Monthly Archives: April 2022

Elon Musk envisioned a greenhouse on Mars when he established SpaceX in 2002, similar to the one featured in the 2015 blockbuster The Martian. His notion for a self-sustaining Martian metropolis expanded quickly from a small-scale botanical experiment. He made his case in a speech at the 67th International Astronautical Congress in 2016. History is destined to split into two branches. One path is for humanity to exist on the planet indefinitely, after which there will be some sort of extinction event, Musk argues. The alternative is to evolve into a spacefaring civilisation and a multi-planet species, which I believe is the correct path to take.

Though Musk later clarified that the extinction event he referenced may take place millennia (or even eons) in the future, the conditions on earth today are becoming increasingly dangerous for human beings. Deadly heat waves, food insecurity and catastrophic natural disasters are a few of the hazards that we face as the planet continues to warm. Unfortunately, the Red Planet is a very long way from becoming a viable alternative home. While we measure carbon dioxide concentrations in parts per million on earth, Mars atmosphere contains 96% CO2, just one of a litany of logistical nightmares that Martian colonists would have to overcome.

In a perfect world, Musks dreams of extraterrestrial civilization could coexist with the eco-forward values that have driven ventures like Teslas solar program. But while SpaceXs aspirations are in space, its operations have an undeniable impact at home. Unlike a Tesla sports car, SpaceXs rockets arent propelled by electricity they burn kerosene.

Carbon emissions from space launches are dwarfed by other sources of greenhouse gasses, but they could have an outsized impact on climate. The reason for this stems from one particular product of rocket propulsion: black carbon. These tiny chunks of crystalline carbon atoms are short-lived in the atmosphere, but highly absorptive of sunlight. On the Earths surface, black carbon from diesel, coal and wood combustion poses a threat to environmental and public health, particularly in developing countries. But in the upper atmosphere, rocket engines are the sole source of black carbon. For years, scientists have warned that these emissions could have unpredictable effects on climate. Still, research on the topic has been frustratingly slow.

Shifting WindsIn 1985, a group of atmospheric researchers led by Pawan Bhartia presented a terrifying satellite image to a room-full of scientists, policymakers and journalists at a conference in Prague: There was a gaping hole in the ozone layer of the stratosphere directly above Antarctica. The culprits were a group of chemicals used by refrigerator manufacturers called chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. Just two years later, the Montreal Protocol was signed by 46 countries; over the next decade, CFCs were phased out by industry around the globe. Today, ozone levels are slowly rebounding.

We identified the issue with black carbon in 2010, says Darin Toohey, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder. The story comes and goes, but the basic players remain the same.

But space travel could endanger the ozone layer once again. Black carbon is an excellent greenhouse gas excellent in the sense that it is very good at absorbing sunlight and converting it into heat. When rockets travel through the upper atmosphere, they raise temperatures in their wake. At the moment, there are too few space launches for this effect to be very pronounced. But Toohey warns that consistent launches, like the ones required to populate a Martian city, could pose a problem.

The effect is to cause a slight temperature gradient between where the black carbon is warming things and other parts of the planet that arent launching rockets, he says. You end up with a change in the winds in the stratosphere and mesosphere, which may not sound like much, but those winds move ozone from one part of the planet to another.

In a research project that is now more than a decade old, Toohey and his colleagues modeled the atmospheric outcome of a scenario where 1,000 rockets were launched every year. What they found was striking: Stratospheric ozone levels were expected to shift by 1 percent in tropical regions and as much as 6 percent at the poles. Youre not creating an ozone hole, but youre basically just changing things by the same amount, Toohey says. Those are the same numbers that triggered the whole Montreal protocol. In a landmark 1995 paper, dermatologist Frank De Gruijl estimated that even a 1 percent change in stratospheric ozone could increase the prevalence of skin cancer by 2 percent. As is the case with many environmental issues, the public health cost of emissions poses an ethical dilemma for those who are tempted by the prospect of space colonization. Whose life is more important? asks Toohey. A billionaire astronaut or someone in Bangladesh?

Uncertain OutcomesUltimately, skin cancer may just be one of many issues that arise from increased space launches. Many other rocket compounds that are emitted from rockets have yet to be studied. Even shifting ozone concentrations could have effects beyond the obvious. Though they have yet to propose a cause, Toohey and his colleagues model also showed a significant change in the amount of seasonal sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic. What matters to me is not whether the sea ice increased or decreased, Toohey says. Its that such a small change in atmospheric ozone has that big of an effect.

Though research into the global effects of space travel is still extremely limited, there is enough to know that we dont know much yet. While research into space travel itself may be more attractive to terraforming enthusiasts like Musk, it must be accompanied by knowledge of its impacts.

News Summary:

Link:
Mars colonization efforts may have a negative impact on global health - BollyInside

NORMAL It was on Snapchat where University High School junior Sirihaasa Nallamothu discovered how a girl suffering from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome can faint sometimes without warning.

Nallamothu followed videos documenting the girl as she passed out from vasovagal syncope while making dinner, or panicked as her symptom began while driving.

Nallamothu said those reels were sad, and they inspired her to start brainstorming ways to help out people with POTS, which affects 1 to 3 million Americans. She then learned she was the first to collect research done on humans.

I thought there maybe would be some sort of data set for me to use online, but its such an under-researched field, so no one has ever done it before, she said.

Mark Jontry, left, judging Saturday for the Celebrating High School Innovators final contest at Hancock Stadium, hears a proposal from University High School Junior Sirihaasa Nallamothu on how to predict sudden fainting in people who have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Nallamothu joined other high school students Saturday morning at the Hancock Stadium club room in Normal to present her project. She was among 24 other teams that made it to the finals in this years Celebrating High School Innovators competition, which tasks young students with creating new products, solving major social problems and changing the world.

Without exception, these high school innovators make amazing things happen, said Paul Ritter, CHSI director and ecology teacher at Pontiac Township High School. He added each team is passionate about something different.

Winners earn a cash prize and scholarships. However, Ritter continued, the real prize for the students is getting to meet each other and share ideas.

While several dozen teams showed up in person, at least another three dozen participated virtually, from as far away as Turkey. Project ideas included enhanced mobility canes, liquid screen protectors for mobile phones, eco-friendly sneakers, governance proposals for Mars colonization and more.

These kids are setting the stage for the future, said Ritter. Their innovations are leading the way and theyre proof that our future is in great hands.

Nallamothu said her idea was to use biomarkers and machine learning to try to predict fainting symptoms within 15 minutesof happening. To do that, she collected data on blood pressure, heart rate, blood volumetric pressure, accelerometer readings and electrodermal activity, or how much a person sweats.

She said shes in her second phase of research,with 10 people whove given permission to collect their health data. Nallamothu hopes to have her predictive algorithm working in July. She plans to study computer science in college.

Keep I-55 clean

Three seniors at Pontiac Township High School are aiming to clean up Interstate 55 in Livingston County. Molly Masching, Ashlyn Bernard and Georgie Dinardi linked up with the Illinois Department of Transportation to study where and why more litter is being found near the highway.

From right to left, Molly Mascing, Georgie Dinardi, andAshlyn Bernard pose for a photo in between rounds of judging Saturday at the Celebrating High School Innovators contest. The trio of Pontiac Township High School seniors are developing recommendations with the Illinois Department of Transportation to reduce litter on I-55.

Masching said they hypothesized more trash was ending up on the north side of the interstate, because their county has a large landfill nearby and the majority of traffic comes from the north. After recording collected amounts of trash, they found their theory was correct.

Were meeting with the Livingston County Board and the Livingston County Landfill to start our plan of action, Masching said.

While the project has not yet concluded any corrective actions to recommend, Masching said theyre looking at enforcing existing regulations that require covering truck beds with tarps, staying under a weight limit or using new linings.

Bernard pointed to a net they brought with their presentation, explaining that holes in the net could let loose small pieces of litter.

Its something that we see every day, said Masching.

Next-gen irrigation

Khushi Shah, an Illinois Math & Science Academy student hailing from Peoria, is developing a smart irrigation system for her project. She said it optimizes water use while minimizing consumer costs through the use of sensors and a mobile or web app.

It has the potential to save 4.5 to 13 billion liters of water daily out of 450 billion that are used for irrigation, said Shah.

She said her system combines information from a global weather and plant database with a sensor that monitors moisture levels in soil, and then automatically engages irrigation systems when needed. While shes using another sensor brand, Shah hopes to develop her own in the future.

She said shes passionate about technology, sustainability and entrepreneurship.

This is a great way for me to combine all of those interests, she said.

Khushi Shah, right, poses for a photo with father, Vaibhav Shah, left, in between rounds of judging Saturday at the Celebrating High School Innovators contest at Hancock Stadium in Normal.

Her father, Vaibhav Shah, was there Saturday to support her. He said he never had these opportunities when he was a kid.

I'm super excited to see her getting into this technology and trying to solve the problems that I have seen in my life, living in India and other places where water is not easily available, he said.

The proud dad also said the future is in good hands.

Later on Saturday afternoon, Shah was named as one of the top five winners in the contest.

In no specific order, the other four were: IMSA student Dhruv Patel, of Elk Grove Village; Barrington High School student Sahil Mittal, of Barrington; IMSA student Umika Arora, of Morton Grove; and BHS student Ryan Tripathy, of Barrington.

This article has been updated to reflect contest results that became available after press time.

041022-blm-loc-1bunny

Seven-year-old Kennedi Carson, of Bloomington, left, pets "Pickle," a resident rabbit at Miller Park Zoo, held by Junior Zookeeper Molly Forbes, right, on Saturday.

041022-blm-loc-2bunny

Nine-month old Ava Turner, of Downs, left, and 7-month-old Braxden Logsdon, of Stanford, take photos with the Birthday Bunny on Saturday at Miller Park Zoo.

041022-blm-loc-3bunny

Joseph Kullman, of Normal, successfully hunts down hidden eggs on Saturday, April 9, at Miller Park Zoo.

041022-blm-loc-4bunny

Four-year-old Kinsley Snell, of Ottawa, smiles as she finishes crafting a paper bunny hat with ears on Saturday at Miller Park Zoo.

Visit link:
Watch now: Teens put minds to the test at Normal innovation contest - The Pantagraph