Offshore wind projects to be part of marine activity zones strategy – Irish Examiner

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"Strategic marine activity zones" may be designated in coastal and offshore waters as part of the Government's new approach to marine planning.

Offshore wind projects will receive "preference" in marine areas zoned for this, a new draft framework published this morning by Minister of State for Housing Damien English states.

Renewable energy projects, commercial fishing, mineral extraction, aquaculture and other competing interests, including tourism, will be covered by a new single system of consent under long-promised revised legislation.

Ireland is actually one of the largest EU states if over 490,000 square kilometres of seabed off a 7,500km coastline is taken into account, the draft framework notes.

Mr English has released the States first such framework in draft form today (tues) for a three month public consultation period.

Ireland and other EU coastal states are obliged to establish marine spatial plans by 2021 under an EU directive, and Mr Englishs department has been assigned as lead in this.

The national marine planning framework aims to take a co-ordinated and coherent approach to management of our most important resource, it says.

The States Harnessing our Ocean Wealth strategy, has already set two economic targets doubling the value of ocean wealth to 2.4% of gross domestic product by 2030, and increasing the turnover of the ocean economy to exceed 6.4bn by 2020.

Academics at NUI Galways Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit have reported that Irelands ocean economy had a turnover at 5.5 billion in 2017.

One single national marine plan will apply to Irelands entire maritime area, extending from mean high water mark on the coast to the 200 mile limits of the exclusive economic zone and Continental Shelf.

However, the draft framework says the Government is committed to preparation of regional or sub-national plans in future marine spatial policy cycles

The framework will be underpinned by the Governments Marine Planning and Development Bill, which will replace the existing cumbersome system of foreshore leases and licenses, and will extend beyond territorial waters.

Friction between offshore renewable energy developments and fishing has already taken place in British waters, and the framework aims to plan for competing interests at a time of growing global pressure on marine resources.

Public consultation has already taken place on a baseline report, which elicited 173 responses, and a strong consensus emerged that a hybrid approach to marine spatial planning, involving zoning for specific activities or zoning certain areas was preferable to full zoning of all Irelands seas.

Adoption of the final marine planning framework is expected to be late 2020. Closing date for submissions on the draft is February 28, 2020.

The department says it will not replace or remove existing regulatory regimes or legislative requirements governing marine sectoral activities, but public bodies will be obliged to take its objectives into account .

When the new legislation is passed, consents will be issued by two departments, depending on remit the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) director Michel Cinnide, who is now co-chair of environmental organisation Corrib Beo, welcomed publication of the draft framework.

However, he has questioned why the States Marine Institute or a similar experienced body is not being established to provide a secretariat for the plan.

Mr Cinnide also warned that the plan needs to be given adequate resources, and the department needs to ensure widespread consultation at both regional and local level before final agreement.

This plan will stand or fall on how well it works in individual coastal bays, he said.

Regional public events on the draft marine planning framework will open on November 21st in Limerick, continuing to Westport, Co Mayo (Nov 26), Galway (December 2nd), and Tralee, Co Kerry (December 12th), with further events in Killybegs, Co Donegal, Bantry, Co Cork, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, Dublin and Wexford.

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Offshore wind projects to be part of marine activity zones strategy - Irish Examiner

Review launched into onshore impact of offshore wind farms – The Telegraph

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Norfolk and Suffolk has some of the most beautiful, valued and recognised wetland and onshore coastal habitats. It would be madness to damage these special environments by bringing renewable energy onshore in an environmentally damaging way.

Campaigners say the southern North Sea is becoming the countrys offshore energy powerhouse with up to ten wind farms proposed.

While campaigners are not opposed to renewable energy at sea, they are concerned that planning permission for additional vast onshore plants are being given the greenlight because it deemed essential power network infrastructure.

Fiona Gilmore, of SEAS, the Suffolk Energy Action Solutions group, said residents fear major onshore plant was being rushed through.

We are totally in favour of offshore renewables and wind energy but the delivery of that energy needs to be implemented in a responsible way, avoiding unnecessary devastation, she said.

Scottish Power Renewables [SPR] is planning to build a concrete jungle on virgin, coastal countryside to bring offshore wind energy onshore to connect to the Grid.

SPR has not been put under any pressure to look for existing brownfield sites and there is no impetus on firms to develop offshore wind energy transmission infrastructure solutions.

We need to be world leaders in the delivery of green energy not just in terms of producing that energy, otherwise that energy is no longer green.

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Review launched into onshore impact of offshore wind farms - The Telegraph

Trump group to pay Scottish Government legal fees in offshore windfarm battle – HeraldScotland

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The Trump Organisation is topay the Scottish Government 225,000 to cover its legal bills following along-running court battle over an offshore wind farm near his Scottish golf resort.

The settlementeffectively brings to a close severalyearsof court disputes between the US president's firm and Scots authorities, reported by The Scotsman.

Trump claimed the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) would spoil the view from Trump International Golf Links near Balmedie.

READ MORE: Donald Trumps application for 550 homes at Aberdeenshire golf resort given green light

His attempts to overturn planning permission for the project were repeatedly dismissed in Scottish courts during a three-year legal campaign, which led to the case being rejected by the Supreme Court in 2015.

During that time it saw Trump - prior to becoming a presidential candidate - press his case before a Holyrood committee in 2012 as well as start a high-profile disputewith the then-first minister Alex Salmond.

In February, the Court of Session determined that the Trump Organisation should pay Scottish ministers the legal bills incurred over the course of the company's unsuccessful legal fight.

READ MORE:Boris Johnson under pressure to protect whisky from Donald Trump

Since becoming president, Trump has officially delegated company management to his sons Donald Jr and Eric Trump.

A total of 11 turbines make up the EOWDC site off the Aberdeen coast, which includes some of the most powerful wind turbines in the world.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We can confirm that settlement has now been reached - and this has removed the need for the expenses to be determined by the auditor of the Court of Session.

"Expenses amounting to 225,000 will now be paid to Scottish ministers by the petitioners."

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Trump group to pay Scottish Government legal fees in offshore windfarm battle - HeraldScotland

TenneT Issues UXO Survey and Clearance Tender – Offshore WIND

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Dutch transmission system operator TenneT TSO B.V. has issued a tender for offshore unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey, identification and clearance at the zones identified in the Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2030.

The tender covers the 700MW Hollandse Kust Noord, the 700MW Hollandse Kust (west) Alpha, the 700MW Hollandse Kust (west) Beta, the 700MW Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden, the 2GW IJmuiden Ver Alpha, and the 2GW IJmuiden Ver Beta. The contract will run from June 2020 to December 2029.

The tender will close on 16 December. TenneT plans to dispatch invitations to tender or invitations to participate to selected candidates on 27 January, 2020.

As the designated offshore grid operator for the future wind farms, TenneT is responsible for the engineering, procurement, installation, construction, and operation of the connections between the offshore wind farms, through converter platforms, to the onshore network.

The Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2030 sets out plans for the development of additional 7GW of offshore wind capacity in the Dutch North Sea between 2024 and 2030.

The tenders for the new wind farm zones will be opened from 2021 onward, starting with the Holland Kust (west) zones.

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TenneT Issues UXO Survey and Clearance Tender - Offshore WIND

Letters to the Editor: Expand offshore drilling bans – Charleston Post Courier

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The states refusal to allow seismic testing off the South Carolina coast to prevent oil and gas drilling is a strong step in the fight for protecting our environment.

Representatives such as Gov. Henry McMaster and U.S. Rep. Joe Cunninghams opposition to seismic testing and offshore drilling show that this is not a partisan issue but a shared goal to protect our planet and way of life.

Efforts to protect the Atlantic Ocean from the Trump administrations move to open federal waters to drilling is vital, but we must also expand these restrictions. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the regions in need of protection.

About the size of South Carolina, the Arctic refuge is home to numerous animals as well as the Gwichin people who depend on the ecosystem for their way of life.

The United States needs politicians like McMaster and Cunningham, as well as citizens, to stand up and fight to protect the ANWR by recognizing the negative biological, climatological and cultural impacts that oil exploration would have.

Although far from home, drilling in this region would accelerate the rate of climate change, which has already had a noticeable effect on the South Carolina coast.

The current administration cannot disregard scientific and societal support for protecting the Arctic any longer. The time to act is now.

FINNIAN CASHEL

Nassau Street

Charleston

Now is the time for Charlestonians to take action and vote for a new mayor. Charleston has changed for the worse over the past four years. The overgrowth and sprawl of downtown Charleston is awful. Charleston doesnt look like the charming place it once was. And what about the flooding, traffic and infrastructure issues that plague our city?

The only thing I know John Tecklenburg has done is take a trip to the Netherlands for a couple of weeks at taxpayers expense to learn how to deal with flooding.

But we do have a great alternative in Councilman Mike Seekings. He is the answer to what the city needs. I believe Mr. Seekings is a man of action and not just talk, which is evident by the way he turned around the CARTA program and by his 10-year service on City Council.

Lets elect a man who has the knowledge, experience and motivation to be a true leader for our city and who will bring about resolutions to the many issues that face us. Vote Mike Seekings for mayor on Nov. 19.

BARBARA E. BOYLSTON

Yeadon Avenue

Charleston

Santee Cooper is yet again proving its an unaccountable state agency operating in the shadows.

For years now, the state-owned utility promised time and again that South Carolina taxpayers wouldnt have to bear the burden of the nuclear debt. So much so that one of its Facts are Facts blog posts is titled, Taxpayers are not responsible for our debt. To quote the blog post, FACT: Our debt will be paid off through our revenues, and not by tax dollars.

Last month, Santee Cooper filed a lawsuit against the S.C. State Fiscal Accountability Authority and the S.C. Insurance Reserve Fund in an effort to recover the money lost in the V.C. Summer nuclear fiasco.

Both of these are state agencies. So that means Santee Cooper is seeking a bailout from the state.

Santee Cooper cant fix itself and will have to depend on every taxpayer in our state to dig itself out. Enough is enough.

LEE PADGETT

King Street

Georgetown

I and many others waited on poll returns at our Nov. 5 election watch party. Though Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg was not reelected outright, it was victory nonetheless.

Tecklenburg was on fire. No amount of dark money, negative campaigning or distortion of the truth could overshadow the impassioned leader standing before us.Mayor Tecklenburg has displayed integrity, decency and a stellar record of community involvement.

On Nov. 19, I will be at the watch party for Mayor Tecklenburg, and once again, he will shine as the leader we deserve. Only this time, there will be no runoff. No more dark money mailers will be sent to our homes, or baseless accusations filling the airwaves.

This time, we will celebrate not only his victory but the defeat of those who sorely tried to dim his light. And we will be celebrating the growth of the seeds he and his team have planted, which will bear fruit for generations to come.

JACKIE MORFESIS

Gilmore Road

Charleston

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Letters to the Editor: Expand offshore drilling bans - Charleston Post Courier

US and China to ‘challenge UK’s top offshore spot’ – Windpower Monthly

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To date, offshore wind deployment has largely been restricted to markets capable of shouldering the "substantial cost" of the technology, especially the UK and Germany, analysts at Fitch Solutions explained.

But growing economies of scale and technological innovation including rapidly increasing turbine ratings are driving down costs and making offshore wind more competitive in new markets.

This is especially the case in the US and Asia, with China in particular showing great potential for growth, the analysts added in a new research note.

Offshore wind is playing a growing role in states ambitions in the US, with an 18GW pipeline of projects, largely off the east coast, the analysts noted.

Fitch expects China to be the "fastest expanding and biggest" offshore wind power market by the early 2020s boosted by domestic companies showing improving capabilities. Both Dongfang Electric and CSIC Haizhung have unveiled 10MW turbines, for example.

However, China is building from a smaller base (4.6GW by the end of 2018, according to Fitch Solutions) than the UKs world-leading 7.9GW, according to Windpower Intelligence, the research and data division of Windpower Monthly, at the end of last year.

Fitch therefore forecasts the UK to "cement" its position as world leader in the medium term as it opens up its revenue support mechanism (the contract for difference scheme) to about 13GW of additional offshore wind projects in the next decade.

Despite offshore wind playing "an increasingly important role in the global wind power sector expansion over the coming decade", Fitch Solutions expects deployment of the technology to lag behind onshore wind.

With a 223.3GW project pipeline, onshore wind still accounts for the majority (64%) of wind farms in development, the analysts argue.

Global onshore wind capacity is also increasing from a much higher base, with the 504GW deployed by the end of 2018 accounting for 95% of all wind power installations.

Fitch argues that onshore winds quicker lead times mean that projects go from planning to commissioning at a much faster rate than offshore wind and that its project pipeline is refreshed more quickly

The analysts conclude that onshore wind will remain the main driver on wind capacity growth worldwide.

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US and China to 'challenge UK's top offshore spot' - Windpower Monthly

Louisiana’s pitch for more offshore energy revenue meets mixed reaction in Senate hearing – The Advocate

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WASHINGTON Louisiana's pitch for a larger share of offshore oil and gas revenues for coastal projects, including efforts to protect Louisiana's receding coastline, was met with a mixed reaction during a U.S. Senate hearing Thursday.

Some members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee appeared sympathetic to the case that Louisiana's efforts to combat coastal erosion rely on the funding and that, currently, Gulf States don't receive as much from federal land leases as states that benefit from inland revenues.

But members from states that have little or no energy production on federal land and water questioned the existing program and argued that they want to tap into the money, too.

U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, and John Kennedy, R-Madisonville, have partnered with Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski to propose the Conservation of Americas Shoreline Terrain and Aquatic Life Act, an effort to update to the current energy revenue-sharing Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.

But the tepid response it received during Thursday's hearing could spell trouble for the proposal.

U.S. Rep. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, said he is still learning about how the government doles out oil and gas revenues to states, but he questioned why its not comparable to coal in his state.

We just treated all 55 counties the same, as if they were producing counties, he said.

Manchin said other states also have stake on federal lands.

Its owned by the people of the country, he said.

The latest push, led by Louisiana officials and others from the Gulf Coast, is aimed at putting states that have oil and gas production off their coastlines on the same footing as states that have drilling on federal lands on shore.

"What we're looking for is equity," Cassidy said during the hearing.

Under current federal law, Louisiana along with Alabama, Mississippi and Texas split about 37.5% of the money made from drilling off their coastlines. States that have energy production sites on federal land receive a 50% share.

The 12.5% difference is because a portion of offshore revenues go to the Land and Water Conservation Fund to provide money for national parks and forests. There is no requirement that inland energy revenues be used for those purposes.

Offshore oil and gas leases generated $4.8 billion last year for the U.S. Treasury the amount beyond what the states received compared to $3.4 billion under the inland mineral lands leases.

WASHINGTON Undeterred by government gridlock, representatives from the Gulf Coast descended on the nation's capital this week to lobby for a

Aside from being one of the largest offshore energy producers, Louisiana is faced with catastrophic land erosion that threatens coastal communities.

By law, any federal dollars Louisiana receives for offshore energy production goes to the states coastal restoration efforts that also help shore up the state's energy infrastructure.

Chip Kline, chairman of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, said during the hearing that the state's catastrophic land loss makes any dollar received from GOMESA crucial.

"We are being responsible with the dollars that are returned to us from oil and gas production," he said. "We are reinvesting these dollars back into our coast and building projects that protect our homes, our communities, our businesses, our environment, our way of life and the very infrastructure that continues to help fuel this nation."

But even that prompted "what about us" sentiment.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, described her states land loss, which threatens to consume the popular tourist destination Waikiki.

What kind of help do we get? Hirono said.

Kline explained the role that Louisiana plays in facilitating offshore energy production.

"Coastal states also provide and support the vast and extensive infrastructure needed to transport this energy across the nation, including highways, ports and pipeline corridors," he said. "All of these activities have helped generate hundreds of billions of dollars into the federal Treasury."

WASHINGTON Members of Louisiana's congressional delegation continue to push for the state to receive a bigger cut of the revenues from oil a

Louisiana received nearly $95 million in GOMESA revenue from the U.S. Department of the Interior earlier this year about $12 million more than it received a year earlier in its first large-scale payout of outer-continental shelf revenue in GOMESA's scheduled phase-in.

While Louisiana officials have been trying to build support for the proposal, it appears unlikely that the GOMESA update will advance very quickly.

Congress has fewer than two dozen working days left this year and faces a daunting list of issues that have not been resolved. The federal government is only funded through Nov. 21 the same day the National Flood Insurance Program is set to expire.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement hasnt been ratified by Congress a year after Trump hashed out the trade deal, and members from both chambers and both political parties have identified several health care issues, including high prescription drug prices and surprise medical bills, among problems they want to tackle in the next two months.

Meanwhile, the Democrat-controlled House continues its impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump with a goal of wrapping up by the end of the year.

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Louisiana's pitch for more offshore energy revenue meets mixed reaction in Senate hearing - The Advocate

‘Unexpected Opportunities For New Sailing Nations’ In Olympic Offshore Keelboat Class – Afloat

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The tide is turning on the prospect of offshore sailing at the Olympics, says Seahorse Magazine as it proposes how the new keelboat category could make the sport more accessible than ever.

Last years introduction of the Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat for Paris 2024 provoked much discussion as to how it might transform the landscape for Olympic sailing with a number of Irish sailors who has previously never envisaged an Olympic campaign showing interest.

Now that more details have begun to emerge on the new event, Seahorses Matt Sheahan writes: It is becoming clearer that there are important new opportunities with significant benefits to both the sport and the Olympic Games.

Indeed, some now believe this new discipline could provide unexpected opportunities for new sailing nations, while paradoxically also having the potential to be more affordable than some existing Olympic classes.

The move is also being seen as having potential to open Olympic sailing up to a broader range of competitors.

Sheahan points out that the idea has been floated to hold qualifications in chartered boats already available on a regional basis.

World Sailings decision on equipment meeting the class key criteria may not be made until 31 December next year, or even as late as the end of 2023 in which case qualifying nations should have finalised their qualifications before the Olympic equipment is chosen, says World Sailing president Kim Andersen.

That way youre keeping a level playing field for competitors who will focus their efforts on actually getting a medal at the Olympics rather than gaining an advantage through having spent a lot of money and time procuring boats for which there is no demand back home.

Seahorse Magazine has much more on the story HERE.

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'Unexpected Opportunities For New Sailing Nations' In Olympic Offshore Keelboat Class - Afloat

FEATURE: These bold engineering ideas could take humanity to the stars – Professional Engineering

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New approaches to propulsion could extend humanity's reach further beyond the Solar System than ever before (Credit: Shutterstock)

It has been 50 years since humanity set foot on the Moon.

Since then we might have expected a continued drive to explore the cosmos, but limitations of money, technology and political will have put the brakes on the space race. In the 50 years since visiting the Moon we have not stepped onto Mars or explored much beyond our solar system.

But that might all be about to change. With rapid improvements in propulsion technologies, a new generation are daring to dream again, this time not of a Moon shot, or even a Mars shot, but a star shot.

One project aiming for the stars is Breakthrough Starshot. Announced in 2016 by Russian venture capitalist Yuri Milner and physicist Stephen Hawking, the project would propel tiny nano-craft attached to light sails up to a fifth the speed of light using powerful arrays of Earth-based lasers. The ambitious goal would be to travel the four light years to our nearest stellar neighbour, Alpha Centauri, in just 20 years. From there the craft would beam back images and data on, among other things, the star systems Earth-like planet, Proxima B.

The idea is to leave the fuel behind, unlike any rocket that was used in the past, says Avi Loeb, physicist at Harvard University in Massachusetts and chairman of Breakthrough Starshot. The amount of power one needs is comparable to what is used for the lift-off of todays shuttles, says Loeb. The difference here is you are delivering that to a single gram of material. The electronics would also weigh less than a gram and that part is already here we do have a camera, navigation device and communication device that could be packed into a single gram.

According to the plan, the nano-craft would be delivered into orbit where the light sails measuring at current estimates about the size of a person would unfurl. An array of lasers based on Earth would then propel the craft up to 100 million miles an hour within a few minutes. Unfortunately, this wont be happening next year or even next decade as several technological hurdles stand in the way.

At the moment we are focusing on three challenges, says Loeb, one is the sail, the other is the laser and the third would be communication.

The laser itself would need to be immensely powerful around 100GW, according to Loeb. This would be too expensive to achieve with a single laser but research into creating laser arrays made up of many less-powerful lasers looks promising. The challenge is to combine these lasers in a coherent fashion so that their power adds up in a synchronised or collimated beam.

Communication is another issue. Not only will it take four years to send data back from Alpha Centauri, the great distance means it will be challenging to focus the beam on a small patch of Earth. You cannot focus the beam better than the separation between the Earth and the Sun, says Loeb, so it will be a very broad beam that will be highly diluted. What we need is a telescope or observatory that will collect that information and analyse it and that is a great challenge.

A laser array on Earth would fire together to create a powerful beam...

propelling the craft up to 100,000,000mph

One of the most immediate challenges is the sail itself which needs to combine a large number of factors to be successful, such as strength, durability, lightness and efficient reflection. We need the material to reflect 99.99% of the laser, says Loeb, otherwise it will heat up and evaporate. Diamond is one candidate, while so-called metamaterials materials engineered at the nano-scale might also be promising possibilities.

One of the biggest challenges has been creating sails that are stable enough that they dont spin uncontrollably or fall off the laser beam entirely. At first rather unwieldy spherical-shaped sails seemed a promising solution. But research at Caltech has shown that nano-engineering the surface of the material could provide the stability required. If you think of a plastic bag on a garden hose, the chances are its going to fly off to one side or the other, says Ognjen Ilic, former researcher with the Caltech team, now an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. What we can do is essentially engineer the way the object scatters light such that it wants to stay pinned to the beam of light and can be accelerated in a stable way.

The key is to create specific nano-scale patterns on the surface of the material which effectively encode their own stability, mimicking different macro-scale geometries, such as a sphere. The technique also works if the light source is a long way away several million miles in fact. Although it is still at the theoretical stage, Ilic believes it could be a promising solution to the problem of stability.

Breakthrough Starshot might still be up in the air, but another proposed contender for interstellar travel is even more contentious. If correct it might even require the physics textbooks to be rewritten.

The EM Drive, first proposed by engineer Roger Shawyer in 2001, takes a conical chamber and pumps it full of microwaves which bounce around inside the cone. If the geometry of the cone is designed so that it matches the frequency of the waves, resonance will occur which boosts the activity inside the cone further.

According to Shawyers description, these waves exert a force against the walls of the chamber and produce thrust. Because the device requires no fuel, needing only electricity to operate, it could be extremely light and therefore break free of the rocket equation the effective brakes put upon rockets by the mass of their fuel.

The only problem is that such thrust should be impossible according to basic laws of physics such as the conservation of momentum. The thrust is coming out of nowhere, says Martin Tajmar, head of space systems at Dresden University of Technology in Germany, who is currently testing the EM Drive. In our understanding there is no radiation leaving the system so its a closed box a closed box that moves. Any physicist will tell you thats nonsense. It would be, as another commentator observed, like Han Solo powering the Millennium Falcon by headbutting the dashboard.

This hasnt stopped Shawyer, who has designed an interstellar probe based on the EM Drive which, he claims, would travel at two thirds the speed of light, reaching Alpha Centauri in just 10 years. NASA has also got involved, building its own version of the EM Drive which, it claims, has produced observable amounts of thrust in tests. This is where Tajmar got involved. I didnt take it seriously, he says, until I saw a video where this EM Drive was mounted on a test stand which showed rotation.

Tajmar decided to test it himself using the hyper-sensitive vacuum-encased equipment at his Dresden lab. Initial tests showed that thermal drift could account for some of the thrust. The microwave radiation caused the chamber to heat up and expand, so shifting the centre of gravity which could produce a false thrust signal.

The first generation of Roger Shawyer's EM Drive

Another possible source of the thrust was the magnetic field produced by the electronics powering the system. This can interact with the Earths magnetic field, explains Tajmar, and then you can get a force or torque in your system which is coming from the electronics and not necessarily the thrust itself. Tajmars team has removed the electronics from the chamber, replacing them with RF waves coming from outside. This should remove the source of error, but the new system requires tinkering. Tajmar hopes to have a device that can prove or disprove the EM Drive by the end of the year.

If the former happens the implications for space travel and physics itself could be immense. Tajmar however is not optimistic for the EM Drives chances. This is such an extraordinary claim that you must, as Carl Sagan said, have extraordinary proofs, he says. You must be really super sure on that. Without that, its just a fairy tale.

So what are the chances of going interstellar this century? The Breakthrough Starshot project has a proposed timeline a decade to develop the technology, a decade to build a prototype, and a decade to prepare the real system. Loeb recognises this is ambitious but, even if it doesnt live up to the highest hopes, it will still be a vast improvement on rocket technology. If we reach only a tenth of the speed of light, he says, we can get to Pluto within a week. That is much faster than the New Horizons spacecraft which took almost a decade.

Compared with NASAs Moon shot it would certainly be cheaper, costing tens of millions of dollars, according to Ilic, rather than the tens of billions spent on the space race. Given the same critical mass as was put behind the Moon missions, Ilic believes we could achieve a star shot in this generation.

Loeb is more cautious. It was not obvious that we could land a man on the Moon but 50 years ago we did, he says. There was some risk in that but much less of a risk because rockets were used, and the technology was known. Here the technology has to be developed. So my hope is that, even if it doesnt work out the way we envision it, we will have some by-products that will be very useful for other purposes.

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FEATURE: These bold engineering ideas could take humanity to the stars - Professional Engineering

Nanoform Wins Award for Drug Development and Delivery – AZoNano

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Image Credit: phive/Shutterstock.com

Nanoform, a Finnish nanotechnology and drug particle engineering company, has won the prestigious Excellence in Pharma Award for Formulation at the 16th CPhI Pharma Awards which took place in Germany this November.

The prize sees world-renowned innovative companies competing against one another. This year Nanoforms ingenious medicine enabling nanotechnology, in the form of its CESS nanonization technology, won the highly contested award.

Who are Nanoform?

International pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are well aware of the work that Nanoform dedicates itself to. Nanoform partners with businesses with the aim to boost their molecules formulation performance as well as to reduce clinical attrition. Nanoform is committed to working with international companies to provide them with cutting-edge, innovative solutions for the development and delivery of drugs.

The technology that won it the esteemed prize at the CPhI Pharma Awards was its multi-patented nanonization process which was designed with the capability of substantially improving dissolution rates and bioavailability, having the impact of doubling the number of drug compounds reaching clinical trials. In addition, the innovation has been shown to add value to the drug delivery spaces of pulmonary, transdermal, ocular and blood-brain barrier.

For this innovative new process, Nanoform surpassed the efforts of other respected companies such as Cambrex, Lonza Capsugel, and Glatt Pharmaceutical Services, who had also entered in the same category.

The Innovation

The new CESS, short for Controlled Expansion of Supercritical Solutions, nanonization technology has multiple patents for its unique design. It creates designed-for-purpose, nano-sized active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) particles, using a process that can control the particles shape, increasing uniformity. The system also has the ability to produce nanoparticles as small as 10 nm.

The method works by controlling the solubility of an API in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) through a bottom-up method of recrystallization. Previous alternatives had been limited, and the CESS system surpasses those due to its utilization of controlled mass transfer, pressure reduction and flow. Another benefit of the system is that it is green, its process is free from using excipients and organic solvents.

Through Nanoforms innovation, novel opportunities are opening up to the field of drug research and development.

The Significance of the CESS System

Nanomaterials have unique properties that differ from their bulk material counterparts. These different properties have made them of special interest to a number of scientific fields, which has boosted exploration into nanoparticles over recent years. It has been found that these unique properties have potential applications in the areas of nanomedicine, therapeutics, medical devices and more. They have been identified as vectors for medical imaging, biological diagnostics and therapeutics.

What has been achieved by Nanoform is that another avenue of potential use has been opened up for nanoparticles. Nanoform has developed a reliable system that allows the benefits of nanoparticles to be harnessed in drug research and development. The unique properties of nanoparticles will be able to be put to use in developing new therapeutic treatments, which could induce a significant shift in the pharmaceutical sector.

It is generally accepted that advancements in the use of nanoparticles in this area would significantly influence the advancement of human therapeutics. Now pharmaceutical companies have access to a system that allows them to tailor-make nanoparticles, the innovation of new therapies that previously would not have been possible could be on the horizon.

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Nanoform Wins Award for Drug Development and Delivery - AZoNano

Renowned researcher, UTRGV professor blazes trail from Monterrey to White House to TedXMcAllen – Monitor

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UTRGV professor Karen Lozano keeps her calendar full.

Shes often found in the lab, where she and her students have pioneered production methods in nanotechnology. Other times, youll catch her mentoring prospective engineers in her office, or out in the community, proselytizing to high schoolers about careers in science and technology.

If students need to talk to her, they usually try to catch her in her office. She gets so many emails that its hard for her to reply to all of them.

Last month, Lozanos research took her all the way to the White House, where she received the Presidential Excellence Award in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring she was one of just 15 educators chosen for the award. This week, shell speak about her work at TEDxMcAllen.

Arguably, shes one of the busiest professors on campus, but it definitely wasnt easy getting there.

Twenty-five years ago Lozano graduated from the Universidad de Monterrey at the age of 21, with a degree in mechanical engineering. Shed always been passionate about solving problems and the hard sciences, and mechanical engineering seemed like a natural path to take.

Lozano had her doubts, however: It was almost unheard of for a woman to become a mechanical engineer in Monterrey, but her mother pushed her to stick to her passion, telling her that it would open up doors in the future.

If were going to keep on supporting you and sacrificing for you, why are you going to study something that will not give you opportunities? Lozano remembers her mother saying. Study something that will give you opportunities. Follow the path less traveled.

Lozano did just that, but it was a lonely path. She was the only female mechanical engineering graduate in Monterrey in 1993. In fact, she was the only female in her program at UdeM.

The guys would all go together to a house to study and I was never allowed to go to somebodys house to study with 20 guys, so they would all study in teams and I would study alone, in my house, she recalled. Of course, once in a while, somebody would give me the comments like, Why are you here? Youre only gonna marry and have kids. Why are you here?

Lozano would blow off the comment with a tongue-in-cheek joke.

If Im gonna have kids, and Im doing all this advanced math and stuff, Im gonna be able to help them in their math when they were in high school. That was my answer all the time, she said. Which is something that I never did. I have a senior in high school and one that already graduated, and I dont think I ever sat to help them with math.

Monterrey is an industrial city, and theres no shortage of engineering jobs. Lozano remembers watching companies snap up her male peers before theyd even graduated. No calls came for her.

After college, she started applying to jobs she found in the newspaper. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months.

Every morning I would wake up and the first thing I would do, I would go through the classifieds, Lozano said. I was just sitting in my house for three months.

There were plenty of listings, but none she was qualified for.

There were tons of openings, Lozano remembered, but all of them said, Were looking for a mechanical engineer. Sex: Male. You can google right now, and youll still find them, in 2019.

Finally, one morning Lozano opened the paper and saw a different ad, asking specifically for a female mechanical engineer. Lozano thought her classmates had bought the ad and were making fun of her.

Everyone that graduated me was already working, she said. It was totally weird.

Lozano applied anyway and got an interview.

I went, and it was legit, she said. There was this girl working there, this engineer, that graduated four years before I did from another university as a mechanical engineer, and she had faced the same situation that I was facing. So when they had a position, she asked the boss if it was OK for her to post this one as a social experiment, to see how many women would show up. I was the only one, so I was hired.

Lozano worked at the company for a few months before being accepted into a Masters/PHD program at Rice. After her post-doc she was hired on at UTRGV, where shes researched and taught for the past 20 years, making one of the most significant breakthroughs in her field in the late aughts.

Nanofibers are an interesting technology. A thousandth the diameter of a human hair, nanofibers can be worked into a variety of products that can be used in medicine as skin grafts and drug delivery, as an ultra-efficient filtration material and even as batteries.

There are some that are very, very small and have very high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity, so if we combine them with plastics, then we can make plastics that can conduct electricity, Lozano said. Instead of copper or aluminum it can be a polymer, a plastic, that will have similar properties in terms of electrical and thermal properties, and we can lower the weight.

According to Lozano, theres a fair chance that because of advances in nanotech, your cellphone battery will weigh little more than a Post-it Note in the near future.

As exciting as the field was, Lozano had a problem: nanofibers took forever to make. They were traditionally made through a process that involved using heat or electricity, and only produced a miniscule fiber or two an hour. Instead of making groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of medicine or technology, Lozanos undergrads were spending all of their lab time laboriously teasing out solitary strands of nanofibers.

At the undergrad level, you need to hold something in your hand, to see it, to be able to bring that interest, she said. If I just give you one little hair, you cant do very much. Theres no way I could excite them or ignite that spark to fall in love with research.

Lozano was at a loss. She considered directing her students to research something else. Then, one day, inspiration struck her in one of the most likely forms: a cotton candy machine.

My mind just went crazy, she said. You have tons of fibers, very simple to produce. Theyre not nanofibers, but were engineers, we can make changes to make it nano. A group of students started working on it, and long story short, we developed those machines, we even created a company.

With the new machines, Lozano and her students could make nanofiber material by the bolt. They created an actual business that operated in McAllen for several years, producing material at an industrial scale and showing off their new process to others in the field.

At one point there were so many people coming by, Lozano says, the FBI dropped in to see what was going on.

It was very good, Lozano said. We hired lots of people and we had people from all over the world coming by.

The business was bought by a larger company in Tennessee in 2017, but Lozano and her students have continued to work with nanofiber. Their research has led to dozens of patents and scholarly articles.

A lot of our undergraduate students are co-authors in scientific publications, and thats amazing, Lozano said. Its not that common that undergraduate students graduate with journal publications from top journals. Even our high school students that work in the lab get the opportunity to be co-authors.

For Lozano, exposing students to science in such a direct way is just as, or more, important than her research breakthroughs and academic recognitions.

If you walk into her office, you wont see the White House commendation from October; it resides in a drawer at her home. It was gratifying, she says, but not as gratifying as seeing her students working in the lab.

You will, however, see a full-sized carnival cotton candy machine in Lozanos office, a reminder of the inspiration that helped her students succeed.

I see my students getting like five offer letters, and they come to me and their problem is which one to select, she said. So Ive seen what can come after, and I tell people that theres opportunities and theres jobs and you can contribute to society.

In many ways, the woman whose own path toward a career in science was unlikely has devoted herself to paving the way for others. Lozano frequently works with local high schools and even made a YouTube channel geared at inspiring and instructing children.

Its important to plant that seed in boys and girls, she said. To me, its the fuel that keeps me going.

On Tuesday, Lozano will continue talking about science at TEDxMcAllen. Her discussion will be streamed live on the groups Facebook page.

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Renowned researcher, UTRGV professor blazes trail from Monterrey to White House to TedXMcAllen - Monitor

Rice receives Army grant amid concerns – The Rice Thresher

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By Serena Shedore 11/12/19 11:39pm

Last week, Rice announced a new five-year, $30 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Army to research next-generation wireless networks and diamond materials manufacturing for use in electronics, according to Yousif Shamoo, vice provost for research. This agreement has been in progress since General John Murray, commander of U.S. Army Futures Command, visited Rice in April 2019.

According to a Rice news release, there will be two teams with different research focuses on this new agreement: a diamonds team and a networks team. The diamond team will focus on formulating diamond structures and materials for use in electronics, while the networks team will work on creating more secure wireless networks that have the ability to sense attacks.

According to Shamoo, faster and more secure communication networks will benefit both soldiers and civilians who depend on networks in phones and computers. These devices rely on silicon-based technology, and diamond materials have the potential to be more efficient than silicon materials.

Pulickel Ajayan, chair of the materials science and nanoengineering department, will co-lead the diamond team with a member of the Army Research Lab, and Ashutosh Sabharwal, chair of the electrical and computer engineering department, will co-lead the networks team with another member of the Army Research Lab.

We plan to establish a world-class facility in diamond growth and a materials program that will lead to innovative device ideas utilizing diamond heterostructures, Ajayan said.

According to the news release, the networks team is working to reduce the time needed to establish wireless networks. Innovations from the diamond materials team could benefit the networks team.

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Ajayan said this relationship between the Army Research Lab and Rice will benefit Rice students and faculty through opportunities for the exchange of students and researchers, as well as the opportunity for Rice students to engage in innovative research.

Shamoo said that undergraduate students will be able to get involved with this project either through taking an undergraduate research course for credit or by working with a professor who is a part of the project.

I fully expect Rice undergraduate and graduate students to be important members of our research teams, Shamoo said.

According to Shamoo, the Army Research Lab established this research agreement with Rice because of its reputation as an international leader in materials science.

[Richard] Smalley and [Robert] Curl won the Nobel Prize for their discovery of the buckyballs [in 1996] and since then Rice has always been at the forefront of materials discovery and innovation, Shamoo said.

Shamoo said that this technology will not only modernize the Army but will help Americans lacking access to high-speed internet.

Rice Left, a student political organization raised concerns over the repercussions of the agreement in an email sent out to its members.

Rice helping the Army modernize means Rice is directly making U.S. imperialism more efficient and more deadly, Rice Left wrote. The U.S. Army has carried out countless war crimes, in the Philippines, in Korea, in Vietnam. Since 9/11, the war on terror has resulted in over 244,000 civilian deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mezthly Pena, a Duncan College sophomore, expressed concerns on Twitter.

Rice claims to care about sustainability yet still collaborates with one of the biggest polluting organizations in the world, Pena tweeted.

Editors Note: The Thresher requested a comment from Shamoo about student concerns and will update the story online.

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Rice receives Army grant amid concerns - The Rice Thresher

NTT Research and Technical University of Munich (TUM) Enter Joint Research Agreement to Collaborate on Technologies to Affect the Future of Patient…

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PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NTT Research, Inc., a division of NTT (TYO:9432), today announced that its Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab has entered a joint research agreement with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) to work on three-dimensionally transformable and implantable electrodes. Dr. Hitonobu Tomoike (M.D., Ph.D.), a renowned scientist and medical researcher, directs the MEI Lab, which will be collaborating with Dr. Bernhard Wolfrum, Professor of Neuroelectronics at TUM in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Munich School of BioEngineering (MSB). The scope of work for this multi-year project includes screening and optimizing functional materials, assembling 3D structures, and evaluating their biocompatibility.

Charged with discovering technologies that can revolutionize patient care, the NTT Research MEI Lab is focusing on the transformation and miniaturization of medical device components. This joint research will address the tendency of conventional electronics to work against and at a relative distance from, rather than with and alongside their targeted organ or tissue. The flexible micro- or nano-scale electrodes envisioned as an outcome of this project are expected to minimize the negative impact that rigid and planar electrode materials have on soft and curvilinear biological samples.

In order to acquire in vivo biological signals stably, with a high accuracy for a long period of time, a flexible electrode with high biocompatibility is required, said Dr. Tomoike. To achieve this, we will use nano and micro-scale conductive polymer thin films that are friendly to living bodies and consider the use of in vivo implant electrodes, as well as the control of structural changes of the functional electrodes in the body.

The two principal researchers bring considerable expertise to this project. Dr. Tomoike, former Director of the Sakakibara Heart Institute, Director Emeritus at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center in Japan, and former Professor of Cardiology at Yamagata University, is known for his work in precision medicine involving bio-sensors and analytics. Dr. Wolfrums research focuses on neuro- and bioelectronics. He has developed electrochemical sensor arrays and interfaces to cellular networks and employed microfabrication techniques, advanced printing technologies, and microfluidic cell culture methods with the goal of establishing neuroelectronic hybrids and systems for on-chip neuroscience and bioelectronic medicine.

The Technical University of Munich has strengths in neuron growth control and electrophysiological measurement and has recently accumulated know-how and knowledge of printing technology for bioelectronics, said Dr. Tomoike, who is also a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and of the American Heart Association. We are aiming for breakthroughs in fundamental material science and unprecedented technologies for diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical functions.

Along with pursuing ambitious research targets, this agreement also advances NTT Researchs goal of engaging with partners around the world. As part of this project, NTT Research MEI Lab will send two of its researchers to Munich. The MEI Lab also plans to open an office in Germany. The research will officially launch in Q1 2020; the first phase of the project may take as long as three years.

We are very pleased to have entered this long-term joint research agreement with the MEI Lab of NTT Research and believe our combined strengths will lead to promising advances in a critically important field of bioengineering, said Dr. Wolfrum, who conducted postdoctoral research in nanoscience at Delft University, has led a research group at the Peter Grnberg Institute in Jlich, lectured at Aachen University, and conducted research as a visiting associate professor at Tohoku University in Sendai.

Throughout this interdisciplinary research project, the two organizations are expected to leverage their respective strengths. The Technical University of Munich, which is a member of the TU9 alliance of nine leading German institutes of technology, will be involved through its Neuroelectronics Group (NEL), Munich School of BioEngineering, in the investigation, characterization, and micro/nanofabrication of materials. For its part, the MEI Lab will design experiments and research targets and conduct data analysis based on IoT and AI technologies. Each party will assume roles in evaluating the biocompatibility of fabricated devices.

One notable aspect of this project, according to Dr. Tomoike, is its focus on the physics of soft nanomaterials, the self-assembly of which allows not only for precise control of 3D structures but also reversible transformation of electrodes that interface and function with cells and tissues. Possible applications involve sensing and stimulation electrodes for the brain and heart, brain-machine interfaces, multi-array electrodes for neuronal analysis, and new approaches to vasodilation.

About NTT Research

NTT Research opened its Palo Alto offices in July 2019 as a new Silicon Valley startup to conduct basic research and advance technologies that promote positive change for humankind. Currently, three labs are housed at NTT Research: the Physics and Information Science (PHI) Lab, the Cryptography and Information Security (CIS) Lab, and the Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab. The organization aims to upgrade reality in three areas: 1) quantum information, neuro-science and photonics; 2) cryptographic and information security; and 3) medical and health informatics. NTT Research is part of NTT, a global technology and business solutions provider with an annual R&D budget of $3.6 billion.

NTT and the NTT logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION and/or its affiliates. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners. 2019 NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

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Micromotors move single cells using magnets and ultrasound – CMU The Tartan Online

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A new type of micromotor has been developed. Directed by magnets and powered by ultrasound, these micromotors are capable of traveling across microscopic particles and cells in very crowded areas without causing any damage.

These microswimmers provide a new way to manipulate single particles with precise control and in three dimensions, without having to do special sample preparation, labeling, surface modification, said Joseph Wang, a professor of nanoengineering at University of California San Diego (USCD), in a UCSD press release.

Wang, Thomas Mallouk, a professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, and Wei Wang, professor of materials science and engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology, are credited as senior authors of a paper detailing the development of these micromotors. The study was published on Oct. 25 in Science Advances.

Researchers tested the technology by moving HeLa cells the oldest and most commonly used cell line for scientific research and silica particles in aqueous media with micromotors. They accomplished this task without damaging nearby particles and cells. In one test, the researchers were able to create letters by pushing particles with the micromotors. In another, they exerted control over the micromotors, making them climb up microscopic blocks and stairs. This test demonstrated that they were capable of navigating over three-dimensional objects.

The micromotors are essentially gold-coated hollow polymer structures that are shaped like a half capsule. Within the body of the micromotor is a tiny magnetic nickel nanoparticle, allowing them to be steered with magnets. The inside surface is treated so it can repel water, so when the micromotor is submerged in water, an air bubble is trapped inside the device. This trapped bubble is integral to the functioning of the micromotor, as it allows the micromotor to respond to ultrasound. Upon receiving ultrasound waves, the trapped bubble begins to oscillate, forming forces that give it an initial push to movement. By applying an external magnetic field, it can move continuously, while altering the direction of the field allows researchers to control the speed and trajectory of the micromotors.

We have a lot of control over the motion, unlike a chemically fueled micromotor that relies on random motion to reach its target, said Fernando Soto, a nanoengineering Ph.D. student studying at UC San Diego. Also, ultrasound and magnets are biocompatible, making this micromotor system attractive for use in biological applications.

The authors plan on making improvements to the micromotors in the coming years. For example, they want to make them more biocompatible using biodegradable polymers and a magnetic material that is less toxic, such as iron oxide. Thanks to this technology, the researchers have opened new possibilities for nanomedicine, tissue engineering, targeted drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and other applications in the field of biochemistry.

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Micromotors move single cells using magnets and ultrasound - CMU The Tartan Online

Nanosatellite And Microsatellite Market with Report In Depth Industry Analysis on Trends, Growth, Opportunities and Forecast till 2026 – Tech Admirers

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New York, NY 13 Nov 2019: According to a new research published by Polaris Market Research the global Nanosatellite And Microsatellite Marketis anticipated to reach overUSD 6,111.8 million by 2026. In 2017, the nano satellite segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. In 2017, North America accounted for the majority share in the global Nano Satellite and Micro Satellite market.

Nano satellites are used in civil, government, defense, and commercial sectors for earth observation and telecommunication applications. Organizations are increasingly adopting nano and micro satellites for technology demonstration, and scientific research and experimentation. The growing commercial sector, along with low costs associated with these satellites drive the market. There has been a rising demand of earth observation services among various sectors such as agriculture, energy, civil engineering, oil and gas, and defense. Growing use of these satellites in defense sector would boost the growth of this market. Technological advancement in terms of miniaturization of components, and associated software has encouraged established organizations, and small and medium enterprises to invest in these satellites. Advancements in microelectronics such as light weight apertures, antennas, panels, transreceivers, control sensors and actuators, and multi spectral imagers would increase the efficiency and processing power of these satellites and make it easy to assemble and test, reducing the complexities associated with heavy satellites.

Request for sample copy of this report @https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/nano-satellite-and-micro-satellite-market/request-for-sample

The well-known companies profiled in the report include Lockheed Martin Corporation, Planet Labs, Inc., Sierra Nevada Corporation, Raytheon Company, Clyde Space, Inc., SpaceQuest Ltd., Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, Vector Space Systems, Tyvak Inc., The Boeing Company, GomSpace Group AB, Harris Corporation, and Thales Group among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.

Cubesat technology is growing at a rapid rate. CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. Cubesats are miniaturized satellites with mass between 1-3 kg. CubeSats are developed to standard dimensions (Units or U) of 10x10x11. They can be 1U, 2U, 3U, or 6U in size, and typically weigh less than 1.33 kg (3 lbs) per U. CubeSats are widely used by academia and research, and would constitute around 30% of total nano satellite market during the forecast period. Nano satellites in the range of 4-6 kg would constitute around 60% of the nano-satellite market during the forecast period owing to its increasing applications in remote sensing, earth observation, and technology development.

The adoption of nano and micro satellites in the commercial sector has increased tremendously over the past few years owing to miniaturization of bulky satellite components, reduced costs, and standardization of satellite parts. In the commercial sector, these satellites are used in forestry, agriculture, energy, civil engineering, archaeology, insurance, and media and entertainment among others. These satellites are used for obtaining high-resolution earth imaging, space-based internet, and communication services. Planet, a company based in U.S., has a constellation of 36 small satellites in orbit, and offers high resolution imaging to consumers in the commercial sector. Other companies such as Skybox, Digital Globe, and O3B offer services such as real time satellite imaging, telecommunication, and space-based internet through these satellites.

Request for Discount on This Report @https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/nano-satellite-and-micro-satellite-market/request-for-discount-pricing

The various applications of nanosatellites and microsatellitesinclude earth observation, communication, technology demonstration, biological experimentation, scientific research & academic training, and others. Earth observation accounted for the highest share in 2017.These satellites are increasingly being used in this sector for commercial weather monitoring, agricultural monitoring and management, and synthetic aperture radar imagery. They are also used by the defense sector for border monitoring, disaster management, and other military missions. Companies such as Planet, Skybox Imaging, and Dauria Aerospace have launched several small satellites dedicated only for remote sensing. Over 2,100 satellites are anticipated to be launched from 2016 to 2025. Leading companies in this sector include Planet, Spire, BlackSky Global and Satellogic, which together plan to launch 1,400 out of the total 2,100 satellites. An emerging application of these satellites is near real-time remote sensing, with two U.S. companies, Planet Labs and Skybox Imaging offering services. Near-real time satellite imagery would enable monitoring of assets at the same time for global corporations, and generating high-resolution visual data for individual companies, and governments. Increasing demand of on-demand geographic information systems with pay-per-image business model is expected to supplement the growth of this market.

North America is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast period. Rise in applications of nano and micro satellites in agriculture, real estate, defense, and government sectors in the North American region is the major driver for market growth. The affordable price of these satellites also accelerates the penetration in the commercial sector. Rise in investment in the defense sector, along with technological advancement in telecommunication industry, is expected to drive the nano and micro satellite market growth during the forecast period. Use of high-resolution imaging, and communication services for border security and monitoring high-risk situation by federal agencies, government, and non-government organizations are expected to raise the market investment for these services.

About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world

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Nanosatellite And Microsatellite Market with Report In Depth Industry Analysis on Trends, Growth, Opportunities and Forecast till 2026 - Tech Admirers

SMART discovers nondisruptive way to see surface of nanoparticles – Mirage News

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New method overcomes limitations of existing chemical procedures and may accelerate nanoengineering of materials.

Schematic illustration of probe adsorption influenced by an attractive interaction within the corona

Researchers from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have made a discovery that allows scientists to look at the surface density of dispersed nanoparticles. This technique enables researchers to understand the properties of nanoparticles without disturbing them, at a much lower cost and far more quickly than with existing methods.

The new process is explained in a paper entitled Measuring the Accessible Surface Area within the Nanoparticle Corona using Molecular Probe Adsorption, published in the academic journal Nano Letters. It was led by Michael Strano, co-lead principal investigator of the Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) research group at SMART and the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor at MIT, and MIT graduate student Minkyung Park. DiSTAP is a part of SMART, MITs research enterprise in Singapore, and develops new technologies to enable Singapore, a city-state which is dependent upon imported food and produce, to improve its agriculture yield to reduce external dependencies.

The molecular probe adsorption (MPA) method is based on a noninvasive adsorption of a fluorescent probe on the surface of colloidal nanoparticles in an aqueous phase. Researchers are able to calculate the surface coverage of dispersants on the nanoparticle surface which are used to make it stable at room temperature by the physical interaction between the probe and nanoparticle surface.

We can now characterize the surface of the nanoparticle through its adsorption of the fluorescent probe. This allows us to understand the surface of the nanoparticle without damaging it, which is, unfortunately, the case with chemical processes widely used today, says Park. This new method also uses machines that are readily available in labs today, opening up a new, easy method for the scientific community to develop nanoparticles that can help revolutionize different sectors and disciplines.

The MPA method is also able to characterize a nanoparticle within minutes compared to several hours that the best chemical methods require today. Because it uses only fluorescent light, it is also substantially cheaper.

DiSTAP has started to use this method for nanoparticle sensors in plants and nanocarriers for delivery of molecular cargo into plants.

We are already using the new MPA method within DiSTAP to aid us in creating sensors and nanocarriers for plants, says Strano. It has enabled us to discover and optimize more sensitive sensors and understand the surface chemistry, which in turn allows for greater precision when monitoring plants. With higher-quality data and insight into plant biochemistry, we can ultimately provide optimal nutrient levels or beneficial hormones for healthier plants and higher yields.

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Simera Sense And Space Inventor To Collaborate On Offering Earth Observation Solutions – Space in Africa

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Today Simera Sense and Space Inventor announced that they would collaborate through marketing Simera Senses optical payloads, enabling earth observation satellite operators to sense the earth in more detail with smaller satellites from reliable platforms.

As part of the agreement, Space Inventor will offer its clients Simera Senses range of optical payloads as part of its portfolio of products.

The cooperation between Simera Sense and Space Inventor provide satellite operators access to the best of both worlds, high-performance optical payloads in a small form factor and reliable CubeSat platforms in an extremely short time-to-orbit. Together, Simera Sense and Space Inventor are positioned to address the earth observation needs for the NewSpace industry through its tailored end-to-end performance, quick design iterations and short lead times.

Space Inventors versatile onboard computing platform and optical gigabit downlink capabilities will add a new dimension to earth observation, eliminating the inefficiencies associated with many CubeSat earth observation missions.

Simera Senses xScape100 and xScape200 product ranges are setting a new standard for remote sensing. The large aperture diameter and long focal length in a compact form factor enable a compelling spatial resolution for CubeSats.

At Simera Sense we are expanding into new geographical markets with local support, says Johann du Toit, CEO of Simera Sense. We are excited in partnering with a company with the experience and commitment to excellence as offered by Space Inventor. Working with Space Inventor will not only increase our global reach but will also enable us to provide cost-effective end-to-end solutions to our customers and make earth observation data more accessible to every person on earth.

We are very pleased to partner with Simera Sense, who as a pioneer in optical payloads is an obvious choice as a supplier to strengthen our product range, says Jacob M. Nissen, Chief Sales Officer at Space Inventor. At Space Inventor, we offer our customers some of the most innovative nanosatellite solutions on the market, and through our partnership with Simera Sense, we will be able to provide turn-key earth observation platforms with top-of-the-class optical payloads.

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Simera Sense And Space Inventor To Collaborate On Offering Earth Observation Solutions - Space in Africa

Global Nano Gas Sensors Market 2019 Raytheon Company, Ball Aerospace and Technologies, Thales Group, Lockheed Martin Corporation – Daily Industry…

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Global Nano Gas Sensors Market 2019 report contains wide-extending measurable details of Global Nano Gas Sensors Market, which enables the customer to separate the future maneuver and anticipate right execution.

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Global Nano Gas Sensors Market 2019 Raytheon Company, Ball Aerospace and Technologies, Thales Group, Lockheed Martin Corporation - Daily Industry...

Global Nano Gas Sensors Market Insights 2019 Raytheon Company, Ball Aerospace and Technologies, Thales Group – Daily Industry News Journal

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The global "Nano Gas Sensors Market" report offers precise analytical information about the Nano Gas Sensors market. The market experts and proficient analysts generate the information based on the past and current situation of Nano Gas Sensors market, various factors affecting the growth trajectory, global sales, demand, total revenue generated, and capitalization of the market. Moreover, the report delivers a summarized assessment of the impact of federal policies and regulations on market operations. It also comprises detailed information pertaining to the Nano Gas Sensors markets current dynamics. The global Nano Gas Sensors market acts as a huge platform that offers several opportunities for many reputed firms, organizations, manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers Raytheon Company, Ball Aerospace and Technologies, Thales Group, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Environmental Sensors, Emerson, Siemens, Agilent Technologies, Shimadzu, Futek, Dytran, Nemoto, Endress Hauser, Falcon Analytical to compete with each other to become one of the globally and regionally leading business holders.

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For a thorough analysis, The report presents a demand for individual segment in each region. It demonstrates various segments Semiconductor Nano Gas Sensor, Electrochemistry Nano Gas Sensor, Photochemistry (IR Etc) Nano Gas Sensor, Other and sub-segments Electricity Generation, Automobiles, Petrochemical, Aerospace & Defense, Medical, Biochemical Engineering, Other of the global Nano Gas Sensors market. The global Nano Gas Sensors market report delivers all-inclusive study about the business growth enhancers and obstructers, earlier and current trends being followed by the market, and the comparison between the global as well as regional revenue generation by the market. The brief study, about recent technological developments, detailed profiles of the leading firms in the market, and unique model analysis, is included in the report. The global Nano Gas Sensors market report offers a detailed review of micro and macro aspects that are essential for driving the business along with comprehensive value chain analysis.

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Apart from this, the market categorization based on the geography and region is included in the report. The global Nano Gas Sensors market research report delivers precise analysis for varying competitive dynamics. It offers a six-year forecast review revealing the anticipated futuristic growth of the market. The report delivers high-appreciated information to help the clients in taking appropriate steps for driving the business. The experts and analysts employ various statistical and mathematical approaches, along with advanced analytical methods, such as SWOT analysis, to generate valuable information, which is available in the global Nano Gas Sensors market report.

There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Nano Gas Sensors market

Chapter 1, Definition, Specifications and Classification of Nano Gas Sensors , Applications of Nano Gas Sensors , Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Nano Gas Sensors , Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, Regional Market Analysis that includes United States, China, Europe, Japan, Korea & Taiwan, Nano Gas Sensors Segment Market Analysis (by Type);Chapter 7 and 8, The Nano Gas Sensors Segment Market Analysis (by Application) Major Manufacturers Analysis of Nano Gas Sensors ;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type Semiconductor Nano Gas Sensor, Electrochemistry Nano Gas Sensor, Photochemistry (IR Etc) Nano Gas Sensor, Other, Market Trend by Application Electricity Generation, Automobiles, Petrochemical, Aerospace & Defense, Medical, Biochemical Engineering, Other;Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, The Consumers Analysis of Global Nano Gas Sensors ;Chapter 12, Nano Gas Sensors Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, Nano Gas Sensors sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.

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This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments

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Star Wars 9 Theory: Dark Rey is the ORIGINAL Rey | Screen Rant – Screen Rant

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CouldStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker's Dark Rey actually be the original iteration of the character, and the one fighting for the Resistance merely a clone? Rey's ancestry was all set to dominate conversation surrounding the character leading up toThe Rise of Skywalker, but then along came trailer footage that altered that discourse completely. In the movie's second trailer, a brief shot was includedthat hinted either towards Reybeing tempted to the Dark Side, or to some other evil incarnation of the character existing. This version of Rey is dressed in a black, hooded cloak, demonstrating fashion sense similar to the Sith and, more tellingly, she also wields a red double-bladed lightsaber that folds out with a dramatic snap.

Of course, there's a distinct possibility that the appearance of Dark Rey takes place in the context of some kind of dream or vision. This would certainly be a cheap trick for aStar Wars trailer to pull, but plenty of other films have been guilty of something similar. In the case of Dark Rey, however, the scene doesn't feel like an illusion.If Rey was simply dreaming up an evil version of herself (similar to how Luke sees himself as Darth Vader inThe Empire Strikes Back), why would she mentally invent a snazzy new lightsaber design that she's never seen previously? This suggests that, whatever other misdirection might be at play, Dark Rey is a real entity.

Related: Everything We Know About Leia's Role In Star Wars 9

Verging into more speculative territory, it looks like Dark Rey may be standing in the same location as Palpatine's throne, which has been seen in subsequent trailers. Daisy Ridley has described portraying this alternate Rey in glowing terms, but the true context of the story remains to be seen. The appearance of Dark Rey fits surprisingly well alongside a number of different fan theories regarding Rey's origins, Palpatine's return and the endgame of the Sith. At the core of this argument is the assertion that the Rey seen inThe Force Awakens andThe Last Jedi is NOT the original article - but Dark Rey is.

Emperor Palpatine is making his glorious return inThe Rise of Skywalker and the simultaneous debut of Dark Rey is unlikely to be a coincidence. Aside from dominating and ruling the galaxy, Palpatine's main goal throughout theStar Wars series has been to personally create the perfect Sith to serve as a warrior, and examples of this can be found throughout the villain's fictional history. It's strongly implied that Palpatine was the one who manipulated the Force into conceiving Anakin Skywalker, the boy he would later corrupt and turn into Darth Vader.

However, Palpatine didn't stop there. InThe Clone Wars,the Emperor begins abducting Force-sensitive children, he had a cloning facility built in the oldStar Wars expanded universe and, after Darth Vader's failure at the Battle of Yavin, Palpatine sought to use the Empire's leading scientist to replace Anakin with a cybernetic enforcer. In summary, the Emperor has explored a number of different avenues in his quest to create the perfect warrior, and after Darth Vader turned against him inReturn of the Jedi, a new pet project would've been needed. Enter, the original Rey.

There are severalplaces Palpatine could've drawn a new apprentice from. The group of kidnapped children strong in the Force, his cloning experiments or perhaps even his own bloodline. Dark Rey could originate from any of these sources and have been molded into a powerful and obedient new apprentice during the years Palpatine has been in hiding. However, the Sith leader clearly has a strong interest in the benefits of cloning. If Dark Rey is a regular human, Palpatine might've been tempted to clone her in an attempt to create an army of Sith fighters. If she is a completely bio-engineered creation, perhaps derived from Anakin or Palpatine's DNA, then there are likely a number of other Reys (prototypes, failures, etc.) hidden in the basement of an abandoned Empire facility somewhere out in space.

Related: Star Wars: How The Rise Of Skywalker Can Bring Back Rebels Characters

If the original (dark) Rey has been serving at Palpatine's side as his prized apprentice, whatmight happen if one of her Force-sensitive clonesescaped out into the galaxy? Perhaps this is how Rey ended up abandoned on Jakku; a kindly Stormtrooper or Empire scientist took pity on a child clone and hid her on a desolate planet, rather than leave her to rot along with the other Rey clones or be used as a pawn of the Emperor when she matures into an adult.

This would explain why Rey only has hazy visions of her "parents" saying goodbye on Jakku, as well as accounting for how she's so well-versed in the ways of the Force. If the Rey seen throughoutThe Force Awakens andThe Last Jediwas indeed revealed as a clone, this would also fit neatly alongside what has already been revealed about the character's family history. Kylo Ren described Rey's parents as "nobody," and since he might've known about the Empire's cloning experiments, perhaps the First Order leader was being more literal than he let on. Clones really do have "nobody" as parents, after all. It's also worth noting that when Rey asked the strange Force cave on Ahch-To to reveal her parents, she saw a long line of reflections. At the time, this was seen as a challenge Rey had to get through to reach answers but, once again, it could've been a more literal answer. Lots of Reys = one of many clones.

Both J. J. Abrams and Daisy Ridley have hinted that there's more to Rey's parentage than what was revealed inThe Last Jedi, with some fans left disappointed at the anti-climactic reveal. However, it would be far too predictable at this point if Rey was simply a Skywalker or Kenobi descendant. Should Rey be a clone of Palpatine or Anakin instead, this would give fans the ties into the widerStar Wars world they're evidently seeking, but in a more unconventional way.

The Rise of Skywalker acts as the conclusion to the Skywalker saga and the culmination of a series that has spanned decades. The overarching theme of Light vs. Dark will undoubtedly be at the center of the finale, as will the role of destiny and fate in a person's individual journey. Rey being a clone would perfectly encapsulate all of these motifs. A light Rey vs. Dark Rey battle could act as a symbolic representation of the ongoing battle between the two sides of the Force inStar Wars mythology, but it would also be in keeping with the franchise's themes of an underdog struggling against a greater power.

Related: Star Wars Provides Canon Reason Why Sequel Trilogy Has So Many Old Ships

If Rey is merely a clone of the original Dark Rey, not only should she be weaker, but she should also be evil. By joining the Resistance and becoming a Jedi,Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker sends out the heartwarming message that no person's fate is ever sealed by their DNA and upbringing; that a person can choose their moral path and what they do with their abilities. By overcoming her original dark self, Rey would also prove that, just like the Rebel Alliance, someone with no hope of victory can overcome the odds with enough guts, hard work and courage.

More: Everything We Know About Luke Skywalker's Role In Star Wars 9

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Star Wars 9 Theory: Dark Rey is the ORIGINAL Rey | Screen Rant - Screen Rant