Is The Venus Project The Next Stage In Human Evolution? – Forbes

The Venus Project

A seismic shift is under way. Against the backdrop of rising temperatures, collapsing ecosystems, and the threat of species extinction,technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are now moving to transform the global order. Indeed, for the first time in our history, we have the tools and technologies to guide and shape our evolution. But what will this future look like?

I recently spoke with Roxanne Meadows and Nathanael Dinwiddie of The Venus Project to better understand their thoughts on the future. As they explain, the status quo is no longer working. Climate change, social inequality, and technological innovation are now disrupting a market-driven society. The key to resolving these global challenges, they suggest, is rooted in aResource Based Economy.

The term Resource Based Economy was first coined by Jacque Fresco, the founder of The Venus Project. Fresco believed that a Resource Based Economy could support the scientific integration of automating technologies (AI and robotics) and engineering systems in providing the highest possible living standards. Meadows and Dinwiddie suggest that this kind of economy is the next stage in human evolution. But what do they mean?

Abstract of city skyscrapers and trees

1. What is The Venus Project?

Meadows and Dinwiddie:The Venus Project is a non-profit organization that presents a new socio-economic model utilizing science and technology. For the past 40 years, we have maintained a 21-acre research center in Venus, Florida. We propose a new scientific foundation in transcending humanitys current problems by testing a new social design for organizing our society as a global operating system.

Taken as a whole, the Venus Project fills the egregious gap between the sciences and the humanities by combining a social philosophy of the future with technical knowledge applied at a global scale to solve the problems of the human condition. Our methodologies are designed to realize the full potential of science and technology to achieve social betterment for all living systems without exception. Our approach to social organization calls for changes in governance, economics, urban planning, education, human relationships, language, and values.

2. We appear to be in the early stages of a massive economic depression. What is your sense of what is happening politically and economically right now?

Meadows and Dinwiddie:We are witnessing an unprecedented political polarization and economic disruption around the world today. The status quo is no longer working. Many people are now beginning to understand how dysfunctional the management of nations, peoples, and resources has been. Human needs and the needs of our environment are far too complex to be managed by political means, arbitrary economic direction, or an elite without the relevant understanding of science and technology.

Compounding this problem, nature operates as a closed-loop system, but we do not. We extract resources without replenishing them, accumulate waste materials without recycling them, and we pollute our air, water, and food crops for the need to maintain competitive profit margins. There are many other factors converging at once besides the pandemic, all of which contribute to the systems unrest.

walkway in office park,

3. Younger generations seem disaffected with Capitalism. Could you describe your vision of a post-scarcity society?

Meadows and Dinwiddie:The Venus Project recognizes that if we utilize a global systems approach as a basis for organizing and managing resources, we can design a much more humane environment for all. Our goal is to advance the health and the protection of the ecosystem, as opposed to the accumulation of wealth, property, and power. We do not have enough money to fulfill the needs of the worlds people, but we do have enough resources, if wisely managed. Ultimately, it is not money that people need, but unencumbered access to the necessities of life and self actualization.

Accomplishing this is a technical and engineering challenge requiring massive coordination by transdisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists in managing the Earths resources within its carrying capacity. This kind of scientific endeavor would eliminate the vicious rivalries over scarce resources and, in turn, generate very different behavior amongst people.

Briefly, this is what Jacque Fresco, founder of The Venus Project, termed a Resource Based Economy. This is a necessary step for humanitys evolution. It could be thought of as a new science, a science of Earth Management where, by necessity, all of Earths resources become the common heritage of all the worlds people.

4. How does the Venus Project differ from Socialism or Communism?

Meadows and Dinwiddie:Rather than worker revolts and the forcible overthrow of the system (Communism), or the redistribution of capital (Socialism), The Venus Project approaches social change as a process of guided evolution. In our view, the challenges before us are a matter of engineering and design. The Venus Project calls for an experimental analysis of a new social system. This system is unlike any communist revolution, utopian commune, or coup dtat tried in the past.

In our view, the fundamental issue limiting social management in the past has been the lack of an effective data-driven methodology for evaluating and improving the systems functioning. Full-scale blanket application of social policies to vast geographic areas be it through revolution or legislation without a means for evaluating their effectiveness, follows from an approach heavy in ideology but short in scientific method. The Venus Project calls for iterative prototyping of cities that we take as the unit of analysis in validating or falsifying hypotheses. All of this begins with testing a prototype, not a revolution.

Although Karl Marx did envision a society wherein money, private property, and social hierarchy were abolished, he could not begin to imagine how to implement this system at a technical level. In contrast to Communism, The Venus Project calls for the total redesign of cities (transportation, distribution, manufacturing, recycling, infrastructure) to produce abundance of goods and services. This is achieved through automation and optimized infrastructural efficiency.

Robotic Arms controlled by smart device

5. What role does technology and automation play in The Venus Project?

Meadows and Dinwiddie:For the first time in history, we have the tools and technology to guide and shape our evolution. To accomplish this, The Venus Project advocates the humane and intelligent use of technology and the methods of science directed toward the well-being of all people and the environment which sustains all life.

In our view, technology and automation should be strictly used for social betterment and to eliminate repetitive, dangerous and monotonous work. If automation displaces a job, for example, that means all people would gain more access to the products those machines produce. The necessities of life are distributed without a fee with the aim of expanding to all goods and services. Consequently, there is no threat resulting from technological labor displacement. On the contrary, technology and automation have the potential for enhancing the worlds standard of living, enabling people to learn, spend time with their families, travel, and confront the new frontier of challenges in improving the resilience of the system as a whole.

6. How do you envision utilizing AI in decision-making?

Meadows and Dinwiddie:Applying the methods of science and technology (including AI) to the operation of the worlds societies will lead to a substantially more reliable functioning of support systems than we have today. Homelessness, starvation, war, and environmental degradation are consequences of todays political and economic approaches to decision-making. A Resource Based Economy operates within a unified systems approach that utilizes the methods of science and AI to arrive at the most appropriate decisions at any given time. Unlike todays implementation of technology, this new approach would be carefully carried out with the utmost human and environmental concern. The real-time influx of quantitative and qualitative data would provide real-time feedback, enabling humanity to constantly observe and continually improve the operation of the system over time.

Future city

7. What are the future goals of The Venus Project?

Meadows and Dinwiddie:At present, we are focused on formalizing and systematizing the body of work of The Venus Projects founder, Jacque Fresco. In an age that is sorely lacking an approach updated to current knowledge and capability, we enter uncharted territory with the methods of science to help us through. This is the crucial job that no one has attempted, until now.

In the short term, we are focused on a systems approach to organize a holistic understanding of the natural world and human culture. This involves understanding economics and human social systems in the broader contexts of Earth processes and ecosystems, and communicating this understanding through books, videos, the internet, podcasts, transmedia storytelling, and course curricula.

In the mid-term, we aim to fulfill the desperate need for the strategic coordination of consilience by synthesizing the knowledge of academia and the know-how of industry. This network of intelligence will produce a transdisciplinary research agenda, research program, and global theory of change. Constructing a new planning center will function as a living lab and think tank devoted to designing the first prototype city.

In the long term, The Venus Project hopes to see the construction of new prototype cities for the purpose of testing the hypothesis of a holistic, technical design-solution for a social system. Iterations of these prototypes will form a worldwide network of cities. The study of these cities will function as the basis for a science of Earth management, the models of which guide the intelligent allocation of resources for the purpose of optimizing civilization to adapt and evolve in relationship with an Earth ecology.

There is a lot to consider and we welcome participation in the development of such a system.

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Is The Venus Project The Next Stage In Human Evolution? - Forbes

COVID-19 has catalysed the evolution of digital finance | Financial Services – FinTech Magazine – The FinTech & InsurTech Platform

Although digital technology was permeating the payments space prior to the pandemic, few would contend that changes havent now been accelerated.

What was once an opportunity for tech companies to transform the relationship between consumers and the financial institutions that served them has become a necessity, particularly in light of the impracticality of cash when trying to prevent the spread of infection.

Reflecting on how the sector has evolved, Vaduvur Bharghavan, President and CEO of card app platform Ondot, told FinTech Magazine, Apple Card was the first to enter and really set the expectation for what a modern, digital-first card should be: get a card quickly, understand spending clearly, manage your account on-the-go, and engage with perks and offers.

Google and Samsung have built on these experiences, but could be even more disruptive. Google is looking beyond just one card portfolio and has already signed eight financial institutions with more expected, meaning they could try to become a platform for banking rather than just a card portfolio.

Furthermore, following the announcement of Samsungs new Pay Card (in collaboration with Curve), Conor Pierce, Corporate VP of Samsung UK & Ireland, intimated that the development was a direct attempt at reconciling consumer needs with current socio-economic conditions:

Now, more than ever, people need a secure payment solution they can rely on. Were excited to be able to put the control back into our customers hands by launching Samsung Pay Card, he said.

However, the developments dont stop at payments and transactions; fintech startup PrizePool recently made headlines when it raised US$4.25m for its savings account platform which also allowed customers to win monthly cash prizes of up to $50k.

Now more than ever, Americans need to be saving money to protect their future, commented Frank Chien, Co-Founder and CEO. We know that saving can be hard to prioritize and our goal is to reduce the barrier to saving money by making it fun.

Also, Stem managed to secure $10m in funding for its distribution and payments platform in support of independent artists, who are struggling to adjust to the new post-COVID-19 restrictions on their income.

Adam Nash, one of the ventures angel investors, said, The music industry has been extremely slow to bring the transparency and capabilities of modern software to creators. Stems fintech solution brings opportunities to a wider range of artists than ever before.

It seems readily apparent, then, that financial backing for new, digitally-inflected forms of finance management are being actively developed in the fintech community as a direct result of COVID-19.

The diversity and spread of this innovation give a positive indication for the future: each industry could soon receive the bespoke solutions it needs to thrive in this new economic environment.

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COVID-19 has catalysed the evolution of digital finance | Financial Services - FinTech Magazine - The FinTech & InsurTech Platform

The Evolution Of Dave Matthews Band’s ‘Warehouse’ – JamBase

When Dave Matthews Band played their first official show as part of a Middle East Childrens Alliance benefit on March 14, 1991 at Trax in Charlottesville, Virginia the group debuted seven original songs. The setlist that night featured Ill Back You Up and Cry Freedom, which continued to be performed by the band, though less often in recent years. The other songs premiered at the first show became setlist staples: Typical Situation, The Best of Whats Around, The Song That Jane Likes, Recently and Warehouse.

Of all the songs debuted that night, according to DMBAlmanac.com, Warehouse has been played the most by DMB, currently at 829 performances. Warehouse has also made it into Dave Mathews solo setlists and performances by Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds.

Regarding Warehouse, which appeared on the bands 1994 debut album Under The Table And Dreaming, the DMBAlmanac states, This song ranks near the top of the list in terms of all time fan favorites. It was played since the very beginning and has remained a highlight nearly every show it is played.

There are dozens of videos of Warehouse available to view via the JamBase Live Video Archive (JBLVA). The earliest version currently in the database dates back to June 17, 1992, click below to watch:

Warehouse has continuously evolved over the years, as detailed by the DMBAlmanac. Take a journey through JBLVA to see and hear the evolution of Warehouse, guided by the DMBAlmanacs entry for the song.

December 28, 1993 (Dave Solo)

DMBAlmanac: In the early days of 92-93, the song frequently featured a Shortnin Bread interpolation towards the end of the song.

August 1, 1994

DMBAlmanac: After the summer of 1994, the last verse evolved beyond the mere repetition of Thats my blood down there.

October 10, 1996

DMBAlmanac: Starting in 1995, a stop-time intro began to occasionally be played during full-band versions. After 1996, every full band performance of this song has included a stop-time intro.

February 19, 1999 (Dave & Tim)

DMBAlmanac: Dave and Tim versions have continued to contain the original intro, as well as a Passion intro where Dave interpolates the vocals from Peter Gabriels song Passion.

July 17, 1999

DMBAlmanac: This song has also been featured as a fake, in which the Warehouse intro is played several times before the band goes directly into Ants Marching.

August 2, 2000

DMBAlmanac: In 1999, fans from the original nancies mailing list began organizing to chant Woo! during the stop-time intro. By the summer of 2000, the Woos caught on and are now a standard crowd chant at the start of every Warehouse.

July 30, 2003

DMBAlmanac: Starting in 2003, the jam evolved into what has come to be known as the salsa jam outro with a more celebratory salsa vibe.

August 15, 2009

DMBAlmanac: In 2007, the band began playing what we call a UTTAD-style intro, [Under The Table And Dreaming] where Dave sang an intro verse similar to the one found on the songs studio cut. Since the chords Dave played during this intro are the same ones he plays during the Passion intro, some have also labeled this intro as Passion; however, this intro is completely unrelated to the Peter Gabriel song and is therefore distinct from the Passion intro.

Juy 14, 2010

DMBAlmanac: In 2010, the band began playing the intro exactly as it appears on the album, which we have labeled UTTAD intro.

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The Evolution Of Dave Matthews Band's 'Warehouse' - JamBase

The evolution and incredible will of Kyle Lowry – Sportsnet.ca

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The Evolution of Racism – The Atlantic

Now the revised entry for racism has finally arrived, included in the online update Merriam-Webster published yesterday. As promised, the entry underscores some nuances, though the revision is not a complete rewrite. As before, the first definition given relates to personal belief and attitudes. But the revised second definitionthe systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another; specifically: white supremacybetter highlights what Mitchum was looking for. Additionally, the entry is now enriched by illustrative quotations from such writers as Angela Y. Davis, bell hooks, Mariana Calvo, and Imani Perry, and the activist Bree Newsome.

When Mitchums appeal to Merriam-Webster attracted news coverage in June, many commentators portrayed the story in broad strokes as the dictionary gets woke. Depending on ones political perspective, that might be seen as either a laudable step in the path to progressive enlightenment or as a capitulation to the forces of political correctness. But a closer look at how Merriam-Websters definition of racism has evolved over time reveals a much more complex narrative.

Racism and racist are surprisingly recent additions to the English lexicon. You wont find those words in the writings of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, or Abraham Lincoln. While the Oxford English Dictionary currently dates racism in English to 1903 and racist to 1919, the terms were still rarely used in the early decades of the 20th century. The pioneering civil-rights activist and journalist Ida B. Wells, for instance, instead used phrases like race hatred and race prejudice in her memoir, Crusade for Justice, which she began writing in 1928 but left unfinished when she died three years later.

When Merriam-Webster published the second edition of its unabridged New International Dictionary, in 1934, racism was nowhere to be found. The editors did include another, related term, which was more popular at the time: racialism, defined as racial characteristics, tendencies, prejudices, or the like; spec., race hatred. But racism was not yet on the radar of the lexicographers diligently at work at Merriam-Websters Springfield, Massachusetts, office.

Read: The dictionary definition of racism has to change

That all changed thanks to a perceptive observation by one member of the editorial staff named Rose Frances Egan. Egan, a graduate of Syracuse and Columbia who studied the history of aesthetics, came on board as an assistant editor for the second edition of the New International Dictionary. She was also tasked with writing entries for Websters Dictionary of Synonyms, which she worked on for several years before its first edition was published in 1942.

A handwritten slip tucked away in Merriam-Websters archive tells the story. (Before the advent of email, interoffice communication among the editors in Springfield would typically be carried out by exchanging notes on pink slips of paper, still known affectionately as the pinks.) This particular slip, dated November 1, 1938, was written by Egan, who asked a fellow editor, John P. Bethel, about the status of the word racism. Has this term been entered in the addenda? Egan asked Bethel. I wanted to use it in a ds. and find that it is not in W. 34.

John Morse, a former president and publisher at Merriam-Webster, guided me through the obscure in-house notations on the slip with the eagerness of an Egyptologist deciphering the Rosetta Stone. Egan knew that there was no racism entry in the 1934 Websters New International but was inquiring whether it was slated for future printings as part of the Addenda, the section in the front of the dictionary for new words that came to the editors attention too late for inclusion in the main text. When Egan said she wanted to use it in a ds., that was short for discriminated synonym, the term of art for the items considered in the entries of the Dictionary of Synonyms that Egan was hard at work drafting. Any word used in a secondary work like the synonym dictionary, according to Merriam-Webster policy, should also be found in the flagship unabridged dictionary.

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The Evolution of Racism - The Atlantic

We are Spaceships Extraterrestrial Viruses May Have Influenced Origin and Evolution of Life (Weekend Featur – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries…

The human imagination is a preview of coming attractions, Albert Einstein was fond of saying. Viruses are essentially roving segments of genetic material that have learned how to put on space suits and leave the cell, observed Greg Bear in his epic work of science fiction, Darwins Radio, that mirrors Einsteins adage, suggesting that viruses in our genome function as carriers of evolutionary messagesa genetic radio, so to speak. In this sense, we may simply be spaceships for virus.

Bear sees viruses as transports for primordial nano-encapsulated genetic information that have existed from the beginning of biological time a string of atoms, clumped into molecules, wrapped in another kind of molecular shell, a kind of biological M&M.

Imagine an alien creature floating in space, observes New Scientist about the zombie world of viruses that could hold the key to evolution itself. It doesnt grow, communicate or move at all under its own steam. Without a home it is inert. We know very little about it, except that it will start reproducing when it enters the atmosphere of a planet that suits it. Is it living? Is it dangerous? This may not sound like a plausible being, but it pretty much describes viruses, which replicate only when inside a host. Viruses may seem alien, but they are the most abundant and, arguably, the most important organisms on Earth.

Crossing Over Viruses Occupy an Odd Liminal Space

If there is one insight that the coronavirus pandemic has emerged about Planet Earth it is that there is much that we still dont know about cohabitants of our own world viruses, occupying an odd liminal space, not quite alive, but not dead either. They exist, reports Nautil.us, in what is effectively a hidden world, almost a first Earth. What we cant see in the cosmos that is the best reminder of our limited vision, observes Natutilus. The pandemic has brought us closer than is comfortable to Darwins engines of selection.

Creator and Destroyer Virus Population of Earths Oceans Would Stretch Out 42 Million Light Years

Now, in a neat example life imitating art per Einstein, NASA is integrating advancements in the study of viruses into astrobiology, the study of lifes origins, evolution, and distribution in the universe, hoping to formulate new areas of research to advance our understanding of how viruses may have influenced the origin and evolution of life here on Earth, and perhaps elsewhere in the Solar System.

Pushing the Boundary of Life

We are pushing the boundary of what sort of life or what signs of life you could look for, says NASAs Kathryn Bywaters. Theres so much we dont know. That mystery and intrigue is really what fascinates me, because it shows you that anything is possible. Since the dawn of the Space Age, astrobiologists have worked to determine whether neighboring planets harbor life forms, particularly microbes like bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Now, NASA scientists are wondering if they left something outand the search for extraterrestrial life has landed on viruses.

Sudden Appearance of Species

Is evolution a gradual process, as Darwin believed, or can transnational change occur suddenly, in a violently brief time span, as suggested by Harvard evolutionary theorist, Stephen Jay Gould who argued in Ever Since Darwin that the sudden appearance of species in the fossil record and our failure to note subsequent evolutionary change within them is the proper prediction of evolutionary theory as we understand it. That evolutionary sequences are not rungs on a ladder, but our retrospective reconstruction of a circuitous path running like a labyrinth, branch to branch, from the base of the bush to a lineage now surviving at its top.

Human Genome A Genetic Radio

Goulds vision is mirrored in terrifying story of Darwins Radio with science fiction, beating NASA to the punch. The title is a poetic description of the core element in the storythat viruses in our genome function as carriers of evolutionary messagesa genetic radio, viruses as transports for genetic information. In this prophetic hard-science work of near-future fiction, Bears heroine, molecular biologist Kaye Lang, unveils her theory that ancient diseases encoded in the DNA of humans can return to lifehas become a chilling reality. The haunting proof is evidence: a virus-hunter has tracked down a flu-like disease that kills expectant mothers and their offspring.

For years. writes Bear, Ive been waiting for nature to react to our environmental bullshit, tell us to stop overpopulating and depleting resources, to shut up and stop messing around and just die. Species-level apoptosis. I think this could be the final warninga real species killer.

Recent NASA-sponsored astrovirology workshops amass interest from scientists spanning borders and levels of experiences, says Kathryn Bywaters, a scientist with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) at NASA Ames Research Center. It created a forum where people could express these ideas that they havent really been able to vocalize on the community level.

Microbes, or organisms such as microscopic fungi, archaea, bacteria, and amoebas, occupy virtually every environment on our planet, and astrobiologists have long-considered the possibility of microbes living elsewhere in our solar system. Viruses, while not technically alive, writes Planet of Viruses author Carl Zimmer, vastly outnumber all living organisms on our planet tenfold. There are an estimated 10^31 viruses on Earth if every virus on Earth were lined up end to end, that line would extend 100 million light years out into space.

Extraterrestrial Invader?

A new, speculative COVID-19 conjecture proposes that the coronavirus came from space, a result of panspermia the theory that life on the earth originated from microorganisms or chemical precursors of life present in outer space and able to initiate life on reaching a habitaible environment. This space virus theory has been the work of a group of researchers, notably Edward J. Steele and N. Chandra Wickramasinghe. This group has published ten papers on the topic since the pandemic began, but their paper from July 14th offers the most detailed argument, suggesting that COVID-19 arrived on a space rocka fragile and loosely held carbonaceous meteorite carrying a cargo of trillions of viruses/bacteria and other primary source cells spotted as a bright fireball over the city of Songyuan in North East China on October 11, 2019.

Fireball Over China

Although the Songyuan fireball was spotted over 2,000 km northeast of Wuhan, where the first cases of COVID-19 were reported, the authors offer the hypothesis that a different fragment of the meteor arrived in the Wuhan area.

While organisms in deep space would not be alive, as is true with Earths viruses, Hoyle and Wickramasinghe believed that space microorganisms might be able to reactivate if they arrived at a suitable planet, like Earth and found a host. In 1979, the astrophysicist Fred Hoyle and Wickramasinghe wrote of Diseases from Space, as the title of one of their books put it. They went on to suggest an interplanetary origin for several outbreaks, including the original SARS in 2003 and influenza.

Theres no evidence Coronavirus came from space, reports New Scientist and the implications could be downright dangerous. The theory is clearly just an attempt to make COVID-19 fit into the existing panspermia model theres nothing new or creative about that.

A Galaxy Full of Microorganisms

Hoyle and Wickramasinghe conceived of panspermia while trying to explain the way in which interstellar dust absorbs light. They noticed that if the dust were composed of bacteria, this would produce the observed pattern of light absorption. Hoyle and Wickramasinghe eventually arrived at the idea of a galaxy absolutely full of microorganisms, present in comets and meteors as well as dust clouds.

While generally debunked throughout the history of science, panspermia the sharing of life via meteorites from one planet to another, or delivery by cometis getting new attention and a little more respect.

Neanderthal Link to Covid-19 A Dark Journey Through Human History

In this context, the question generally raised is whether Earth might have been seeded by early Martian life (if it existed). Mars, it is becoming increasingly accepted, was probably more habitable in its early period than Earth. But panspermia inherently could go the other way as well, or possibly even between solar systems.

MIT and Harvard The Search for Extraterrestrial Genomes

A team of prominent scientists at MIT and Harvard are sufficiently convinced in the plausibility of panspermia that they have spent a decade, and a fair amount of NASA and other funding, to design and produce an instrument that can be sent to Mars and potentially detect DNA or more primitive RNA. In other words, life not only similar to that on Earth, but actually delivered long ago from Earth. Its called the The Search for Extraterrestrial Genomes, or SETG.

We havent looked for [extraterrestrial] viruses specifically before because weve just barely started to scratch the surface of understanding them on Earth, says Bywaters. Previous to now, the technology and the know-how and the understanding of viruses hasnt been at a point that we could really extrapolate that to other planetary bodies.

Virus Implies Life

Assuming that viruses replicate the same way in all systems, detection of a virus would be an indirect detection of cellular life, says Kenneth Stedman, a professor at Portland State University and co-chair of NASAs Virus Focus Group, who says that finding a virus on Mars or Saturns Enceladus, or Jupiters Europa would be a revolutionary advancement in astrobiology.

The paradigm of Darwins Radio, reflecting Harvards Gould, is that evolution proceeds by random mutations within the genome. These mutations alter the nature of the proteins or the other components expressed by our DNA, and are usually detrimental, causing the organism to sicken or die. Yet over deep time, and under changing conditions, mutations may also create novel forms that confer positive advantages. The paradigm being a hitherto undiscovered mechanism whereby the genome takes control of its own evolution, somehow sensing the right time to bring about change.

In Bears prescient work, anthropologist Mitch Rafelson has made an astonishing discovery in a newly discovered ice cave in the Alps of the mummified remains of a Neanderthal couple and their newborn, strangely abnormal child. Kaye Lang, a molecular biologist specializing in retroviruses, has unearthed chilling evidence that so-called junk DNA may have a previously unknown purpose in the evolution of life. Christopher Dicken, a virus hunter at the National Center for Infectious Diseases in Atlanta, is in pursuit of a mysterious illness, dubbed Herods flu, which seems to strike only expectant mothers and their fetuses. As the three scientists pool their results, it becomes clear that Homo sapiens is about to face its greatest crisis, a challenge coiled within our genes since before the dawn of humankind.

Our Genome is Much More Clever than We Are

I believe, Bear says through his heroine, Kay Lange, that our genome is much more clever than we are. Its taken us tens of thousands of years to get to the point where we have a hope of understanding how life works. The Earths species have been evolving, both competing and cooperating, for billions of years. Theyve learned how to survive under conditions we can barely imagine. Even the most conservative biologist knows different kinds of bacteria can cooperate and learn from each otherbut many now understand that different species of metazoans, plants and animals like us, do much the same thing when they play their roles in any ecosystem. The Earths species have learned how to anticipate climate change and respond to it in advance, get a head start, and I believe, in our case, our genome is now responding to social change and the stress it causes.

It makes sense to conclude with question Who am I? observes Carl Zimmer, author of Planet of Viruses, a question as old as Moses, suggesting that on a fundamental DNA level, each human being on Planet Earth is actually more virus than I.

The Daily Galaxy,, Sam Cabot, via The Hidden Life of Viruses, Massive Science, NASA Astrobiology, Greg Bear, Darwins Radio and Stephen J. Gould, Ever Since Darwin (Kindle editions)

Image credit: Shutterstock License

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We are Spaceships Extraterrestrial Viruses May Have Influenced Origin and Evolution of Life (Weekend Featur - The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries...

Creation vs. Evolution at the House of Prayer in Kewaskum – washingtoncountyinsider.com

Kewaskum, WI Creation vs. Evolution monthly meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at the House of Prayer, 100 S. Clinton Street, in Kewaskum.

On Monday, Sept.14, the House of Prayer will be starting a 4-part series by Jobe Martin D.M.D Th.M. The Evolution of a Creationist..

Come and join us for this extremely interesting and factual series.

This is a great evening for believer and nonbeliever alike. Bring your doubts, bring your questions, bring your curiosity, get equipped to respond and learn why evolution has been called a fairy tale for grownups.

Come join us at the House of Prayer, 100 Clinton Street, Kewaskum. Questions, contact Dennis at 920-269-8383 or Joe at 262-388-2285.

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Creation vs. Evolution at the House of Prayer in Kewaskum - washingtoncountyinsider.com

The unnatural evolution of Trevor Noah and The Daily Show – Worcester Telegram

"The Daily Show With Trevor Noah" has gone from being jokes about the news to, more and more, the news with some jokes. If comedy is tragedy plus time, perhaps this is a natural evolution when we're too close to the second part of that equation to produce a lot of laughs.

But from the location of what's being called "The Daily Social Distancing Show With Trevor Noah" (his New York apartment), the host says, "If anything, it's an unnatural evolution. Sometimes you are forced to become more of yourself because of something that happens to you or the world around you.

"I think I've always had radical ideas of what 'The Daily Show' could become, but I've never taken for granted you're working with something you've inherited and you're trying to design something whilst also doing it. It's like redesigning an airplane while you're flying it, you know? It's not exactly the safest thing to do."

"The Daily Show" was among the earliest of adapters to a COVID-19 world. It's not just that Noah and the show's stable of correspondents are broadcasting from their homes; the show also has a robust social-media presence, it has expanded from its 30-minute slot on Comedy Central to 45 minutes, and Noah has increasingly folded in the low-key vibe of his Emmy-winning "Between the Scenes" streaming shorts (in which he speaks to the audience about important issues in a relaxed, non-performance way).

"I've had to be more real because the veneer of showbiz, to some extent, has been removed. There's a disparity between what you want to tell the (TV audience) as opposed to what you want to tell (the studio audience) and how they're responding," he says, and now that live feedback is out of the picture.

Audiences are responding. The show has increased its viewership by more than 50% and has logged more than 2.8 billion views on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube so far this year the most of any late-night show, according to data tracking site Domo and data measurement platform Tubular. The show had racked up a handful of nominations since the host's tenure began in 2015. This season alone, it has six (including for "Between the Scenes").

"I think in many ways I'm meeting an appetite by satisfying my own," Noah says. "I'm going to try to voice my opinion and step out a little more than usual. I owe some of that thinking to a friend and mentor by the name of Dave Chappelle. He said, 'Anyone can be funny; not everyone is interesting. Don't discount your point of view, the world you've lived in, the country that has shaped you, the journey that you've lived through in how you see the world.'"

Born during apartheid (when Noah's very existence as a mixed-race child was illegal), the Johannesburg, South Africa, native has witnessed a nation in upheaval before. He recognizes it now.

"Living in this period in America, as much as I hate to say it, a lot of the things that I'm seeing are similar to what we experienced in South Africa. Mass unemployment, a government that doesn't seem to have the best interests of the people at heart. People who are getting angrier and angrier."

Among the earliest of the serious deep dives Noah felt emboldened to take was a nine-minute video of him soberly addressing the realities of race in America in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and other similar events (9 million views) and a more-than 13-minute interview on the show with immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci (nearly 12 million views).

"I realized that the time on our show would be better spent with Dr. Fauci than trying to satirize things that were happening in the news ... that this is what people wanted to know," Noah says. "In all honesty, that's all I wanted to know. That day, that's all I cared about. I just wanted to know if our packages are safe (to touch) and what's going on with the virus, how the virus was transmitted, et cetera.

"I came to realize the show during this time has no rules. The show will be what it needs to be on the day. We're trying to create as much as we can with what we have. And we're also trying to create a show that's as honest as it can be."

Noah also acknowledges that staying in New York, as he did through the terrifying early days of the pandemic, "really shaped how I was making the show.

"We're in a similar position in more ways than we've ever been to many in our audience. We're not coming to you from a glitzy, glamorous world. I'm not in a studio. I'm in my apartment."

One thing that hasn't changed is that "The Daily Social Distancing Show" is still, at its essence, a comedy program.

"I believe in the importance of jokes. I will never lose that. I always tell people, 'Jokes are what made me. That's how I see the world.' But maybe because the show has more time as well, I no longer have to choose between 'Joke' and 'What I want to say.'"

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The unnatural evolution of Trevor Noah and The Daily Show - Worcester Telegram

Moon Stone & Every Other Evolutionary Stone In Pokmon – GameRant

There are few thrills as great as evolving a Pokmon. Any trainer can relate to that dopamine kick of seeing that tiny turtle grow into a bigger, more powerful turtle. There's just something simply satisfying about hitting that level threshold and seeing a Pokmon power up. However, there are many other ways to evolve a Pokmon. It could be bizarre and obtuse, like Feebas in Ruby & Sapphire, or as straightforward and simple as a powerful stone.

RELATED: 5 Pokmon Who Need Another Evolution (& 5 Who Don't)

Evolutionary stones are iconic items to the series. They serve narrative weight in episodes of the anime and are often exciting to find. The door is open to get some incredible Pokmon through these stones, along with potentially early power-spikes. That in mind, one of the most iconic power-spikes is that of the Moon Stone in Mt. Moon, but there are plenty of other incredible evolutionary stones in the series.

The Moon Stone is described as "a stone as black as the night sky," and evolves various Pokmon. This includes Clefairy, most famously, but also others Skitty and Munna. The stone seemingly blesses the Pokmon with the power of the stars, but that doesn't really apply tocases like Nidorino/Nidorina and, again, Skitty.

In the anime, the Moon Stone was absolutely considered to be something from outer space, at least early on. In the games, this theory doesn't really hold. Still, the Moon Stone creates some unique evolutions, and few things are as satisfying as busting down the door to the Cerulean City gym with a full-power Nidoking.

The Fire Stone is said to have a "fiery orange heart" and, appropriately, is used in Fire-type evolution. Many games depict it with a flame literally encased in rock. While that certainly is bizarre, the stone is at least straight-forward. Interestingly, its only non-Red & Blue evolution was added in Black& White, for Pansear (which is still a great name).

Despite being straight-forward, Fire Stone evolutions are still fairly iconic. Arcanine and Ninetales are both staple Fire-types, while Flareon is cute but not very effective. The fire burns brightly with this stone.

The Water Stone looks like water frozen in time, buried in crystal. It's a small piece of a large pond. And, of course, it serves to evolve Water-types. From enigmatic Pokmon like Staryu to the lovable Lombre, the Water Stone Water-types fill different roles and range in their secondary-typing. It's certainly more dynamic than the Fire Stone.

An interesting note about the Water Stone is that it actually has a use outside of evolution. Granted, it's a bit of an obscure usage, but it still is one. In Pokmon Crystal, the stone is used to solve a puzzle in the Ruins of Alph, which is a neat bit of trivia.

The Thunder Stone is iconic through its design and its ties to the series's mascot, Pikachu. The lightning bolt pattern is distinct, although it's never really said to have an electrical charge. While it used to evolve a relatively limited set of Pokmon, it has expanded over time.

RELATED: Pokemon: 10 Adorable Pikachu Memes That Leave Us Cry-Laughing

In Sword & Shield, a number of location-based evolutions were altered to be stone-based instead. This includes Magneton and Charjabug, both of which used to evolve in a specific place. Considering how late in the game Charjabug used to evolve, this is a welcome change.

The Leaf Stone looks like a perfectly fossilized leaf, and its natural energy resonates with several Grass-types. It doesn't quite have the range of secondary-types as the Water Stone, but it has some interesting Pokmon tied to it. Victribell, Vileplume, and Exeggutor all require a Leaf Stone for evolution.

In Sword & Shield, Eevee is able to evolve into Leafeon with the Leaf Stone. Seeing something that was common in hacks of the series become canon is kind of neat.

The Sun Stone, added to the series in Gold & Silver, appropriately has a number of plant-based evolutions. Initially, it started with just Sunflora and Bellossom but added more to its roster in Lilligant and Whimsicott.

Interestingly, another evolution of the Sun Stone is the Electric-type Helioptile. This lizard has an identity build around being in the sun, so it makes sense. It's mostly just interesting because it stands out among the rest of its Sun Stone siblings.

The Shiny Stone, one of three stones added in Diamond & Pearl, is a dazzlingly bright rock. And, like the rest of the stones added in Gen 4, it evolves a varied set of Pokmon types. There is a bit of consistency in what it evolves, but it still feels like a more special stone.

The Shiny Stone is also notably fairly rare. In Ultra Sun & Moon, for instance, the only Shiny Stone obtainable without the use of Pok Pelago appears on the very last island of the game. Florges fans felt the pain trying to evolve the flowery Fairy-type in a time frame where it could still be useful.

The second of the three Gen 4 stones, the Dusk Stone is as dark as shadows. The Pokmon it evolves are equally mysterious, with a trend towards Ghost-type Pokmon. Chandelure and Aegislash in particular stand out as Pokmon that are incredibly powerful in comparison to other stone-evolution Pokmon.

RELATED: 10 Facts You Didnt Know About Pokmon Evolution

It's also just as rare as the Shiny Stone, but here it isn't as much of a problem. All of the Pokmon that require the Dusk Stone to evolve are perfectly capable on their own, some like Doublade even being situationally better than its evolution.

As there is always dusk, there must also always be dawn. The Dawn Stone, however, is limited in its usage. It only evolves two Pokmon: Kirlia into Gallade and Snorunt into Froslass. These evolutions are also both based on the gender of the Pokmon they evolve, which is an interesting note.

Again,the Dawn Stone is a rare one, but because its Pokmon are so limited it isn't so bad. Well, as long as the player has Everstones handy since both Snorunt and Kirlia will continue to try to evolve based on level, regardless of the stone evolution being an option.

The Ice Stone is the latest addition to the stone family, with a snowflake pattern and an icy focus. In Sword & Shield, it replaces the location-based evolution of Glaceon, like the Leaf Stone. However, the trends with its other evolutions are unique.

Aside from Eevee, this stone exists to evolve regional variants of Pokmon. It evolves Alolan Vulpix and Sandshrew along with Galarian Darumaka. Darumaka and Sandshrew also didn't evolve usingstones in their original forms, which is kind of neat. Its evolutions may not be amazing, but its Ice-type focus makes it stand out.

Of course, this list wouldn't be complete without including Pokmon Go's exclusive evolutionary stones. The Sinnoh Stone and Unova Stone both replace other stones and evolutionary items. While this is helpful considering how much junk fills up the Item bag in Pokmon Go, it isstill weird.

The Sinnoh Stone evolves cross-generational evolutionary lines that aren't location-based. Both Murkow and Electabuzz are included, for example. The Unova Stone is used to evolve any Unova Pokmon that requirea stone, aside from those that evolve using the Sun Stone. It's oddly specific, but at the very least the player doesn't have to carry around too many junk items.

NEXT: The 10 Worst Gen 6 Pokmon in Pokmon GO - Predicted & Ranked

Next 5 Legend Of Zelda Games That Are Way Too Short (& 5 That Are Too Long)

Tanner Kinney is a writer, podcaster, radio show host, and game-player based in Indiana. He has previously written for and helped lead a student publication about entertainment in college before writing for GameRant. A student in the Telecommunications program at Ball State University, Tanner uses his skills in media analysis to find the right way to pick apart any topic at hand. He's a Japanese role-playing game fanatic and Chikorita enthusiast, owning maybe one too many Pokemon plushes.

The rest is here:

Moon Stone & Every Other Evolutionary Stone In Pokmon - GameRant

Emergence of Life Played an Important Role on Evolution of the Moon – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel

Posted on Sep 3, 2020 in Astronomy, Biology

For about half of Earths 4.6 billion-year existence, the atmosphere contained only carbon dioxide and nitrogen, with no oxygen. But this changed when cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, started producing the first oxygen using nitrogenase, which led to the Great Oxidation Event, fueling the evolution of life on Earth.

Rust Discovered at Moons High Latitudes

To the surprise of many planetary scientists, the oxidized reddish-brown iron mineral hematite has been discovered at high latitudes on the Moon, reshaping our knowledge about the Moons polar regions. Earth may have played an important role on the evolution of the Moons surface, says Shuai Li, assistant researcher at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) in the University of H Hawaii Mnoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).

Thought to be a Scientific Impossibility

Scientists led by Li now speculate in the journal Science Advances that Earths life-giving oxygen highly reactive with iron was carried to the poles of the Moon by wind creating what was thought to be a scientific impossibility, rusta reddish-brown oxide left behind when iron atoms react with oxygen and water in what is known as an oxidizing, or electron-losing, reactionwhere solar winds constantly blast its cratered surface with charged hydrogen, causing it to have highly reducing, or electron-gaining, condition that prohibit oxidation.

Overlooked New Theory on Rise of Oxygen That Fueled Evolution of Life

The lunar surface and interior, however, are virtually devoid of oxygen, so pristine metallic iron is prevalent on the Moon and highly oxidized iron has not been confirmed in samples returned from the Apollo missions. In addition, hydrogen in solar wind blasts the lunar surface, which acts in opposition to oxidation. So, the presence of highly oxidized iron-bearing minerals, such as hematite, on the Moon is an unexpected discovery.

When the Moon is in Earths Magnetotail

Our hypothesis is that lunar hematite is formed through oxidation of lunar surface iron by the oxygen from the Earths upper atmosphere that has been continuously blown to the lunar surface by solar wind when the Moon is in Earths magnetotail during the past several billion years, said Li, whos research was inspired by his previous discovery of water in the Moons polar regions in 2018.

I dont think anyone expected this on the Moons surface, said Li, the first author of the paper. This is basic chemistrywe all know that the lunar surface is highly reducing, so there is no reason you would be able to see a high-valence iron like hematite.

To make this discovery, Li, HIGP professor Paul Lucey and co-authors from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and elsewhere analyzed the hyperspectral reflectance data acquired by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) designed by NASA JPL onboard Indias Chandrayaan-1 mission.

Alien Planets Without Detectable Oxygen Could Be Teeming with Life

When I examined the M3 data at the polar regions, I found some spectral features and patterns are different from those we see at the lower latitudes or the Apollo samples, said Li. I was curious whether it is possible that there are water-rock reactions on the Moon. After months investigation, I figured out I was seeing the signature of hematite.

Concentrated on the Moons Nearside

The team found the locations where hematite is present are strongly correlated with water content at high latitude Li and others found previously and are more concentrated on the nearside, which always faces the Earth.

More hematite on the lunar nearside suggested that it may be related to Earth, said Li. This reminded me a discovery by the Japanese Kaguya mission that oxygen from the Earths upper atmosphere can be blown to the lunar surface by solar wind when the Moon is in the Earths magnetotail. So, Earths atmospheric oxygen could be the major oxidant to produce hematite. Water and interplanetary dust impact may also have played critical roles

Interestingly, hematite is not absolutely absent from the far-side of the Moon where Earths oxygen may have never reached, although much fewer exposures were seen, said Li. The tiny amount of water (< ~0.1 wt.%) observed at lunar high latitudes may have been substantially involved in the hematite formation process on the lunar far-side, which has important implications for interpreting the observed hematite on some water poor S-type asteroids.

The research team hopes the NASAs ARTEMIS missions can return hematite samples from the polar regions. The chemical signatures of those samples can confirm their hypothesis whether the lunar hematite is oxidized by Earths oxygen and may help reveal the evolution of the Earths atmosphere in the past billions of years.

The Daily Galaxy, Jake Burba, via UH Mnoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST)

Image Credit: NASA

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Emergence of Life Played an Important Role on Evolution of the Moon - The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel

A new phase in Bitcoins evolution – City Index

A view that has become increasingly popular following the enormous torrent of liquidity unleashed by central banks and governments aimed at supporting economies during the coronavirus pandemic.

For some, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are viewed as a form of digital gold. Others remain sceptical of the entire sector. Somewhere in between are those that are content to buy and sell Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as suitable trading opportunities arise.

On that note, as viewed on the chart below, the price action in Bitcoin since the beginning of 2020 has mirrored moves in risky assets such as equities. In March and again last week, Bitcoin was caught in the downdraft caused by a selloff in equities. In between those two periods, Bitcoin enjoyed a strong rally.

As the next chart below shows, during 2017 and 2019 the correlation between risky assets and Bitcoin was non-existent.

In a nutshell, the new tendency for Bitcoin to track movements in risky assets may undermine Bitcoin's safe-haven and stable store of value credentials. It may also have implications for Bitcoin demand from a portfolio management/diversification perspective.

From a technical point of view, last weeks sell-off in Bitcoin is viewed as a correction after it completed a 5-wave advance from the March 3850 low to the 12473 high.

In terms of how deep the current correction can retrace, three possible levels jump out. The first is right here, around 10,000, the second is 9,200/000 which comes from the support provided by the 200-day moving average. The third key support level is back towards the 200-week moving average 6600 area.

At this point, the decline from 12473 has unfolded in three waves and there are tentative signs that a base is forming 10,000 area.

Should Bitcoin (and other risk assets) continue to stabilise and be followed by a rally above 10700, it would be an initial indication the uptrend has resumed. Further confirmation would be a sustained break and close above 11200.

Source Tradingview. The figures stated areas of the 8th of September 2020. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This report does not contain and is not to be taken as containing any financial product advice or financial product recommendation

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A new phase in Bitcoins evolution - City Index

Pippa Middleton’s Style Evolution Through The Years – HuffPost

Pippa Middleton's Style Evolution Through The Years | HuffPost Life

Part of HuffPost Style & Beauty. 2020 Verizon Media. All rights reserved.

Kate Middleton, aka Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is known for her sense of style. But her little sister, Pippa Middleton, has made her mark on the fashion world as well.

As maid of honor at her sisters wedding to Prince William in 2011, she made headlines with her figure-hugging, cowl-neck gown designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. She has also been a regular chic fixture at Wimbledon each summer and showed off her lovely maternity style in 2018 while pregnant with Arthur, her first child with husband James Matthews.

In honor of her birthday on Sunday, weve rounded up photos of the royal sisters fashion moments. Keep scrolling for Pippa Middletons style evolution through the years.

2007

Dave M. Benett via Getty Images

The Middleton sisters attend a book launch party for "The Young Stalin" by Simon Sebag Montefiore on May 14, 2007, in London.

2007

Niki Nikolova via Getty Images

Pippa Middleton leaves the London club Mahiki on July 12, 2007.

2007

Dave M. Benett via Getty Images

Middleton attends a book launch party for "Time to Reflect" by photographer Alistair Morrison at Bluebird in London on Nov. 28, 2007.

2008

Dave M. Benett via Getty Images

Middleton attends the Sotheby's Summer Party at Sotheby's Bond Street in London on June 19, 2008.

2008

Dave M. Benett via Getty Images

Middleton smiles at The Royal Parks Charity Gala at the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park on Sept. 10, 2008.

2008

Jon Furniss via Getty Images

Middleton arrives at the End of Summer Ball at Berkeley Square on Sept. 25, 2008, in London.

2008

Dave M. Benett via Getty Images

Middleton attends the 10th anniversary party of Claridge's Bar in London on Nov. 11, 2008.

2009

Nick Harvey via Getty Images

Middleton poses at the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polo Charity Cup at Ham Polo Club in Richmond, London, on June 12, 2009.

2009

Dave M. Benett via Getty Images

Middleton smiles at the Tatler 300th Anniversary Party at Lancaster House in London on Oct. 14, 2009.

2009

Nick Harvey via Getty Images

Middleton attends a book launch party for UNICEF's "Snowman in Africa," featuring illustrations by Michael Roberts, on Dec. 1, 2009, in London.

2010

Dave M. Benett via Getty Images

Middleton poses at The Reuben Foundation & Virgin Unite Haiti Fundraiser at Altitude 360 in London on May 26, 2010.

2010

Nick Harvey via Getty Images

Middleton skates at Somerset House during a London event presented by Tiffany & Co. on Nov. 22, 2010.

2011

Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images

Middleton arrives at the wedding of Lady Katie Percy and Patrick Valentine at St. Michael's Church in Alnwick, Northumberland, on Feb. 26, 2011.

2011

George Pimentel via Getty Images

Middleton arrives at London's Goring Hotel with her mother, Carole, and sister, Kate, on April 28, 2011, the day before the royal wedding.

2011

Dan Kitwood via Getty Images

Middleton serves as maid of honor during her sister Kate's wedding to Prince William at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

2011

Ian Gavan/GP via Getty Images

Carole, James, Michael and Pippa Middleton depart the Goring Hotel the day after Kate's wedding on April 30, 2011.

2011

Neil Mockford via Getty Images

Middleton leaves an office in Kensington, London, on May 19, 2011.

2011

SAV via Getty Images

Middleton walks in West London on May 20, 2011.

2011

Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images

The Middleton sisters attend the wedding of Sam Waley-Cohen and Annabel Ballin at St. Michael and All Angels Church on June 11, 2011, in Lambourn.

2011

SAV via Getty Images

Middleton shops on July 15, 2011, in London.

2011

SAV via Getty Images

Middleton shops in London on July 22, 2011.

2011

Neil Mockford via Getty Images

Middleton attends the Temperley London Show during London Fashion Week on Sept. 19, 2011.

2011

SAV via Getty Images

Middleton walks in Kensington on Sept. 29, 2011.

2011

Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images

Middleton arrives at the Boodles Boxing Ball on Oct. 1, 2011, at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London.

2011

Nick Harvey via Getty Images

Middleton poses at a charity event supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond on Oct. 13, 2011.

2011

Alex Moss via Getty Images

Middleton walks through South Kensington on Nov. 3, 2011.

2012

Neil Mockford via Getty Images

Middleton arrives at her London office on Jan. 11, 2012.

2012

Chris Jackson via Getty Images

Middleton and her brother, James, smile from the Spirit of Chartwell during the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant on June 3, 2012.

2012

Clive Rose via Getty Images

Middleton arrives to watch the ladies' singles second-round match between Serena Williams and Melinda Czink on day four of Wimbledon on June 28, 2012.

2012

Mike Egerton - PA Images via Getty Images

The Middleton sisters attend the men's singles final during day 13 of Wimbledon on July 8, 2012.

2012

John Phillips via Getty Images

Middleton arrives at the U.K. premiere of "Shadow Dancer" at the Cineworld Haymarket in London on Aug. 13, 2012.

2012

James Devaney via Getty Images

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Pippa Middleton's Style Evolution Through The Years - HuffPost

David Blaine Flies Up and Away with ‘The Ascension’ – My Modern Met

Eight years after his last public stunt, American illusionist David Blaine completed yet another stunning spectacle withThe Ascension. Streamed live on YouTube, the performance saw Blaine get carried up and away by 52 helium balloons. After reaching an incredible altitude of 24,900 feet, he then parachuted back to Earth.

The moving performance was inspired both by his childhood and his nine-year-old daughter Dessa. As a young boy, Blaine remembers his mother taking him to see Albert Lamorisses film The Red Balloon, where the protagonist is carried away by a cluster of balloons. This image stuck with him, partially inspiring his love of illusion.

But his main motivation was to do something for his daughter, who was just approaching two years old when he executed his last performance,Electrified. This called for him to be continuously zapped by Tesla coils discharging over one million volts. After that stunt, he vowed to next perform something that would inspire, instead of scare, his daughter.

With the help of YouTube Originals, Blaine was able to put together a team of experts to help his balloon stunt take shape. He spent over a year training for the performance and also became a licensed pilot and licensed commercial balloon pilot in the process. In addition, he performed over 500 skydives in order to get proper certification and had to learn how to read wind patterns.

WhileThe Ascensionwas originally designed to take place in Blaine's hometown of New York City, the project was moved to Arizona after taking into consideration weather and the desire to not create crowds in the city. As the world watched via live stream, Blain strapped himself to 42 eight-foot balloons and 10 smaller balloons. By dropping weight as he went along, he was able to slowly ascend.

Blaine's team originally hoped that he'd arrived at 18,000 feetsomething they greatly surpassed. Though the illusionist's rehearsals had only seen him go a few hundred feet in the air, he had no trouble moving to high altitudes. While oxygen levels and cold temperatures were a concern, Blaine used breathing techniques to keep himself calm and get the oxygen he needed.

Via radio, Blaine was able to stay safe and communicate frequently with his daughter and team during the stunt. It's impossible not to watch the performance without feeling the wonder and joy that Blaine expresses as he glides over the Arizona desert.

About an hour after his initial ascent, Blaine dove back down to Earth, safely landing in a ravine before being helicoptered back to rejoin his team and his daughter. To say thatThe Ascension was a success is an understatement. Not only have nearly 7 million people watched the live stream in less than 24 hours, but this performance heralds a new era in Blaine's work and only has us wondering what he'll get up to next.

David Blaine: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

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David Blaine Flies Up and Away with 'The Ascension' - My Modern Met

David Blaines Ascension Live Stunt Breaks YouTube Record – Deadline

David Blaines live stunt Ascension, in which he flew over the Arizona desert using helium balloons, has shattered a YouTube record.

Todays stunt was the most-watched YouTube Original Live Event to date, according to the video streaming platform, with over 770,000 peak concurrent viewers, besting Dear Class of 2020 (665k peak concurrents), The Creator Games Presented by MrBeast (662k peak concurrent), Will Smith: The Jump (more than 300k peak concurrents) and Taylor Swift: Lovers Lounge (Live) (more than 185k peak concurrents).

David Blaine exceeded expectations once again! said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, YouTube, What an inspirational moment for viewers all around the world and were so thrilled with what he accomplished today live on YouTube.

The event streamed live exclusively on YouTube, which funded and produced the project.

Blaine lifted off shortly before 8 AM PT and within 40 minutes had risen to a height of over 19,000 feet. He eventually reached a height of 24,900 feet and then parachuted to the ground. He completed the entire event with an hour.

The livestream event was hosted by YouTube Creator and tech expert Marques Brownlee and featured appearances from Casey Neistat, Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis, professional surfer Jamie OBrien, among others, with a special appearance from David Blaines daughter, Dessa.

Blaines original plan was to fly over New York, but he decided to shift to Arizona because of weather concerns and logistical issues.

You can watch the entire stunt below.

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David Blaines Ascension Live Stunt Breaks YouTube Record - Deadline

Around Ascension for Sept. 2, 2020 | Ascension | theadvocate.com – The Advocate

Dungeons & Dragons at the Library

Dungeons & Dragons at the Library is a monthly D&D campaign that will meet on the second and third Tuesdays of every month at the Ascension Parish Library in Galvez. Patrons who attend will be able to create their own characters and play through a custom-made book-themed adventure. All supplies necessary to the game will be provided. The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Tuesday for Group 1 and Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m. for Group 2.

If you are interested in joining the campaign, call the Ascension Parish Library in Galvez at (225) 622-3339 to see if space is available. Registration is required to attend.

The Doctor has landed in Gonzales, right as the library has disappeared. Or was it exterminated? The library director needs to get the library back, but the TARDIS has a mind of its own. Prove that you know your history as you play the Library Extermination escape room and complete the tasks the TARDIS gives during this fun program.

Begin your quest by accessing the escape room on Beanstack at myAPL.beanstack.org, on the library's Facebook page, or by going to http://www.myAPL.org during the month of September.

The Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office has announced its participation in the Louisiana Highway Safety Commissions Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic safety campaign. Additional deputies, whose primary focus will be to locate and arrest impaired drivers, will be on duty, according to a news release. During the Labor Day holiday period, there is a higher likelihood of impaired drivers on the roadway. This increases the potential for alcohol related crashes involving serious injury or death, the release said.

The additional patrols run until Sept. 7, in an effort to detect, stop and arrest alcohol-impaired drivers. Deputies will also conduct traffic enforcement activities to promote safe and attentive driving.

As part of efforts to fight litter and clean up Ascension Parish, President Clint Cointment announced that Ascension Parish is accepting white goods at the Recycling Center on Churchpoint Road.

White goods are any large machines used in routine housekeeping, such as cooking, food preservation or cleaning, whether in a household, institutional, commercial or industrial setting. White goods include refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers and water heaters.

The center also has a separate bin specifically designated for scrap metals.

The Recycling Center is at the Department of Public Works headquarters, 42077 Churchpoint Road in Gonzales. Operating hours are Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Around Ascension for Sept. 2, 2020 | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate

VIDEO: Extreme Performer David Blaine Floats High Above the Earth From a Bunch of Balloons – Our Community Now at Maryland

Courtesy of David Blaine Ascension (YouTube)

Illusionist, magician, and performer David Blaine, known for his mind-boggling feats,successfully accomplished another daunting stunt earlier this week. Blaine reached an altitude of about 25,000 feet by floating skyward using only heliumballoons.

The stunt, "Ascension",was likely the most dangerous and ambitious feat he has ever attempted. He partnered with YouTube Originals to live-stream the event, which he says was inspired by his daughter and his ownchildhood dream. Blaine spentmonths training prepping for the stunt; becoming an expert at skydiving and flying balloons, as well as acclimating to cooler temps found in higher air.

On Wednesday, September 2, Blaine put all those hours of training to good use when he performed the high-flying feat. After two hours of prep, he began his ascent over Page, Arizona. Gripping a bunch of about 50 large helium balloonsthese were not your birthday party variety balloons;they were much larger andoutfitted with camerasBlaine carried weights on him that he periodically dropped to increase his ascension once he lifted off.

Watch the stunt below:

The illusionist had a goal of reaching 18,000 feet, and he exceeded that by hitting a high of 24,900 feet. Once there, he let the balloons go and skydived and parachuted back to the ground where he landed safely. The stunt itself took about a half an hour, from lift-off.

An entire team of engineers, stunt experts, weather experts, and more were involved in the project.

What do you think about this high-flying stunt? Would you want to float above the earth from a bunch of balloons? What other mind-bending stunts would you want to see someone like Blane perform? Sound off on the comments.

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VIDEO: Extreme Performer David Blaine Floats High Above the Earth From a Bunch of Balloons - Our Community Now at Maryland

Dutchtown Griffins bring positive attitude heading into a season with unknowns – The Advocate

The Dutchtown Griffins finished the 2019 season 8-2 with a tough playoff loss to a very good Ruston team. As the Griffins prepare for the 2020 season, the unknowns are there, but the attitude of the team is excellent.

The coaches could not be happier with the attitude of the players during this time. They have remained focused on what they can control and on improving every day, which is all we can ask, said coach Guy Mistretta.

Mistretta enters his third season as the head coach of the Griffins, a team that is on an upward trend in class 5A. Some key players lost to graduation for the Griffins are offensive lineman Riley Lawrence, tight end Jadyn McKinney, defensive end Jyron Blakes, linebacker Johmel Jolla and cornerback Logan Scott. The offense returns some key pieces and will start with running back Dylan Sampson. The junior had an outstanding 2019 season, finishing with over 1,600 yards rushing and 20-plus touchdowns.

"Dylan is developing into not only a very good player, but also a team leader with work ethic, Mistretta said. He has offers from SEC schools in Tennessee and Arkansas as well as Southern Miss, Louisville and La Tech. More offers are sure to come for the electric back, he will have the luxury of three returning offensive lineman in center Hayden Harms, guard Matthew Gallman and tackle Reed Davis. Ty Quibodeaux and Will Delaune are the other projected starters. Gallman and Reed are expected to be leaders on the line.

We believe the true backbone of our offense is our offensive line, led by our returning starters, Mistretta said.

The wide receiver position is in good hands with 64 Derrick Youngblood. Youngblood has several college offers, and he gives the Griffins a potential star to throw to. Other projected starters are Payton Cooper, Baylor Langlois and Caleb Ickes.

A new quarterback will be chosen and both players are fully capable of running their spread offense. Junior Sean Winfield and sophomore Cooper Desroches will get an opportunity to earn the starting job this fall. The defense will base out of 4-2-5 attacking style, and they return eight starters.

The defensive line returns the entire unit with defensive ends Jared Dupar and Joseph Johnson. Tackles Damarion Davis and Ryan Hung anchor the middle of the defensive line. Brody Anderson is listed as a starter and will be a key player on defense. The linebackers are led by Chris Washington, a player with speed and strength. Other starters include Tanner Vadnais (combo linebacker and defensive back) and Chaz Foster. A strength of the team is certainly in the defensive backfield with corners Jordan Jackson and Justin Agu. Both are tall corners that can cover and have good speed. Deldrick Jones returns at free safety, and Collin Dupre is listed as the starting strong safety.

"The strength of our defense will be our secondary with returning starters Justin Agu, Jordan Jackson and Tanner Vadnais, but our unquestionable leader is linebacker Chris Washington, said Coach Mistretta.

The special teams have a weapon in Sampson. He returns kicks and punts along with Langlois. Gone is all state kicker Cohen Parent. Expected to step in the role will be Christian Donnelly, who will handle both duties.

The Griffins will play a challenging nondistrict schedule starting with week 3 after the season was pushed back. Covington, Vandebilt Catholic and Rayne will be the opponents. District 5-5A will again be one of the best in 5A with Woodlawn, McKinley, Catholic High and rivals St Amant and East Ascension.

The resiliency of this team is truly remarkable; this gives up confidence moving forward, Mistretta said.

Sounds like the Griffins are poised for another outstanding season. The attitude alone tells me that will happen.

Excerpt from:

Dutchtown Griffins bring positive attitude heading into a season with unknowns - The Advocate

Is now the time to explore the final frontier of investing? – The National

Its been impossible to ignore the major strides that have taken place in space exploration in 2020, including the launch of the UAEs Hope probe and the first launch of astronauts from US soil to space in more than a decade. The number of satellites deployed in space is increasing quickly, as rockets become cheaper and more reliable, while space tourism operators are set to begin regular operations in the near future.

So, its no surprise that investors are taking notice. Many of the biggest names in tech including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are active in the field with their own companies. And in the UAE, Mubadala Investment Company is a prominent investor, including ownership of Yahsat, a UAE satellite operator, stakes in Virgin Galactic and major investments in venture capital funds that have a focus on space.

But we could be on the cusp of even greater opportunity, with Morgan Stanley estimating that by 2040, the global space economy could generate revenues worth $1 trillion (Dh3.67tn) by 2040, up from $350bn currently.

Experts in space investment point to a number of technical catalysts that are helping to turbocharge the sector. The invention of the CubeSat small satellites weighing as little as 1.33 kilograms that are placed in low Earth orbit and the increasing power of off-the-shelf electronics have lowered the barriers, says Tess Hatch, vice president at Bessemer Venture Partners, which has made major investments in space companies, including Rocket Lab.

As governments ramp up their spending on space exploration and defence, including the establishment of the United States Space Command, it is creating an additional flow of money to private contractors, says Andrew Chanin, chief executive of ProcureAM, which offers a space-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Overall, the scale and ambition of some private companies are breathtaking, from space tourism and supersonic point-to-point travel to plans to colonise planets, mine asteroids for precious metals, produce lunar rovers or print 3D rockets.

As people become more aware of how much space plays a role in our everyday lives, they might start considering the importance of having space exposure in their own investment portfolios

Andrew Chanin, CEO of ProcureAM

Still, a large segment of space technology is focused on providing services to Earth dwellers including GPS, satellite television, high-speed internet and other communications services, or gathering data on weather, agriculture and other applications using sensors on satellites.

People havent fully grasped the importance of how space technologies are already affecting our everyday lives today and how it may affect them in the future, says Mr Chanin. We believe that as people become more aware of how much space plays a role in our everyday lives, they might start considering the importance of having space exposure in their own investment portfolios.

GPS is the best example of a transformational space technology that has been put to good use by tech companies. Developed by the US military and made available for civilian applications, GPS is today used to provide location-based services on our smartphones and wearable devices powering everything from Google Maps to ride-sharing services such as Uber to Pokmon Go.

The goal for investors is to identify the next set of space technologies that can deliver value creation on the same scale as GPS, says Chad Anderson, managing partner at Space Capital.

The greater number of satellites in space and more available sensors are creating new opportunities in Earth observation, with demand coming from fields including agriculture or insurance, he says.

Meanwhile, demand for geospatial intelligence, which uses satellite and other sensors to gather data about the world, such as counting the number of ships in a major port to predicting trade volumes, is growing rapidly.

This is especially true as Covid-19 creates a more uncertain outlook, according to Mr Anderson. We think that the opportunity in geospatial intelligence is going to be as big if not bigger than GPS or location-based services, he says.

Supplying high-speed internet via satellites is also expected to be a major growth market, especially in countries where internet services are slow or non-competitive.

Mr Musks SpaceX has launched about 600 low Earth orbit satellites, but has approval to launch as many as 12,000, each weighing approximately 260kg. It is aiming for near-global coverage of the populated world by 2021, according to the StarLink website.

Technologies developed for space exploration can also have applications on Earth. The UAE has already announced plans for a Mars colony by 2117.

While that goal may seem distant, many of the challenges around science and technology that will need to be overcome to establish a habitable human settlement on the Red Planet, such as securing food and water, are linked to challenges that the UAE faces today.

This is a point made by Elodie Robin-Guillerm, a partner at Gothams, an aerospace and defence accelerator that has a partnership with Hub 71 in Abu Dhabi to invest in early stage space companies and bring them to the UAE.

Thats why there is a lot of cross-sector development, and why you need partnerships between the government and the private sector to make this happen, she says.

The UAE is also rapidly developing as a hub for the space industry. This year, it passed a Space Law intended to bolster investment in the sector. The law not only provides a stable regulatory environment for investors, but also signals the seriousness of the countrys intent to develop the space sector, says Anna Hazlett, founder at AzurX, a space and technology consultancy in Dubai.

The Space Law is giving the UAE international recognition within the space sector. Space companies can start to operate here, and investors see this as a sensible, secure environment in which they can invest and they know that the regulatory framework is there, says Ms Hazlett.

So, if youre convinced space is the next big thing, how can you get exposure in your investment portfolio? The simplest way would be to include a specialised ETF tracking the aerospace industry, such as SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF. Its major holdings include Virgin Galactic, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Howmet Aerospace.

A more specialised choice is the ProcureAM Space ETF (its ticker is UFO). Eighty per cent of its index weight is allocated to companies that derive a majority of their revenue from space-related industries, including those utilising satellite technology, with names such as Trimble, Iridium Communications and Dish Network.

The fund tracks an index developed by space expert Micah Walter-Range, and includes two tranches of companies pure play space companies, such as Virgin Galactic, and diversified companies that receive some revenue from space.

Mr Chanin says the ETF can appeal to investors who want long-term exposure to the space sector, or those who are looking for short-term catalysts such as major government contracts.

But given the rapid pace of development, many of the investment opportunities are only available in private markets, whether to angel investors or investors in venture capital funds though successful companies are expected to eventually list on public exchanges.

When it comes to evaluating a potential investment in an early stage space start-up, Ms Guillerm says key considerations include the strength of its team and the commercial viability of its project, including time to market.

One thing that newcomers to the space investment sector can lack is a network to draw on, both for technical advice and assessing whether a company will be disruptive in the market they are targeting, she says. Space is a very large field, from upstream to downstream, and no one can be an expert in all of the sub-fields and sub-segments, she says.

That view is echoed by Ms Hatch, herself an aerospace engineer who has worked for Boeing and SpaceX, where she worked on integrating payloads with the Falcon9 rocket. Even with all our expertise at Bessemer, we hire independent consultants who have PhDs and deep expertise in the field, who dig in and understand every part [of a companys technology] before we invest, she says.

Investors may also need to be prepared to invest early, so look for founders who have a strong vision for their company as well as the technical expertise and intelligence to execute it, she adds.

If a company is involved in space exploration, theres definitely more risk attached to it. But thats where the opportunity is

Anna Hazlett, founder at AzurX

Other investment decisions include whether to target companies in the upstream space exploration activities or downstream, which are space technology companies providing services to Earth. Downstream companies that can generate recurring revenue quicker may be a safer bet, and especially those whose potential customers are in multibillion or multitrillion-dollar industries such as agriculture or the Internet of Things (IoT).

Companies that are focused on analytics or other services will likely also have a quicker route to market than a company that is trying to build its own hardware, and may require less capital to get their idea off the ground. Hardware at the end of the day is black and white it either works or it doesn't, says Ms Guillerm.

Companies involved in space exploration will likely be more risky, but the flip side is that if a company is successful in trying to do something that hasnt been done before, it can produce unique gains, says Ms Hazlett. If a company is involved in space exploration, theres definitely more risk attached to it. But thats where the opportunity is: if someone wants to take a risk as an investor, and it goes well, its going to be a great story.

One feature or risk of the industry is that despite the large amounts of venture capital invested to date, there have been relatively few exits whether initial public offerings or acquisitions. Space Capitals Mr Anderson puts this down to the relative newness of many companies in the sector, and the rule of thumb that it typically takes six to eight years for a company to be ready for an IPO.

Were right in the sweet spot now, where we [should] start to see one or two IPOs soon, he says.

Mr Anderson believes investments in space technology companies are no more risky than investing in general tech companies at a similar stage of development. I would say space might be even less risky than a more crowded area of tech given that theres so much wide open market opportunity here, he says.

Updated: September 7, 2020 05:00 PM

Continued here:

Is now the time to explore the final frontier of investing? - The National

Forget Mars, humans should head to Venus and live in the clouds – scientist – Daily Express

Venus was once thought to be similar in conditions to Earth and is a similar size. But over the course of its 4.6 billion year history, greenhouse gasses have taken its toll on the boiling hot planet which is now even hotter than Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun.

Temperatures on Venus exceed 460 degrees Celsius thanks to volcanic activity and a thick, heavy atmosphere that is full of carbon dioxide.

However, above the toxic atmosphere is part of an atmosphere which is similar to ours, full of carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen.

This is why humanity could live aboard "floating habitats" above Venus, according to one scientist.

It would make sense for several reasons; firstly because Venus has been described as once being Earth's twin, and secondly because it is much closer to Earth than Mars is.

At its closest point, Mars is 34.6 million miles from Earth, while Venus on the other hand can be just 23.7 million miles from our planet.

Speaking in the documentary Venus: Death of a Planet, Geoffrey Landis, engineer and scientist at NASA's Glenn Research Center, said: "You could float habitats in the atmosphere of Venus.

"And the habitats could be very large. They could be kilometres in scale.

"You wouldn't even need hydrogen or helium. Because the atmosphere of Venus is mostly carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen ordinary breathable air would float.

READ MORE:Venus discovery: Major finding reveals planet is not as dead as though

"The air that's holding you up is also the air that you can breathe. The lifting gas is your environment."

Others, however, see the idea as a bit fanciful.

Jonathan Sauder, senior mechatronics engineer at JPL, said: "I love the idea of a human crewed mission to a cloud city on Venus.

"You would just need to wear some type of suit that would provide you with oxygen to breathe as well as protection from the chemical air.

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"But you wouldn't necessarily need a pressure suit. Humans tend to not like the idea of not being able to be on firm ground.

"And the idea that you have to stay floating above this furnace essentially, in some ways is a hard sell!"

There are other issues concerning humanity living on Venus.

Temperatures on Venus exceed 460 degrees Celsius thanks to the thick, poisonous atmosphere that is full of carbon dioxide leading to an extreme greenhouse gas effect.

At that temperature, which is hotter than Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, there is no liquid on Venus of any kind, making the prospect of life impossible by current scientific understanding.

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Forget Mars, humans should head to Venus and live in the clouds - scientist - Daily Express

Elon Musk and SpaceX’s Mars mission may be difficult – Somag News

According to Musk, SpaceXs Mars mission will only work when one million people have settled on the planet.

On September 3 of this year, the plan of Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, was made public for humans to colonize and live on Mars and that would be achieved in 2050; Musk believes that around a million people must be sent to Mars for the mission to work.

In addition, the CEO of SpaceX indicated that this is a very difficult and dangerous mission, so it is not suitable for the faint of heart, but if it works, it will be a great victory for humanity.

In the same speech, the CEO of SpaceX indicated that he will offer a large number of jobs for those who decide to participate in the project, in addition to the fact that the company will also provide everything necessary during that trip and will cover all the needs of the colonists of Mars. .

Faced with this situation, a program launched by Netflix appeared that is related to the future mission to Mars, under the title Away, where the challenges and sacrifices faced by an astronaut played by actress Hillary Swank are shown.

Taking into account Musks warning data, the chances of survival to reach Mars are approximately 50/50, starting the mission complications with the participants farewell to their families and loved ones, as it could be the last. occasion in which they are contacted.

Without a doubt, Musks project is very ambitious, and it may have something mystical and to a certain extent be possible, however, they would also be the first steps of humanity in a completely unknown situation.

Only time will tell if it is possible that humanity can achieve such a feat, because Mars, although it has been studied, is still a great mystery to us, because the SpaceX mission could be much more complicated than previously thought.

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Elon Musk and SpaceX's Mars mission may be difficult - Somag News