Citi's $100 Billion Goal Will Transform How We See Renewables

Spanning the course of one decade, Citigroup is devoting $100 billion to sustainability strategies that will affect the world's citizens. The money will be primarily used for lending to and facilitating activities focused on "combating climate change" among other solutions. A more detailed infographic can be found below. With HQ in Manhattan, the banking giant launched their plan at a NY event last Wednesday to get things going and start committing to their huge financial commitment.

A long history of exceeding expectations, Citi will likely continue to defy odds. Their reputation as an environmentally-conscious multinational company and 2007 announcement of allocating 50 billion dollars towards similar climate goals are both excellent examples of how their success is pretty much ensured this time. In fact, says a director at Citi, the new goal will "build on the learnings that we accumulated during the first $50 billion".

By getting other corporations to reach for the low-hanging fruit that is energy efficiency, Citi believes it can make a positive difference while not detracting from their original work.

Another way Citi plans to work sustainably is to finance urban infrastructure so that individual and innovative projects can be put together in creative ways for the best intracity results. For example, Citi can take something like a network of sensors built to help drivers find parking spots, and make sense of it by associating them to a citywide array of other mini advancements.

The answer to this initiative lies partly in the term "green bonds". These are bonds that are issued by organizations for the development of areas of land with abandoned buildings and low levels of pollution. Usually both parties have to trust the other. Recently, a set of guidelines was created called the GBP that established some voluntary rules in the burgeoning green bond market, and Citi's involvement points to the reality of an added presence in the city landscape. Many states like California and Connecticut are already considering making these deals with Citi and other groups, and raising money "specifically for green bond purposes" says the global head of Citi Alternative Energy Finance, Marshall Salant.

Although Citigroup will continue to lend money to coal-producing companies, they realize that a rapid shift to only renewable energy would further complicate the situation they're in. A slow transition is key.

Mars One Finalists, Upgraded Mice Brains, And Other Weekly News

 
If you didn't know about the Mars One initiative yet, you're about to. The concept of visiting another planet has existed for centuries, and at the start of the new millennium, that vision our ancestors had could start to come true. With Mars One at the forefront, scientists are not sure traveling to Mars has to be an impossible dream any longer. Two years ago citizens from around the world could apply to be one of the four astronauts that would be sent to the red planet in 2024. Despite overwhelming odds of danger and peril and the unlikely prospect of seeing their loved ones again, 200,000 signed up. Through a series of examinations, the number dropped to roughly 600. Now about 100 remain, after Mars One gave tests to determine if finalists were strong-minded, able-bodied and resourceful. The selection process which will end with 24 people -six teams of four- might be filmed as a reality show for the world to see later this year. Final voting will be left to the public. If you want to see this English dude reacting to the news of his acceptance, it's down below.

 

New studies bring light to the harsh reality of plastic pollution. In 2010, estimates suggested we were tossing billions of pounds into the environment, and the data shows that this is growing worse. By 2025, plastic waste from all the world's countries could double. To understand this more and maybe look to solutions, researchers at the University or Georgia believe it's just as important to know where this plastic is coming from. Graphs from their findings indicate that China is by far the worst offender out of all the countries contributing to the trashy remains entering our oceans.

Human DNA was used by Duke University researchers to increase brain size for a little mouse embryo. The amazing part is that past efforts have met with failure. The reason for their success could be that they started with many possible sequences involved in early human brain development, and shortened the list by excluding unlikely candidates to arrive at a perfect match, HARE5. The sequence from the human DNA was implanted in an embryo and yielded striking results, which can be seen in blue because of an additional reporter gene that was added. It's freaky stuff, but it's only the beginning, co-authors of the study are saying.

Following after Apple, General Motors is seeking renewable energy to power its facilities. GM hopes wind energy can both serve as a fine enough replacement for their operations, and convince the crowd that they care for the environment. Planned to be built in Mexico later this year, their complex/factory will use 34 megawatts generated from 17 wind turbines, a feat that will erase thousands of tons of co2 emissions from the atmosphere, annually. Their largest power purchase to date, GM announced that this deal would get them on the right track in fulfilling their goal of 125 MW by 2020.

The Tesla "Gigafactory" that will provide the batteries for company vehicles just had some initial funding as Tesla threw 50 million dollars into the pile. This is small when compared to their $5 billion goal, but notable ally Panasonic might help pull it off with their large contributions. The factory's completion date is 2018, and the main reason for its construction will be to supply Tesla's forthcoming line of vehicles with lithium ion batteries. By doubling the world's supply of these batteries, Tesla can sell the model 3 for an estimated 35 grand while still retaining the long-ish range of its predecessor.

This Week's News: Apple Cars, Ocean Cities, Alien Signals

For Starters, a Mammoth Section on Space

Titan, the one planet or moon in our solar system containing liquid that we know of. NASA thinks it can visit the celestial body by 2040, which is why they're designing a giant submarine to explore the ocean of methane covering Titan's surface. According to a report by NASA, the craft will carry out "detailed scientific investigations" to provide "unprecedented knowledge of an extraterrestrial sea". This will include finding the chemical composition of the liquid, locating tides, wind and other phenomena, and understanding what lies at the bottom. To the right is a demonstration video for the awesome-looking sub.

It's pretty well-established that the Kepler space telescope has identified over 30-40 billion earth-sized planets, but recently it's discovered one that lies within a zone capable of supporting life. Kepler-186f, as it's so aptly named, is about 500 light years away from us, and is almost exactly similar in size to our home world. Many have called the discovery a major step forward, as it means the possibility for extraterrestrials is much much higher.

There was a lot of controversy this week on the topic of aliens. Many days ago, fear stirred as critics lashed out against the decision to send messages to habitable worlds. Angry that it could end in our destruction, people such as Stephen Hawking condemn any such project as juvenile and lacking reason. However, others are thrilled that it could finally lead to some answers. We've received no signals ever since Project Ozma began back in 1960. The new plan will involve the Arecibo telescope, a device that was used before in attempting to contact alien civilizations. The difference, now, is that astronomers will search for the most likely places where a signal could be interpreted successfully by an intelligent species, beam the signals indefinitely, and encode more complex messages into them. Seth Shostak, the director of SETI, even suggested sending the entire internet to space so human history can be understood in full. He's also not concerned for the fate of humanity; any advanced civilization would've annihilated us by now, if it really needed to. The message is more likely to guide friendly ET's to the right spot, he said.

Europa, our next deep space travel destination. As part of NASA's budget for next year, the mission to come in close contact with Jupiter's icy moon is almost underway. Scientists are overjoyed that the project to have a spacecraft orbit Jupiter will cost 50% less than a more detailed analysis of Europa. Among the spacecraft's tools could be a hi-res camera, and equipment to determine everything about the ice. These experiments may tell us whether Europa contains any organic material on its surface, which is why NASA considers this moon voyage very high-priority. I can see why; even the potential for alien life to flourish on a celestial body would be monumental. It shows we aren't alone in this universe.

SpaceX's satellite DSCOVR was launched successfully this week, and although it landed straight into the water 10 meters off target, many consider it a success including Musk. The near perfect victory in stormy weather tells us the satellite could easily have done well in better climate. Translation: good progress for the company. Eventually, they plan to send it to a distance of 930,000 miles from earth in order to monitor various planetary conditions.

An Apple a Day Keeps Consumers Interested

In order to combat climate change, Apple is partnering up with First Solar to receive electricity on a massive scale. More specifically, a solar farm will be built in CA that will power company HQ as well as Apple's many stores. This huge investment is a response, CEO Tim Cook said, to the limited supply of renewable energy in the state. Their actions will definitely increase the amount for state residents, especially after their $2 billion data centers starts generating kilowatt after kilowatt. Overall, the spending cost stands at a whopping 3 billion dollars. The slow transition to renewables powering all their company locations could reinforce a trend in the IT landscape to go green, after a long history of negative scores on a "environmentally-conscious" assessment, the Greenpeace report.

Some of you might think I'm crazy for this next one, but Apple is building its own electric cars. Kept top secret until now, there are very few details surrounding the project, and even what we do seem to know could be totally false. As Apple often tests products and ideas which mostly die young there is a chance these vehicles will never see the light of day, but here's the scoop:

-Project Titan could begin development of a minivan, for Apple's first ever auto. This makes a little sense because if it turns out to be driverless, passengers can lounge around in all that extra space.
-Executives traveled to Austria to meet with car manufacturers, and several staff like Marc Newson have previous experience with cars. The sincerity of the iCar announcement holds weight with these facts alone.

-If Apple's newest brainchild comes to life, we can expect for it to arrive with a bang, just as the iPhone had with its groundbreaking features in the smartphone industry. Such is the Apple way.
-Employees with a variety of roles for the company will be "poached" or removed from their position to form a 1,000 person team that specializes in iCar R&D. Vice President Steve Zadesky will lead the group.
-That's about it. I'm really interested to see how this will turn out. Will it have Siri 2.0 for voice command, driverless capabilities, or iPhone-compatible driving/door locking controls? What about unbreakable mirrors? Shiny tires? These questions will go unanswered for a long time; the product release won't be for several years. Insert sad face.

Another Step Towards Mind/Machine Symbiosis

Before I say anything, watch this video. Now you may have seen something like this before, and while it's true that this prosthetic shares many things with earlier exoskeletons, nothing comes close to the drive and vision of the DARPA firm behind its development. With their recently awarded contract, DEKA plans to create a program that "provides sensation like a natural hand". In the video above, you can see an amputee controlling movement of his robotic arm to grab hold of slippery objects, a task that requires complex motor functions. All that's left for this prosthetic is refined mechanics, mind-controlled movements, and touch feedback for the user. Maybe a smooth outer shell while they're at it. Currently in phase 1, the metal arms will enter the home and work out the kinks in four years during phase 2. My only question is: when will it become so advanced that normal people will opt for it?

How Renewables Will Soon Enter Your Home

Tesla Motors is not just a car company anymore. The CEO and a couple other executives announced they'd be selling affordable lithium-ion batteries to American families within the next year, with a product unveiling just a couple months away. With California's growing megadrought problem, we can never be too careful. There are two reasons why energy storage for a household can benefit homeowners. For starters, it allows them to refill their personal energy reservoir at times when it's relatively cheap to do so, for use later. Another is that it provides them with emergency reserve in the case of a natural disaster or temporary sun block. The new suburban landscape is changing, and as consumers decide to generate their own electricity, urban utilities will only continue to lose power and relevance

First Glimpse of a Leading Tech Firm's Agility Bot

Boston Dynamics released a video of their newest quadruped hunk of metal "Spot". Unlike its forebears, Spot is powered by a battery and has ditched the engine. This is a clear given, but the improvements made in their latest success will set the standard for future BD projects. During the video you can see that the robot has no trouble sprinting on all types of terrain, moving swiftly up hills and jogging at a consistent pace. What the video doesn't tell us, though, is what this thing could be used for and who will own it upon completion. One little detail that could reveal its purpose, although it's mere speculation, is the configuration of its knees. Previous robots had forward or backwards facing kneecaps depending on the skill it was built to perform; Spots' seem to be configured for agility.

Japanese Seatown Gets Some Major Consideration

To accommodate the global climate's devastating changes as of late, the rise in sea level and a plethora of other human issues, a Japanese company is set on moving civilization down to the ocean's watery depths. Declaring that construction could be finished by 2035, the company plans on making it eco-friendly, architecturally marvelous, and every bit as enjoyable as a lifestyle on dry land. The underwater city is projected to fit 5K civilians into a main structure half a mile long with several facilities surrounding it including hotels, research centers, and submarine rentals (that last one's a maybe). I agree that this could really work, and would be a great opportunity to adapt to changing circumstances while at the same time studying the ocean and its many mysteries at a closer distance. Below you can get an idea of just how beautiful it will look:

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This week's news was a bit of a wake-up call for me. I learned that the combined efforts of several countries when it comes to climate change is a formidable force indeed, but whether that is enough to overturn the devastating effects of global warming and CO2 emission, cannot be determined with present knowledge. Stuff like Japanese underwater cities, American states increasingly accepting the profitability of renewable energies (Carolinas, for example), and Apple's forward-seeking prospects all point toward progress, or so it seems. Some people even think the technological singularity arriving sometime this century could nullify any future problems we may face, while others believe it is best to just abandon this world, slowly, in the hopes that another planet out there could serve as our home. In other stories, particularly the Spot reveal by BD, I got a similar taste of the crazy whacko stuff happening everyday. Nothing out of the ordinary. Thanks for tuning in! Next blog I will try to shorten the length of paragraphs for more efficient viewing.

Everything To Know About NYC's Free Wi-Fi Pylons

Late last year, NYC announced its plans to install giant internet pylons around the city, providing insanely fast Wi-Fi, charging stations, and telephones for free international calls. Now in February, we know how they'll look, when they'll be built, and what exactly they can offer. Below is a quick guide so you can have a better sense of this amazing future achievement just waiting to happen.

A great addition to the city landscape, kiosks or "Links" will be constructed to serve as hotspots for everyday citizens, tourists, and even the homeless. What's remarkable is that the construction company is actually hoping to generate money from this free service project, initially through ads.

This is what they'll probably look like:

CityBridge, a partnership between four firms, is behind the manufacturing and distribution of Links. They're telling us they could start appearing around different areas as early as quarter 4 of 2015, however full implementation is not expected until 2027. After the design and look is approved by the New York Public Design commission, CityBridge can begin installation. Here's their to-do list for the next 1.5 years:

Four years later:

Apparently, the four corporations have spent $200 million in order to build a fiber optic network, necessary for gigabit speed, to all five boroughs of NYC.

At this point you might be wondering: will LinkNYC try and track my position around the city? It's hard to tell right now, but if so, the upside is that the blind could know where they are, and be directed t to various locations without help from strangers. Besides, we can't really complain about a free service.

I see this bold plan as a positive step forward. It really seems like an interconnected atmosphere is emerging; individuals are brought closer than they ever have to the places in which they live. By midcentury, what can we expect to see in a casual walk down a few blocks? Wi-Fi kiosks lining the whole street, tens of drones monitoring for safety, green architecture, self-cleaning sidewalks, super-efficient lampposts? It's mind-boggling stuff, and this could just be the start.

A question I still have is how far the Links will be spaced apart along city streets, because only 256 people can be connected to each hub at a time, and when it's crowded, some residents might be left out. Another is, will the ads featured on our smart devices during connection be excessive? A major source of CB's revenue will be advertisements, which means they will conceive of every possible way to focus our gaze on colorful posters and flashing money traps. Also, can other U.S. cities expect similar projects to enter their districts and suburbs? Does the likelihood of widespread adoption hinge on LinkNYC's success? We can only make guesses for the time being, but you can definitely expect to see them popping up in condensed areas this year.

It's finally, finally happening.

This Week's News: Dark Matter, Microhousing, And Tesla Apps

The Connected Urban Centers Of The Future

Designated bike lanes in Europe are almost underway. To be more precise, a London project is just months away from beginning construction of protected biking areas adjacent to the roadway. This will hopefully ensure the safety of commuters as they move across the city, and as of late, their numbers have only been growing. Peter Walker, a popular blogger, said it will make the city "immediately more appealing", and I agree. The high price investment of 1 billion dollars in this construction project is aimed at accommodating robust lifestyles, boosting the biker population, and creating a healthy atmosphere with less traffic. I feel it's a good indicator of the positive change we're about to face across the world, as urban centers increasingly find ways to connect individuals with its landscape while reducing fossil fuel emissions.

One of Manhattan's piers is about to undergo major renovations. A popular site for recreation, Pier 54 has had to rely on philanthropy to keep its facilities running ever since its inception in the 80's. To keep the support structure from rotting, park managers knew a big donation was necessary, so they turned to Barry Diller, chairman of IAC. With his 9-figure offering, Diller plans to completely redesign the park layout, adding new features including performances areas, tons of trees, and a beautiful walkway for pedestrians and bikers. The best part? It will be its own island.

This latest project calls attention to a recent movement that's seen the rich taking control of the urban landscape and recreating it to their liking, so all can benefit. Some refer to them as "independent managers", and they've done some serious work in reconstructing our town attractions. Places like NY, Dallas and Washington D.C. have seen the most of it. However there is a downside, as poor neighborhoods aren't given enough attention by wealthy donors, hence the widening and ever so palpable class division. Needless to say, the type of change brought about by these extreme alterations to city environments is amazing to behold. As these areas continue to pop up around the country, I believe it will have a positive effect on the city atmosphere, despite the negatives sure to arrive with them.

Another significant shift I feel is going to affect the majority of us is a radical redesign of urban housing to meet the needs of the many: all the people who've now abandoned their 50's-esque dream of a nice, large household, now in favor of compact quarters. This might seem far off but the news for this week is that nonprofit visionary team Urban Land Institute (ULI) has released its groundbreaking cityscape blueprint for the coming years, with an initial goal of impacting NYC and later the rest of the country. Here is a summary below:

Dubbed "microunits", the housing apartments are slimming to a size that is not too uncomfortable, but small enough to cramp everyone together- about 300 feet. The name will also change over time, they're hoping. They won't have any conventional ovens, but based on a survey, residents said they'd be fine with just a fridge and a microwave. In order to save additional space, ULI will promise nearby spots to socialize outside the home cube, such as gyms and roof decks. Lastly, the apartments will be built in a way that's easy to combine adjacent units together, so people can enjoy them more in case they lose favor with the crowd.

^ micro-unit development, promotional video

All About Fossil Fuels...Emphasis On Fossil

Through a recently generated color graph, we are able to tell that some renewable energies are becoming more efficient and dropping slowly in price. The two kinds of energies facing the biggest price decline are wind and solar, and as the graph shows, their ratios of price-of-construction to electricity generated has dropped. This metric is called the "levelized cost" and is often used to show the productivity of energy generators, and also how quickly they're progressing. Unfortunately, not many others have noticed improvement, but the good news is that there is a noticeable dent in the fossil fuel market thanks to the energies that represent the movement forward.

In other news, a group of international experts on renewable energy are contacting national governments so an agreement can be made to work towards sustainable living. As in, complete 100% global reliance. Collectively called the IEAC, they've successfully advised over two dozen counties to consider changing energy use and management. Another think tank, Rocky Mountain Institute, predicts it can "add another 60GW of solar and wind capacity to the US grid by 2035", at the latest. What I admire most about both their efforts is that it's all for a single purpose that is clearly recognized but not easily achieved. We'll certainly be hearing more from them, I'm sure.

Saving Lives With Genetics And Bots

You've probably all heard this already, but for the sake of consistency, I'll include it in my post. It's just that amazing.

So, that thing about 3 parents giving birth to one child has just become legal in a landslide 3:1 voting victory. It can still be revoked, however. The recent voting only took place in the House of Commons, with the next step being in the House of Lords. It's called mitochondrial donation, and in case you only read the headlines on a Thursday morning, the purpose of these procedures will be to eliminate mitochondria-related diseases which are passed on to offspring, and can't be cured. A Dr. Samuel Pang working for the Reproductive Science Center said that the mitochondrial DNA added would not represent more than a "fraction of one percent" of the child's genome, so it's not like the child's true identity will be split into exact thirds. The procedure will only eliminate the need for concern by implementing some mitochondrial DNA that won't pose a threat to the child's health. The ethics involved are hard to assess, but as many as 150 infant lives could be saved every year if this goes into effect without major opposition. For me, that is enough to continue the practice. I am interested what others will have to say.

A Navy EXPO showcased a firefighting robot this week, as it completed a series of tasks critical in dangerous situations where large fires could compromise the safety of a crew aboard U.S. vessels. Apparently, it performed well at maneuvering uneven surfaces, seeing objects through smoke, and using equipment to water down blazing infernos in its path. "SAFFiR", or so scientists have called it, is a research project put to life, and although much progress has yet to be achieved, it's a shining example of what's being done to put humans out of harms way. Future revisions will focus on allowing SAFFiR to work longer, move faster and think more clearly, while also accomplishing a range of other tasks.

At the University or Manchester, a collection of computers hooked up to existing technology can now access a database of medical info, create hypotheses out of thin air, and then perform the experiment entirely on its own, with minimal human input required. "Eve" the robot was apparently designed to screen compounds at a rate vastly superior to human labor. For example, when it was shown an anti-cancer drug (TNP 470) the machine repurposed it and found another potential use, based on a list of functions accumulated after careful analysis.

Tesla's Got A Remote, And Uber Has Plans

A Tesla app for the Apple Watch could be arriving this year. Seen originally as a prototype during an event where the goal to to show the Watch's capabilities, it is now being considered for full development after the crowd was more than pleased. Limitations like the microphone being disabled during use are minor, developers said, when compared to its many functions including locking car doors, turning on headlights and monitoring battery life. Eleks, the producer, hopes to continue progress on the wearables feature, despite concern for hacks. Check out their video to the right:

A partnership will form between Carnegie Mellon, from which a few dozen techies have been borrowed, and Uber, the company planning to build its very own driverless vehicles. For anyone that's unaware, Uber is a ride-sharing service; that has mostly been its goal since day one. And now it wants to lead the charge for the future of automobiles. But that makes sense, if you think about it. I just hadn't thought the initiative would start this soon. CEO Travis Kalanick said their company always intended to make the slow but meaningful transition at some point. The reason is that Uber always wants to make a profit, just like any other corporation, but it has to pay the drivers a hefty sum. By removing the need for humans operating taxis, Uber can make some serious cash -up to 80% more than before- however that would only exacerbate the criticism that it's gotten for lacking an interest in their driver's well-being. Taking place at the Uber Advanced Technologies Center, the scientists have already begun work, but it's anyone guess when they might finish.

Dark Matter, Ceres, And Space Elevators

There is little known about dark matter, and as far as we know, there is a chance it doesn't even exist. As it might compose nearly 4/5 of our universe, there is every reason to understand it as best we can, so why wait? Researchers at the University of Southampton are asking the same question; proposing the existence of a particle that could help explain dark matter, the goal of demystifying this elusive substance just got a tad closer to completion. In a new experiment, they'll try to send a nanoparticle into a wave of dark matter, track its position, and notice any behavior that could point to some answers. With the failure of the Large Hadron Collider to discover any new physics, the results of their study could prove immensely helpful in our understanding of a material that makes up the majority of reality as we know it. Think about that for a second.

Next topic. Space elevators. Many are saying they might be crucial in the near future, as we can't rely on rockets to constantly transport millions of humans and tons of supplies between planetary bodies. The long term investment would be just too damn high, and there needs to be another solution. Luckily, this idea is being considered quite a lot these days. Construction could begin in the next decade, but I have my doubts. NASA will offer over a million dollars to any team capable of providing a list of the necessary building materials. In the 90's, a mane by the name of Bradley Edward already compiled his master plan for how it would happen: a ground-based laser beam for power, cable made from ultra strong nanotubes, and an elevator car reaching 100,000 kilometers into the sky, with stations lining it for passengers to exit and travel to their favorite vacation spot.

But it's not all fun and games quite yet. Can you imagine how much damage a meteorite collision could cause? Also, who should own the structure? These are just some of the concerns people are addressing as they tackle this huge issue. By the way, that ten year prediction from before is so optimistic that I almost didn't mention it, because the most pressing issue seems to be the inability for carbon nanotubes acting as the cable to quickly dodge incoming space rock and other debris. A working plan may be decades away. Ultimately, though, I think the takeaway will be worth all the effort. If you're curious about more kinks NASA and others will have to work out, this is the go-to place.

A 2007 mission by NASA sent a probe, Dawn, to observe dwarf planets and asteroids in our solar system. Recently, it took shots of Ceres that are some of the most detailed to date. Future images will be sharper, and might reveal what that media-hyped "white blob" really is. In the coming weeks, we can expect to learn more about this icy little world as Dawn enters its orbit in March. Seen as an important tool in gathering data about planetary formation, Dawn will be used by astronomers to explore the asteroid belt and maybe explain why Earth got to be the way it is. For a better overview, and a little history, refer here.
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I was honestly impressed by how much there was to cover for this week. So much to write...do you think it was too much? Feel free to let me know, and stay tuned! Another short post coming later today

Ending January With a Crapload of Discoveries

Hey everyone. Just finished this comprehensive weekly overview of the coolest things to know about (in my opinion). But I'm still not sure how I want my future posts to look. Whether they'll retain this format or be divided into more digestible, daily articles is still undecided, but I appreciate the feedback and hope you can continue to enjoy some of my thoughts.

Obama, Telomeres & Your Future

Scientists and researchers at the Stanford Medical Center were able to extend telomeres in cultured human cells sometime last week. For the biologically disinclined, telomeres are the end parts of chromosomes that consist of nucleotide base pairs and allow for cell division. Over time, they shrink and that's partly what causes us to age. We call this senescence, and it's going to affect all of us at some point.

To combat this natural process, they delivered a special mRNA that could extend telomeres to human cells, and these cells ended up multiplying 40 more times than untreated cells, a truly astounding result. The extra 40 divisions equates to 10% longer telomeres, as well as longer lifespans for any organism subjected to the treatment, but that will only be the case if and when this technology is perfected. At present, there is no guarantee the telomeres can sustain this atypical behavior for a long enough time to mean anything for our species, but the researchers are hopeful that this is the first step in a positive direction. The future of health and medicine could turn out to be more wondrous than we ever could've expected.

In other biomedical news, president Obama recently gave a talk to a large audience full of well-known thinkers and doers, including the director of NIH, Francis Collins. Obama's talk gave mention to a new initiative that will collect genetic data from a million or so participants in order to personalize medical treatment for various diseases that are best fought when the individual's specific illnesses are taken into consideration.

Obama and the White House plan to spend hundreds of millions to pay for the consortium, and also for various corporations to go about gathering information in their respective fields. Dr. Collins said the initiative is now possible, after several decades of waiting, because of "advances in cell biology, as well as a sharp decline in the cost of DNA sequencing". I am excited about this new executive goal, which is finally awakening during a time when the US targets disease as if everyone is the same and should expect similar treatment, because it could mean a future that is more aware of our personal symptoms, and fully capable of putting an end to them in the most efficient way possible. Watch his speech here!

Becky, Look At That Bot

Boston Dynamics, a leading robotics firm, is at it again. Their newly featured, human-size robot, Atlas, has broken free from its chain and can finally move around without being tethered to the wall or any other surface. It's now powered by a heavy lithium-ion battery, and in order to amble forward without being weighted down, the majority of its predecessor's metal parts have been removed or replaced with plastics. A number of additional modifications have been made, including reduced noisiness, greater dexterity, and added strength. These upgrades will all come in handy when Atlas enters the DARPA Robotics Challenge this June, a competition to prepare nonhuman workers for natural disaster response. In the case of a high-magnitude earthquake, you may not think robot rescue teams fit the bill quite yet, but it's important to progress forward to reach that point, so survivors are not as reliant on humans with limited capabilities in a disaster setting. See how much progress was made in the video above.

In light of all that's happening to mobile machines these days, Bill Gates has announced he is worried about artificial intelligence. I can't blame him; the actions of super advanced beings are beyond our ability to comprehend. It's a matter of opinion at this point as to what they will do and how we'll be affected. There are those who believe that with added intelligence, comes a greater sense of morality, and a wider range of emotions. This would eliminate the need for concern, as a higher consciousness would automatically treat all life with respect and compassion. Nonetheless, I still think that designing an ultra complex being embedded with free will could end in our destruction, just like an ant hill is irrelevant in the construction of a skyscraper, so it's reasonable to approach this issue with caution.

Peering Deeper Into Space

This week was a big week for space, with companies making strides in visiting other planets, and the discovery of an ancient solar system clouding my news feed. It was just terrific, as space travel and astronomy are among my favorite topics of interest. So, without further ado, I present to you some of the best astronaut bedtime tales of the past 7 days.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have a new concept for a telescope, the "Aragoscope", that could capture images a thousand times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope. Webster Cash, the professor behind the project, pointed out that it could allow physicists to better understand the properties of black hole singularities through photography, but that's not the only benefit to switching to the Aragoscope. Apparently, it will make use of lightweight optics to account for a dramatically reduced cost of launching it into space. Their idea, if it passes phase 2 in NASA's Innovative Advanced Concept Program, will receive a cash reward alongside five other visionary teams. Let's hope their telescope can change how we see the universe for the better, with crisp and detailed shots of the cosmos at a fraction of the original cost.

While it might be amazing just to stare at the stars, others are focusing on visiting them. The Google Lunar XPrize is accomplishing just that; five companies were awarded millions in cash prizes this week for their contributions to a global effort in landing another spacecraft on the moon. Anyone can apply before 2016 is over, and teams can send up their valued work at any time they see fit. The five major contestants were from four countries around the world- Germany, the U.S., Japan and India- and demonstrated their progress so far in the competitive race to safely fly a lander to the lunar surface and take hi-res video. The entire reason for these efforts, you might be wondering, is to rekindle interest in space exploration, which is important if we are to survive for very long as a species.

Using asterooseismology and other techniques to listen to sound waves, an international group of researchers and astrophysicists were able to determine the age of a solar system, named Kepler-444, with five planets smaller than earth. The miraculousness of this discovery is not that it's insanely old -11 billions years- but rather what its age suggests. The fact that Earth-like planets existed in the universe eons before our own suggests the possibility of alien life inhabiting at least a few of them. In the early stages of the universe, when metals were scarce, cosmic neighborhoods such as the one found by the Kepler space telescope sprang into being, boosting the chances of extraterrestrials inhabiting some areas of this vast, undiscovered expanse we call home. Now having realized that there lie places in our relative vicinity that could be teeming with unknown creatures because their planets are in the habitable zone, I am thrilled to hear about any follow-ups to this find, but still confused why we haven't had contact yet. It's fair to say that out of a pool of alien civilizations, at least one must emerge victorious, and given this amount of time to flourish and develop, they should've colonized the Galaxy by now. So why is the night sky as silent as ever? I'll leave that question open to debate. If you want to learn more, check out the informational video.

Just last Monday, a medium-size asteroid called 2004 BL86 passed by earth only three times the distance from the moon to our planet, which on a cosmic scale is dangerously close. Although there was no risk of anyone getting injured, it's still a frightening reminder of how susceptible we are to astronomical occurrences that we can't control. The next predicted flyby? 2027, and that's when the asteroid is within the moon's orbit. Scientists are working on mapping its precise shape and size, to better prepare for an asteroid retrieval mission that will take place in the near future, in order to analyze some of the first samples of space rock.

The threat of a space rock collision is very low, but if something like that were to occur, it could devastate entire counties. Millions would die depending on the impact location. It is therefore important for us to have better tracking methods, but even if advanced telescopes could locate every asteroid, we would still be in one place hoping for our continued survival. With a much larger impact occurring every half a million years (NatGeo), it may seem like a distant and meaningless event, but our descendants will not feel the same way. It is critical for our species to branch out and colonize the far reaches of space, including other planets and even other solar systems.

Energico Fantastico

Nissan, one of several electric automobile manufacturers, has declared its efforts to install up to 1K new charging stations around America, in places that have not been disclosed to the public. The company joins several others such as BMW and Tesla on a mission to increase the ease of use for electric car users, and announced they will be compatible for most drivers by including both types of chargers on the market. They hope to expand their stations, which are currently only occupying a handful of urban centers, to over two dozen large American cities before 2015 is over.

The U.S. federal government is allowing a $2 billion transmission line to be built that will span two western states, providing jobs for thousands of workers and electricity for millions of homes. The project, officially dubbed the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, will harness the power of renewable energy sources to battle the debilitating near term effects of man-made climate change. However, not everyone is hunky dory with the go-ahead. U.S. Representative Steve Pearce is not happy with the recent plan to compromise national defense and destroy New Mexico's historic sites. What he forgets, though, is that renewable energy and a new grid infrastructure are also critical to national security. Troops are not the whole story.

Solar panels are constantly undergoing changes. This week witnessed a significant one, and the benefits will be far-reaching. A super-thin mineral called Perovskite is about to replace the traditional silicon-y material, and can efficiently convert solar to usable electricity; up to 50% more productive than original panels. At a cheaper price, too, the new tech might enter third world countries where it can also serve as a window shade for poverty-stricken families. To begin industrial-scale production, though, more needs to be understood through various tests and closer examinations. Despite this minor setback, the future of photovoltaic energy looks promising as we incrementally turn our backs to fossil fuels. Seriously, I can't wait.