This Week's News: Force Fields, Asteroid Missions, FB Drones

A new policy in France has taken root (pun intended), as Parliament is now prohibiting commercial buildings from remaining active if they don't contain solar panels or green plants on their rooftops. The new approach to city design and appearance is said to be a tremendous step towards a complete overhaul of contemporary, energy-wasting cities and towns. The plants, people believe, could serve as a home for animal life, save energy used to heat or cool buildings, and would add a sort of vibrancy to city life that hasn't existed before. A "concrete jungle" by the words of some activists. Can you imagine how beautiful a sight it would be to walk through downtown and notice all the birds with their nests just above your heads?

Of course, solar panels are the better option as they could dramatically reduce electricity bills. All in all, I see this course of action as a very positive one, as it could one day enter residential districts and  redefine how we enjoy our lifestyles within city walls.

Don't get too excited yet, because it's not what you may think but Elon Musk has recently unveiled that in the coming months Tesla will add a self-driving feature to its existing fleet of cars, the Model S. The sensors are already there, and now the CEO has announced they will serve their function. "We can basically go between San Francisco and Seattle without the driver doing anything", Musk said, but that only applies to drivers who are constantly on highways, which is an impossible scenario. Besides, it's illegal in most US roads as of now. Rather, driver input is still required to move past neighborhoods and other zones the company has deemed unsafe for an autonomous vehicle to cross over. That means private property is the only place left to switch the car to autopilot, but soon this technology could fulfill Musk's vision of a truly autonomous system capable of interstate travel. One day...


NASA And Its Many, Many Expeditions

Okay, this next one is just pure awesome. NASA has a bold idea in mind: to send a vehicle to a nearby asteroid, remove a large chunk, and ferry it into the moons orbit, after which the manned Orion spacecraft will study it intently. Yes, our Moon is about to have its own, and this plan is critical for many reasons. For one thing, the Asteroid Redirect Mission will educate us about the complexities of space, and prepare us for an even bigger adventure to the Red Planet some decades from now. In addition astronauts can test the new spacesuits, study samples of rock, and come up with better disaster avoidance strategies. Sadly, though, we will have to wait six years for the first stage of the voyage to be completed as the spacecraft sends the chunk to our moon. For a detailed video explanation, look no further than here.

Similar to the asteroid chunk mission proposed by NASA, the space corporation has also made public their intent to send a human to space and test his endurance. Notably, the man for the job has a twin who will reside on Earth so the effects of living in space can be observed. Scott Kelly, the lab rat, has had previous experience with living on the ISS, but this one-year mission is on a whole other scale of difficulty. Vision problems and muscular atrophy are just a few of the many issues that result from an extended stay in space, which is why NASA scientists want to conduct 400 tests to measure Scott's health and compare it to his brothers'. This will be for purposes of determining whether astronauts on longer missions are capable of pulling it off.

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's...Drones

Next topic: drones. These days in America, they're pretty hard to fly for commercial purposes with all these regulations floating about. Previous attempts by the Federal Aviation Administration to minimize the process of making it accessible still called for a 2-month waiting period, which is very inefficient. Simply, new policies take out this months long wait, allowing operators with section 333 exemptions to immediately fly their babies no higher than 200 feet, within sight, and during the day. Obviously things could be better, which is why Amazon voiced its frustration at the limitations imposed by the FAA. Amazon's Prime Air, a service that could deliver small packages to customers quickly and efficiently, is a future prospect that VP of public policy Paul Misener believes won't occur until the FAA realizes their strict regulations are damaging the potential for a new era of rapid and safe customer-delivery interaction.

You might not think it at first, but Facebook is investing its time in huge ass drones that can deliver Internet access around the world. Covered in solar panels, the drones can sustain altitude at a height of 60,000 ft for months on end. Their first test took place in Britain, a hotspot for drone activity. The reason it's not in the US, I think, is because of the FAA regulations I just covered. The recent test flights are similar to Project Loon in that they're part of a larger goal called the Internet.org initiative to connect everyone in rural areas, which is no easy feat. Zuckerberg is keenly aware that it's crucial to expand FB's user base with drones that will one day soar 17 miles above the ground. Although this goal is a bit self-centered, I see it possessing many unintended benefits, such as a globally interconnected society that can finally solve problems as a collective group.


Force Fields, Moon Oceans And More

Remember in episode I of Star Wars, where force fields were used to deflect incoming bullets by the droid army? This concept has been confined to science fiction for a very long time, but a new patent granted to Boeing could change that. A so-called "shockwave attenuation system", when it's developed by the military manufacturer, could sense a nearby explosion, detect incoming shockwaves from the blast, and transmit those signals to an arc generator that produces a plasma field just in time to minimize impact. This plasma field can essentially protect a building or other object from the damaging effects of an explosion, but its one downside is that this effect can't run for long because the energy shield would heat the atmosphere surrounding the target to an unbearable level. What's coolest, though, is that in future war settings an entire vehicle or tank could enter a battle with only small injuries to the exterior because of an invisible plasma-generator. Thumbs up for sheer futuristicness.

Want more info on the nitty gritty details? Head over here.

Before I spoil the excitement for the next story, check out the vid:

Alright, you may be wondering, what is this awesome piece of tech and where can I buy one? Well, that piece of tech is Magic Leap, and although you can't buy one yet I can tell it got you thinking. Magic Leap has partnered with Weta Workshop to produce this incredible demo of a future device that can overlay images onto the real world, and as you see, it has a number of potential uses ranging from work to play. We still don't know whether this is an actual demonstration of the gadget or just a reminder that it'll be groundbreaking, but the point is that this 90-second clip generated a huge amount of buzz in mere hours, indicating the headset has a chance of surviving in this soon to be AR-ridden world.

There's an ocean underneath the surface of Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede, and it's ginormous. What's perhaps more fascinating is the way a team of scientists from University of Cologne were able to discover is existence. Joachim Saur, who led the group knew that the Hubble Space Telescope could be used to learn something about the moon's magnetic field because of its aurorae, which are already detectable. Then, because of a special relationship with the presence of a liquid ocean in the interior and these same magnetic fields, the team can even determine how deep the ocean is (60 miles thick) and also how much water it contains. Guesses about the ocean being there have circulated in scientific discussion for decades, but now there is definitely some concrete proof.

Our last story for this week is about CRISPR, a biomedical machine recently capable of editing the human genome in a cost-effective and timely manner. But with every saving grace there is an evil side to top it off. Scientists, although they recognize this technology could one day be used to uncover the field of biology even further and maybe stop diseases, are rightfully afraid that too little is known about it for anyone to start altering our genes. Two problems immediately come to mind: parents going to unethical lengths to design their baby to their liking, and new genetic diseases accidentally arising that could be passed on for generations. If either of those problems manifests, it's going to be damn hard reversing them. Therefore, many scientists are calling for a temporary 'moratorium' or hold on this sort of treatment until much more has been uncovered.

Weekly News: VR Birth, Wooly Mammoth Reborn, and Beamed Energy

 Apologies for the lack of visuals, but Google Blogger is having some difficulties at this time. I can't add any photos but I'll provide links to the video at the bottom...which you should definitely check out.

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An incredible, bold cloning initiative is underway. Back in 2013, a specimen of frozen wooly mammoth was found in Siberia, and now the Korean research team led by Hwang woo-Suk has started to extract DNA from its preserved legs. By taking bone marrow, they said, it could soon be possible to uncover the complexities of a mammoth genome as long as their samples are ideal. This will be the first hopeful step in a series of accomplishments that could end in a fully grown Wooly Manmoth appearing in zoos and even the wild. How their physical abnormalities would adjust at all to such a new environment is beyond me, but you can't deny this'll be a sight to see.

Unless you prefer some exercise, bikes of the future will come in the form of electric-powered, and Jivr is no exception. The wheeled masterpiece boasts some other innovative features like a completely foldable frame, allowing it to fit under your desk, and internal components that connect with your smart devices to share information on the go. Capable of 20mph for up to 20 miles between charges, the JIVR only requires 90 minutes of charging. The team's project is currently raising money on Kickstarter and is considered revolutionary, but sadly it is probably above most people's price range ($3,000).

Wireless energy transmission: the seemingly possible just got a bit more likely. Out of nowhere, a milestone was reached by Japanese scientists who attempted to beam 1.8 KW of energy across a distance of 170 feet, and lo and behold, it was a success! It's being hailed as a breakthrough not because of the forgettable distance, but the significance behind it. What this means is that farms could one day be set up and deployed into space to be used as solar collectors, a prospect that would
dramatically lower our dependency on fossil fuels and complement the growing inclination to explore the solar system and beyond.

To catch up on news stories I read lots of online magazines, and this next one appeared at least twenty times on separate sites. For good reason. The first VR-filmed birth took place on the Samsung Gear headset, and was used by an Australian dad away on a business trip to witness the event. Looking around the room, he was surprised to see his mother there as well, and watching that baby head for the first time must've been an incredible experience. You can tell based on the video they are both overjoyed that his pay job hadn't interfered with one of the greatest moments they will probably ever share together. In the future, I can only imagine how many happy memories will be spared because of a single device that transports the user to anyplace and makes them really feel there.

A breakthrough in 3D printing just arrived thanks to the contributions of Carbon 3D, a miraculous team with a radical new product. The Carbon3D prints material in an atypical way, "continuously growing objects from a pool of resin" which cuts down the production time by 25-100%. Another awesome addition is the consistent reliability of materials to create functioning mechanical properties, one aspect that could go a long ways when placed alongside market competitors. Price is unknown as of now, but through funding C3D has reached $41 million in two years. Check out the scintillating video below and be amazed...

Planning to enter the next DARPA Robotics Challenge, a national event hoping to spur development of semiautonomous robots, the ATRIAS bot is a bipedal behemoth belonging to Oregon State's Robotics Laboratory. Yes, it doesn't really have legs, but Atrias don't care. The bot can stand, but it has to walk in place to keep upright, however it's insanely agile and can stabilize after being kicked, prodded, and coming in contact with dodgeballs. In preparation for the June competition, ATRIAS's parents want its ability to quickly recover to aid the machine in walking on rough terrain without losing balance.

Another big announcement: Tesla will supposedly end "range anxiety" very soon, so EV drivers will no longer stress about losing power on the road with no charging station in sight. It's especially a problem for drivers of the Nissan Leaf and other sub-200 milers, but even the Model 3 sedan could do with a firmware update. Some have speculated this could take the form of a warning system embedded in the car which reminds you to charge up based on the length of your route, while others believe it could involve a 15 mile reserve that activates at the flip of a switch.

When strokes begin to occur in humans, there is often one procedure that is carried out to return bodily functions to normal, and that is the administering of a protein called tPA that breaks down blood clots which form and prevent blood from entering the brain to carry out vital tasks. However this leads to excessive bleeding, but a new method could erase this problem and fix the issue a thousand times faster, say some reports (motherboard). Biodegradable nanoparticles cloaked in albumin could quickly avoid the immune system and travel directly to the clot's location. In animal models, tests were carried out at a temperature of 104 degrees F to speed up the breakdown even more, and results were positive. When human trials begin in a few years, considering there is approval, it is possible the age of nanoparticles with medical application just began and won't ever stop.

ATRIAS Dodgeball Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYvrTc3-uVU

Samsung Gear Birth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PpKzYjW7go

JIVR Bike Kickstarter Vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy96yqkl6R4

Carbond#D's Vid:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mMkhVt_IWs4

Next week the problem could be resolved. Sorry again.

Virtual Reality Disneyland and other weekly highlights

A team of colleagues at an institution in Paris were able to implant new memories in mice as they slept. To achieve this amazing feat, they monitored the neurons in the mice whose job when firing off was to remember and understand certain locations from the previous day. While the mice were in a maze, the team used electrodes to track the activity of these "place cells", and later that night used another electrode to associate that location with a reward. The following day the lab mice ran straight to the place it felt would offer a reward of some kind. I'm curious how this will play out in the long run. Sure, changing what mice seem to know is not that unethical, but what about altering human memory? Luckily, noone would be affected unless they voluntarily chose to, and some good can come out of it as well- think about erasing harmful recollections of traumatic events- but the safety of the practice can only exist for so long until someone uses it for bad. So, implications for humans when the time comes somewhere down the road? Monumental.

A solution to dirty drinking water when you're out and about is here, and it's cooler than you might imagine. No, the tech doesn't require separate equipment or heavier bottles, and won't even slow the flow of water. All you need to do is scoop up any liquid and start drinking. That's it. The bottle has an integrated filtering mechanism that operates once you sip. The obviously first demographic who will find use from this is avid hikers. While they're walking, they may want to extinguish their thirst and taste some of the local lake. Now that can be done bacteria-free. Overseas, this has tremendous opportunity to enter the homes of impoverished families whose only source of water is infested with yucky pathogens.

In the near future, Disneyland might create a theme park that exists in virtual reality. Rides could be digitized to the point where it's impossible to distinguish a virtual roller coaster from the real thing. Imagineering lead Bei Yang helped bring this idea to life hoping it would eliminate the problem of long-distance fans missing out on the action, and also keep the actual park running at the same time. "Yes, with VR you can replace some of the experiences at the park, but ultimately we see the park as something that is different", mentioned Yang. He thinks the team can invent a new outlet for Disneyland adventures, while keeping the old one intact by introducing all-new features for the youngsters. It's a magical time indeed.

A research team at TSRI experimenting with a new class of drugs may have discovered an unprecedented way to treat senescence in aging bodies. The drugs are quercetin and dasatinib and fall under "senolytics", the name for a category of drugs that can kill senescent cells that stopped dividing a while ago. The outcome is a healthier body devoid of cells that accumulate over time. In addition, the drugs could also increase exercise capacity in the lab mice, and in older mice delayed age-related symptoms while improving cardiovascular function. More testing needs to be done before human trials begin and side effects are likely to take place, but I can already smell the sweet victory of these drugs and their impact on our health in the ensuing years.

This Week's Highlights: Space Edition

There is lots more hope for GJ 581d's existence than we previously thought. The earth-like planet, a heap of mass fairly close to our own, was disregarded as a mistaken interpretation of star signals just last year, but a reevaluation by astronomers at Queen Mary University uncovered a serious problem with those findings: the statistical techniques which suggested the planet was never there are often used for larger bodies. GJ's small size isn't able to be detected by traditional technology, lead astronomer Dr Guillem said. She believes its rediscovery is significant in two ways: one, its relative proximity at 20 light years away is startling, and two, it's officially ranked as the most earth-like planet to date.

A solution to the oxygen-lacking atmosphere of Mars is slowly coming into focus. As of August last year, NASA expressed its interest in tasking a machine called Moxie to produce adequate oxygen for future space travelers. This will save money and space onboard rockets to the point where billions of dollars can be spared, say MIT scientists working on the project. To create a rich atmosphere of O2, they want to include Moxie in one of the six scientific instruments of a Mars rover slated for launch in 2020. The rover will carry out missions as a sort of follow-up to the discoveries made by its earlier brethren, generating electricity to power Moxie and other important tools. It's a good idea to note that Moxie won't exactly create a breathable atmosphere; instead it will sidestep the issue and generate oxygen in the form of gas tanks. Larger Moxie's might be designed by the 2030's to prepare liquid oxygen, should all go well.

When virtual reality/AR and space travel intertwine, what do you get? A badass collaboration between NASA and Osterhout Design Group (ODG) to create VR goggles for future astronauts, that's what. Early this week, their unwavering dedication to work together on a product that can deliver insane experiences was announced, and it means a lot for the space industry. Imagine have a digital checklist constantly in your line of sight without having to refer to a paper sheet, or having your actions guided by electrical directions telling you how to accurately and efficiently achieve a task. These enhancements are both part of Assisted Reality software, one of many potential uses NASA is considering to meet evolving demands.



A new NASA study is saying water used to exist on Mars' surface in great quantities: enough to cover the whole planet with a depth of 450 feet. As it supposedly existed for longer than the time earth life needed to develop, you might be wondering why there are no extraterrestrials  roaming about. Well, it turns out that when Mars lost its protective atmosphere envelope, all the hydrogen became lost in space and hence, no water could stay to support life. However, the thought that it may have stayed long enough to give way to creatures is as incredible a possibility as it is a good reason to continue pursuing the Red Planet and its many mysteries.