Monthly Archives: April 2017

In Brief NASA has scheduled a press conference for Thursday, April 13th at 2 PM to discuss new results about ocean worlds in our solar system. Esteemed members of NASA staff are participating in a question and answer session following the talk. Uncovering Interstellar Oceans

NASA shocked the world earlier this year when they announced the discovery ofthe seven Earth-like exoplanets found in what is now known as the Trappist-1 system. It seems as though the space agency is bent on shocking the world again with an upcoming press conference on ocean worlds in our solar system.

The announcement comes in light of data collected by NASAs Cassini spacecraft during its final missionand the Hubble Telescopeand is scheduled for Thursday, April 13th at 2 PM. The conference will cover new results about ocean worlds in our solar system andthe search for life beyond Earth.

NASAs quest to find life in our solar system has rested on the possibility of interstellar water. Because a majority of our home planet is covered in water and all life (as we know it, as it adheres to known scientific principles) depends on water, it is logical to expect that wherever there is water, extraterrestrial life might not be too far away.

There are several possible ocean worldscurrently being investigated by NASA. The moons of the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn are prime suspects for the space agency. Of Jupiters many moons, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto are all suspected to have oceans underneath their icy crusts, while of Saturns moons, its suspected that Enceladus, Titan, and Mimas might also hold sub-surface oceans.

Its exciting to imagine that all this happening in our very own solar systembut what exactly would it mean if we find oceans?

Searching for hidden oceans far off in our solar system could give us some insight into the origins of life. We might be able to better understand how we came to be, and how other creatures in the cosmos might come to be. The conditions for life to arise may not be as limiting as we once thought. But, we can only find answers to these questions if we venture forth and take a thorough look at our cosmic neighborhood.

The press conference, held at the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington on April 13th, might just give us a better understanding of the possibility of ocean worlds and the prevalence of life beyond Earth. The briefing will feature prominent scientists such as:

After the conference, these scientists will take questions from those attending as well as from the public on social media (using #AskNASA). The live stream begins at 2 pm ET right below.

While no one expects the press conference to tell us that a secret set of seven earth-like planets with massive alien-laden oceans are hiding between Jupiter and Saturn, the press conference should give us a good idea of where we stand in our search for life in the cosmos.

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Today, NASA Is Unveiling a Major Discovery About "The Search for ... - Futurism

In BriefThe Great Barrier Reef in Australia is recognized as thebiggest living structure on Earth. Unfortunately, it's dyingwithmany portions facing no hope for recoverythanks to back to backmass bleaching events. The Great Barrier Reef

Why care about reefs? In a wordbiodiversity. The reef is home to 3,000 varieties of mollusks, over a hundred types of jellyfish, 1,625 species of fish, hundreds of shark and ray species, and over 30 kinds of whales and dolphins. These sea creatures call the soft and hard corals that make up the reef home. And without it, many of them will die.

If thats not enough, it has the distinction of being the largest living structure on the planet.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to 3,000 individual coral reefs stretching across a staggering 2,575 kilometers (1,600 miles), covering an area of about 344,400 square kilometers (133,000 square miles.)

Unfortunately, because of back to back mass bleaching events, scientists are telling us that the massive, impressive Australian Great Barrier Reef is now at a terminal stagewith large portions having no hope of recovery.

Mass bleaching, a phenomenon caused by global warming, is prompted when the water warms to a point that corals begin ejecting the symbiotic algae in their tissue, essential for their survival. Throughout history, there have only been four instances of this occurrence, and after such an event, it will take decades torecover.

This is the fourth time the Great Barrier Reef has bleached severely in 1998, 2002, 2016, and now in 2017. Bleached corals are not necessarily dead corals, but in the severe central region we anticipate high levels of coral loss, said researcher James Kerry, from James Cook Universitys ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, in an official statement. He clarifies why the 2017 bleaching is significant: It takes at least a decade for a full recovery of even the fastest growing corals, so mass bleaching events 12 months apart offers zero prospect of recovery for reefs that were damaged in 2016.

The newest aerial surveys covered over 8,000 kilometers (5,000) miles, which includes 800 individual coral reefs.

According to the surveys, 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) of the Great Barrier Reef is now bleached. These new statistics come less than a year after 93 percent of the reef suffered severe damage, with reports adding that the effects have also spread further south.

Combined with the mass bleaching event, the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Debbie added to the devastation, as it struck a section of the reef that managed to escape the worst of the bleaching.

In an interview with The Guardian, scientists note just how dire the situation is. Weve given up, said Jon Brodie, a James Cook University water quality expert, who was referring to inaction on the part of the Australian government. Its been my life managing water quality, weve failed.

Unfortunately, in this age of global warming, temperatures are expected to continue rising, which means more of these bleaching events willhappen, and they will cause evenmore damage. And the reality is, this could be the last generation who will get to see the grand beauty of this reef.

Fortunately, its not too late for us to save the rest of the planet from the worst effects of climate change. But we must act now.

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Scientists Announce That The Great Barrier Reef is Officially Terminal - Futurism

Support Cells Turned Super Cells

Parkinsons disease is one of the worlds most common neurodegenerative ailments. It causes patients with Parkinsons to lose dopamine neurons, which are important for the motor control centers of the brain. According to statistics from the Parkinsons Disease Foundation, there are over 10 million people worldwide whosuffer from it, with about 60,000 diagnosed cases in the United States alone.

Researchers from the the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm developed a stem cell-based treatment that doesnt rely on embryonic or adult stem cells, which are often too difficult to harness and transplant into the brain. Instead, they found a way to reprogram the brains astrocytes support cells forneurons into dopamine neurons.

You can directly reprogram a cell that is already inside the brain and change the function in such a way that you can improve neurological symptoms, senior author Ernest Arenas explained to the Scientific American.

The trick was adding a cocktail of three genes and a small RNAmolecule to force astrocytes into becoming dopamine neurons. The treatment was tested on mice whose dopamine neurons in brain were destroyed to simulate Parkinsons disease. Within five weeks of being injected with this gene cocktail, the mice showed improved and more coordinated movement. These results were published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

While this stem cell approach wont cure Parkinsons, it can certainly improve current standard treatments for it. For one, astrocytes are already present in the brains of Parkinsons patients. Reprogramming these would eliminate the need for donor cells, which run the usual incompatibility risks associated with transplants. Second, the proteins produced in the treatment are involved in normal cellular processes, limiting potential side effects thatcurrent drug-based therapies often carry.

This is like stem cell 2.0. Its the next-generation approach to stem cell treatments and regenerative medicine, said James Beck, VP and chief scientific officer for the Parkinsons Disease Foundation, a nonprofit organization that was not involved with the research.

Still, theres a long way to go before an actual cure can be developed. Motor improvement is only half the battle, Beck said to Scientific American. But winning half the battle is still significant. This new approach, he noted, could ease the management of motor symptoms in potentially millions of Parkinsons patients. It might also make keeping up with medications simpler for them, potentially reducing the eight or more pills that patients with advanced Parkinsons often take.

Further research is needed to make sure thatthis reprogramming method doesnt change other cells in the brain. Only then would it be ready for human clinical trials. But Beck is hopeful that this study will spur new Parkinsons treatments down the road. This is an insight into what the future of Parkinsons treatment holds, Beck noted.

Stem cell therapies are revolutionizing Parkinsons disease treatment, as well as a host of other medical conditions. Many believe that the ability to reprogram cells is a glimpse of the future, not just of Parkinsons treatment, but of the entire field of medical research.

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Your Brain Cells Could Be Reprogrammed to Fight Parkinson's Disease - Futurism

In Brief Porsche unveiled their first fully electric vehicle last year and we are hoping to see a production model by 2020. An increased focus on the development and manufacture of e-cars is giving a glimpse into the future of personal transport. Car Wars

With each new development, its becoming clear that electric vehicles are the future of personal transport. Gasoline-fueledcars are a major burden on the environment. One third of all air pollution in the United States comes from vehicles. Not only does this contribute to climate change, but also puts everyones health at risk as we end up breathing in these emissions.

More manufacturers are adding electric cars to their lineups. Even the fanciest of automakers are putting their hat in the ring to get carve out a piece of that market. Porsche is planning on rolling out its Mission Eelectric cars by 2020. The company has already unveiled the model as a concept car at last years International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The concept car was a sleek, attractive, four-door sedan. The company plans to offer wireless software updates just like Tesla.

The new car will undoubtedly feature some high-tech bells and whistles. Porsche has not officially confirmed the full spectrum of what will be available with the production model of the car, but we do at least have an idea of where they might be headed.

Inductive charging is a relatively new technology thats, so far, only widely been integrated into portable technology like cell phones and smart watches. It is quickly becoming more popular in future designs for electric vehicles thanks to the implications of creating parking spots that feature charging pads.

Range anxietyis a common concern among electric vehicle consumers. No one wants to get stranded in the middle of a long trip with the nearest charging opportunity potentially miles away. Porsche is hoping to assuage that fear by offering an 800v charging system that will allow a range of 402 km (250 miles) with just 15 minutes of charge time. A fully charged Mission Ecould drive up to 498 km (310 miles), leaving Teslas Model 3s 473 km (294 miles) in the dust.

Porsche is also making a huge switch that may even rival the change that Apple made to its phones by removing the headphone jack. Instead of the traditional exterior mirrors, the vehicles will be equipped with cameras that display the world around the vehicle in the lower corner of the windshield. Other cameras in the vehicle will track the drivers eyes to help control the dashboard menu.

The future of electric vehicles is as clear as it is necessary. Combating climate change is of the utmost importance to the continued health of our planet. However, as each new model is unveiledexactly what that future will look like is only limited by the imagination and innovationit can spark.

Original post:
This is the Stunning Electric Car Porsche is Creating to Oust Tesla - Futurism

In Brief By combining photographs of distant galaxies 4.5 billion light-years away, scientists now have photographic evidence of dark matter linking galaxies together. Any new insight into dark matter will lead to a more complete understanding of the universe in which we live. Seeing the Unseeable

The theory that birthed the concept of dark matter came to be out of necessity. Based on the matter we can see, our universeshouldnt be able to exist and operate as it does this visible matter cant generate the gravity necessary to keep our galaxies held together.Dark matter is a way for scientists to account for this discrepancy. They posit that our universe must containa kind matter that we cannot see, a kind that doesnt absorb, reflect, or emit light a truly dark matter.

For our scientific models to hold true, dark matter mustmake up more than a quarter of all the matter in the universe. Still, what dark matter is actually made of remains a mystery, and finding evidence of something that cannot be seen is a daunting task. Previously, the gravitational effects of dark matter are the closest thing to proof that scientists have, but now, researchers from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, have something even better: a composite picture that proves that galaxies are indeed connected by dark matter.

Using a technique known as weak gravitational lensing, the researchers combined images taken over the course of years to show the presence of dark matter. The composite was created usingimages from more than 23,000 galaxy pairs situated 4.5 billion light-years away.

We may not have greater insight as to exactlywhat this matter is composed of, but at least we now have a physical representation of its existence between galaxies.

For decades, researchers have been predicting the existence of dark-matter filaments between galaxies that act like a web-like superstructure connecting galaxies together, explained Mike Hudson, a professor of astronomy at Waterloo, in a press release from the Royal Astronomical Society.This image moves us beyond predictions to something we can see and measure.

Indeed, the image is an important step toward legitimizing dark matter and dark energy at a time when other scientists are proposing models that would do away with the need for dark matter to exist entirely. Itbrings us closer to understanding dark matter and the role it plays in binding the universe together. Existenceis an infinitelylarge puzzle comprising innumerable pieces. Any time we can find a way to connect those pieces we bring the big picture into greater focus and move one step closer to truly understanding the world in which we live.

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Scientists Have Captured the First-Ever "Image" of a Dark Matter Web - Futurism

In Brief A prototype of Faraday Future's flagship vehicle, the FF 91, made an appearance this weekend at a car show in Long Beach. The company is positioning itself as a competitor for Tesla in the electric autonomous vehicle market. An Actual First Look

Three months afterits unveiling at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Faraday Futures concept autonomous electric vehicle finally made an encoreappearance this weekend. A beta version of the FF 91, the flagship vehicle from the California-based startup, was spotted byMotorworld Hypeat a car show in Long Beach.

Faraday Future has been accepting reservations for the FF 91 since January, with the first 300 orders eligible for an exclusive launch upgrade called the Alliance Edition, though no word yet on what that would entail.

With the FF 91, Faraday Future seems to be hoping to emerge as a serious challenger to Tesla in the electric and autonomous vehicle markets. The company has evenbuilt its own megafactory right in Teslas backyard.The FF 91 does, though, warrant attention as its own entity. Not only is it a rather beautiful electric vehicle (EV) with autonomous capabilities, the FF 91 packs its own hefty punches in terms of specs.

The FF 91 was designed and built following Faraday Futures so-called Variable Platform Architecture (VPA).According to the company, the vehicles130 kWh battery is the worlds highest energy density battery, and it deliversan estimated range of 378 miles on the EPA cycle and over 700 km on the NEDC cycle. The FF 91runs on a 1,050 horsepower electric propulsion system capable of zooming from zero to 96 kmh (zero to 60 mph) in just 2.39 seconds. (For its part, Tesla seems to have acknowledged the rather stealthy Faraday Future by topping that acceleration rate almost as soon as the new vehicle was unveiled and before it actually hit production.)

The FF 91 isimpressive as an autonomous vehicle, too. Its set to be the first vehicle to feature retractable 3D lidar [], part of a complex sensor system including 10 high definition cameras, 13 long and short range radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Its topped with more sensors than any of its counterparts.

Clearly, the FF 91 is a formidable foe for both EVs and self-driving cars. All thats left now is for Faraday Future to actually roll it out. Hopefully, that future event isnt too far away.

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Tesla Challenger Faraday Future Just Showed off Its Flagship ... - Futurism

In BriefAutomaker Lucid Motors just shared a clip of its all-electricAlpha Speed Car clocking a speed of 217 mph. This achievementdemonstrates the ability of electric cars to meet the sameperformance standards set by their traditional counterparts. One Super-Fast EV

Lucid Motorsjust unveiled its luxury Lucid Air and an Alpha Speed Car prototype during the annual New York International Auto Show. Now, the California-based luxury automaker hasshared a video of the vehiclesfirst high-speed stability test.

During the test at the Transportation Research Center test track in Ohio, the all-electricAlpha Speed Car clocked a speed of 350 kmh (217 mph). Thats the same as a Ferrari LaFerrari.

These tests are relevant to the engineering process of the vehicle as they will allow the team to combine computer simulation models with real-world data to improve performance. According toLucid Motors website:

The test, software-limited to 217 mph (350 km/h), was successful in demonstrating the capabilities of the car and in finding areas for improvement that could not be properly evaluated in static bench tests [] The collected data will now be used to finesse thermal and aero computer simulations and to make further performance improvements that will be tested later this year at higher speeds.

The company assures potential drivers, however, that the Air is more than just fast: High-speed capability does not compromise our mission to develop a highly efficient vehicle. On the contrary, the focus on maximizing range provides the high power and aerodynamic efficiency that enables higher speeds.

TheLucid Air is scheduled for production in 2019 and is largely considered a strong competitor for Teslas Model S. Priced at $52,500, the vehicle is expected to come equipped with autonomous-ready hardware. It will have a 400-mile range, a 1,000-horsepower engine, anda strong focus on passenger comfort and luxury.

The diversity of electric vehicles (EV) coming onto the market demonstrates the increased demand for electric alternatives to traditional high-performance transport.

If we really want to reduce carbon emissions, ending our reliance on traditional forms of transportation is one way to do it, so the arrival of numerous EV options is certainly welcome. In addition, many of these cars are being built with advanced autonomous capabilities, which could mean that traffic jams, a perennial problem in urban areas, will be considerably reduced.

Furthermore, the governments support for self-driving technology is drawn from its potential to help address common pedestrian and road safety issues. Given that most traffic-related accidents and fatalities are caused by human error, the rise of autonomous vehicles on the road would ultimately save lives.

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An All-Electric Vehicle Just Reached 217 MPH in a High-Speed Test - Futurism