Monthly Archives: May 2017

Bitcoin soars past $1700 – MarketWatch

Posted: May 9, 2017 at 3:05 pm

Bitcoin surged past $1,700 on Tuesday, extending an astonishing rally that has seen the total market value of all virtual currencies more than double since the beginning of 2017.

The price of a single bitcoin BTCUSD, +8.45% has gained more than $300 in the past week, to trade as high as $1,747 on Tuesday, according to the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index, which aggregates pricing across a handful of the largest exchanges. Meanwhile, daily trading volume has surpassed $1.3 billion for the first time, according to Coin Market Cap.

However, prices varied widely between exchanges. On Kraken, one of the biggest U.S.-based exchanges, one bitcoin recently went for $1,578, while simultaneously trading at $1,742 on GDAX, another popular U.S.-based digital-currency exchange.

Price discrepancies were even wider across different markets, with coins trading on Korean exchanges like Korbit and Coinone in excess of $2,000, valued in Korean won USDKRW, +0.30%

Spencer Bogart, head of research at Blockchain Capital, said the Securities and Exchange Commissions decision to revisit its rejection of the proposed Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust exchange-traded fund was one possible catalyst for bitcoins recent rally.

But he said the massive appreciation in smaller rivals like Litecoin and Ripple has probably contributed to the bulk of bitcoins move: Many of these coins are denominated in bitcoin, so investors who wish to buy them must first have it on hand.

The virtual-currency market has all the trappings of a bubble, Bogart said, though he thinks it could have more room to rise before a correction occurs. A correction is typically defined as a decline in an asset from a recent peak of at least 10%.

Its definitely unsustainable, Bogart said, though I dont know if its in its final moments right now.

Chris Dannen, founder of New York-based cryptoasset fund Iterative Instinct, said the massive wealth creation in the space has fostered a pattern where wealth shuttles back and forth between bitcoin and other alt-coins, or alternative cryptocurrencies.

Though Dannen added that he suspects at least some of the recent run-up could be the result of manipulation by a handful of whaleswealthy traders with large reservoirs of cryptocurrency wealth, who use their relative heft in the marketplace to move prices to their advantage.

Theres a group of whales out there, they kind of bounce around from coin to coin, he said. They clearly have a system. Its almost like the tide is coming in and out; you know theres a pattern.

Excerpt from:
Bitcoin soars past $1700 - MarketWatch

Posted in Bitcoin | Comments Off on Bitcoin soars past $1700 – MarketWatch

Bitcoin Price Analysis: $1700 and Rising (But So Are Fees) – Bitcoin Magazine

Posted: at 3:05 pm

With bitcoin making new all-time highs (ATHs) in price and market capitalization almost every day, the block size and scalability debate has taken a back seat over the past week. From a user perspective, unconfirmed transactions are on the rise due to a clogged and busy network. Without any changes to the Bitcoin protocol, this will not improve, especially if bitcoin continues to push higher on heavy demand.

The number of unconfirmed transactions hit an ATH of 140,000 on May 5. Although this isnt the best metric to evaluate health of the network because large numbers of spam transactions can inflate this number, it does give a user an indication of how quickly or slowly they will receive their bitcoin. To determine the optimal fee that will give your transaction a chance to be processed in a reasonable time, its a good idea to use a wallet that will calculate this for you. Alternatively, you can reference a website. At the current rate, microtransactions are not exactly feasible due to high transaction costs.

Here are some tips for what to do if your transaction gets stuck.

Prices and premiums between the various USD exchanges have been fluctuating wildly, with GDAX and Bitfinex often leading in price.

No amendments have been made to the COIN ETF since the SECs review of rejection, but this will be something to keep a close eye on since it could spark a media frenzy and drive price higher. GBTC, an OTC market that uses a BTC derivative available to the public, hit a new ATH of $2,000 per bitcoin yesterday, or a $200+ premium from the current spot price. We can expect this premium to shrink to $0 if the COIN ETF gets approved, as those same investors would likely move toward that market.

With prices this high, getting close to parabolic movement, its hard to estimate targets or true resistance in price discovery mode. Even a price target of $4,000 isnt exactly impossible. The inverted head and shoulders that confirmed a few weeks ago hit its measured target of $1,575.

A slightly modified pitchfork yields targets around $1,8002,000, with price recently breaking the resistance diagonal rather cleanly.

Heikin-Ashi candlesticks on the daily timeframe continue to show strong bullish momentum despite volume or oscillators suggesting otherwise. Typically, a Heikin-Ashi run like this will end in a blow-off top, similar to the price structure of January 4 and 5, as well as November 2015 (not shown).

Summary

Unconfirmed transactions will continue to plague Bitcoin, especially as new users and traders ramp onto the network. Stuck transactions can be avoided by using an appropriate transaction fee.

The Bitfinex premium in excess of $100 at one point between exchanges continues to shrink.

Most technicals are of little use with this price structure and discovery, although a large parabolic move is likely coming in the very near future.

Originally posted here:
Bitcoin Price Analysis: $1700 and Rising (But So Are Fees) - Bitcoin Magazine

Posted in Bitcoin | Comments Off on Bitcoin Price Analysis: $1700 and Rising (But So Are Fees) – Bitcoin Magazine

Reel FX Explores Alternate History in Animated Trailer for ‘Prey’ – Animation World Network (press release) (registration) (blog)

Posted: at 3:05 pm

Dallas, TX-based digital studio Reel FX director Barrett Lewis recently oversaw the creation of an intriguing promotional animated short for Bethesda Softworks upcoming sci-fi horror video game Prey. The History of TranStar depicts decades of orbital mystery by masquerading as a classified leak from the fictional TranStar companys archives. This archival footage-disguised marketing narrative describes a history full of counterfactuals, from the cold war-era discovery of the hostile alien lifeform Typhon, to the debut of refurbished, TranStar-owned space station Talos I.

The discovery of a hostile lifeform during a manned Soviet mission begets a U.S.-Soviet collaboration gone-wrong. In this alternate history, President Kennedy survives to seize control of the space station, which is ultimately acquired by TranStar. The video ends with the implication of a transhuman future, where the game presumably begins.

Lewis also composed original music for the short, combining his lifelong experience as a musician and his decades of animation expertise into a cohesive cinematic product: Having the opportunity to write the music for the piece afforded me a unique creative viewpoint, allowing me to let both the animation and music inform one another as the piece took form, he said. I was able to connect the dots in a way that an outside composer likely would not have had the chance to do, and it made it all the more fun!

Lewis worked closely with digital agency AKQA to bring a retro, 2D-cartoon aesthetic to the piece that stylistically evolves as the piece progresses. The Reel FX team crafted the character design for the trailer, leveraging their in-house feature artists to deliver a defined motif. Lewis then carefully developed an arc that unfolds through color, camera, design and music changes, progressing from 50s Space Race-style, to the futuristic look of cosmic 2035.

Reel FX develops and produces short form content and virtual reality experiences. Reel FXs first full-length animated feature, Free Birds, was released by Relativity Media in 2013 and grossed over $110 million worldwide. Reel FX VR has developed interactive experiences and 360 narrative content for organizations like 20th Century Fox, GMC, Acura, American Express, AT&T, Frito Lay, GE, Legendary Pictures, Lionsgate, Porsche, Samsung, Shinola and the U.S. Air Force.

Developed by Arkane Studios, creators of the critically-acclaimed game Dishonored 2, the rated-M Prey launched worldwide for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on May 5th. A free Prey demo is available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One that allows fans to board Talos I and play the opening hour of the game.

Source: Reel FX

Jennifer Wolfe is Director of News & Content at Animation World Network.

View post:
Reel FX Explores Alternate History in Animated Trailer for 'Prey' - Animation World Network (press release) (registration) (blog)

Posted in Transhuman News | Comments Off on Reel FX Explores Alternate History in Animated Trailer for ‘Prey’ – Animation World Network (press release) (registration) (blog)

Austin-made parts, signatures headed to space station – The Decatur Daily

Posted: at 3:04 pm

The signatures of 21 Austin High School students are going to the International Space Station, along with parts made by the schools machine tool technology class.

I was like, 'Wow,' senior Ryan Anthony said when NASA representative Bob Zeeke brought a space station locker to the school Monday morning.

Zeeke is program manager of NASAs HUNCH program (High schools United with NASA to Create Hardware) and made the visit to Austin because students at the school milled the stainless steel stud latch bolts that hold lockers in place.

He said 11 schools were involved with creating the lockers, but Austin is the only one from Alabama involved with the program.

Zeeke said the locker students signed could be on the space station as early as October. He said this is the second of 15 lockers students built and that it will go into NASAs secured inventory sometime this month.

The standards and quality of work here are spot on, Zeeke said about Austins program receiving flight status from NASA.

Johnson Space Center started the HUNCH program in 2003 as a way to give high schools students the opportunity for hands-on experience through applying science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills.

Austins first success came when students were selected to design and manufacture training and flight-certified hardware for NASA astronauts.

NASA provided materials, equipment and mentoring, but students designed and fabricated products for the International Space Station training center.

In 2015, Austin students were selected to design and assemble handrails, which are scattered throughout the space station and double as places where astronauts tie down cargo.

A year later, the schools relationship with NASA changed significantly when Austin received flight status, which means students could make parts used on the space station.

Students made 55 stainless steel stud latch bolts, which are part of the locker door mechanical latching system, and 10 aluminum flight extravehicular activity threaded brush tools astronauts use during space walks. Astronauts use brush tools to clean and lubricate threaded sockets outside the space station.

Austin was part of the HUNCH program 13 years before its parts got into space.

Colton Sandlin, a junior, was the first to sign the locker.

Tenth-grader Haley Dobbs was the only female student to sign the locker.

I didnt know about this until the morning, but its cool to be part of something going into space, she said.

Teacher Bill Gibson, who worked in the aerospace machining business before coming to Austin more than 35 years ago, said its rewarding when students get to see their hard work gain recognition.

Its about them, he said about the students as they one by one signed the locker and posed for pictures.

Zeeke said its possible that the locker could return to Austin after it has been used on the space station, but his goal is to get pictures of the locker on the space station with astronauts.

That would be cool and something to show people, senior Aaron McAbee said.

See the original post:
Austin-made parts, signatures headed to space station - The Decatur Daily

Posted in Space Station | Comments Off on Austin-made parts, signatures headed to space station – The Decatur Daily

VIDEO: Action Cam Footage From U.S. Spacewalk On International … – SpaceCoastDaily.com

Posted: at 3:04 pm

By NASA // May 8, 2017

ABOVE VIDEO:This footage was taken by ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet during a spacewalk on the International Space Station on Friday, March 24.

(NASA) This footage was taken by ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet during a spacewalk on the International Space Station on Friday, March 24.

He was joined on the spacewalk by NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough.

The primary task was to prepare the Pressurized Mating Adapter-3 (PMA-3) for installation of the second International Docking Adapter, which will accommodate commercial crew vehicle dockings.

The PMA-3 provides the pressurized interface between the station modules and the docking adapter.

The pair disconnected cables and electrical connections on PMA-3 to prepare for its robotic move, which took place on Sunday, March 26. PMA-3 was be moved from the port side of the Tranquility module to the space-facing side of the Harmony module, where it will become home for the docking adapter, which will be delivered on a future flight of a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft.

The spacewalkers also installed on the starboard zero truss a new computer relay box equipped with advanced software for the adapter.

The two spacewalkers lubricated the latching end effector on the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator extension for the Canadarm2 robotic arm, inspected a radiator valve suspected of a small ammonia leak and replaced cameras on the Japanese segment of the outpost.

Radiators are used to shed excess heat that builds up through normal space station operation.

Click here to contribute your news or announcements Free

See the rest here:
VIDEO: Action Cam Footage From U.S. Spacewalk On International ... - SpaceCoastDaily.com

Posted in Space Station | Comments Off on VIDEO: Action Cam Footage From U.S. Spacewalk On International … – SpaceCoastDaily.com

The Flaming Lips’ Onboard The International Space Station Concert … – Consequence of Sound (blog)

Posted: at 3:04 pm

Photo by Philip Cosores

For Record Store Day this year, The Flaming Lips releasedOnboard The International Space Station Concert For Peace, a release they described as featuringseven live(ish) tracks from Oczy Mlody reimagined as a fictional/fantastical live Flaming Lips performance on the International Space Station. The release was limited to just 2,700 copies, so its very likely you werent able to get your mitts on one.

Well, heres some consolation: The album is now available to stream on Apple Music and Spotify. Its a trippy listen, a woozy, synth-heavy amalgamation of soft, swooning melodies and mind-melting synthesizer swirls. Streamit below.

Audiences may get a taste of these trippy tracks when Wayne Coyne and co. hithe festival circuit this summer, or mayhaps with an assist from Mac DeMarcowhen they hit the road this fall.

Previous Story

Hundred Waters tease forthcoming album with new song Particle listen

Next Story

New Broken Social Scene album, Hug of Thunder, due out inJuly

Continued here:
The Flaming Lips' Onboard The International Space Station Concert ... - Consequence of Sound (blog)

Posted in Space Station | Comments Off on The Flaming Lips’ Onboard The International Space Station Concert … – Consequence of Sound (blog)

For All of Elon Musk’s Brilliance, He Can’t Grasp This Fundamental Concept – thebolditalic

Posted: at 3:04 pm

Still courtesy of Tesla/Vimeo

Elon Musk has been lauded as one of the most visionary minds in Silicon Valley. He champions electric cars, renewable energy and the colonization of Mars (dont get me started on that), and has been positioned as the modern Steve Jobs. Robert Downey Jr.s depiction of Iron Man is loosely based on Musks billionaire genius playboy archetype.

Yet for all his brilliance, he seems to have a very hard time accepting the physical limitations of geometry, and for that his employees have suffered.

Recent photos of the parking lot of the Tesla facility in Fremont, California, provide a concrete example of the result of this mindset. You may have seen these images when they went viral recently: workers vehicles crammed into the too-small factory parking lot, and cars ignoring the painted lines and filling the roads around the facility. One wonders if Musk reimburses his employees for how his failed parking lot is damaging their cars.

This isnt the first piece of evidence that Musk is geometrically challenged. Last year, Jarrett Walker critiqued his plan to move everyone out of public transit and into driverless cars as a disaster that would be fine for low-density outer suburbia and rural areas but that would not work in cities.

Why? Because space is severely limited in cities, and taking everyone out of public transit and putting them in individual self-driving pods would require vastly more space to transport the same number of people. Beyond inefficient, Musks vision would put more cars on the road and create a lot of pissed-off drivers who have to wait in traffic. The issues in the Tesla parking lot would be transplanted into major cities.

Walker blames Musks ignorance of geometry on the mindset that dominates the tech industryits marketing departments in particular, which cater to the whims of the elite. But society can never be sustainable if everyone lives like those at the top, and its pretty clear that elite lifestyles are core to the visions of Musks companies.

Teslas first car was the Roadster, an expensive sports car that sold the idea that an electric vehicle could be cool and powerful but that, at $109,000, was available to a wealthy few. Now Musk is taking electric cars to the masses (at least the upper-middle-class ones) with the $35,000 Model 3. Still, merely switching everyone from gas to electric cars would not be a sustainable solution; healthy cities require fewer cars overall, as anyone who has tried to drive in car-choked San Francisco can attest. For cities to remain good places to live, citizens need to be able to move around them efficiently, which means fewer cars and more public transit, cycling and walking.

There are similar problems with Musks other company, solar-system installer SolarCity. Its technology works great for large single-family homes in suburban and rural areas, but its pretty tough for city dwellers to affix solar panels to the balconies of their high-rise condos and apartments. With Tesla and SolarCity, Musk is pushing for a version of a green future that works only for rich people like him or in areas that arent densely populated. Its not a lifestyle that can be adopted by the masses.

And you could even say the same thing about SpaceX, Musks rocket company, which, according to him, will one day lead the way in colonizing Mars. Yet his vision of how the colonization of Mars could happen is predicated entirely upon the ability of rich tourists to pay their way there. Similarly, it is more of a vision of Elysium than Athens.

Essentially, as the world undergoes a rapid urbanization, Musk is pitching solutions that work only for a small (and shrinking) percentage of the population. Yet he seems either oblivious or indifferent to this fact. On the basis of his statements, it seems more like hes indifferent. Why? Tunnels.

Because Musk doesnt like sitting in traffic himself, he announced that he plans to simply bore a series of tunnelsup to 40 levels of them in some areasthat would magically fix the traffic problem. This could be seen as mere ignorance, since it has been proven time and time again that building more roads makes traffic worse, but it seems quite clear that he was mainly looking out for himself. If he ever does start boring tunnels commerciallyand I dont think he ever willyou can be absolutely certain they wont be open for everyone like public roads and highways are. And just think about the engineering that would be involved. Are we really going to build 40 levels of tunnels below our cities just so we can all drive (or be driven in) individual vehicles, or will we finally eject cars from our cities and embrace means of transit that are not only more efficient but also healthier for us? It seems like an easy decision.

Theres no denying that Musk has executed some brilliant ideas, even if hes tried to downplay how reliant his companies are on government subsidies, but his elite vision of a future based on a nostalgic revival of cookie-cutter postwar suburbs with a sustainable twist simply does not fit the trend toward dense mega-cities where personal vehicles are a wasteful luxury. Instead, solutions must be focused on improving quality of life for as many people as possible while using the smallest amount of space.

Musks evacuated-tunnel rapid-transit-system concept, Hyperloop, may be the most promising of his ideas in such a future, yet its also been criticized as a pie-in-the-sky idea that serves only to distract from the more achievable high-speed rail. Musk also hasnt even shown much personal interest in pursuing the project. Not flashy enough, or not enough subsidies? We may never know.

Original post:
For All of Elon Musk's Brilliance, He Can't Grasp This Fundamental Concept - thebolditalic

Posted in Mars Colonization | Comments Off on For All of Elon Musk’s Brilliance, He Can’t Grasp This Fundamental Concept – thebolditalic

Earlier eviction notice posted for planet Earth – Herald-Mail Media

Posted: at 3:04 pm

The human race got its eviction notice last week. Be out by 2117 sharp, or the sheriff is going to toss out all our stuff on the cosmic curb, leaving our sorry selves to seek warmth and shelter in whatever intergalactic library we might happen to find.

That is the word from the prodigious thought process of Stephen Hawking, who, as late as last fall, thought planet Earth might have another thousand years of tread on the tires.

"Professor Stephen Hawking thinks the human species will have to populate a new planet within 100 years if it is to survive. With climate change, overdue asteroid strikes, epidemics and population growth, our own planet is increasingly precarious, according to the BBC.

Bummer. You just cant get a good warranty on a planet these days. Looks as if we should have gone for the extended care plan. It is great blanket coverage. If your planet gets hit by an asteroid or falls into the toilet, you are covered.

And falling into the toilet is pretty much what has happened to us. When the Chinese whose smog is so thick they have to fake photos of tourists standing in front of a blue skyline have become the worlds leading environmentalists, you know you have a problem.

And it is unlikely to get any better. When the only thing Congress can agree on is that Americans need to be stripped of their health care, then I dont expect much action in the direction of saving the planet.

And I know we are not dealing with a crackpot-style, doomsday prediction here, but, in all due respect, I think Hawking might have overplayed his hand. Even the most progressive Congress ever would not be able to do much in 100 years, not as far as star travel and colonization are concerned.

As for colonizing Mars or the moon? That is kind of like leaving one charred cinder for another. On Earth we have chopped down all the trees, dried up all the lakes, killed off all the wildlife and burned up the atmosphere. And you want to go to the moon? How is that going to help?

Of course, along with climate change, Hawking mentions some other potential body blows, including asteroid strikes, epidemics and overpopulation.

So, if we are about to be blown up by an asteroid, I suppose an escape hatch to Mars makes sense. Better a bad planet than no planet.

And overpopulation? Let me guess, Americans will want everyone else to go to Mars, and we will stay here, since we deserve it more because that is how we think.

Epidemics are a bit different because the decision is pretty much out of our hands. It is hard to move to a new neighborhood when everyone is convulsing on a gurney.

But the fascinating endgame to me is death by artificial intelligence and it is going to have to be artificial, since we dont have any of the natural stuff left.

Here is the way it works: We develop artificial intelligence capable of figuring out the conundrums of space/time travel that currently prevent us from exploring deep space.

But this artificial intelligence, not being stupid, concludes that giving the human race a new planet is like giving Boris Yeltsin a new liver what is the point, since we will just destroy the new one like we did the old one.

So the artificial intelligence thinks it over for about 30 seconds and then crushes us like a bug.

Either way, it looks as if planet Earth is going to be one big amusement-park ride from here on out. Might as well sit back and enjoy it.

Read more from the original source:
Earlier eviction notice posted for planet Earth - Herald-Mail Media

Posted in Moon Colonization | Comments Off on Earlier eviction notice posted for planet Earth – Herald-Mail Media

Bad genes? Get a healthier lifestyle – Quad-Cities Online

Posted: at 3:01 pm

Science has long proven that genetics and DNA abnormalities can elevate the risk of contracting diseases like cystic fibrosis and hemophilia. While researchers also have believed that genes can influence the risk of coronary heart disease, a new study says a patients lifestyle can have a greater impact than hereditary background.

Research by The Center for Human Genetic Research at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston found that while genetics can double the risk of heart disease, a healthy lifestyle can cut that risk back in half. Medical researchers analyzed records from more than 55,000 patients and discovered the risk of heart disease is not merely a function of genetics or lifestyle, but a complex mix of both.

Investigators examined the data and created a genetic score based on 50 genes associated with heart disease. They then developed a lifestyle score influenced by factors like smoking status, diet, weight and level of fitness. The findings revealed that while a person with high genetic risk and a bad lifestyle had an 11 percent chance of having a coronary event in the next 10 years, those who also lived a healthy lifestyle cut that risk to only 5 percent.

For heart attack at least, DNA is not destiny, says Dr. Sekar Kathiresan, senior researcher. You have control over your risk for heart attack, even if youve been dealt a bad hand.

Researchers also found those with a low genetic risk (3 percent or less) nearly doubled their overall risk to 5.8 percent when they lived an unhealthy lifestyle. While doctors often have used genetic testing and risk profiles to better inform patients, that information sometimes can lull at-risk patients into thinking theres nothing they can do to overcome their genetics. For some patients, that can reduce the incentive to exercise, improve diet and live a healthier lifestyle. Researchers now say that even for a patient with a long history of heart attacks in their family, living a healthy lifestyle can significantly decrease their risk of coronary heart disease.

The research confirms the findings of four other studies that indicate lifestyle choices can positively or negatively influence genetic risk. It gives hope to patients with an elevated risk of heart disease and offers scientific evidence that they can actively reduce their risk of a cardiac event.

According to the American Heart Association, age, gender and heredity are the major unchangeable factors that can impact the risk of heart and blood vessel disease. A persons risk generally rises as they grow older, and men have a greater risks than women. Yet the AHA notes that despite any CHD risk factors, a healthy lifestyle can always improve the prospects.

According to the AHA website, Just as you cant control your age, sex and race, you cant control your family history. Therefore, its even more important to treat and control any other risk factors you have.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute said patients can control many CHD risk factors with healthy lifestyle changes that positively impact blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, weight and obesity. These heart-healthy lifestyle changes includes diets that call for vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean meats while limiting sodium, saturated fats, added sugars and alcohol. Patients also can engage in more exercise and physical activity to reduce weight and aim for a body mass index that is below 25. The American Heart Association recommends roughly 30 minutes of exercise five days per week.

Even things like stress and depression have been proven to play a role in CHD. When lifestyle changes arent enough, patients also can use medications like beta-blockers and statins to reduce things that could lead to a heart attack. The National Institutes of Health says even more than genes, family eating and exercise habits can influence the next generation.

Making lifestyle changes can be hard. But if you make these changes as a family, it may be easier for everyone to prevent or control their CHD risk factors, according to the NIH website.

Read the rest here:
Bad genes? Get a healthier lifestyle - Quad-Cities Online

Posted in Human Genetics | Comments Off on Bad genes? Get a healthier lifestyle – Quad-Cities Online

DNA test tells you which workout, diet is perfect for you | WFAA.com – WFAA

Posted: at 3:01 pm

Sonia Azad, WFAA 8:37 AM. CDT May 09, 2017

Most of us at some point in our lives have tried something to lose weight. So we can relate to Monica Fair.

Ive always had this 12 to 15 pounds that I couldn't get rid of," said Fair, 47, who has experimented with trendy exercise programs and fad diets to no avail.

I never could lose the weight, said Fair. As a matter of fact, I would gain muscle which would push the fat out and make me look bigger."

It turns out the answer may be on the inside.

DNA testing

"We're looking at genes that are responsible for your body composition, said Kurt Johnsen, co-founder of a Dallas-based company called Simplified Genetics.

Hes a Kung Fu master, founder of American Power Yoga, and overall a pretty fit guy with a passion for helping others get healthy, too.

I'm not a doctor, I'm not a scientist, said Johnsen, who sat down with WFAA at Plum Yoga, along Dallas popular stretch of Lower Greenville.I want to make sure what we do makes a difference."

Since 2012, Johnsen says his company has tested the DNA of 11,000 people, analyzing genes to match you with the best type of workout, diet, and vitamins for your body.

This is the most revolutionary thing I have seen in over 35 years," said Leisa Hart, the blonde bombshell behindBuns of Steel. Now shes 49, a mom, and still a beautiful fitness trainer.

This is my job! I'm in good shape, said Hart, admitting that there is a side of her that the public didn't see.

Working out that often and that intensely -- my face would be red, my head pounding. I would have to take a nap many times throughout the week, she recalled. That was my body screaming at me saying -- please just slow down! You're not supposed to work out that hard that often."

Then Hart got genetic testing, which is really just a simple cheek swab. The swab is sent to a lab in Louisiana where your DNA is extracted and prepared for analysis. Results are put through algorithms that generate specific recommendations for you.

I found out that when I was working out intensely, I was working out at much too high of a heart rate and I was working out for too long of a duration, said Hart.

Based on her results, she actually needed to do less.

To the eye, 53-year-old Rosanne Lewis is similar to Hart. But her genetic makeup is completely different.

I stopped eating all this bread because I thought it wasn't very good for me. I started having nuts instead or I would eat cheese -- things I thought were healthier-- and I gained four pounds."

Lewis results showed she can get away with mostly low intensity exercise. But this type of DNA analysis goes deeper: identifying your idea diet. The bread-lover, Lewis, is more sensitive to fats than carbohydrates, meaning she can eat her bread and do yoga in peace.

I know now for the rest of my life what I'm supposed to do, said Lewis.

With people putting a lot of stock -- and money -- into these tests, we wanted to get a doctors take on them.

This is the start, at the very least, of something very interesting, said Dr. Leslie Cler, chief medical officer of Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

Dr. Cler told WFAA that this type of genetics testing has been on the market -- offered directly to consumers -- for a decade, but still is in its infancy.

Further, according to Cler, while different companies may get you the same results, their recommendations are open to interpretation.

I don't think these tests are recommending anything dangerous to the patients -- not at all, said Cler. But as a doctor, if you came to see me and you said, I heard about this test, if I get it do you think that I'd be likely to lose weight? The answer is -- I don't know."

Fair enough. But losing weight isn't always the goal. Remember Hart -- who scaled back on her workouts since getting her results?

I feel so much better, said Hart. I feel like I could actually do more but I don't have to.

Then theres Fair, who went from a size 10 to a size 6 after putting her results to use. She added fish to her vegetarian diet, and now incorporates a blend of low-and-high intensity workouts.

It was life-changing to be able to actually get to my goal," Fair said.

But what works for Fair wont work for everyone. Makes perfect sense if it boils down to DNA.

On Tuesday morning Sonia Azad, Ron Corning, and Alexa Conomos got their tests back -- see their results below!

Medical Study 1 by wfaachannel8 on Scribd

Medical Study 2 by wfaachannel8 on Scribd

2017 WFAA-TV

See the original post here:
DNA test tells you which workout, diet is perfect for you | WFAA.com - WFAA

Posted in DNA | Comments Off on DNA test tells you which workout, diet is perfect for you | WFAA.com – WFAA