth in goats. This has allowed for the expansion of the country’s meat and wool industries. There is also a team researching ways in which CRISPR can boost agricultural output, by creating super plants. These plants will be modified to resist fungi, and other things that may restrict their growth.

[image error]Cas9 is one of several restriction nucleuses that enables the editing of genes using CRISPR. It works as a molecular scissors, and uses a synthetic guide RNA to introduce a double strand break at a specific location on a DNA strand. This gRNA directs the cut through hybridization with its matching genomic sequence. During each procedure, a DNA construct with three major components: the Cas9 enzyme, gRNA and the replacement DNA template; is injected into an organism to modify its genes.

After the procedure has been applied and the cell attempts to repair the break, there is the possibility of added genetic modifications or an error occurring. Modified Cas9 versions prevent this from happening as they introduce single-strand nicks to the DNA, which pair up to stimulate the repair mechanism. Scientists agree that the CRISPR method is easy to use, but comes with huge moral responsibilities as it has the power to change the way in which humans, and other organisms, evolve. As the technology is applied in more experiments, possible immoral actions will need to be avoided.

Electric Cars that Fly – Eliminating Ground Traffic in the Future

Futuristic movies often have flying cars as a means of transport around busy cities. German company, Lilium Aviation, has been working to take this mode of transportation out of the movies and make it a reality. With more than 40 international designers, engineers and enthusiasts working around the clock, they have created the Lilium Jet which the company refers to as ‘the world’s first entirely electric, vertical take-off and landing jet.’ If Lilium Aviation’s goals are achieved, this is just the beginning of an era in which people can book a flying car, instead of calling an Uber.

[image error]The jet’s first successful remotely piloted test flight has recently taken place, and the company expects to conduct a manned one soon. In addition to flying as expected, the vehicle has many unique features in its design. It is a two-seater that takes off vertically, but once in the air it accelerates towards forward flight. It can reach faster speeds than cars and helicopters, and also uses 90% less energy than a drone. The vehicle is also shaped like a computer mouse, with 10 metre long wings that are responsible for its power. There are 36 jet engines, on these wings, which have been mounted on 12 movable flaps. At take-off the flaps point down allowing the aircraft to rise vertically, after which they gradually tilt into a horizontal position to facilitate it thrusting forward. A 1000 pound electric battery enables the jet to reach a maximum cruising speed of 300 km/hr and achieve a range of 300 km.

While the company’s achievement in creating the Lilium Jet is spectacular, they have no intention of stopping there. Their aim is to expand their product into a five passenger vehicle, which will become an on-demand option in crowded, urban areas. This will eventually replace less convenient, ground cabs with a more cost effective, in-air journey. Even though there are several obstacles that the company will have to overcome, such as; setting up take-off and landing structures and getting approval and certification for flights in public air space; they are diligently working towards their goal.

The vehicle has several features which make it a more efficient power consumer than other electric aircrafts. These include: the current battery, with a range limit of 482 km, which co-founder Patrick Nathan says will be enough to achieve the company’s ultimate goal, and its vertical take-off and landing abilities, which greatly increase the range of places it can leave from. All the vehicles that Lilium Aviation are currently developing will run on renewable energy sources, which will also be to their advantage, as electric powered aircrafts are currently the biggest step in using clean energy sources for all our transportation needs.

Combating the Zika Virus – Using Mosquitos to Eliminate Disease

The damaging effects of the Zika virus on newborns, has created an urgent need to eliminate its source. The virus is especially dangerous because most adults show no symptoms when affected, and pregnant mothers pass it on to their babies unknowingly. The Zika virus, like many others, is spread by mosquitos. Researchers have found that they can decrease the spread of the disease by getting rid of the carrier. They have started to release infertile male mosquitos into the environment, which then mate with the deadly female mosquitos, who are unable to produce offspring. The method has already been used by several countries to decrease the spread of mosquito-borne viruses. The success rate in these areas has been quite high and their mosquito population is slowly dying out.

[image error]Verily is a branch of Google’s parent company, Alphabet that conducts scientific research. The department has developed a robot that is able to raise mosquitos in a lab environment. The robot is equipped with custom built machinery that allows it to raise up to one million mosquitos per week. The males are then separated from the females, because they don’t bite humans. They are infected with a naturally occurring bacteria, Wolbachia, that causes their infertility. The Verily project has already begun its first widespread use of the experiment, by releasing 20 million mosquitos into Fresno County, California.

The project has been named ‘Debug,’ and aims to use technology to increase the number of sterile bugs being released into the environment. The main methods that it is promoting are bug raising robots, bug tracking sensors and bug sorting algorithms. The mosquito is the animal that causes the highest number of human deaths each year. Verily aim to help significantly decrease, and eventually completely eradicate, the spread of these dangerous mosquito-borne diseases, such as Dengue Fever and Zika.

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This is the first mosquito release project in the United States that is being conducted using autonomous methods. Verily’s system allows for the release of more mosquitos, in a significantly shorter time period, than other methods which are conducted manually. The Fresno County project is the largest one that has been attempted thus far. Linus Upson, a Verily senior engineer, said that to help a larger number of people, the mosquitos need to be more widely distributed and monitored at a reasonable cost. The company is planning to recreate their Fresno County project in Australia later this year, to show that the procedure can be successful in different climates and areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for regulating the mosquitos that are released by Verily. Under the ‘microbial pest control’ requirement, the EPA has concluded that altered mosquitos, such as those being released by Verily, currently pose no threat to the environment.

Cable Free Elevators – The Future of the Lift

The first public elevator was installed in a New York City building in 1874. Since then there has not been much change to its design. Most elevators still have a range that is restricted by the cable system that holds it in place, as well as the direction in which it can go. Technological advances have dictated an upgrade to our mobility; and engineering firm, ThyssenKrup, believe that the movement of elevators also needs to be improved. They have developed a modernized design, with a cable free system that will allow elevators to move horizontally as well as vertically. The firm has already conducted its first public tests, in a tower dedicated to the project, and plan to install the system in their new East Side Tower Building in Berlin.

This new elevator has been named ‘Multi,’ because of its ability to move in more than one direction. Its design is aimed at decreasing the wait time for an elevator, and replaces the cables with rails and magnetic fields. The system will also accommodate multiple cabins. The magnetic fields push the cabins along the rails, operating via a direct drive. This combination creates an in-building hyper loop, with each elevator shaft having multiple cabins. During busy periods the cabins will be able to autonomously plan and adjust their routes to prevent a ‘traffic jam’ in the system. Whenever a cabin has reached its destination, the entire system will rotate to allow it out. These new elevators will not be equipped with ‘up/down’ buttons, but will rely entirely on the rails for direction.

This revolutionary elevator concept will also change the way in which buildings are constructed. The problem associated with taking multiple elevators to get to the top floors of extremely high buildings, will be eliminated. Standard elevators are only able to extend up to 1600 feet safely, causing tall buildings to be constructed to accommodate the necessity of separate elevator shafts going up. Buildings will no longer be restricted in this way, resulting in more intricate designs in the future. Elevators can now access areas in buildings that were previously off limits. Even though the cost of one of these new elevator systems is currently five times the price of a standard one, the company is confident that its product will catch on quickly in an evolving world. Many people, especially building contractors and designers, will be willing to pay the higher costs for the extra convenience.

Asteroid Mining – Harvesting Materials from Space

Asteroids are made up of the same materials as Earth, and other planets, but in different quantities. Our planet’s gravitational pull has resulted in most of its iron-loving materials being sucked to the core billions of years ago. This left the crust almost completely depleted of these elements. Without a gravitational pull, the metals on asteroids have remained close to the surface.  Over millions of years, asteroid impacts deposited metals on the Earth’s crust. These have since been extracted in large quantities, and the resources are once again running out.

Space corporations are currently looking into the possibility of asteroid mining which would consist of taking metals, and other useful materials, from the surface of the asteroids. These extractions can be used in space, or taken back to Earth, and include: water and oxygen to sustain astronauts while in space, gold and palladium to send back to Earth, iron and titanium for space construction and hydrogen and ammonia as rocket propellant. The asteroids that are closest to our planet, would be the first targets. Investors believe that once asteroid mining has been perfected, it will become a trillion dollar industry.

[image error]There are three types of asteroids that are being considered for mining:

C- type – These asteroids have an abundance of water, and would be ideal places to refill astronaut supplies during space exploration. The option of stopping for water would greatly reduce mission costs. In addition, they also have organic carbon which would allow food growth.

S-Type – The surface of these asteroids is full of numerous metals, such as cobalt, nickel, gold and platinum.

M-Type – A source of up to ten times the amount of metal on S-type Asteroids.

Scientists have come up with three ways in which asteroid mining can be performed: mining the asteroid and bring the raw materials back to Earth, processing the materials before leaving to produce propellant to fuel the return trip or transporting the asteroid to a safe orbit around the moon, or our planet, where it would then be studied and mined.

A leader in space exploration, NASA has been researching asteroid mining for many years. They have already launched OSIRIS-REx on September 8, 2016, to facilitate the study of asteroid 101955 Bennu. The spacecraft will return to Earth with a sample of its surface in 2023, so that it can be studied in detail. If OSIRIS-REx is successful it will be the first mission that has brought an asteroid sample back to Earth.

NASA is also currently working on a mission called the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM). The aim of this project is for a spacecraft to use robotic arms and anchoring grippers which it will be fitted with, to retrieve a 4 metre boulder from a near-earth asteroid. The boulder will then be transported to a stable lunar orbit for analysis by robotic probes and future missions. ARM will be launched in December 2020.