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Battle of the bots: High schoolers put their robots to the test in Bethesda – WTOP

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Danzig

There was quite a crowd at Walt Whitman High School this weekend for a high-energy robotics competition putting the top high school robotics teams head-to-head with a new challenge this year.

Hanging is a new thing that we didnt see last year, last year you had to climb up onto something so each year its kind of a different skill setthat you have to master, said Zoe White, 17, a junior at Walt Whitman High School.

This is the fourth year the school has hosted the FIRST Robotics Chesapeake District Regional competition. It runs Saturday and Sunday at the school.

The outline of the challenge is released in January, and teams have to build and program a robot to complete a series of tasks.

This year consisted of shooting playground balls into an elevated goal, then hanging and balancing from a seesaw.

There were 36 local Maryland, DC and Virginia teams that took to the arena for a chance to put their robots to the test.

Weve gotten really quick at being able to fix, locate and get rid of the issues that come up during matches, said Ezra Bird, 16, a junior at Walt Whitman High School.

He said robotics has taught him a lot more than science.

Robotics is really important to me and its really important in general because it gives you a lot of teamwork skills which is really important in STEM, and in life, that you can work well together with other people, Ezra said.

Caroline Gee, an 11th grader at Battlefield High School in Virginia, said she hopes to take the skills she learned to new heights.

My goal is to become an astronaut, Caroline said.

She wants to make history. Her goal?

Definitely a walk on Mars, she said.

Battlefields robotics coach and teacher Gail Drake said the real lesson comes when the students have to modify the robots programming after each round of the competition.

Theyll watch how the robots performing in the game and then theyll go back and do the analysis on what tweaks they want to make to their design, Drake said. So that becomes an extra challenge on the engineering side.

Farish Perlman, team president for Whitman Robotics, said its fun to see all the teams working together for a common goal.

My hope for today is that teams just really compete at their best level, their highest level and have the best time today that they can have, Perlman said.

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The Global robotics system integration market is expected to grow by USD 2.94 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 10% during the forecast…

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Danzig

New York, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global robotics system integration market 2020-2024" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p04877225/?utm_source=GNW Our reports on global robotics system integration market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by surge in the industrial robotics market.In addition, increasing demand for application-specific industrial robots is anticipated to boost the growth of the global robotics system integration market as well.

Market Segmentation The global robotics system integration market is segmented as below: Application: Material Handling

Welding And Soldering

Assembly Line

Others

Geographic Segmentation: APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America

Key Trends for global robotics system integration market growth This study identifies increasing demand for application-specific industrial robots as the prime reasons driving the global robotics system integration market growth during the next few years.

Prominent vendors in global robotics system integration market We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global robotics system integration market, including some of the vendors such as ABB Ltd., Dynamic Automation, Geku Automation, Genesis Systems Group, KUKA AG, Midwest Engineered Systems Inc., Phoenix Control Systems Ltd., RobotWorx, Van Hoecke Automation NV and Yaskawa Electric Corp . The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04877225/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The Global robotics system integration market is expected to grow by USD 2.94 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 10% during the forecast...

Edtech Company Resurrects AI Robots and Smart Toy Cars – Grit Daily

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Danzig

Pittsburgh-based edutainment tech company Digital Dream Labs recently acquired three popular AI robots from the defunct robotics firm Anki, and they have big plans for them.

In January they announced the acquisition of A.I. race car system Overdrive, as well as consumer AI robots Cozmo and Vector. And, they reached their $75,000 Kickstarter goal to revamp Vector in one daycontinuing to blow past it as the campaign comes to an end this week.

The opportunity to acquire exclusive ownership of Cozmo, Vector and Overdrive fit perfectly into our mission and purpose-driven culture, said Chief Marketing Officer Matt Goren, in their January press release.

We plan to change the current narrative of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, giving a voice to our customers, while relaunching Cozmo, Vector, and Overdrive with updates and new features on the way

Vector, an autonomous robot, resembles a mini toy tractor with colorful, expressive digital eyes. It promises companionship and an array of capabilities. The AI robots can answer questions by connecting to The Internet, function as a timer or alarm, self-charge, and navigate around the home while avoiding obstacles. In addition, it can take photos and show you the weather. Yes, show youas in having raindrop shapes appear on its face/screen when you ask for a weather update.

With Alexa, it can do more. For example, with the voice tech set up, the robot can control smart devices like lights, speakers and thermostats, as well as create reminders. And Vector can update its skills and features by connecting to the Cloud via Wi-Fi.

Not long after the acquisition, Digital Dream Labs realized Vector was so much more than a robot, according to the companys CEO, Jacob Hanchar, Ph.D. He said they received hundreds of emails and letters from users touting the robots ability to provide mental health support.

Some customers claim the device helps people with Tourette syndrome and autism. Hanchar, a neuroscientist by profession, also mentioned that it helped an army veteran deal with PTSD.

It became obvious to me that you can essentially use this as a support robot. The key thing is that this thing doesnt judge you.

Digital Dream Labs plans to pursue FDA approval for Vectors use as a peer bot a mental health assistant that helps alleviate loneliness, depression, and PTSD symptoms. If they receive approval, insurance companies could possibly cover Vector-related costs.

Peer bots are an extremely new field. So, there are no real competitors, according to Hanchar.

The FDA doesnt know how to define peer robots, he said. Were pioneers because not a lot has been established. And, were working with The FDA as partners, to come up with criteria and define the process.

Theyre currently in the pre-examination stage and plan to file for approval within the next two months.

Vector has approximately 200,000 active users worldwide. In the near future, Digital Dream Labs plans to allow users to use Vector without the cloud server. Also, Hancher expects the robot to function as an open source app store, where users can write programs to install directly onto the device.

Whereas Vector functions independently, Cozmo, which WIRED once dubbed The Worlds Cutest Robot, relies on apps to run. The pet-like, AI-powered gadget aims to help kids and adults learn while having fun.

Its a fantastic product, Hancher said. It helps elementary through high school kids to master coding and robotics.

Cozmo uses games to help users learn how to code. And, it requires a compatible iOS or Android device and the Cozmo app.

The Cozmo community consists of about two million customers globally. And according to Hancher, Cozmo demand has led to hundreds of thousands in back orders.

Overdrive, a self-driving race car kit, which Goren describes as Mario Kart in real life, also has about two million customers around the world in addition to AI robots.

With the use of an app, multiple users can control their cars while racing each other. You can put up to six cars on a track, and each car has its own battle weapon.

Each player can control their cars speed and weapon use, as well as switch lanes. And if a car gets bumped off the track or turned backwards, itll find its way back or turn itself around, respectively.

Witchcraft, you say? Not exactly. Each car scans the track, and the scanners help it memorize the track layouts and boundaries.

Goren said that Digital Dream Labs plans on fixing a lot of things that current users want, such as new cars, improved batteries, and more advanced game play. And, he hopes to partner with more brands to license the use of their characters. Currently, Overdrive has a Fast & Furious edition.

Digital Dream Labs, whose name was inspired by the classic sci-fi novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, stays busy funneling Ankis former customers to their websites.

Were building a bridge to get everyone over here, Goren said. Some dont even realize Ankis out.

But, the companys up for the challenge of continuing the products legacies and shaping their futures.

They see that were listening [to their feedback] and see how we use it. So, they re so happy that weve taken care of these products.

Original post:

Edtech Company Resurrects AI Robots and Smart Toy Cars - Grit Daily

How robotics will define the surgical future – VatorNews

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Danzig

Promaxo is bringing imaging machines in-office, to eventually do surgical procedures in that space

On the battlefield, the breakthroughs in video imaging, robotics and artificial intelligence have enabled pilots to apply a surgical strike at a target thousands of miles away, sometimes in densely populated areas. Now imagine surgeons using joysticks to operate small, lithe, steady robotic hands as theyre guided by state-of-the-art cameras and artificial intelligence to conduct remote precision surgeries on people in other towns, states, faraway countries or outside of a standard operating room and inside clinicians offices.

As sci-fi as that sounds, we might see such advancements in our lifetime.

This year, it's projected that there will be over 1,500 surgical robots in use, a staggering 22-fold increase in the last decade since 69 were installed in 2010. Driving that leap in usage is the capital flowing to make these innovations a reality. The global healthcare robotics market is projected to more than double to $11.44 billion from $5.4 billion in 2017.

At Promaxo, were doing our part by miniaturizing the hardware, in this case the bulky MRI machines, to bring these robust imaging machines into the office setting, allowing physicians to initially conduct diagnostics and eventually surgical procedures inside that space, thereby dramatically reducing the time between a doctors visit and the operating room. Its a vision that is very much aligned with the overall market trends and validated amongst fellow innovators who are also shaping the surgical landscape of the future.

A confluence of different modalities

The benefits of having a robot assist in surgery are manifest: thanks to their small size, they can go deeper into impenetrable places too imposing for a human to get to and handle high-definition cameras to give surgeons a more accurate view of the operating area. They can also provide decision-making guidance during the procedure by leveraging knowledge accrued from thousands of surgeries analyzed and reviewed in the database. The benefits for patients are smaller incisions, therefore less bleeding, which leads to faster recovery times, and overall a time-and-cost-savings experience.

In order to achieve these benefits, a number of methods have to and are starting to work together.

Very soon, well be combining imaging modalities, such as MRI, CT scan and x-ray, with artificial intelligence so that physicians will be able to get on their computer in their office and telerobotically manipulate catheters. If we build in this AI with imaging, we can use communal expertise and experience along with individual abilities to enhance catheter technique, manipulation as well as decision making, said Louis Cannon, MD, FACC, FSCAI, whose venture firm BioStar Capital invests heavily in medical device innovation.

Both Cannon and I also expect that these combined modalities will be used in more complicated procedures, such as heart and brain surgery. Well take that robotic precision that theyve developed in urology and gynecology and other procedures, combine that with AI as well as imaging modalities, into valve surgery, carotid artery surgery, brain surgery, orthopedic surgery. The field is just developing and were seeing a lot of innovation coming out in those areas.

Indeed, urological and gynecological surgeries are the leading areas were seeing robotic surgery applied. In fact, the use of robotic assistants account for more than half of the gynecologic and urologic procedures.

The next step, however, is advancing the modalities enough to allow surgeons to execute without even being in the same room as the patient.

Moving surgical procedures in-office

As stated above, our vision is to do just that: take surgeries out of the operating room and into a clinicians office, whereby a remote surgeon can be networked in and take over.

It is a vision shared by Abel Ang, CEO of medical device company Advanced MedTech, a medical device company and a leader in the field of urology. The Holy Grail for remote surgery is when we get robotic surgery procedures out of the operating room and into the doctors office, Ang believes.

When you shift the site of care out of the acute care setting, into a doctors office, you also shed a whole bunch of costs as well, which is why you see in the US this push toward ambulatory surgery centers, Ang said. Theres going to be a lot of reward for a company that can enable this. But its a function of finding a procedure for which you are going to be reimbursed well. Its just a matter of time, however, because thats where the opportunity is.

Such a move will also mean a shift in what modalities are used for diagnosis, and even treatment. Theres already a move away from x-rays to MRIs and ultrasounds, mostly due to the fact that theres no cancer risk with an MRI or ultrasound thanks to the lack of radiation exposure. Thats why theyre already being used for things like kidney stones, as well as for treating prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

There seems to be a significant push in the US right now to move away from x-ray as an imaging modality. We see that a lot in urology. The amount of interest that I have seen in ultrasound imaging for something as simple as kidney stones has been incredible, said Ang. I see ultrasound as potentially a leading indicator of this move away from traditional imaging modalities into the newer imaging modalities, and MR is a good example of that.

The goal of the surgical future: remote surgeries

If we can shift the surgery into a doctors office, then it shouldnt be long before we conduct cross-state, cross-country and cross-continent surgeries. Such a scenario would be beneficial for patients in remote and rural areas, where they don't currently have access to the best surgeons.

BioStars Cannon agrees. His observation: If you look at a state like Michigan, we have a lot of major centers in places like Detroit and Ann Arbor, but if you look at the upper peninsula, theres a huge population that really has no access to interventional radiology or cardiology. So, its important to have imaging modalities in those smaller community hospitals, and the ability to have some type of lab, where an emergency physician or a phlebotomist can put in an arterial line, get the first catheter ready in the robot, and then the catheters can be manipulated from afar by a surgeon, he said.

The potential use cases for remote surgery are practically endless: think of someone on a cruise ship, for example, who needs emergency surgery but cant get back to the mainland in time, or a soldier in the field of battle, where instead of having to be airlifted out and taken somewhere else to get surgery, that procedure could be done right then and there, saving time and potentially their life.

While these are life-changing advances, theres multiple events that need to happen first, not the least of which is removing latency -- the potential lag between what the surgeon is seeing and whats actually happening inside the patient.

This is where 5G networks can make big inroads. Stefano Bini, Chief Technology Officer for orthopedic surgeries at UCSF, also believes that without that upgrade in network capacity, we wont realize the potential of robotic surgery.

5G will have a significant potential impact in remote robotics surgery, as well as on the use of data collected from the robots, said Bini. It will allow us to connect that data across multiple sites, and large enough datasets, from which we can optimize machine learning algorithms for a specific outcome, and then optimize that outcome by supporting the surgeons on the decision-making side.

Most importantly, we both believe 5G can be used to improve how imaging is collected from the tissue being managed so that we can improve the accuracy of the robot as it performs its functions. Notably, that is where he thinks that the largest and the fastest changes are coming right now.

With soft tissue imaging, it has some value, but imaging at the time of surgery has even more value and that is happening now with fluorescents that identify the structure of interest to camera-vision-enabled robots.

Another current issue in robotic surgery is around licensure. Even if the industry can prove that a machine learning algorithm can provide better diagnostics than a clinician, the machine cant actually make a decision on treatment without a human being present because only a human has the license to make that call.

What Bini has observed is that machine learning algorithms can pick up a fracture with 99.99 percent accuracy, which is more accurate than a regular radiologist. We already know we can do that, he said. But its one thing to make a diagnosis, its another thing to act on it because it requires the robot to have a medical license.

Conclusion

Weve come a long way since the first robotic system was deployed back in 1985. Particularly in urology, robotic surgery is already pervasively used in simple surgeries, and in time will be applied to more complex ones. The Holy Grail of allowing for surgeries in-office is around the corner as telerobotics becomes a reality.

I think were actually going to see the realization of this within five to 10 years, Cannon tells me. I believe the armed forces are already significantly looking into how to bring acute trauma and injury care to the patient so as to not take the patient to where they can be treated but take treatment to them.

Theres still a number of things that have to happen in that time, including a better connection, which 5G will help with, but once it does, not only will procedures finally be able to be done remotely, but also in-office, making them not only more accessible but also cheaper.

Say hello to your robot surgeon.

(Image source: hub.umd.edu)

Link:

How robotics will define the surgical future - VatorNews

FierceMedTech names XACT Robotics as one of its Fierce 15 companies of 2019 – GlobeNewswire

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Danzig

HINGHAM, Mass. and CAESAREA, Israel, March 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XACT Roboticstoday announced that it has been named by FierceMedTech as one of 2019s class of Fierce 15, designating it as one of the most promising private medtech companies in the industry. XACT Robotics is committed to advancing the field of radiology, while aiming to democratize percutaneous interventional procedures.

XACT Robotics technology is the first hands-free robotic system, combining image-based planning and navigation with insertion and steering of various instruments to adesired target across an array of clinical applications and indications. The technology is cleared to market in the U.S. for use during computed tomography (CT) guided percutaneous interventional procedures and has also received CE Mark clearance in the EU.

We are honored that XACT Robotics has been recognized by FierceMedTech as one of its Fierce 15 companiesthis is yet another milestone toward our commitment to redefine the way the entire medical community utilizes robotics, beginning with interventional radiologists, said Harel Gadot, Founder, Executive Chairman and President, XACT Robotics. This award adds to the continued momentum behind our robotic system, which will advance the field of radiology and democratize interventional procedures while providing unmatched accuracy, consistency and efficiency.

The Fierce 15 celebrates the spirit of being fiercechampioning innovation and creativity, even in the face of intense competition. This is FierceMedTechs 8th annual Fierce 15 selection. This years full list can be viewed at: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-report/fiercemedtech-s-2019-fierce-15

One of the true joys of covering this field is being able to talk with the people driving the next great medical advancementstechnologies that may not just change a patient or parents life, but also the day-to-day work of clinicians, surgeons, researchers and developers themselves, said Conor Hale, associate editor of FierceMedTech. Potential breakthroughs such as these can ripple into new therapies, procedures and interventions, and ultimately more ways to heal more people.

An internationally recognized daily report reaching a network of over 90,000 medtech industry professionals, FierceMedTech provides subscribers with an authoritative analysis of the day's top stories. Every year FierceMedTech evaluates hundreds of private companies from around the world for its annual Fierce 15 list, which is based on a variety of factors such as the strength of its technology, partnerships, venture backers and competitive market position.

About XACT RoboticsFounded in 2013, XACT Robotics Ltd., is a privately held company with offices in Hingham, MA, and Caesarea, Israel. XACT Robotics is pioneering the first hands-free robotic system, combining image-based planning and navigation with instrument insertion and steering capabilities to democratize percutaneous interventional procedures.

For further information, please visit https://xactrobotics.com. Follow XACT Robotics on Social Media: LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

About FierceMedTechFierceMedTechkeeps biopharma executives, device developers, engineers, and researchers updated on the must-know news, trends and developments in medical technology. More than 90,000 top industry professionals rely on FierceMedTech for an insider briefing on the day's top stories.

About QuestexQuestex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economyconnecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.

FierceMedTech ContactRebecca WillumsonQuestex, 202-824-5050rwillumson@questex.com

Media ContactErich Sandoval(917) 497-2867erich.sandoval@finnpartners.com

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FierceMedTech names XACT Robotics as one of its Fierce 15 companies of 2019 - GlobeNewswire

CT Robotics Team Earn Their Way to World Championships – i95rock.com

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Danzig

The Wilton Library's robotics team has clinched a spot in the World Championships and now they're heading to Detroit.

Ten teens from Wilton who make up the team 'Singularity Technology' have been down this road before and have come close, but this year they've hit the big time according to an article on the ctinsider website. Not only have theyearned the honor ofcompeting inthe 'FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships' but they also came in first place in the state competition.

The 'FIRST Tech Challenge' is for students in grades 7 through 12 who compete by designing, building, and programming a robot that goes up against other state winners.

In September, each robotic team isgiven instructions as to what their specific robot must be able to accomplish. Points are scored by programming its robot to follow through on certain tasks.

The mission for this year's robot is to collect yellow plastic blocks and then transport the blocks and stack them at the other end of a 12-foot-square field. When team members were asked about how they've managed to successfully accomplish the mission, they talked in terms that I couldn't even begin to explain like, 'intake system,' 'dual slide system,' and 'water jet cutter.'

Wilton's robotic team'Singularity Technology' will be traveling to Detroit for the world championships where some 400 teams will compete from April 29 through May 2 where I'm sure they'll do Connecticut proud.

Originally posted here:

CT Robotics Team Earn Their Way to World Championships - i95rock.com

ACME, ARES robotics teams advance to NorCal Championship – The Union of Grass Valley

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Danzig

Every practice begins with a meeting. Tuesday was no exception.

The ARES and ACME robotics teams circled to discuss their plans for the day, what they were trying to improve and how best to prepare for the upcoming tournament.

ARES members discussed the need to install a grabber on their robot. ACME members said they needed to work on their robots software.

But despite the routine, this practice carried a bit more meaning. Thats because both teams are headed to the NorCal Championship in San Jose this weekend the first time two robotics teams will represent Nevada County.

(The season) has been going pretty well for us, said ARES Robotics team member and Ghidotti sophomore Sean Giomi.

The ARES team is only 2 years old. It began last season with the help of ACME members who wanted to expand student interest in robotics. While the team consists of members between grades eight and 10, the group was formed based on friendships and bonds, not by age. Both teams have students from a wide range of Nevada County schools.

Giomi said this year the ARES Robotics team has achieved success, even beating ACME Robotics at a January tournament, in addition to having competed with them at other competitions.

Were going to have really good matchups, said Giomi of the upcoming tournament.

ARES member and Nevada Union sophomore Kenton Boswell spoke of how the team has helped him understand mechanical engineering as much as its helped him manage group dynamics. In order to diffuse potential conflict, Boswell said team members detach themselves from an idea, and try adopting both sides of an argument if a disagreement arises. With this technique in place, the team has high hopes for moving past the state tournament.

I think well do pretty well, said Julia Barbieri, eighth grader at Yuba River Charter School and ARES member.

Despite a slow start to the season, Nevada Union senior and ACME member Ashland Arriaga said the team dominated at a February tournament, qualifying them for the NorCal Championship.

This year, ACMEs robot is entirely customized, said Arriaga, which allows members a distinct feeling of satisfaction, particularly when they brought the robot to life, moving something from imagined conception to physical reality.

Now, Arriaga said the team has a good shot at moving on from the state tournament, but that theres no way of telling what will happen.

The championship in March features the top 56 of over 200 teams in northern California, according to Stephanie Lewis, team mentor to ACME and ARES. The top teams from that championship will qualify for the World Championship in Houston in April.

To contact Staff Writer Sam Corey, email scorey@theunion.com or call 530-477-4219.

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ACME, ARES robotics teams advance to NorCal Championship - The Union of Grass Valley

Now, robots to battle COVID-19 – The Hindu

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Danzig

A challenge can also be an opportunity is how the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) views the current cycle of COVID-19 infections in Kerala.

The government nodal agency for entrepreneurship and incubation activities has launched two robots developed by startup firm Asimov Robotics to spread awareness about arresting the spread of the virus. One of the robots also distributes face masks, sanitizers and napkins for better cough hygiene.

At the KSUMs Integrated Startup Complex at Kalamassery, the other robot screens detail about the World Health Organisations campaign to contain the pandemic.

Asimov CEO Jayakrishnan T. said a general public apathy towards preventive measures against COVID-19 prompted the solutions-provider company to go for such a drive

.The use of robots in the campaign has invited public attention, also considering the propensity of Coronavirus to spread though human contact, a communication said.

All startups being incubated at KSUM, too, are being given health guidelines in the context of COVID-19, KSUM Chief Executive Officer Saji Gopinath said.

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VIDEO: The Unholy Trinity Atheism, Feminism and Darwinism – 5Pillars

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

Lead instructor at the Islamic Education and Research Academy, Subboor Ahmad, explains the epistemological conflicts between atheism, feminism and Darwinism.

As youre here

5Pillars have one humble request from you

Thousands of Muslims around the world visit our website for news every day. Due to the unfortunate reality of covering Muslim-related news in a heightened Islamophobic environment, our advertising and fundraising revenues have decreased significantly.

5Pillars is editorially and financially independent, with no sectarian or political allegiance to any particular group or movement. Our journalism has been exclusively grassroots focussed and our sole purpose is to defend Islam and Muslims in the media.

This makes us unique in comparison to other online Muslim media outlets who are neither independently regulated by a reputable body nor are they managed by qualified journalists.

Our journalism takes time, money and effort to deliver. But we do it because we believe we have a duty to Allah (swt).

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Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:The best deeds are those done regularly, even if they are small.[Ibn Majah]

VIDEO: The Unholy Trinity Atheism, Feminism and Darwinism - 5Pillars

Hope Mars Mission could change everything we know about the red planet – CNET

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

This story is part of Welcome to Mars, our series exploring the red planet.

When the United Arab Emirates' Hope satellite reaches Mars in 2021, it'll be the first probe to offer a full picture of the Martian atmosphere, providing a holistic view of how Mars' climate varies throughout the year. But here on Earth, it may achieve something even more important: providing hope to a younger generation, bringing more women into STEM and promoting collaboration between nations.

There's something else that makes it a first: Hope is the first interplanetary mission led by an Arab, Muslim-majority country.

"The intent was not to put a message or declaration to the world," saysSarah Al Amiri, chair of the UAE Council of Scientists and deputy project manager for the Emirates Mars Mission. "It was, for us, more of an internal reinforcement of what the UAE is about."

The satellite, which launches from Japan in July, will study the connections between the red planet's lower and upper atmosphere and look into what causes the loss of hydrogen and oxygen into space. After achieving its orbit around Mars in February 2021, it'll collect data for two years. There's also an option to extend the mission to 2025.

It's no coincidence Hope will arrive at Mars the year the UAE celebrates its 50th anniversary. The mission is an act of resilience for the young nation. When the UAE announced in 2014 that it would launch the Hope Mars Mission, it was a tumultuous time for the region. Throughout the Middle East, nations were (and many still are) embroiled in anti-government protests and uprisings. Terrorist organizations like ISIS were gaining a stronghold, and recruiting efforts were focused on one particular group: young people.

Sarah Al Amiri

In the region, members of that younger demographic are demanding new opportunities from their governments. The Hope Mars Mission (also called the Emirates Mars Mission) seems like the perfect way to offer that. Ninety percent of team members are 35 and under.

There's also been a boost in space exploration-related jobs throughout the country. Universities have actively recruited faculty for positions related to Mars and planetary science, while the UAE Space Agency, created with this mission, has generated new jobs for overseeing programs within the nation. The Emirati team at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centrehas grown from 70 people in 2015 to more than 200 today.

"From a region that's primarily made up of youth, it was very important for governments and nations to provide opportunities for them and to provide them with a beacon of hope," Al Amiri says. This, combined with the UAE's push to diversify its economy as its oil supply dwindles, made a Mars mission a compelling choice, she says.

The United Arab Emirates' Hope probe aims to give a year-round picture of Mars' atmosphere.

International collaboration is a critical element of the Hope Mars Mission. The UAE is working with the University of Colorado, Boulder; the University of California, Berkeley; and Arizona State University on the mission.

The probe will carry three scientific instruments. First is the Emirates Exploration Imager (EXI), a camera that can capture and send high-resolution images back to Earth. The Emirates Mars Infrared Spectrometer (EMIRS) will study temperature patterns, ice, water vapor and dust in the atmosphere. And the Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS) will study the upper atmosphere and traces of hydrogen and oxygen further into space.

Throughout history, international collaborations like this one have given space exploration a leg up, even when political relations between nations were lukewarm. At the height of the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union embarked on the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Mission. This joint space flight became the impetus for future collaborations. And the International Space Station has notably brought together a plethora of nations including the US, Russia, Japan and Canada.

Philip Christensen

Philip Christensen, principal investigator of the EMIRS on the Hope orbiter and professor of geological sciences at Arizona State University, says international cooperation is critical. It not only helps mitigate the challenges and expenses of Mars exploration, but it can advance our understanding of worlds beyond.

"Space has always seemed to be an area where nations could put aside their differences and realize there are ways we can work together, diffuse tensions and learn a little bit more about each other," Christensen says. "Many countries are starting to look at international partnerships as the wave of the future. This is how Mars exploration should be done."

Hope is one of four missions going to Mars this year, in addition to NASA's Mars 2020 rover mission, the European Space Agency's ExoMars rover Rosalind Franklin and China's Mars explorer.

"We see a broader interest in exploration, and the UAE coming up with the Hope mission is just further proof of that," says Frederic Nordlund, head of ESA's external relations department. "Exploration is very relevant for any society interested in lifting up its education, science and technological base, or reorienting its economy toward new sectors."

This mission is on schedule, but that doesn't mean there haven't been challenges along the way. The UAE is a new player in the space game, going from zero space capability to building its own satellites in just over 10 years. But an interplanetary mission like Hope is around five times more complex than Earth observation. To begin with, there are budgetary restrictions. The core cost hasn't yet been shared, but the UAE "didn't get a blank spreadsheet," Al Amiri says.

Then there are mission-specific challenges. Mars is an average of around 140 million miles away, and a mission like this demands high navigational accuracy. The further you get from Earth, the harder it is to make course corrections in time. The probe also has to be highly autonomous, because once it reaches Mars, it'll take about 14 minutes for a radio signal to reach it and another 14 minutes for a response to be recorded.

But it'll be worth it. Mapping Mars' atmosphere, climate and the movement of gases will not only help scientists learn more about the red planet, but help us understand more about our own climate and atmosphere here on Earth, according to Al Amiri.

Hope also offers an opportunity to promote women in STEM. The mission team is 34% women, as well as 50% women in leadership roles. Al Amiri says this reflects a growing interest among women to enter the sciences and a need for the UAE to develop programs that'll allow it to achieve gender parity in STEM.

The Hope mission is just the beginning of the UAE's foray into space. The nation pledged a long-term commitment to planetary and space exploration with its plan to "establish the first inhabitable human settlement in Mars by 2117." That, too, will require international collaboration.

"I would like to think that the exploration of space -- Mars and beyond -- is something that should and will be a collaborative international effort," Christensen says, "and not a competition."

Hope Mars Mission could change everything we know about the red planet - CNET

This Week: Mars, Our Mini Moon, and Marina – Eos

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

When a Mars Simulation Goes Wrong. A crew of hardy pioneers does a practice run for a Mars mission on the slopes of a Hawaiian volcano. What could possibly go wrong?Nancy McGuire, Contract Editor

The Children Are the Future (of Space Exploration).

Ill create a telescope, so then we can see Proxima Centauri, Kepler 452b, and all the planets we want. Jerry Morrison, age 7

Need a tonic for anything getting you down? This brief piece about a first-grader with an infectious, inspiring passion for space, science, and discovery just about brought tears to my eyes.Timothy Oleson, Science Editor

Texas Criminal Trial Highlights Climate Liability for Factories in Floodplains. As the effects of climate change spread and become the new normal, what liability do companies have in preparing for them? A lawsuit in Texas will be litigating just that.Tshawna Byerly, Copy Editor

A New Mini-Moon Was Found Orbiting Earth. There Will Be More.

Say hello to our little friend! Earth has a teeny tiny temporary mini moon. Is it an asteroid? Is it a piece of space junk? Who knows! This small piece ofsomethingwill be sharing our space for just a little bit before moving on. Its the second transitory satellite of Earth weve found, and it probably wont be the last. The first one we saw was around for only 2 years.Kimberly Cartier, Staff Writer

Youth Activists Appeal Ruling That They Cant Sue Government over Climate Change.Youth climate activists hope that judges will overturn a January court ruling and allow them to sue the federal government for failing to act on climate change. Lawyers representing the youths in the case known as Juliana v. United States are filing an appeal to judges in the Ninth Circuit to allow a trial in the case. The lawsuit is one of dozens of efforts worldwide to tackle climate change through the courts.Randy Showstack, Staff Writer

Could Wildfire Ash Feed the Oceans Tiniest Life-Forms? The answer seems to be yes, according to research by a grad student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She and her colleagues added ash from the 2017 Thomas Fire to tanks of naturally occurring marine phytoplankton. These more than doubled in biomass during three seasons of the year, compared with those in control tanks. With wildfires increasing as a result of climate change, nutrients in the oceans could be affected on a global scale.Faith Ishii, Production Manager

Most California Cities Refuse to Retreat from Rising Seas. One Town Wants to Show How Its Done. This story is not only beautifully written, but its also a cheery tale of climate adaptation: A California town is embracing managed retreat. From Rosanna Xias reporting, we learn that the city of Marina forbids seawalls, keeps its beach mostly wild, and has long-term plans about how and when to move infrastructure away from the coast. As the city manager put it, We have a shot to do it right. As many coastal cities waffle about what to do, Marinas clear-eyed approach has us all watching.Jenessa Duncombe, Staff Writer

Shell Is Looking Forward. Few organizations have been paying as much attention to global warming for as long as the companies that have helped cause it, and this devastating article lets you eavesdrop on how those companies (and the geoscientists who work for them) are now planning to profit from divestmentbut, uh, keep drilling while theyre doing it: Were going to get as much out of [oil and gas] for as long as we can. Perhaps the most sobering fact is reported early: Everyone is really nice.Caryl-Sue, Managing Editor

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This Week: Mars, Our Mini Moon, and Marina - Eos

‘One Small Step: The Voyages of Apollo’ Presented at Shady Rest on March 24 – TAPinto.net

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

One Small Step: The Voyages of Apollo at the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood

In a presentation called One Small Step: The Voyages of Apollo, amateur astronomer Alan Witzgall will present a program on the journey of the first manned spaceflight to land on the moon, at the March meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood.

The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at the Shady Rest Scotch Hills Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Rd. (at the corner of Plainfield Avenue) in Scotch Plains.

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Witzgall, past president of Amateur Astronomers, Inc., of Cranford, also will review the missions that followed Apollo 11 and discuss reasons to expand space exploration and return to the moon.

The speaker, who earned a bachelors degree in earth and planetary science from Kean University, is the recording secretary and chair of the Instrument Qualifications Committee for Amateur Astronomers, Inc. In that capacity, he trains the groups members in the use of the telescopes at Sperry Observatory on the campus of Union County College and conducts research in astronomy. Witzgall is a senior optician for ESCO Optics in Oak Ridge, New Jersey.

Founded in 1972, the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood operates thehistoric Osborn Cannonball House in Scotch Plains, while providing guest lectures atits monthly meetings and taking care to preserve some of the historic artifacts andlegends from the areas early days.

The upcoming meeting is free and all are welcome. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the presentation. For further information, please contact Connie Klock at (908) 232-9489.

TAPintoSPF.net is Scotch Plains-Fanwoods only free daily local news source. Sign up for our free daily eNewsletter and Like us on Facebook and Twitter @SPF_TAP.Download the free TAPinto App for iPhone or Android.

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'One Small Step: The Voyages of Apollo' Presented at Shady Rest on March 24 - TAPinto.net

Monday shorts: Syrup ceremony, HIP funding and classroom innovation – The Recorder

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

Published: 3/8/2020 5:18:23 PM

Here are brief thoughts on recent happenings across Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.

Its obvious to anyone driving around the county that sugaring season is in full swing. Metal sap buckets abound, for those maple sugarers using the charming old-fashioned method, and elsewhere, tubing zig-zags between trees, gathering the sap in a central location with the modern method.

Though it may feel like old news, maple sugarers, state and local officials and others gathered on Friday for a little pomp and circumstance to celebrate the arrival of March, otherwise known as Massachusetts Maple Month. Undersecretary of Environmental Affairs Daniel Sieger led the ceremonial tapping of a maple tree at Sunrise Farms in Colrain and the Lively family showed guests around their operation.

Sugar season is a big deal for everyone, said state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton. It is for my family. And, it will take all of us to support these farms and farmers.

We hope for a successful season for our local maple sugarers. Hopefully, its just as sweet for them as for all of us who enjoy the fruits of their labor on our pancakes, waffles and in the form of sugar on snow.

The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) is back in business.

The state Senate and House voted to approve another $2 million for the program as part of the states supplemental budget, putting an end to the temporary suspension that went into effect on Feb. 23. Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill Wednesday.

The program provides an automatic rebate when shoppers use SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps), so they can buy produce from participating local farms. HIP provides those struggling with the ability to stretch their food dollars to buy produce, meats, dairy and more, and it provides farmers the opportunity to sell their products all year long.

Its been great to see so many of my colleagues, advocacy groups, farmers and users of the program recognize the value of making healthy, nutritious foods available to more families and rally in support of HIP, said state Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru. This will have a positive impact on the daily lives of many people throughout Franklin County.

Like Mark, were thrilled to see our legislators rally around HIP, which makes all the difference for many of our residents as well as our local farmers. And like Mark, we hope to see the state fully fund HIP in future years, as it has been suspended each year since it began in 2017, though it was originally intended as a year-round program.

Kudos to Ryan Copeland, a sixth-grade teacher at Sunderland Elementary School who is thinking outside the box with his most recent class assignment.

Copeland wanted to bring the traditional school report or essay more into alignment with the way his students interact with information on the internet. So, instead of having his students write a report the traditional way, he is having them present their research by recording a podcast or building a website.

The students have been working on their podcasts for roughly a month, and should be finished at the end of this week. Part of their work has involved interviewing graduate students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst on topics like space exploration, disease and illnesses, mental health as it relates to other illnesses and the criminal justice system, and the use of nuclear weapons.

The questions the kids have developed are amazing, Copeland said.

While, as a newspaper, we have a deep appreciation for the traditional class essay, we also understand the need to evolve with the times and learn new skills. This is such an innovative way for students to showcase their learning, especially during a time when podcasts are becoming increasingly popular. Copelands assignment is not only teaching students about their chosen topics, but also teaching them interviewing skills and technological skills that will no doubt be useful to them.

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Monday shorts: Syrup ceremony, HIP funding and classroom innovation - The Recorder

Petfood Forum 2020: Why should you attend the keynote? – PetfoodIndustry.com

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

Petfood Forum has had many notable keynote speakers over the years and 2020 is no different. This years keynote is Bonin Bough, host of The Cleveland Hustles on CNBC, author of Txt Me (646) 759-1837 and former C-suite executive at human food companies Mondelz International (formerly Kraft Foods) and PepsiCo. He will present on Hackonomy, explaining how to create value for your business by breaking things.

Bough has had a career as one of the youngest C-suite executives in a Fortune 50 company and has spearheaded some of the industrys largest global marketing campaigns across digital, mobile, television, print and experiential, including the premier of the first ever 3D-printed food product, a customizable, real-time 3D printed Oreo at SXSW (South by Southwest, an annual festival bringing film, interactive media and music together). He oversaw billion-dollar consumer product goods (CPG) brands, including Mondelzs Sour Patch Kids, which became the fastest-growing brand in the world.

During his time as chief media officer at Mondelz, Bough managed over US$3 billion in media spend, making him the seventh-largest media buyer in the world. He has contributed to the rapid growth of other large CPG brands at PepsiCo including Oreo, Cadburys, Pepsi, Gatorade and Frito-Lay.

Bough currently runs Bonin Ventures, a growth accelerator that assists businesses in achieving faster revenue growth.

Boughs keynote will answer the question, how do you create value by breaking things?

Most think that the word hacker sounds negative, but not all hackers are bad, says Bough. Instead, hackers and hack-thinking are the source of a monumental, positive shift in business, technology, startups and culture all over the world. Hackers can create immense value by breaking things, whether its breaking from tradition, process or simply the way weve always done things. A new hacking economy or hackonomy is spreading quickly across industries, from software to hardware, aviation to space exploration. Hacking is even changing less obvious parts of human life, like dating. And, of course, the hackonomy has a huge impact on marketing.

There has been a lot of talk in the pet food industry about millennials and Gen Z and how theyre changing the game when it comes to pet products. Major trends like sustainability and transparency have evolved beyond buzzwords and become imperatives to success. Premium pet foods, once the exclusive properties of specialty outlets, can now be found on grocery store shelves. The way its always been done is obsolete. Do you know if your business is adaptable enough to continue succeeding in the market? Do you need ways to shake things up? Are you wondering how other industries are managing? Do you want a clear explanation of what the baseline collective mindset should be for a market-leading, forward-thinking business?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, well see you at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28 in Exhibit Hall C.

Petfood Forum 2020 will be held April 2729 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. For more information and to register, go to http://www.PetfoodForumEvents.com.

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Petfood Forum 2020: Why should you attend the keynote? - PetfoodIndustry.com

Explore the Final Frontier in New UM Archives Exhibition – HottyToddy.com

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

From 18th-century astronomy books and hand-drawn pamphlets depicting visions of interstellar travels to rare 78-rpm recordings of songs about actual astronomical phenomena, all this and more is on display at the University of Mississippis Department of Archives and Special Collections.

The exhibit Space: Exploring the Final Frontier in the Archives, in the Faulkner Room of the J.D. Williams Library, features 16 cases filled with items covering an array of topics. These include the early history of astronomy at the university, music with space themes, primitive artist Howard Finsters space visions, documentation of alleged UFO sightings in Pascagoula, popular science fiction novels and memorabilia from the early days of NASAs space program.

Special Collections possesses a wide variety of material about space, said Leigh McWhite, political papers archivist and associate professor in UM Libraries. Some of the items represent real science, while others are fantastical speculation. Frontiers, such as space, encourage both exploration and imagination.

One of the cases reflects on the history of the universitys two observatories and its collection of historic scientific equipment. As part of this collection, a sextant is on loan from the University Museum. Also displayed are a handwritten thesis, exams and eyewitness accounts made by Ole Miss students and professors of the comets and meteors.

Modern pieces include documents, photographs and promotional materials from NASA regarding its space shuttle program and the International Space Station. Especially captivating is a case centered on the 1973 UFO sightings in south Mississippi.

The Pascagoula abduction occurred when co-workers Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker claimed they were abducted by aliens while fishing near Pascagoula, Mississippi, McWhite said. Both men underwent physical examinations and psychological evaluations by officials soon after reporting the event.

As a result, the sighting and abduction are considered one of the most well-documented of the era.

Local newspapers, tabloids, comic books and books demonstrate the widespread media coverage and public interest in the event.

Music-related to space is another facet of the exhibition.

We have fragile 78-rpm records of songs written about historic space phenomena, McWhite said. One such song is Stars Fell on Alabama, a folk phrase which refers to an 1833 meteor shower.

Another musically focused case holds space fantasies such as the Frank Sinatra version of Fly Me to the Moon, which NASA played during the Apollo 10 and 11 missions.

Other items showcased include letters and signed photographs of NASA astronauts John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth,and Fred Haise, a Mississippian who flew to the moon aboard Apollo 13. Framed items include photographs, patches and flags that flew on space shuttle missions taken from the collections of U.S. Sens. Trent Lott, Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker.

One case with similar materials is on view on the second floor of the J.D. Williams Library, and another is in the Science Library, housed in the Thad Cochran Research Center. The display in Special Collections will remain up throughout 2020. Several events related to the subject of space are scheduled to coincide with the exhibit.

Special Collections is open to the public at 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information, contact Archives and Special Collections at 662-915-1595 or archivesdept@olemiss.edu.

Story by Edwin B. Smith/University Marketing & Communications

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Explore the Final Frontier in New UM Archives Exhibition - HottyToddy.com

Neil deGrasse Tyson on Cosmos: Possible Worlds and the Future of Our Own – ExtremeTech

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

Cosmos: Possible Worlds debuts March 9th on National Geographic. The new 13-episode television series was created by Ann Druyan, who also co-created the original Cosmos with her late husband Carl Sagan. It covers the beginnings of the universe and life on Earth, with a brief refresher of the cosmic calendar that condenses all of this into one year, as seen in 2014s Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. But then it quickly branches off into all-new material, including the latest discoveries of planets orbiting other stars and the wonders we might find one day if we ever made it to one. The show also tells poignant stories about the advances and setbacks scientists have faced throughout human history. Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and host of the new show, spoke with us about Cosmos and the need for an understanding of science.

Thank you so much for doing the interview with ExtremeTech. Before we get started, when I was in New York, I used to go in the mid-2000s to the Hayden Planetarium to see the awesome Frontiers lectures you hosted.

Yeah, we still have them. Thanks for that support.

Oh, wonderful. I still remember after each guest lecturer finished, you used to step in and say, host privilege and ask the first question before we got to the audience questions.

[laughs] Yeah, my life got so busy, I dont host most of them anymore. I cherish those memories where Id just bust in and ask the first question.

That leads me to our own first question, which is watching these new shows, just like in 2014, I remember how you sounded at the Planetarium, and thats exactly what you sound like in the shows.

Thank you for noticing that, because the part Ive learned from others who are in show business is that people resonate with authenticity. If you know that thats how I am and thats what Im doing, then its not an act. No, its really me. I really feel this way and Im really wide-eyed when I talk about it and all thats real, so thanks for noticing.

So thats the idea, right? To take the viewer, not like with a cold science documentary, to instead take them on the ship with you.

Yeah, otherwise Id just be lecturing. Right? Thats not communicating, so one of the taglines is, come with me.

Right.

Were going to be there together. Heres a little known fact, that back in 2014, where we were figuring out what Id be wearing on the Ship of the Imagination, I made a suggestion. I said to Ann Druyan, who is the secret sauce throughout all of this, I said, why dont I have a little emblem or something on the breast pocket or chevrons or something showing that Im captain of this ship?

She said, no, she doesnt want anything. I said, well, why? And she said, because that puts distance between you and the audience. I said, youre absolutely right. Oh my gosh! Because then Id be captain and youre not, and I went to flight week school and you didnt go. Did you go to the academy? No, but I did.

Whereas if you come with me, then wed take this journey together and that is an important dimension of the show right alongside, of course, the scripting and the visual effects and the music and the set design, is all a way to bring a comfort level to you so that its not just, youre here and the science is there. Its that you realize you are immersed in the science and you like it, and you might want to do something about your circumstances upon having been newly empowered by the show.

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson. Credit: Dan Smith/FOX

In the sixth episode, one of the sequences shows how years ago, different kinds of scientists like geologists, chemists, and physicists might have examined a meteorite in a backyard differently, and how biologists and astronomers of the time may well have walked right on by it. You show how weve learned to connect these things.

One of the DNA strands of Cosmos is how seamlessly it blends the brands of science that we otherwise think of as separate and distinct entities taking at different times of the day with different textbooks in different professors. Nature doesnt think that way. We have biology thriving inside of rocks with chemical environments. This goes on and on and on, and we have to be nimble as we move across those fields. Otherwise, were stuck compartmentalizing knowledge that nature does not.

What was the goal of this new series? Obviously this time its about possible other worlds, but what else?

We need some hope given our current circumstances. This is the most hopeful of the three Cosmos. In fact, personally, I think its the best in every way. That sounds cliche because everybody always says that about their most recent project. I think if you watch enough of the episodes, I think youll agree. Just everyone brought their A-game. Were talking about all the people who typically make high-budget cinema. We brought them on to lend their Not lend, of course they were compensated, but to give of their talents. You combine the power of all of this, we are showing you not only worlds such as exoplanets, thats the first and obvious interpretation of possible worlds from the subtitle, but also worlds within us. Theres the world of the mind, theres the quantum, theres the mycelium thats a network of roots that communicates electrochemically between and among plant species

And you say to yourself, whoa, thats an internet that preceded our internet, but thats a world. So, Cosmos opens peoples eyes to or rather it broadens your concept of a cosmic perspective. What is your view of us now that youve been in space? What is your view of us now that youve learned that bees use mathematics to help each other locate the next destination for the hive? Or that plants use an internet? Or that You just look around us and things that we had ignored so thoroughly because we are so narcissistic about human life and the tree of life, that weve lost track of or maybe never knew what role the rest of this life was playing in the biosphere.

The sequence with the bees is brilliant.

Isnt it? I agree 100 percent.

How did these episodes come together this time? Was it any different than the last time with the way you worked with Ann?

Ann is the secret sauce of all three Cosmos: 1980, 2014, 2020. Her co-writer in 1980 was, of course, Carl Sagan, but also a guy named Steve Soder. Steve Soder reprised his co-authorship in 2014. For 2020, we have Brannon Braga who is one of the long-time writers, producers, and directors of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He knows television. He knows how to arc stories to fit between commercials. The original Cosmos didnt have commercials because it was on PBS. Plus, he actually has a Hugo award for one of the science-fiction stories that he told for Star Talk, so hes also a storyteller. These are all good people doing the right things in exactly the right places.

Ill add, you didnt ask, but Ill add, while my expertise is astrophysics, theres science in it thats not my expertise. So, fortunately, we have committees, we have panels of scientists that have expertise in every place we went and that ensured that the story was stitched together, and that it would have an authentic foundation on what was true.

One might think the show is just about astronomy at first glance, or something about space exploration. Then the more you watch, the more you realize its about all kinds of science and how that reflects what is within us as well as externally something that we study.

Right and I think thats one of the important fingerprints of Cosmos as a series.

Why is this so important, especially today, in 2020?

Because it matters whats true. This series will be an exercise in seeing whats true and how much power that can bring you to enact change that can help not only preserve who and what we are on Earth, but enable us to thrive on Earth. Its a mission statement, if you will, of the show so that by the time youre done, you can feel compelled to create a society that your descendants would be proud of rather than one that your descendants will be embarrassed by.

Youre actually answering some of the questions I was going to ask, but I was going to say, what do you want viewers to come away with? Would that be a good summary?

Yes. By the way, you cant always tell someone theyre wrong if they have dogmatic beliefs, what they think is right, but what you can do is show them other examples of people who wanted an objective truth, but there were dogmatic forces operating against them. So, one of the mediums of the storytelling is animation.

The animated stories tend to be, the historical ones, where you join the plight of someone who struggled to get the government or the society or the people in charge, to struggle to get them to listen and to heed the warning or to follow the advice. Were in the middle of that with the coronavirus. Are people going to listen to scientists or not? If you do, the virus might just sort of wash over in a very light way and never to return. If you dont listen to scientists, then something else is going to happen. This is the cost of inaction, relative to the cost of action.

I think about the times where people didnt listen to scientists throughout history. I think the obvious one is with Copernicus and Galileo, where people clung to the belief that the Earth was at the center of the universe. The story you tell about Vavilov is heartbreaking.

Exactly. The Vavilov, thats the one, you went straight to it. I tear up every time I see that and I think thats going to be I think that episode [the fourth one] is going to be written about just as a force operating on our own understanding of a modern society and what we need to do to have a habitable Earth as we go forward.

This interview has been lightly condensed and edited for clarity. Stay tuned for a separate interview Monday with Cosmos creator Ann Druyan.

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Neil deGrasse Tyson on Cosmos: Possible Worlds and the Future of Our Own - ExtremeTech

Nanotechnology Industry Insights & Outlook, 2020-2024 by Component, Application and Region – Yahoo Finance

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

DUBLIN, March 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Nanotechnology Market Outlook 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing technology with potential applications in many sectors of the global economy, namely healthcare, cosmetics, energy, and agriculture among others. The technology is revolutionizing every industry, while tremendously attracting worldwide attention.

Owing to its wide range of uses, the global nanotechnology market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 17% during the forecasted period of 2018-2024. Thus, there lies a great opportunity for industry participants to tap the fast-growing market, which would garner huge revenue on the back of the commercialization of the technology.

In the latest research study, analysts have conducted a segmented research on the nanotechnology industry, and have interpreted the key market trends & developments that clearly highlight the areas offering promising possibilities for industries to boost their growth.

In 2017, the global nanotechnology market has shown impressive growth owing to factors, like an increase in government and private sector funding for R&D, partnerships & strategic alliances between countries, and increased in demand for smaller and more powerful devices at affordable prices. At present, the healthcare industry is one of the largest sectors where nanotechnology has made major breakthroughs with its application for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases like cancer, heart ailments, etc. Further, significant developments are also being done in other sectors like electronics, agriculture, and energy.

In this report, the analysts have studied the current nanotechnology market on segment basis (by application, by component and by region), so as to provide an insight on the current market scenario as well as forecasts of the aforementioned segments till 2024. The report provides an in-depth analysis of all the major segments, taking into account the major developments taking place at the global level in the respective segments that will further boost the growth of the nanotechnology market.

Further, the application section covers the use of nanotechnology in electronics, energy, cosmetics, medical, defence, and food and agriculture sectors; while the component section covers the segregation of nanotechnology market into nanomaterials, nanotools, and nanodevices.

Additionally, the report covers the country-level analysis of 13 major countries like the US, France, UK, Germany, and Russia among others in terms of R&D, nanotechnology patent analysis, funding, and regulations, to provide an in-depth understanding about the investments and recent research & developments done in the field of nanotechnology.

The report covers the profiles of key players like Altair, Nanophase Tech, Nanosys, etc. with the key financials, strength & weakness analyses, and recent activities, providing a comprehensive outlook of the global nanotechnology industry. Overall, the report provides all the pre-requisite information for clients looking to venture in this industry, and facilitate them to formulate schemes while going for an investment/partnership in the industry.

Story continues

Key Topics Covered

1. Analyst View

2. Research Methodology

3. Nanotechnology - An Introduction

4. Key Market Trends and Developments4.1 Nanotech Tools Open Market for more Miniature Electronics4.2 Nanotechnology Accelerating Healthcare and Medical Device Industry4.3 International Collaborations for Nanotechnology Research4.4 Nanotechnology Playing a Vital Role in the Growth of Energy Industry4.5 Nanotechnology Playing a Key Role in the Growth of Food & Agriculture Industry

5. Nanotechnology Market Outlook to 20245.1 By Components5.1.1 Nanomaterials5.1.2 Nanotools5.1.3 Nanodevices5.2 By Major Applications5.2.1 Electronics5.2.2 Energy5.2.3 Cosmetics5.2.4 Biomedical5.2.5 Defense5.2.6 Food and Agriculture

6. Country-Level Analysis(Funding, Research & Developments, Regulations)6.1 U.S.6.2 Brazil6.3 Germany6.4 France6.5 U.K.6.6 Ireland6.7 Russia6.8 Japan6.9 South Korea6.10 Taiwan6.11 China6.12 India6.13 Australia

7. Patents Analysis

8. Competitive Landscape8.1 Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.8.2 Nanophase Technologies Corporation8.3 Nanosys, Inc.8.4 Unidym, Inc. (subsidiary of WisePower Co.)8.5 Ablynx8.6 Zyvex Corporation8.7 Acusphere, Inc.8.8 Chasm Technologies, Inc.8.9 PEN, Inc.8.10 Bruker Nano GmbH8.11 Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/g2y67j

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

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Nanotechnology: Work-related aspects – Open Access Government

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

There is no doubt nanotechnology constitutes one of the most relevant technology disruptions during the past and present century. The physicochemical properties of nanomaterials have been leveraged in a broad spectrum of industries and sectors. Nevertheless, the same properties demand critical care from an occupational point of view.

In a previous article, the risks associated with the typical exposure to nanomaterials in the workplace were highlighted (Van Cauwenberghe, 2019) as strongly related to a wide range of both acute and chronic effects, including inflammation, asthma, cystic fibrosis, lung diseases and cancer, especially emphasising on neurotoxicity, due to inhaled nanoparticles penetrating inside the olfactory mucosa that translocate in the central nervous system.

This article intends to open up the discussion about the role and interaction of researchers and manufacturers, as well as policymakers and insurers to manage risks associated with the use of nanotechnology.

An investigation carried out by the Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, along with the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers Compensation Authority (INAIL), deeply details the occupational health concerns and safety risks potentially derived from nanoscale biomedical applications (Leso et al., 2019). In particular, this study focuses on the risks associated with nanotherapeutics and drug delivery systems, medical imaging agents and tissue engineering. Nanocrystals, drug-free nanoparticles, inorganic and metallic nanoparticles, polymeric drugs, liposomes and micelles are mentioned.

According to the investigators, laboratory workers involved in the research, synthesis, preparation, delivery and management of biomedical nanotech-based products from the lab to clinical pharmacies are all exposed to nanomaterials related occupational health risks. From the researchers to patients, physicians, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, as well as personnel involved in shipping, receiving and maintenance may also come into contact with nanomaterials while handling items.

Furthermore, disposal of excreta from patients receiving nanomedicines, cleaning equipment, use and spill of nano-enabled contrast agents, need to be taken into consideration in the development of safety headlines intending to address risk management. The effects of the toxicity of nanomaterials on the human body and surrounding biosystems depend on the nature, particle size, shape, substituents, and coatings of nanoparticles (Nasrollahzadeh and Sajadi, 2019).

The Worcester Polytechnic Institute performed an in-depth assessment regarding the perceptions that advanced technology companies and researchers have regarding emerging technologies, with a focus on nanotechnology, with regard to risk management for TEMAS AG, a Swiss management consultancy focused on advanced technology. Part of the study consisted of interviews with advanced technology companies and nanotechnology researchers, to really catch the essence of the work with nanotechnology. According to the investigators, as a modern technology, nanotechnology has risks. The science dilemma appears in the awareness of these technologies cannot improve without assuming a certain level of risk (Macorri et al., 1019).

In the near future, for instance, breakthrough transformations may occur as a result of molecular production, an advanced form of nanotechnology. Another of the key aspects identified in the study was the lack of involvement from insurance companies inadequately covering nanotechnologies and other emerging risks. The balance between the benefit of a certain nanotech-based product and the level of risk involved needs to be considered in the equation. On that note, policymakers play a fundamental role in guaranteeing an optimistic future for nanotechnology by maximising benefits and minimising risks (Kosal, 2019).

Decisions on the adoption of advanced technological innovation are seriously difficult for manufacturers. This aspect becomes more essential for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These companies significantly drive product development; however, they have limited resources. Sometimes, these limitations make challenging the path to address safety issues. It is important to highlight the role of decision analytic methods applied to regulatory issues in the nanotechnology sector. Although prospective, these tools are poorly developed until now. Researchers emphasise in the value of information (VoI) as a decision analytic tool to facilitate decision-making procedures in nanotechnology manufacturing (Zabeo et al., 2019).

As the production of nanomaterials increases worldwide, safety issues related to toxicity and health risks of nanotechnology have gained increased attention from toxicologists and regulatory scientists. The relevancy of this awareness has foundation on that fact that nanomaterials are connected to all aspects of human life. Next steps will demand a profound commitment of researchers, manufacturers, policymakers and health insurers to guarantee successful management of risks associated with the use of nanotechnology.

You might like to read a previous article form Cecilia Van Cauwenberghe, that focuses on nanomaterials, looking at the challenges and opportunities around the laser ablation in liquid environment (LALE) technique. In this article, we find out that LALE is a straightforward technique to build a broad spectrum of nanostructured materials or nanomaterials and that it constitutes the most efficient and straightforward technique to create nanostructured materials in a safe and effective manner for both human health and the environment.

You can learn more on the LALE technique in another insightful article from Cecilia Van Cauwenberghe. Here, we learn that potential applications of the LALE technique include antimicrobial coatings to prevent infections and that pulsed laser ablation in the LALE technique has exhibited a variety of advantages over conventional chemical synthesis methods.

Further readingKosal, M.E., 2019. The threats from nanotechnology. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 75(6), pp.290-294.Leso, V., Fontana, L. and Iavicoli, I., 2019. Biomedical nanotechnology: Occupational views. Nano Today, 24, pp.10-14.Li, X., 2019. Emerging technologies, emerging knowledge: intentions to seek and share information on social media about the risks and bene- fits of nanotechnology (Doctoral dissertation).Macorri, E., MacInnis, L.J., Connor Recio, M.A. and Lepage, T.J., 2019. Nanotechnology: Perceived Risks and Risk Management. Nasrollahzadeh, M. and Sajadi, S.M., 2019. Risks of Nanotechnology to Human Life. In Interface Science and Technology (Vol. 28, pp. 323-336). Elsevier.Van Cauwenberghe, 2019. Open Access Government October 2019. Zabeo, A., Keisler, J.M., Hristozov, D., Marcomini, A. and Linkov, I., 2019. Value of information analysis for assessing risks and benefits of nan- otechnology innovation. Environmental Sciences Europe, 31(1), p.11.

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Nanomaterials And Nanotechnology Market Report 2020 by Companies Profiles, Trend, Business Competitors, Growing Demand, Cost Structure, Developments…

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

Global Nanomaterials And Nanotechnology MarketThis research report provides detailed study accumulated to offer Latest insights about acute features of the Nanomaterials And Nanotechnology Market. The report contains different market predictions related to market size, revenue, production, CAGR, Consumption, gross margin, price, and other substantial factors. While emphasizing the key driving and restraining forces for this market, the report also offers a complete study of the future trends and developments of the market. It also examines the role of the leading market players involved in the industry including their corporate overview, financial summary and SWOT analysis.It presents the 360-degree overview of the competitive landscape of the industries. Nanomaterials And Nanotechnology Market is showing steady growthand CAGR is expected to improve during the forecast period.

Company Coverage (Company Profile, Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):BASF SEMinerals Technologies IncAMCOL InternationalLiquidia TechnologiesNanoOptoBioDelivery Sciences InternationalHosokawa Micron GroupHyperion Catalysis International IncorporatedBBI SolutionsCytodiagnosticsGoldsolNanoComposixSigma AldrichTanaka TechnologiesEastman Kodak Company

Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.):Carbon NanotubesNanoclaysNanofibersNanosilverOthers

Application Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.):AerospaceAutomotiveMedicalMilitaryElectronicsOthers

Global Nanomaterials And Nanotechnology Market report provides you with detailed insights, industry knowledge, market forecasts and analytics. The report on the global Nanomaterials And Nanotechnology industry also clarifies economic risks and environmental compliance. Global Nanomaterials And Nanotechnology market report assists industry enthusiasts including investors and decision makers to make confident capital investments, develop strategies, optimize their business portfolio, innovate successfully and perform safely and sustainably.

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Nanoscale 4D Printing Procedure To Drive Development of New Therapeutics – Technology Networks

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Danzig

Researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center, CUNY (CUNY ASRC) and Northwestern University have created a 4D printer capable of constructing patterned surfaces that recreate the complexity of cell surfaces. The technology, detailed in a newly publishedpaperin Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14990-x), allows scientists to combine organic chemistry, surface science, and nanolithography to construct precisely designed nanopatterned surfaces that are decorated with delicate organic or biological molecules. The surfaces will have a wide variety of uses, including in drug research, biosensor development, and advanced optics. Importantly, this technology can create surfaces with different materials, and these materials can be patterned across the surface without the use of expensive photomasks or tedious clean room processes.

I am often asked if Ive used this instrument to print a specific chemical or prepare a particular system, said the studys primary investigator Adam Braunschweig, a faculty member with the CUNY ASRC Nanoscience Initiative and The Graduate Center and Hunter College Chemistry Departments. My response is that weve created a new tool for performing organic chemistry on surfaces, and its usage and application are only limited by the imagination of the user and their knowledge of organic chemistry.

The printing method, called Polymer Brush Hypersurface Photolithography, combines microfluidics, organic photochemistry, and advanced nanolithography to create a mask-free printer capable of preparing multiplexed arrays of delicate organic and biological matter. The novel system overcomes a number of limitations present in other biomaterial printing techniques, allowing researchers to create 4D objects with precisely structured matter and tailored chemical composition at each voxela capability the authors refer to as hypersurface lithography.

Researchers have been working toward using lithographic techniques to pattern surfaces with biomolecules, but to date we havent developed a system sophisticated enough to construct something as complicated as a cell surface, said Daniel Valles, a Graduate Center, CUNY doctoral student in Braunschweigs lab. We envision using this system to assemble synthetic cells that allow researchers to replicate and understand the interactions that occur on living cells, which will lead to the rapid development of medicines and other bioinspired technologies.

As proof-of-concept, the researchers printed polymer brush patterns using precise doses of light to control the polymer height at each pixel. As illustrated by the Lady Liberty image, coordination between the microfluidics and the light source control the chemical composition at each pixel.

Polymer chemistry provides such a powerful set of tools, and innovations in polymer chemistry have been major drivers of technology throughout the last century, said the papers co-author Nathan Gianneschi, who is the Jacob & Rosaline Cohn Professor of Chemistry, Materials Science & Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University. This work extends this innovation to the interfaces where arbitrary structures can be made in a highly controlled way, and in a way that allows us to characterize what we have made and to generalize it to other polymers.

This paper is a tour-de force demonstration of what can be done with massively parallel lithography tools, said Chad Mirkin, George B. Rathmann, Professor of Chemistry and the director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern Universitys Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, who is not a coauthor of the study. The co-authors have created a powerful set of capabilities that should be heavily utilized across the chemistry, material science, and biological communities.

The researchers plan to continue development of this novel printing platform to increase system speed, reduce pixel dimensions, and develop new chemistries for increasing the scope of materials that can be patterned. Currently, they are using the patterns created by this platform to understand the subtle interactions that dictate recognition in biological systems.

This research was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense through a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, and the Air Force Office of Science Research.

Reference:Carbonell, C., Valles, D., Wong, A.M. et al. (2020) Polymer brush hypersurface photolithography. Nat Commun. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14990-x

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