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May 23, 2018

Beams of antimatter spotted blasting towards the ground in hurricanes

Posted by in categories: climatology, particle physics, space

Although Hurricane Patricia was one of the most powerful storms ever recorded, that didn’t stop the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from flying a scientific aircraft right through it. Now, the researchers have reported their findings, including the detection of a beam of antimatter being blasted towards the ground, accompanied by flashes of x-rays and gamma rays.

Scientists discovered terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) in 1994, when orbiting instruments designed to detect deep space gamma ray bursts noticed signals coming from Earth. These were later linked to storms, and after thousands of subsequent observations have come to be seen as normal parts of lightning strikes.

The mechanisms behind these emissions are still shrouded in mystery, but the basic story goes that, first, the strong electric fields in thunderstorms cause electrons to accelerate to almost the speed of light. As these high-energy electrons scatter off other atoms in the air, they accelerate other electrons, quickly creating an avalanche of what are known as “relativistic” electrons.

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May 22, 2018

The Adler Planetarium’s latest Kavli Fulldome lecture explores our planetary experiment

Posted by in category: cosmology

Astronomy.com is for anyone who wants to learn more about astronomy events, cosmology, planets, galaxies, asteroids, astrophotography, the Big Bang, black holes, comets, constellations, eclipses, exoplanets, nebulae, meteors, quasars, observing, telescopes, NASA, Hubble, space missions, stargazing, and more.

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May 22, 2018

Orbits of Jupiter Moons Transformed into Mind-Bending Optical Illusions and Music

Posted by in categories: media & arts, space

System-sounds.com converts the orbits of Jupiter moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Calisto into a mind-bending visual and audio experience.

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May 22, 2018

Triggering Autophagy to Potentially Combat Neurodegenerative Diseases

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, life extension, sustainability

Researchers at Brown University have discovered a way to stimulate cellular autophagy, which is a natural recycling system built into every cell in the body. This has the potential to combat many age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

What is autophagy?

Autophagy means “eating of self” (from Ancient Greek “auto” = self, “phagein” = to devour). Autophagy is how cells break down broken or dysfunctional organelles and proteins in the cell [1,2]. This essentially means that autophagy can consume organelles, such as mitochondria, peroxisomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum, as part of this process. There is also evidence to support that high levels of autophagy are linked to longevity.

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May 22, 2018

Star Wars-inspired flying robots joining space station crew

Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, space

Smart NASA Astrobee robots the size of Jedi training droids will help astronauts on the International Space Station work faster and be more productive.

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May 22, 2018

3D Printers And Robotic Arms: How One Startup Plans To Build Colonies In Space

Posted by in categories: 3D printing, robotics/AI, space

When history’s pilgrims and pioneers arrived in a new territory, they used the land’s natural resources to build their settlements. Space colonists, on the other hand, will have to bring materials from Earth and assemble them on Mars. Andrew Rush, president and CEO of space-based manufacturing firm Made In Space, believes the process of creating off-world infrastructure will be similar to building IKEA furniture. Only the parts will be made with an advanced 3D printer and put together by an autonomous robot.

“We think the future of in-space operation is one of manufacturing and assembly, just like how you built the table you’re sitting on right now,” Rush says. “That table is a multi-material object, and its pieces were all manufactured in different ways. I don’t think space colonies are going to take a different approach.”

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May 22, 2018

Quantum dots made from tea leaves lay waste to lung cancer cells

Posted by in categories: health, quantum physics, solar power, sustainability

Full of antioxidants and vitamins, tea is pretty good for you, and green tea extracts have even been used as effective carriers for cancer drugs. New research led by Swansea University has found a novel way to wring more health benefits out of the stuff, by making quantum dots from tea leaves and using them to slow the growth of lung cancer cells.

Quantum dots are semiconductor particles so small they exhibit strange electrical and optical properties, such as the ability to fluoresce in different colors, or help with certain chemical reactions. Their glowing properties mean they’re showing up in TVs and solar cells, and in medical applications as biomarkers to help doctors precisely locate tumors. They’re also being used to treat cancer, fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria and convert CO2 into liquid fuels.

The problem is, manufacturing them can be a costly and complicated process, and the end results can be toxic. So the Swansea team, along with researchers from Bharathiar University and K. S. Rangasamy College of Technology, set about making quantum dots out of humble tea leaves.

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May 22, 2018

Dealerships trash talk electric cars: study

Posted by in categories: sustainability, transportation

Car dealerships in Nordic countries actively discourage consumers from buying electric vehicles, researchers who conducted an undercover investigation said Monday.

Their findings, published in the peer-reviewed Nature Energy, reveal an overlooked barrier to the sale of electric vehicles, which are expected to play a key role in lowering CO2 emissions and curbing global warming.

Posing as prospective buyers, the researchers made 126 enquiries at 82 dealerships in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland.

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May 22, 2018

Bioquark Inc. — Enterprise NOW! Podcast — Ira Pastor

Posted by in categories: aging, bioengineering, biotech/medical, business, disruptive technology, DNA, economics, finance, futurism, genetics

https://enterprise-now.biz/podcast/blog/ep-96-mother-nature-…ira-pastor

May 22, 2018

France, China, and the EU All Have an AI Strategy. Shouldn’t the US?

Posted by in categories: economics, robotics/AI

France isn’t alone. Last month, the European Union’s executive branch recommended its member states increase their public and private sector investment in AIt also pledged billions in direct research spending. Meanwhile, China laid out its AI plan for global dominance last year, a plan that has also been backed up with massive investment. China’s goal is to lead the world in AI technology by 2030. Around the world, our global economic competitors are taking action on artificial intelligence.


Opinion: Rep. John K. Delaney argues that if the United States wants a prosperous economy, it needs a national plan for artificial intelligence.

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