Daily Archives: February 18, 2024

The New Corporate Frontier: Implications of the Space Race on Ground-Based Telescopes and Astronomical Research – Medriva

Posted: February 18, 2024 at 10:05 am

The New Corporate Frontier: Space and Its Implications

The corporate space race, spearheaded by companies like SpaceX, is transforming space travel and innovation. The rapid progression in technology and the commercialization of space exploration have led to a surge in the number of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This proliferation, however, has also sparked concerns about light pollution, atmospheric pollution, and satellite congestion in orbit. With a call for sustainable practices and collaboration between governments and private entities, the space race brings with it a gamut of challenges and opportunities.

The advent of the corporate space race has seen an influx of mass-produced satellites into LEO, resulting in increased light pollution. Thousands of satellites circling the Earth reflect sunlight, creating a condition known as skyglow. This phenomenon obscures celestial views and hampers astronomical research. Dr. Samantha Lawler, an associate professor of Astronomy at the University of Regina, has voiced concerns about unchecked satellite deployment and its potential adverse effects on space exploration. The need for guidelines that prioritize the preservation of the night sky and the advancement of scientific knowledge is more prominent than ever.

Ground-based telescopes, vital tools for unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos, are grappling with the challenges posed by these megaconstellations of satellites. The satellites in LEO, especially those from SpaceXs Starlink project, have obstructed telescopic space exploration both on the ground and in space. This obstruction has had a profound impact on astronomers work, leading to lost data and knowledge. The issue of light pollution is not only about preserving the beauty of the night sky but also about ensuring the continued advancement of scientific knowledge.

The growing number of satellites in LEO raises concerns about the sustainability of space exploration. The risk of a runaway collisional cascade, or the Kessler Syndrome, where the density of objects in LEO is high enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascade, is a real threat. Moreover, as these satellites reenter the Earths atmosphere, they pose risks of atmospheric pollution and ground casualties.

The issue has prompted calls for stronger regulations and government intervention. Governments worldwide need to establish transparent policies and guidelines to control the number of satellites in orbit. Collaboration between governments and private companies is crucial in this regard. A balanced approach that promotes innovation and sustains the health of our night skies is the need of the hour.

The corporate space race, while being a testament to human innovation and progress, brings with it significant challenges that need addressing. The unchecked proliferation of satellites in LEO can hamper astronomical research, affect the beauty of the night sky, and pose environmental and safety risks. A collaborative, regulated, and sustainable approach to space exploration is necessary to mitigate these concerns, preserving the night sky for future generations, while also advancing our understanding of the cosmos.

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The New Corporate Frontier: Implications of the Space Race on Ground-Based Telescopes and Astronomical Research - Medriva

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This Remotely Controlled Robot Will Conduct a Simulated Surgery on the International Space Station – Smithsonian Magazine

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University of Nebraska engineerSean Crimminsloads the robotic arm into its case. A surgeon on Earth will remotely guide the robot through a surgical simulation while it is on the International Space Station. Craig Chandler / University of Nebraska-Lincoln / University Communication and Marketing

Scientists have sent a small surgical robot to the International Space Station (ISS) where it will perform a simulation of surgery, remotely guided by an expert on Earth.

The research aims to learn more about how surgery might be conducted on long space missions that send humans to the moon, Mars or beyond, as well as on our home planet, where not everyone has access to a surgeon.

Its taken a lot of testing to build up to this, and were still a long way from telesurgery on an actual patient, Shane Farritor, an engineer at the University of NebraskaLincoln and one of the inventors of the robot, says in a statement. The first step is to demonstrate the technology.

The robot launched to the ISS on January 30 with a host of other scientific experiments. Named MIRA, or the Miniaturized In vivo Robotic Assistant, it arrived on February 1, according to NPRs Juliana Kim.

MIRA is developed by the Virtual Incision Corporation, and the experiment in space is made possible by a NASA grant to the University of Nebraska. Farritor, Virtual Incisions co-founder, started working on MIRA with his team almost 20 years ago.

Weighing only two pounds, the device is roughly 1,000 times lighter than existing robot-assisted surgery technologies, according to a statement from Virtual Incision. MIRA has two robotic arms, a camera and remote technology, per the Washington Posts Erin Blakemore. Its the first surgical robot on the ISS.

MIRA Surgical Robotic Platform

In an upcoming experiment, a surgeon on the ground in Lincoln, Nebraska, will guide MIRA through a surgical simulation using remote-controlled technology. MIRA will use its left arm to grasp and its right arm to cut.

The preliminary tests will be conducted on rubber bands, according to Space.coms Monisha Ravisetti. A spokesperson for Virtual Incision told the Washington Post that the experiments will take place in the second week of February.

One challenge with the simulated surgery is possible delays in communication, since the signal must transmit to and from the International Space Station, which is around 250 miles away.

The experiment will allow the team to test the impact of the space stations zero gravity environment on surgical tasks. But researchers are also interested in how the robot could be used on the ground, such as in rural areas or on military battlefields.

About one in three counties in the U.S. lack a surgeon, and the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts the nation could face a shortage of up to 30,000 surgeons within the next ten years.

While space travel is exciting to think about, there is also an immediate need on Earth to help patients get the care they need, Farritor says in a statement. Remote surgery has the potential to address these issues.

If you have a specialist whos a very good surgeon, that specialist could dial into different locations and help with telesurgery or remote surgery, Farritor said during a presentation last month, per Space.com. Only about 10 percent of operating rooms today are robotic, but we dont see any reason that shouldnt be 100 percent.

While there has been other research into remote surgery, the surgeon has typically been in the same operating room as the patient, according to Virtual Incision. Eventually, the company hopes to have surgeons control MIRA through a console during procedures.

Alongside the robot, several other experiments traveled to the ISS, including a 3D printer that creates small metal parts, an additional robotic arm and experiments to manufacture artificial retinas and regeneratecartilage tissue in space.

MIRA will return to Earth in the spring, and it will likely take at least a year to publish results from the experiment, according to the University of Nebraska.

As thrilling as it is to have our technology in space, we expect the impact of this research will be most notable on Earth, John Murphy, president and CEO of Virtual Incision, says in the companys statement.

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This Remotely Controlled Robot Will Conduct a Simulated Surgery on the International Space Station - Smithsonian Magazine

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Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen: Reflecting on Canada’s Role in Space Exploration and Preparing for Artemis II … – Medriva

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A Historic Mission Around the Moon

In a historic moment for Canada, astronaut Jeremy Hansen prepares to orbit the moon as part of NASAs Artemis II mission in 2025. This mission is a testament to the contributions of visionaries who have paved the way for Canadas involvement in space exploration. However, it also underscores the need for continued visionary investments to uphold Canadas stature in this field.

Canada has been a key player in space exploration, with Hansens upcoming mission highlighting this involvement. As the only Canadian on the crewed mission, Hansen signifies the collaborative nature of international space exploration. Alongside him will be American astronauts, emphasizing that space exploration is a global endeavor, not confined to one nation.

With the missions risks and the inherent challenges of space travel, the importance of good communication and preparation cannot be overstated. The crew undergoes rigorous training, including practicing living in mockups of their Orion spacecraft and staying fit in tiny spaces while floating. A portable exercise solution, the flywheel, has been introduced for astronauts on the spacecraft. This tool has its limitations and benefits, but it aids in keeping astronauts healthy and fit in the challenging environment of space.

Space exploration is not a solo endeavor but a collaborative one. The upcoming missions by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in celebration of its 100th anniversary exemplify this. Col. Jeremy Hansen will be the first non-American to fly around the Moon on Artemis 2, while Col. Josh Kutryk will be the next Canadian to fly to the International Space Station aboard the new Boeing Starliner spacecraft. These missions demonstrate the collaboration between nations and the shared goal of exploring the final frontier.

The Artemis program aims to return astronauts to the moon, paving the way for future missions to Mars. The successful launch of the Nova-C lander, also known as Odysseus, is a significant step towards this goal. This mission is also crucial in the race against China, who aims to land its own crewed spacecraft on the moon by 2030.

As Jeremy Hansen reflects on his upcoming mission, there is a mix of excitement and apprehension. Embarking on a historic journey, he carries the hopes of a nation and the legacy of space exploration visionaries. His journey is a testament to the importance of international collaboration in space exploration and the need for continued investment in this field. As we look towards the future, the importance of astronaut health and fitness data from the Artemis 2 mission will be crucial in fortifying spacecraft design against risky vibrations for more ambitious moon landing missions later in the decade.

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Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen: Reflecting on Canada's Role in Space Exploration and Preparing for Artemis II ... - Medriva

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Ireland & Wales Rugby Fans Take On Alt-Right On Twitter – Balls.ie

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Irish and Welsh rugby Twitter is taking the fight to the alt-right - ahead of Ireland vs Wales next week - as it aims to counteract racist hashtags which dominate the search bar when the word 'Ireland' is typed.

Hashtags such as '#IrelandBelongsToTheIrish' and '#IrelandIsFull' can be seen, but '#IrelandWeek' is already making waves, and is currently the third pick when '#Ireland' is searched.

It must be noted, however, that the movement was initiated by Welsh fan Edward Jenkins (@edjenx), who is one of the more colourful personas on the site - known for his amusing tweets which wind up many a fan.

He wrote: "I think we have a collective duty, Irish and Welsh alike, to get the hashtags #IrelandWeek and #IREvWAL trending, in order to nudge out the bin fire of alt right trashtags that 'Ireland' is acting as a prefix for right now."

So spread the word and add to the #IrelandWeek initiative, ahead of the big Six Nations clash at the Aviva next Saturday.

READ HERE: Ireland Rugby : Ronan O'Gara Has Intriguing Theory On Jack Crowley's Goal-Kicking Issues

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Ireland & Wales Rugby Fans Take On Alt-Right On Twitter - Balls.ie

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Startup Clones Three Piglets Gene-Hacked to Have Organs Transplanted Into Humans – Futurism

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Image by Meiji University / Hiroshi Nagashima

Japanese startup PorMedTec says it's have cloned three piglets with the express purpose of having their organs be viable for transplantation to humans, without being rejected by the immune system.

The company imported gene-edited cells from a US biotech startup called eGenesis and used them to create genetically modified embryos, the Japan Times reports, which were then implanted into the uterus of a pig.

"The realization of xenotransplantation has been long awaited in Japan for several years, but it remained in the basic research stage because pigs that could withstand clinical application were still under development," the company said in a statement.

The idea of solving a global organ shortage by creating donor animals has been around for years. Japan, much like the US, is suffering from a major organ shortage. According to the Japan Organ Transplant Network, there are 16,000 people on the waiting list, but only 400 people receive them every year.

Despite certain advances, however, scientists are still struggling to get the human body to accept organs from nonhuman animal sources, especially long term.

Last month, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania hooked a genetically modified pig liver also courtesy of eGenesis to a brain-dead patient. The liver successfully filtered the man's blood for 72 hours.

Last year, a Maryland man who was suffering from terminal heart disease received the world's second genetically-modified pig heart transplant. He lived for nearly six weeks following the surgery.

Now, PorMedTec is clearly looking to push those frontiers again.

"Production of our first donors outside the United States is a critical milestone for eGenesis," eGenesis CEO Mike Curtis said in the statement. "This demonstrates the potential of broadening our reach and the promise of our platform to additional geographies and patient populations in need."

A different team led by researchers at the Jikei University School of Medicine is hoping to apply for approval of a clinical study involving the transplantation of a pig's kidney into a human fetus with kidney disease.

PorMedTec recently published a preclinical study in the journal Nature, outlining their efforts to knock out kidney genes involved in the pathways that influence the ways the human body rejects nonhuman tissues.

"The successful cloning in Japan of a genetically engineered pig with such a track record will help accelerate efforts to realize clinical applications in the nation," the company said in its statement.

More on xenotransplantation: Gene-Hacked Pig Liver Successfully Filters Blood of Human Patient

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Startup Clones Three Piglets Gene-Hacked to Have Organs Transplanted Into Humans - Futurism

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Detective Hayseed The Cloning Madness review – Adventure Gamers

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Detective Hayseed The Cloning Madness review  Adventure Gamers

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Detective Hayseed The Cloning Madness review - Adventure Gamers

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IS VOICE CLONING SOON TO COME UNDER THE FTCS NEW IMPERSONATION RULE? FTC Issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Directed at the Use of…

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IS VOICE CLONING SOON TO COME UNDER THE FTCS NEW IMPERSONATION RULE? FTC Issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Directed at the Use of Voice Cloning  The National Law Review

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IS VOICE CLONING SOON TO COME UNDER THE FTCS NEW IMPERSONATION RULE? FTC Issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Directed at the Use of...

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Explained: What is voice cloning scam and how you can avoid getting scammed – Times of India

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Explained: What is voice cloning scam and how you can avoid getting scammed  Times of India

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Explained: What is voice cloning scam and how you can avoid getting scammed - Times of India

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UK business registry says yes, chef to hundreds of cloned IDs and restaurants – Biometric Update

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Take a bunch of celebrity chefs; add biometric technology, bad intentions, a handful of bank accounts, a tablespoon of misspellings and a healthy sprinkling of lax verification safeguards. This is apparently the recipe for an identity cloning scam that has hit high profile chefs in the UK, which the BBC says has enabled fraudsters to siphon money from fake loans and other sources.

Celebrated gourmets Heston Blumenthal and Yotam Ottolenghi are among those who had identities stolen or cloned for malicious purposes.

Over the last six weeks, more than 750 fake firms have registered with Companies House, the UK governments central business registry. Registration and a small fee allow users to set up clone restaurants, withdraw overdraft money from accounts and place orders that will go unpaid. Verification measures only require the name of one director.

Employees have been registered without their knowing, leading to baffling calls from scammers. In some cases, the names of targeted restaurants were misspelled in their clone registrations; both Mr. Blumenthal and Mr. Ottloenghi got extra letters at the end of their surnames.

Alexis Gauthier, a Michelin-starred chef at Gauthier Soho in London, says he was most surprised that fraudsters were able to create a fake company with the same address as his real restaurant. Others are less surprised and accuse Companies House of doing far too little in the matter of identity verification.

UK law not allowing Companies House to verify ID of company directors has been bonkers for many years, says a LinkedIn post Robin Tombs, CEO of Yoti. He echoes sentiments that fraud expert Graham Barrow expressed to the BBC, calling Companies House not fit for purpose.

In response to the criminal activity, Companies House is setting up new authorities to address the issue of fraudulent identities, and says via a spokesperson that in the longer term we will be requiring company directors and people who file information to verify their identity to ensure they are who they say they are. But the timeline could run to eighteen months, according to Barrow an aeon in the evolution of the synthetic and AI-driven identity threats that have exploded around the world in half that time.

This is not the first time Companies House has leveraged digital identity. In 2022, it set up the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE), requiring companies to disclose their registrable beneficial owners or managing officers, to try and curb the use of shell companies for economic fraud. Its pledge to incorporate improved intelligence, data science and enforcement methods led to the September 2022 announcement that it was launching a digital identity verification system for those looking to register and operate a business in the UK.

For his part, Robin Tombs is optimistic that biometrics and digital identity providers such as Yoti can play a key role in mitigating new threats. As more ID fraud is committed against innocent individuals and businesses, it becomes inevitable that individuals will create and use super secure reusable digital IDs like the free Yoti app, he writes. More businesses will accept reusable digital ID providing more utility for more individuals to get their reusable digital ID.

The odds may seem stacked against innocent victims today but over the next few years the odds swing strongly against most fraudsters.

Companies House | digital identity | fraud prevention | identity verification | KYB | KYC | Yoti

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UK business registry says yes, chef to hundreds of cloned IDs and restaurants - Biometric Update

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"It Has The Interest Of The Emperor": Bad Batch Star Hints At How High The Stakes Are In Season 3 – Screen Rant

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Summary

One of the stars of Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3 has explained why the stakes are so much higher in the shows third and final season and Palpatine has a big role to play. The Bad Batch has, throughout its tenure, been instrumental in connecting the events of the Star Wars prequel era with the events of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Above all, it has proven that Palpatines cloning plans were set into motion long before the Rebellion began to take shape. Clone Force 99 has, unfortunately, been forced to get involved.

Speaking exclusively to Screen Rant, Dee Bradley Baker, who voices the majority of the Bad Batch clones, explained that the stakes were much higher this time, implying that Palpatines interest in the cloning program is a driving force behind the seasons narrative:

But then you lose [Omega], and then you lose Crosshair, and so again there's this vacuum that's pulling everyone apart, and the forces are then to get everything back together again. So they've gotta go back in, they've gotta get her and hopefully Crosshair, we'll see how that plays out - as we also learn that this is also very important, it has the interest of the Emperor, and that doesn't look good.

At the end of The Bad Batch season 2, Omega was captured by Dr. Hemlock, the leading scientist in the Empires Advanced Science Division. He, much like Palpatine, has an unsettling interest in cloning, and Omega is now caught in the middle of their horrific experiments.

Thankfully, the season 2 finale of The Bad Batch showed audiences that Omega wasnt in any immediate danger. Instead of being a test subject for Palpatines Force-sensitive clones like Grogu was Omega is instead being used as leverage. Dr. Hemlock needs the help of chief Kaminoan scientist Nala Se to fulfill Palpatines wishes; she was part of the project that created Clone Force 99 and a chief scientific adviser on Kaminos overall cloning program. Hemlock needed Nala Se to co-operate, and so had to find something, or someone, to coerce her into helping with his research.

In her own strange way, Nala Se cares for Omega. Whether that is because she truly cares about Omega as a person or because of Omegas unique status amongst the clones is still unclear. Either way, Hemlock discovered that he could persuade Nala Se to join his research efforts by threatening Omegas life. Omega may not be facing an immediate threat (The Bad Batch season 3 trailer implies that shes been waiting to be rescued for a long time), but Palpatine is not a benevolent man. As long as hes calling the shots, anything can happen in Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch is an action-adventure animated series set after the events of The Clone Wars, following Clone Force 99 (a.k.a. the Bad Batch.) Finding themselves immune to the brainwashing effects of Order 66, the Bad Batch become mercenaries for hire while outrunning the empire, now seeing them as fugitives of the law.

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"It Has The Interest Of The Emperor": Bad Batch Star Hints At How High The Stakes Are In Season 3 - Screen Rant

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