Category Archives: Space Travel

Missy Holland, like most Vermonters, has been spending time at home in Bristol during the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating the world of virtual interaction over Zoom and finding time to walk with friends (physically distanced and masked, of course).

A retired higher education administrator and a trustee of the Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh, Holland has called Vermont her home for the past 10 years, although she still travels to New York City, where she also has a home. Her interest in being interviewed for this project on the COVID-19 pandemic stems from wanting to help students complete projects, and I want to thank Holland for taking time to discuss her experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch the full interview online with this COVID Science package clicking on the video below.

We began by talking about changes in her daily life, of which the biggest impact for Holland has been the loss of spontaneity. She notes how you cant just go do something without considering where you are going, and that everything has to be plotted out, such as having a mask with you. She has also had to navigate virtual board meetings over Zoom, which has been a change, as well as travel between New York and Vermont. She recalled that on a recent trip back from New York, she took back roads, and it was nice being in places (she) had never been before at a time when new experiences are exceedingly limited.

Overall, Holland pointed to how quality of life has changed as a result of the pandemic.

Perhaps one of the biggest impacts in her life has been not being able to spend time with family, Holland said. She told me how the closing of the Canadian border serves as a physical barrier in that she is not able to visit her son and his wife in Toronto. She usually travels in the spring to visit them but was unable to do so this year. Fortunately, her son was able to visit her this summer as he maintains dual citizenship.

Yet it still has been difficult, and family time is different. The large family gatherings, which Holland told me happen over long weekends such as Fourth of July during the summer, were not possible. Despite not being able to see loved ones, she is thankful that her family has maintained good health through the pandemic.

We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in Addison County during a global pandemic. Holland points to Vermonts strong leadership directed by science that has offered clarity and guidance throughout the pandemic as the main advantage. She also emphasizes that having a smaller population, there is more space for people to spread out, which is certainly the case in Addison County. This space has allowed Holland to go on walks with her friends and feel safe, contrary to her experience in New York City.

At the same time, having space and living amongst a small population does have its disadvantages, and is particularly isolating. In New York, Holland described how she has gone to museums and that there is generally more to do there than in Vermont.

One of the more contested debates during the summer was that of reopening local schools and colleges, and Holland shared her perspective. She said she has great admiration for the work the private and public institutions have done. She also shared how important it was to bring students back into elementary schools, as in-person education is critical for child development. It was not as critical for high school and college students to return given that they could learn virtually, she added.

Hollands biggest concern was regarding colleges, especially the travel of students coming back and forth from potential high-risk areas with many COVID-19 cases. Despite all that has been done in education this fall to continue teaching students, Holland acknowledges that there probably have been compromises in the quality of education.

In the video conversation, we also discussed the COVID-19 vaccine and the vaccine development process. Holland told me that if Dr. Fauci takes it, I will take it, and that the possibility of former presidents receiving the vaccine publicly may help in convincing those on the fence to get the vaccine. Despite her plan to get vaccinated, Holland said she is concerned about the process of developing the vaccine, especially with regard to the expedited process and monetary conflicts of interest of pharmaceutical companies. When we talked she wanted to make sure that all the protocols for getting the vaccine approved are strictly followed before vaccinations begin.

At the end of the interview, Holland shifted gears to talk about her involvement at the Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh, which was a stop on the Underground Railroad during the 19th century. Holland describes how the museum has incorporated advocacy into its platform in recent years in order to highlight social injustice. Although Rokeby had to close down briefly during the pandemic, one board member who is a doctor wrote an essay that was published on the VTDigger.org on how COVID-19 disproportionately has been affecting people of color. The essay, among other work at Rokeby, has been about connecting history with the present as a way to emphasize racial injustice and the ramifications of history. Upon reflecting on the last nine months, Holland has come to the idea that this world belongs to the (younger generation) now, especially considering how young people have been involved in social movements such as fighting for racial justice.

Holland also looks toward the future in thinking about her grandchildren, and what they will remember of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite all that has transpired since March, she is fortunate to be in good health, and looks forward to getting back to the spontaneous aspect to life in the near future.

Visit link:

Bristol's Missy Holland offers a picture of the pandemic we can relate to (video) - Addison County Independent

More than half a century ago, director Stanley Kubrick, alongside futuristic writer Arthur C. Clark set out to make, a good science fiction cinematic experience. The resulting film,2001: A Space Odyssey,premiered in spring 1968 (nearly a year before Neil Armstrong landed on the moon) is a landmark moment in the history fo cinema and one that has influenced sci-fi filmmakers for generations including the likes of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Christopher Nolan.Nolan, in an interview with the Stanley Kubrick Appreciation Society, said, [2001] is in dialogue with our ideas of the future.

The influence of2001: A Space Odysseyon subsequent sci-fi technology and special effects has been pervasive. The film won an Oscar for its pioneering special effects and has been called a quantum leap in technological advancements by film criticJames Verneire. However the concurrent artistic and philosophical bravura of the film is unparalleled. Never before or after has a film on space engaged in such immersive visual dialogues on the philosophy of humanitys evolution and the philosophy of technological advancement. Unlike Kubricks 1964 nuclear satireDr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb,2001:A Space Odysseyrestrained its use of humour to one hidden intentional joke which stopped the comic element of an otherwise ambiguous film from flushing down the toilet.

The virtuosity of Kubrick is indeed in infusing the scientific with the enigmatic. The subliminal transcendence of the trajectory of 2001 can be akin to a psychedelic hallucinogen ingestion induced epiphany or Scientological epiphany depending on the viewers biases. At the time of its premiere in 1968, Renata Adler in the Times described the movie as somewhere between hypnotic and immensely boring.

Indeed one of the biggest philosophical easter eggs hidden within2001:A Space Odysseyis the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The film opens to Richard Strausss evocative tone poem, Also Sprach Zarathustra based on Nietzsches, Thus spoke Zarathustra, with the visual the sun, moon and earth aligning in the symbolism of Zoroastrianism, based in the teaching of Zoroaster (also known as Zarathustra).

2001s divergence from quintessential sci-fi music is reiterated with Johann Strauss The Blue Danube playing to the docking of the space shuttle. The films divergence from the staple is future exacerbated by exiguous verbal sound in the film. While most cinematic pictures rely on dialogues to reveal plotlines, Kubrick intended 2001 to be a visual experience, mostly devoid of verbiage. In 1970, Kubrick explained that the movie was basically a visual, non-verbal experience. It avoids intellectual verbalisation and reaches the viewers subconscious in a way that is essentially poetic and philosophical.

Kubrick further added, I think that 2001, like music, succeeds in short-circuiting the rigid surface cultural blocks that shackle our consciousness to narrowly limited areas of experience and is able to cut directly through to areas of emotional comprehension.

2001 exemplifies Hitchcocks dictum not to tell what you can show. The narrative of the film unfolds in four movements:

The Dawn Of Man

The initial Dawn of Man segment opens with the eponymous landscape shots of dawn in prehistoric earth. A tribe of apes in a Darwinian struggle for survival engage in territorial battle over a watering hole with another tribe of apes only to be defeated. The former tribe of humanoid primates encounter a mysterious black monolith. The monolith accelerates their enlightenment, as one of the Apes figures out the use of bones as weapons and kills a tapir, turning the pirates into carnivores. The tribe deploys their newfound weapon in a battle against the opposing tribe and kills the leader of the opposing tribe.

In triumphant jubilation akin to a footballers celebratory high five, the ape-man flings the bone in the air. In one of most iconic jump-cuts in cinematic history, the bone in the air transforms into what is presumably a space satellite, propelling the timeline of the narrative forward by four million years. According to Clark, the Space Satellite is supposed to be an orbiting space bomb, a weapon in space. Thus the transition from the Pleistocene era to space-age is tethered by the notion that human evolution is concurrent with the evolution of bigger and better ways of destruction.

The Floyd Segment

This segment introduces Dr Heywood Floyd (William Sylvester) en-route to a space station and onwards to Clavius, a lunar settlement. Replete with technological advancements such as artificial gravity, zero-gravity toilets, voiceprint recognition, video payphones, corporatisation of space travel (did someone say Elon Musk?) Clarke and Kubricks futuristic predictions are of near Nostradamus proportions of accuracy if not wholly infallible and a tad over-optimistic.

The banality of dialogues between Floyd and his Russian counterparts is interspersed with the parody of a full page of instructions to use a zero-gravity toilet. The narrative progresses with the revelation of the discovery of a monolith, now identified as TMA-1 or Tycho Magnetic Anomaly, buried under the lunar surface which emits a signal to Jupiter.

The fearful reverence of the apes is replaced by the arrogance of man as the astronauts try to take a picture in front of the monolith. Under instructions from the National Council of Astronautics, Floyd prohibits his colleagues from disclosing the news of the TMA-1.

The Jupiter Mission

Fast forward 18 months Dr Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood)) and Dr David Bowman (Keir Dullea) are aboard a spacecraft, Discovery 1, on an expedition to Jupiter along with three other astronauts in hibernation and a H.A.L 9000 (voiced by Douglas Rain) supercomputer that talks in a Canadian accent.

In a fastidious sub-plot, the question of the sentience of the machine is evoked when H.A.L who proclaimed to be foolproof and incapable of error misdiagnoses a fault in AE-35 unit and Poole and Bowman discuss disconnecting HALs primary brain functions. HAL goes ape-shit crazy (Remember the primate with bone?) and kills the entire crew except for Dave, who manages to disconnect HAL. The supercomputer is acutely humane in his last moments as it says, I am afraid Dave, my mind is going, I can feel it.

Jupiter and Beyond the infinite

Perhaps the most baffling part of the movie is its ending, which is more evocative than instructive. A third monolith suspended in Jupiters atmosphere propels Dave in a space pod through a kaleidoscopic, psychedelic plethora of colours and shapes, popularly known as the Stargate sequence.

Kubricks special effects supervisor Douglas Trumbull used a pioneering slit-scan technique to achieve the impressionistic psychedelic effect, a feat which will be replicated decades later by CGI. Dave is transported into a neo-classical French style room, and in an anachronistic time wrap the film rapidly shifts perspective from young Dave to an older Dave and finally, a bedridden Dave, who reaches towards the monolith in action oddly reminiscent of Adam reaching out to God in Michaelangelos fresco in the Sistine chapel, only to be transformed into a foetal Star child.

The film ends in a shroud of ambiguity with the star child floating in space near earth. However, Kubrick, unperturbed by the annals of audience restlessness to the pervasiveness of ambiguity in 2001 said in aninterview with Joseph Gelmis: Once youre dealing on a nonverbal level, ambiguity is unavoidable. But its the ambiguity of all art, of a fine piece of music or a paintingyou dont need written instructions by the composer or painter accompanying such works to explain them.

Perhaps, thus the zero-gravity toilet instructionis the only intentional joke in the film. In a scene aboard the space station, Floyd is seen peering at a detailed and convoluted instruction manual on the use of the zero-gravity toilet. Kubricks disdain of instructions for the understanding of the film highlights the irony of a page long instructions from the zero-gravity toilets. In an interview, Kubricks explained the zero-gravity toilet was the only intentional joke in the film. That evolution and technological advancement would lead to convoluting of tending to basic human needs is well worth a snigger. Despite its ambiguity, Kubrick doesnt want to spell out a verbal roadmap for 2001. Kubricks film doesnt come with an instruction manual, but the zero-gravity toilet does.

Go here to see the original:

Breaking down the one joke Stanley Kubrick hid within 2001: A Space Odyssey - Far Out Magazine

We dont have to remind readers of the ways that 2020 has been dispiriting, but theres been some good news. The Covid vaccine rollout is a tribute to American ingenuity, and then theres the remarkable success of the SpaceX rocket launches.

The latter have become so routine that they barely make the news. On Saturday the company lit the fuse on one of its 229-foot Falcon 9 rockets, which put into orbit a U.S. spy satellite. It was SpaceXs 26th launch of 2020.

The part that looks surreal is when the Falcon 9s first stage plummets back to Earth, fires its engines to arrest its fall, and then sticks an upright landing. Saturdays rocket was launched from Floridas Kennedy Space Center. Eight minutes later, the first stage touched down on a landing pad at nearby Cape Canaveral. If youve never seen the feat, check out the footage online.

The repeat landings are a technical and economic achievement since they lower the cost of access to orbit. The Falcon 9 booster on Saturday was completing its fifth mission. This was SpaceXs 70th successful recovery, and in November a booster was used for a seventh time. SpaceX says one might eventually fly 10 missions without a major refurbishing. The company is aiming at a 24-hour turnaround from landing to relaunch. For almost a decade after the final Space Shuttle flight in 2011, Americans had to hitch a ride to the International Space Station on Russian craft. Now they can take the Falcon 9.

Space exploration is risky, and two weeks ago a prototype of SpaceXs Starship, a 160-foot silvery rocket that founder Elon Musk wants to send to Mars, was meant to gently land during a test. Instead it came down too fast and exploded in a fireball. But Mr. Musk wasnt fazed, at least on Twitter : We got all the data we needed! Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah!!

Read this article:

The Year in Space Travel - The Wall Street Journal

HAMBURG, Germany, Dec. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --By developing a new, more reliable form of usable energy, the Neutrino Energy Grouphopes to do its part in unlocking the mysteries of space and propelling humanity into its rightful place amongst the stars. Led by energy visionary Holger Thorsten Schubart, the Neutrino Energy Group is thrilled to be involved in the development of tomorrow's space travel energy technologies.

Limitations of Current Spacecraft Energy Technologies

Once spacecraft have broken free of the Earth's gravity well, they no longer need the immense propulsive power of chemical rockets to stay aloft. Astronauts must still perform activities while in space, however, and vital functions like life support and lighting must also be supported.

At present, photovoltaic cells (solar panels) are primarily used to provide electrical power to spacecraft while they are in orbit or traveling between celestial bodies. Even though objects in space aren't pulled along by the Earth's diurnal cycle, however, they can't always be positioned in direct sunlight.

Additionally, solar panels take up considerable surface area, and they're constructed using inflexible materials. As a result, impacts from space junk, meteoroids, and other types of moving objects in space commonly impact the operation of solar panels.

Neutrino Energy Holds Infinite Potential

Over the decades, scientists have postulated that neutrinos might serve as a source of energy. It was only in 2015, however, that the mass of neutrinos was theoretically proven, and over the last five years, numerous laboratory experiments have definitively demonstrated that the mass of neutrinos can be converted into electrical energy.

Neutrino-generated electricity is currently held back by its low production capacity. Any reduction of the burden currently placed on solar energy, however, would come as a welcome development to engineers of spacecraft. Over time, neutrinovoltaic devices will become capable of producing increasing amounts of electricity, and they will become reliable sources of energy both in space and down here on Earth.

Unlike photovoltaic cells, neutrinovoltaic devices do not need to be directly exposed to sunlight. They can operate in complete darkness, and they can be placed inside the thick, protective outer hulls of spacecraft.

The Secrets of Space Will Soon Be Uncovered

Having attended the 69th International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany, Holger Thorsten Schubart maintains his contacts within the space travel community as he and the Neutrino Energy Group continue developing practical neutrino energy technologies. With the help of neutrinovoltaic technologies, humanity's exploration of the stars will become safer and more rewarding.

Neutrino Deutschland GmbHUnterden Linden 2110117 BerlinTel.: +493020924013Email:[emailprotected]

Related Images

neutrino-energy-will-unlock-the.jpg Neutrino Energy Will Unlock the True Potential of Space Travel Neutrino Energy Will Unlock the True Potential of Space Travel

Related Links

Neutrino Energy Official Site

SOURCE Neutrino Energy Group

Continued here:

Neutrino Energy Will Unlock the True Potential of Space Travel - PRNewswire

From Martian rover landings to the launch of Hubble's "successor," here are some of the most exciting space missions pegged for next year.

image: NASA JPL Caltech

Space agencies around the globe have a number of pioneering missions planned for 2021. Interestingly, next year is set to feature not one but two highly anticipated Martian rover landings including NASA's Perseverance mission. On the heels of China's recent successful Chang'e-5 lunar mission, the nation will also attempt to land a rover on Mars in the months ahead. Below, we've curated a roundup of some of the standout missions pegged for 2021.

SEE: TechRepublic Premium editorial calendar: IT policies, checklists, toolkits, and research for download (TechRepublic Premium)

Image: NASA

On July 30, 2020, the Mars 2020 Mission launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station en route to Mars with the Perseverance rover onboard. On Feb. 18, 2021, after millions of miles of space travel, the craft is set to land on the Red Planet. The "car-sized" Perseverance rover stands 7-feet tall, approximately 10 feet in total length, 9-feet wide, and weighs more than 2,000 pounds. Perseverance builds on previous NASA Martian rover missions will use instrumentation to continue the search for ancient microbial life as well as help plan for future human missions to Mars.

SEE: NASA's Mars 2020 Rover: Everything you need to know about Perseverance and the mission (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA

On July 23, 2020, the Chinese Tianwen 1 mission successfully launched en route to the Red Planet with an orbiter, lander, and rover in tow. After months of travel, the craft is set to arrive at Mars in February 2021. The craft will first orbit the planet using onboard cameras to pinpoint potential landing areas. Once a site has been determined, the rover and lander will separate from the craft and attempt to land on Mars. At the moment, this landing is scheduled for April 2021, per NASA.

Image: Intuitive Machines

NASA's Artemis program is set to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time in decades, including the first woman to walk on the moon in 2024. In preparation for future manned lunar exploration efforts, the Intuitive Machines 1 (IM-1) mission is set to launch to the moon on Oct. 11, 2021. The lander (Nova-C) is a "tall hexagonal cylinder," which will carry five NASA payloads as well as commercial cargo, according to the space agency.

SEE: NASA to build lunar 4G network (TechRepublic)

Image: Soutwest Research Institute

On Oct. 16, 2021, NASA's Lucy mission is scheduled to launch as part of a journey that will include flybys of seven asteroids. The mission's objectives are designed to help scientists understand the formation of the early solar system including the accretion of giant planets, the "sources of primordial organic matter," and more, per NASA. Based on the current launch timeline, Lucy could first fly by asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson in April of 2025.

Image: NASA/Desiree Stover

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is scheduled to launch on Oct. 31, 2021. NASA has described JWST as the "successor" to the Hubble Telescope, however, Webb uses a primary mirror that is 6.5 meters in diameter and touts a collection area that is approximately 6.25 times larger than Hubble's, according to NASA. Webb analyzes the universe primarily in infrared and the longer wavelength coverage allows Webb to "hunt for the unobserved formation of the first galaxies" and peer inside of "dust clouds where stars and planetary systems are forming today," according to the space agency.

SEE:OSIRIS-REx mission's project scientist details "greedy" asteroid sampling, challenges, and more(TechRepublic)

An illustration of the NEA Scout spacecraft and its solar sail.

Image: NASA

NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program was established in 1998. In the decades since, NASA has identified thousands of near-Earth objects (NEOs). In fact, the space agency estimates that "an average of 30 new discoveries are added each week." While most NEOs entering the Earth's atmosphere will disintegrate before reaching the surface, larger objects could potentially "cause widespread damage in and around their impact sites," per NASA.

The Near-Earth Asteroid Scout (NEA Scout) mission is scheduled to launch in late 2021. The missions will use a 6U CubeSat to fly by Near-Earth Asteroid 1991 VG to collect images as well as observe the object's shape, debris field, morphology, and more. NASA estimates that the mission will take little more than two years.

Be in the know about smart cities, AI, Internet of Things, VR, AR, robotics, drones, autonomous driving, and more of the coolest tech innovations. Delivered Wednesdays and Fridays

Follow this link:

6 space missions to look forward to in 2021 - TechRepublic

Lockheed Martin Corp. is expanding its foray into futuristic space travel and missile defense by acquiring supplier Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. in a deal valued at $4.4 billion, targeting higher sales and more savings in an environment of tightening defense budgets.

Aerojet is a supplier to Lockheed, including its Lockheed Martins Grand Prairie-based Missiles and Fire Control division and its F-35 assembly facility in Fort Worth.

As part of the transaction, Aerojet declared a $5 per share special dividend to be paid on March 24 to holders of record as of March 10. The payment of that special dividend will adjust the $56 per share consideration to be paid by Lockheed Martin, according to a statement Sunday.

At $51, Lockheed will be buying Aerojet at a 21% premium from the closing price on Friday. Lockheed chief executive officer Jim Taiclet stepped into the top job this year with a reputation as a dealmaker and a stockpile of cash. With Aerojet, he is picking up a key U.S. supplier of propulsion systems for missiles, rockets and other space and defense applications.

Still, the consolidation is likely to face scrutiny from key customers such as the U.S. Defense Department and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Another question mark is the reaction of competitors such as Boeing Co. and Raytheon Technologies Corp. that rely on Aerojets motors for their own hypersonics and missile products.

Its not clear how defense and antitrust officials will view this deal, especially in a new administration, but we could imagine pushback from others in industry, such as Raytheon or Boeing, Seth Seifman, an analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co., said in a note to customers.

Aerojet soared almost 24% to $52.10 in afternoon trading in New York after surging as much as 26%, the most intraday since 2009. Lockheed fell almost 6% to $349.99. Aerojet has declined 7.9% this year through Dec. 18 while Lockheed dropped 8.6%. A Standard & Poors index of U.S. aerospace and defense companies tumbled 18% over the same period.

Lockheed has been scouting for acquisitions. In January, the company said it was flush with cash and open to deals as Raytheon Co. prepared to combine with United Technologies Corp. to create a powerhouse in aerospace and defense.

During Lockheeds October earnings call, Taiclet said the company would be active but very, very prudent in its drive to bring in the technologies faster into the company that we think are going to be crucial for the future.

The Aerojet transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2021 after getting regulatory approvals and a nod from Aerojets shareholders.

Lockheeds space division is its third-largest business, contributing 18% of its 2019 revenue. The company competes with Elon Musks Space Exploration Technologies Corp. for U.S. government rocket launches through the United Launch Alliance, its joint venture with Boeing.

Read the original:

Lockheed to boost space expansion with $4.4 billion Aerojet deal - The Dallas Morning News

File photo: Chandrayaan 2 launch.

Even though the year 2020 would be known for the COVID-19 pandemic, it could also be termed as the defining year for the Indian space sector to put it in a different orbit with the private sector as a co-traveller of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

As a part of that, the Department of Space (DoS) recently signed an agreement with Chennai based small rocket company Agnikul Cosmos Pvt Ltd to access the facilities and technical expertise available in ISRO centres.

According to DoS, this is the first of its kind agreement to be signed after the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), the authorisation and regulatory body for enabling private players to undertake space activities in India.

Under the agreement, Agnikul Cosmos will be provided access to the facilities and technical expertise available in ISRO centres to proceed with their launch vehicle/rocket development program. A couple of days later, Syzygy Space Technologies Pvt Ltd, commonly known as Pixxel, signed up with NewSpace India LtdDoS' commercial armto launch its first satellite using ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket in early 2021.

Pixxel plans to have its Firefly constellation consisting of 30 small earth observation satellites by the end of 2022. The DoS has also come out with three draft policiesDraft Space Based Communication Policy of India 2020 (Spacecom Policy-2020), Draft Space Based Remote Sensing Policy and Revised Technology Transfer Policy Guidelinesto enable the private sector play a greater role in the space field.

File photo of Chandrayaan 2

The DoS Secretary and ISRO Chairman K. Sivan said a policy for launch vehicles and rockets, space exploration and also a comprehensive Space Act will also be announced.

In effect, after the insipid first half, the year 2020 turned a bit interesting after the Central government decided to open up the sector for private players.

During the start of 2020, Sivan had said that ISRO had planned to have 25 launches, including Aditya-L1 satellite, Geo Imaging Satellite (GISAT-1), realisation of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) or small rocket (carrying capacity 500 kg), navigation satellite with indigenous atomic clocks and Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS), and GSAT-20 satellite with electric propulsion.

Sivan also said that India will embark on its third moon missionChandrayaan-3and attempt to land a lander on the lunar surface sometime in 2020-21.

The year began well for ISRO with the launch of the 3,357 kg communication satellite GSAT-30 by the European space agency Arianespace rocket Ariane 5 on January 17.

Vyom Mitra, the humanoid for ISRO's crewless Gaganyaan Mission.

ISRO also showcased its robot/half-humanoidVyommitrawhich was part of its human space mission programme 'Gaganyaan'. The first setback of the year for ISRO came on March 4, when it had to call off the launch of GISAT-1, a day before its actual launch, owing to technical reasons.

The ISRO did not share any detail about the technical reasons, or the glitch, and its rectification since then. It is also not known when the satellite with a very good camera would be launched.

Then came the COVID-19 lockdown within and outside India that had its cascading impact on ISRO's core plans like the realisation of SSLV, launch of GISAT-1, delay in the first test-flight of the rocket as part of GaganyaanIndia's human space flight mission.

Meanwhile, two positive developments happened for ISROsecuring an Indian patent for its liquid cooling and heating garment (LCHG) suitable for space applications and for its method of manufacturing highland lunar soil simulant or simply lunar/moon soil.

On May 16, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Indian private sector will be a co-traveller in India's space-sector journey and a level-playing field will be provided for them in satellites, launches, and space-based services.

She also said that a predictable policy and regulatory environment will be provided to the private players.

Future projects for planetary exploration, outer space travel and others are to be opened up for the private sector, and there will be a liberal geo-spatial data policy for providing remote-sensing data to tech-entrepreneurs subject to various checks.

ISRO Launch Rocket PSLV

On June 24, the Union Cabinet decided to set up IN-SPACe, making ISRO focus on research and development (R&D) of new technologies, exploration missions, and human spaceflight programme.

The IN-SPACe would provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.

As a part of the rejig, DoS' commercial arm New Space India Limited (NSIL) will endeavour to re-orient space activities from a 'supply driven' model to 'demand driven' model, thereby ensuring optimum utilisation of the country's space assets.

"The best is to establish an independent regulatorSpace Regulatory Authority of India (SRAI)which will create a level-playing field for many of the emerging players," Narayan Prasad, Chief Operating Officer, satsearch, told IANS.

Establishing an independent regulator could allow a systematic review and reforms on a continuous basis rather than one-off announcements, Prasad said.

As per current scheme of things, IN-SPACe will have its own directorates for technical, legal, safety and security, monitoring as well as activities promotion for assessing the private sector's needs and coordination of the activities. IN-SPACe would have a board and representatives from industry, academia and the government, Sivan said.

"Initially, IN-SPACe will be manned by people from the existing space setup. Later, people from outside will be taken in. It will have its funds from the budgetary allocations for the DoS. The new body may not need big financial allocations," Sivan remarked.

Meanwhile, ISRO restarted its satellite launch operations on November 7 by putting into orbit the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-1, formerly RISAT-2BR2, and nine other foreign satellites in a text book style, using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C49).

With this launch, ISRO put into orbit a total of 328 foreign satellites, all for a fee. On December 17, ISRO orbited India's 42nd communication satellite-CMS-01 (formerly named GSAT-12R) with its PSLV-C50 rocket.

While that was the last space mission for India in 2020, Sivan told IANS that the first quarter of 2021 will see Indian space agency's cash till ringing with the commercial launch of Brazilian satellite Amazonia as well as three Indian satellites.

"End of February or early March 2021, we will be sending our rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C51 (PSLV-C51). The primary payload will be the Brazilian satellite called Amazonia an earth observation satellite," Sivan said.

"The PSLV-C51 mission will be a very special mission not only for ISRO but also for India as the rocket will be carrying the earth observation satellite Anand made by an Indian startup called Pixxel (Incorporated as Syzygy Space Technologies Pvt Ltd)," he added.

File photo from one of ISRO's launches.

The PSLV-C51 will also carry a communication satellite - Satisat - built by the students of city-based Space Kidz India and another satellite, Unisat, which is built by a consortium of three Indian universities.

According to Sivan, Team ISRO has a busy schedule ahead for the launch of Aditya L1 satellite, third moon mission Chandrayaan-3, Gaganyaaan - India's human space mission, and realisation of small rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

He also said the SSLV will carry EOS-02 (Earth Observation Satellite), and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F10 (GSLV) carrying EOS-3.

The other Indian satellites that are ready for launch are GISAT and Microsat-2A.

**

The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.

See more here:

From Delayed Missions to Bringing Private Sector Onboard: Here's How ISRO Fared Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic | The Weather Channel - Articles from The...

Covid-19 sucked most of the oxygen out of science this year. But we still had brilliant wins.

The pandemic couldnt bring rockets or humans down: multiple missions blasted off to the red planet in the summer of Mars. Two astronauts launched to the International Space Stationand made it safely backin a game-changer for commercial space travel. NASA released dozens of findings on how space travel changes our bodies, paving the way to keep us healthy in orbitor one day, on Mars and beyond.

Back on Earth, scientists scoured mud ponds and fished out a teeny-tiny CRISPR enzyme that packs a massive punch for genome editing. AI and neuroscience became even more entwinedsometimes literally. Biological neurons got hooked up to two silicon-based artificial neurons, across multiple countries, into a fully-functional biohybrid neural network. Others tapped dopaminethe main messenger for the brains reward systemto unite electricity and chemical computing into a semi-living computer. While still largely a curiosity, these studies take brain-inspired computers to another level by seamlessly incorporating living neurons into AI hardware. Now imagine similar circuits inside the brainNeuralink sure is.

More abstractly, biological and artificial brains further fed into each other in our understandingand craftingof intelligence. This year, scientists found mini-computers in the input tree-like branches of neurons. Like entire neural networks, these cables were capable of performing complex logical calculations, suggesting our brain cells are far brainier than we previously thoughtsomething AI can learn from. On the flip side, a hotshot algorithm inspired by the brain called reinforcement learning pushed neuroscientists to re-examine how we respond to feedback as we learn. AI also helped build the most dynamic brain atlas to date, a living map that can continuously incorporate new data and capture individual differences.

As we leave 2020 behind, two main themes percolate in my mind, not just for what theyve accomplished, but as indicators of what lies ahead. These are the trends Ill be keeping my eyes on in the coming year.

Why we age is extremely complex. So are methods that try to prevent age-related diseases, or slow the aging process itself. This nth-dimensional complexity almost dictates that longevity research needs to self-segregate into lanes.

Take probing the biological mechanisms that drive aging. For example, our cells energy factory spews out bullet-like molecules that damage the cell. The genome becomes unstable. Cells turn zombie-like. Working stem cells vanish. Tissue regeneration suffers. Scientists often spend entire careers understanding one facet of a single hallmark of aging, or hunting for age-related genes. The lucky ones come up with ways to combat that one foefor example, senolytics, a family of drugs that wipe out zombie cells to protect against age-related diseases.

But aging hallmarks dont rear their heads in isolation. They work together. An increasing trend is to unveil the how of their interactions workcrosstalk, in science-speakwith hopes of multiple birds with one stone.

This year, longevity researchers crossed lanes.

One study, for example, took a stem cell playbook to rejuvenate eyesight in aged mice with vision loss. They focused on a prominent aging hallmark: epigenetics. Our DNA is dotted with thousands of chemical marks. As we age, these marks accumulate. Using gene therapy, the team introduced three superstar genes into the eyes of aged mice to revert those marks and reprogram cells to a younger state. Youve probably heard of those genes: theyre three of the four factors used to revert adult skin cells into a stem-cell-like state, or iPSCs (induced pluripotent stem cells). Resetting the epigenetic clock was so powerful it improved visual acuity in old mice, and the team has now licensed the tech to Life Biosciences in Boston to further develop for humans.

Another study combined three main puzzle pieces in agingzombie cells, inflammation, and malfunctioning mitochondriainto a full picture, with the surprise ending that senolytics has multiple anti-aging powers in cells. Talk about killing two birds with one stone. Finally, one team (which I was a part of) combined two promising approaches for brain rejuvenationexercise and young bloodto begin pushing the limits of reigniting faltering memory and cognition due to aging.

Longevity research has long been fragmented, but its starting to coalesce into a multidisciplinary field. These crossovers are just the start of a rising trajectory to combat the multi-headed Hydra thats aging. More will come.

If youre looking for a sign that AI is leaving the digital realm of Atari games and heading into the real world, this year was it.

In biotech, theres no doubt of AIs promise in drug discovery or medical diagnoses. In late 2019, a team used deep learning and generative modelssimilar to AlphaGo, the DeepMind algorithm that trounced humans at Go and wiped the Atari libraryto conjure over 30,000 new drug molecules, a feat chemists could only dream of. This year, the viral hurricane thats Covid-19 further unleashed AI-based drug discovery, such as screening existing drugs for candidates that may work against the virus, or newlydesigned chemicals to fight off SARS-CoV-2 infectionthe virus that causes Covid-19.

For now, we dont yet have an AI-designed drug on the market, an ultimate test for the technologys promise. However, although AI wasnt able to make a splash in our current pandemic battle, the scene is set for tackling the next oneand drug discovery as a whole.

In contrast, AI-based medical diagnosis had a resounding win. This year, the FDA approved a software that uses AI to provide real-time guidance for ultrasound imaging for the heart, essentially allowing those without specialized training to perform the test. The approval brings a total of 29 FDA-approved AI-based medical technologies to date. Even as the debate on trust, ethics, and responsibility for AI doctors cranked up in temperature, the Pandoras box has been opened.

Medicine aside, deep learning further honed its craft in a variety of fields. The neuroscience-AI marriage is one for the ages with no signs of fracture. Outside the brain, AI also gave synthetic biology a leg up by parsing the interactions between genes and genetic networksa mind-bending, enormously complex problem previously only achieved through trial and error. With help from AI, synthetic biologists can predict how changes to one gene in a cell could affect others, and in turn, the cells biochemistry and behavior. Bottom line: it makes designing new biological circuits, such as getting yeast to pump out green fuels or artificially hoppy beer, much easier.

But the coup de grce against AI as an overhyped technology is DeepMinds decimation of a 50-year-long challenge in biology. With a performance that shocked experts, DeepMinds AlphaFold was able to predict a proteins 3D structure from its amino acid sequencethe individual components of a proteinmatching the current gold standard. As the workhorses of our bodies, proteins dictate life. AlphaFold, in a sense, solved a huge chunk of the biology of life, with implications for both drug discovery and synthetic biology.

One more scientific brilliance this year is the use of light in neuroscience and tissue engineering. One study, for example, used lasers to directly print a human ear-like structure under the skin of mice, without a single surgical cut. Another used light to incept smell in mice, artificially programming an entirely new, never-seen-in-nature perception of a scent directly into their brains. Yet another study combined lasers with virtual reality to dissect how our brains process space and navigation, mentally transporting a mouse to a virtual location linked to a reward. To cap it off, scientists found a new way to use light to control the brain through the skull without surgerythough as of now, youll still need gene therapy. Given the implications of unauthorized mind control, thats probably less of a bug and more of a feature.

Were nearing the frustratingly slow, but sure, dying gasp of Covid-19. The pandemic defined 2020, but science kept hustling along. I cant wait to share what might come in the next year with youmay it be revolutionary, potentially terrifying, utterly bizarre* or oddly heart-warming.

* For example, Why wild giant pandas frequently roll in horse manure. Yes thats the actual title of a study. Yes, its a great read. And yes, its hilarious but has a point.

Image Credit: Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash

Go here to see the original:

2020 in Neuroscience, Longevity, and AIand What's to Come - Singularity Hub

George Clooney's Netflix movie The Midnight Sky has inspired viewers to find other movies about space; check out these 10 recommendations.

After three year-hiatus from making movies, George Clooney returns to the big screen as the leading actor, producer, and director in Netflix's newest film, The Midnight Sky.

RELATED:The Midnight Sky: Every Project George Clooney Has Directed, Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes

Alongside George Clooney, the movie consists of an ensemble cast that includes Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, and Kyle Chandler. It is an emotional film that will leave viewers anticipating the missions by the scientist and astronauts. Also, it shows the beautiful visuals of space and the disheartening imagery of Earth. Of course, The Midnight Sky is not the first of its kind. Several other films capture the movie's essence, whether it be another space mission or another apocalyptic catastrophe.

Considering the mysteries behind a black monolith, two astronauts venture into space to find answers regarding its origin. While traveling with H.A.L. 9000, a supercomputer, a new conflict arises between humanity and machine that changes the course of their mission and brings about revelations regarding the space and time continuum.

Of course, 2001: A Space Odyssey sets the foundation of the space theme that we now see today. The film was gratified for its complex story and breathtaking visuals that have since inspired future sci-fi films.

Interstellar is one movie that most equates to the tone and premise of The Midnight Sky. As Earth becomes inhospitable, a pilot joinsa team of researchers to try and save humanity. His time and sacrifice mean leaving his children behind for several years, and matters worsen when there is deception regarding their plans.

Interstellar is like any Christopher Nolan movie. The story is convoluted, but it is still substantive in its approach. The stakes of it all make thefilm emotionally investing, from phenomenal performances by the cast, such as Matthew McConaughey,Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain, and the beautiful score composed by Hans Zimmer.

As a group of astronauts escapes the conditions of Mars, one botanist gets left behind, leaving him stranded on the red planet. Now, he has to find a way to communicate with Earth and keep himself alive as long as possible, with his innovation and intelligence.

RELATED:10 Movies To Watch If You Loved The Martian

Though most space movies have a dramatic tone,The Martianis a unique movie, where it is more light-hearted. Based on Andy Weir's novel of the same title, the film is one of a kind that viewers compliment for its brilliance, thrill, and humor. Furthermore, Matt Damon gives a genuinely unforgettable performance.

George Clooney has a soft-side when it comes to space movies and their calamities. When space debris causes critical damage to the space shuttle, a medical engineer and a team commander are the only ones to survive the impact. Now, they have to figure out how to get back home to Earth, which means understanding the ways around space.

Gravity was one of the biggest movies in 2013. It is quite a harrowing and anxiety-inducing film that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. Critics praised the film for its beautiful visual effects and direction, which earned the film Best Director for Alfonso Cuarn and Best Visual Effects at the86th Academy Awards.

With the sun slowly dying, the resultscould lead to the end of humanity. Therefore, a group of astronauts is on course to reignite the sun and give humanity another fighting chance. However, when the team detours and meets upon an older spaceship, they face the unexpected aftermaths that jeopardize their mission and risk everyone's life onboard.

Danny Boyle presents another thrilling piece of work with Sunshine. It is extraordinary with the complexities and psychological elements of space traveling, with incredible visual effects and impactful storytelling. The movie is also supported by an ensemble cast that includes Chris Evans, Cillian Murphy, and Rose Byrne.

Moonis no ordinary space movie as it takes a turn on the psychological and quintessential effects of space travel. An astronaut travels home from his research on the moon. However, he deals with hallucinations that could be from his trip. Now, he has to figure out what all the mysteries mean before he arrives home.

Moon may not be the most highly-budgeted sci-fi movie, but it is a must-watch for viewers to watch. Of course, Sam Rockwell is the star of the film. He gives a remarkable performance and is perhaps one ofRockwell'sbest roles to date.

Sometimes, mother nature can change unexpectedly. These cases could lead to unspeakable natural disasters from tornadoes around cities to a tsunami-like hurricane during the cold season. For one paleoclimatologist, he goes on a complicated journey through a superstorm to find his only son and bring him home before it's too late.

RELATED:10 Best Disaster Movies That Don't Have A Happy Ending, Ranked

The Day After Tomorrowis nota perfect movie,especially for a natural disaster flick. However, the visuals are horrifying yet mesmerizing that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. The movie stars Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Emmy Rossum.

Ad Astra is not any usual sci-face movie in space. It is more than that as it focuses on the estranged bond between a father and son. After Roy McBride's father has been missing for three decades, Roy goes on a mission to find the truth about his father's expedition and stop the threat upon those at home.

Not everyone loves this movie because of the slow pace and development. However, it is quite ambitious in its approach by narrating a different spin on space-related movies. Also, it is visually stunning with brilliant cinematography and an amazing performance by Brad Pitt.

In this post-apocalyptic world where Earth undergoes a second Ice Age, civilization now lies on speed-trains to keep humanity alive. However, everyone is located in each cart by the class system, leaving the poorest to live in unbearable conditions. With the help of one man, they push their way to the engine and change the rules and lifestyle set by those in control.

Before becoming an Oscar-winning director, Bong Joon-ho was already crafting pieces of art. Snowpierceris surprisingly entertaining due to its unique and captivating story. Itconsists of a stellar cast of Chris Evans,Song Kang-ho, andTilda Swinton.

This biographical drama centers on Neil Armstrong's life story as he becomes one of the first astronauts to step foot on the moon. However, life as an astronaut is more than just space alone as he recounts the people that he loses close to him.

Directed by Damien Chazelle, First Manis a touching and beautiful movie about Neil Armstrong, played by Ryan Gosling. Critics and audience alike raved the film for its emotional storytelling, brilliant direction, and amazing performances by Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy. Also, the Moon landing sequence is quite a stunning scene that viewers surely cannot miss.

NEXT:The Midnight Sky: 10 Best Movies About Astronauts & Outer Space

Next MCU's Fantastic Four: Why Doom Should Be The Villain (& Why It Should Be Someone Else)

Based in South Florida, Fariba Rezwan is a list writer for CBR and Screen Rant. Though working on her graduate degree at the University of Florida, her science education does not take away her love of movies and TV shows. She is a huge geek and considers her herself a huge fan of many fandoms including Star Wars, Marvel, GoT, Supernatural and many more.

Read more:

10 Movies To Watch If You Like Netflix's The Midnight Sky - Screen Rant

dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

Here are the top new hypergrowth industries Im focused on right now. My research shows all of them will soon have their breaking out moment in 2021:

1.Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is a brand-new sector where breakthrough technology allows scientists to program living things. Im sure youve seen the DNA double helix before.

Source: edn.com

DNA is basically your bodys unique set of instructions. Its what makes you, you. Your unique DNA makeup determines what you look like, how your body functions. Think of DNA as the source code of every living thing on Earth. Synthetic biology gives us the tools to edit and create the DNA of an organism to get it to do something entirely new. Basically, it allows scientists to alter the makeup of living things.

How does it work? In short, engineers design sequences of DNA on computers. Then they physically print out those sequences and insert them into living things. This can then add beneficial character traits to a living thing.

For example, scientists already use it to make self-fertilizing plants. Joyn Bio used fake DNA to modify the microbes of plants so they can pull nitrogen gas from the air and convert it into fertilizer. Using synthetic biology, scientists have also created a reliable source of artemisinin which is used in malaria vaccines.

Fake meat pioneer Beyond Meat also harnessed this new technology to create more realistic veggie burgers. It was first to use a DNA coding sequence from soybeans to create meat that looks and tastes like beef but is actually made from vegetables.

In short, this breakthrough tech allows scientists to reprogram the operating system of plants and other organisms. Synthetic biology is hands down the most cutting-edge industry on earth right now. Just as Intels microchips and IBMs computers underpinned Americas computing revolution,Twist BiosciencesDNA synthesis platform provides the building blocks for the biology revolution.

2.Genomics

DNA carries your genetic information. Think of it as a set of instructions for your body. Mapping your DNA allows scientists to decipher your bodys unique set of instructions. By learning the secrets hidden within your DNA, doctors can tell what diseases youre likely to get. This allows them to catch problems earlier and diagnose them more accurately.

In fact, the use of DNA mapping in healthcare is exploding right now. A new prenatal test based on DNA mapping can detect hard-to-find problems with babies inside their mothers wombs. Its the fastest-growing medical test in American history.

Invitae(NVTA)is using these breakthroughs to turn Americas healthcare system on its head. In short, its building an alternate healthcare industry around DNAor geneticinformation.

By the end of 2020, Invitae will have mapped the DNA of almost one million Americans. And its creating a system where this information is used in our healthcare decisions. For example, most cancers have a genetic link. In other words, mapping DNA can help detect the disease early. And when it comes to cancer, an accurate and timely diagnosis can literally save your life.

But right now, many cancers go largely undetected. Invitae is working to change this. I see genetic mapping ushering in the era of personalized medicine in America. If you havent heard about this yet, you will soon.

In short, DNA mapping will allow you, as an individual, to know which diseases youre most at risk for. Knowing this, youll better understand the perfect foods, the perfect drugs, and the perfect exercise regimen, just for you.

But thats only stage one. The genomics industry is evolving from mapping our DNA to editing it. Gene editing promises to transform how we treat and cure disease. Humans have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes that carry the DNA instructions for our bodies. But devastating diseases like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia are caused by just one error.

Gene editing is making cures for certain diseases possible for the first time in history. It has the potential to cure thousands of diseases like cystic fibrosis, Huntingtons, sickle cell anemia, and hemophilia.

Space has always been a business dominated by governments. The Space Race between America and the Soviet Union kicked off back in the 1950s. And since then, the US government has pumped $600+ billion into NASA. That dwarfs the $20 billion that private companies have invested in space.

But over the past decade, theres been a quiet revolution in the space industry. The advent of reusable rockets and innovative launch methods have slashed the cost of going to space. The cost to launch a satellite into orbit has dropped more in the past 10 years than in the entire history of space!

Rapidly declining costs are transforming space travel into a thriving business. In fact, private space investment has jumped 400% since 2013. Elon Musks intergalactic company SpaceX has launched 20+ resupply rockets to the International Space Station over the past few years. And earlier this year SpaceX sent its first two astronauts into space on its Crew Dragon capsule. It was the first privately built rocket and capsule ever to put humans into space.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is also pushing private space exploration forward. His company, Blue Origin, recently won a NASA contract to put Americans back on the moon. In short, the era of private space exploration is here. Over the coming years, tourists will fly into outer space, companies will figure out how to mine asteroids, and companies likeMaxar Technologies (MAXR)will continue to improve their fleets of spy satellites.

Over the past decade, investors have poured a record $26 billion into 535 space companies globally. Last year alone $5.8 billion was investeda new record. In fact, data from the Space Foundation shows the space economy generated $415 billion in revenue last year. Current industry projections peg the 2040 global space economy at between $1 and $3 trillion.

And keep in mind, government activity in space is growing once again. The Commerce Department revitalized the Office of Space Commerce, which was established over 30 years ago to help enable commercial space activities. Last December, Congress approved a $738 billion defense policy bill to create a Space Force, the sixth branch of the US military.

The core idea of artificial intelligence (AI) is a machine that learns and thinks just like you or me. Most important, it learns all by itself, without human intervention. But please understand, AI isnt one single all-knowing machine like you see in the movies. Instead, it describes intelligent computers that do ultra-specific tasks.

For example, right now machines are learning to see for the first time ever. This is the basis of the flourishing computer vision industry. Medical imaging disruptor Paige is using computer vision to revolutionize the way we diagnose cancer. Paige fed millions of real-life medical images into its computer program and taught it to detect early signs of tumors.

And it recently tested the system by scanning 12,000 medical images for potential tumors. It had never seen these images before, yet achieved near-perfect accuracy. In other words, this computer has learned to recognize cancerous tumors better than human doctors. Paige is just one example of machines performing like superhuman doctors.

Stanford researchers recently built a computer that scans MRIs to detect Alzheimers disease with 94% accuracy. Other teams are teaching computers to drive. Amazon recently acquired top self-driving car startup Zoox for $1.2 billion. Zooxs computer on wheels is so good at driving it can zip through San Franciscos busy streets without a human driver.

Then you have firms developing checkout-free grocery stores, which turns your local Whole Foods into a giant supercomputer. Earlier this year, Amazon launched its Dash Cart. The shopping cart uses computer vision algorithms and sensors to identify the items in the cart. So you can simply grab items, throw them in the cart, and walk out.

In short, these are all world-changing technologies that will make many folks rich. Many new, unique disruptions are hiding underneath the misleading banner of AI.

Do you remember when every company had a dedicated payroll department?Now most businesses outsource it to companies like Paylocity and Paycom. In fact, offloading your payroll department makes total sense. Why do it yourself when you can pay a specialist to do it for less?

And as businesses outsourced their payroll needs, Paylocity and Paycoms stocks surged. This outsourcing phenomenon isnt just confined to payroll anymore. All kinds of functions that used to be done in-house like accounting, web design, IT support, and data storage are being offloaded now. For example, most companies that need to build a website no longer hire a whole web design team. Instead, they pay firms like Shopify and Wix to handle all their online needs.

Firms still employ armies of accountants to look after their finances. But this is rapidly changing. An upstart called BlackLine has created software that automates most accounts payable and receivable jobs. It now counts major firms like Nike, Costco, and Dominos as customers. And its stock has shot up 300%+ in the past couple years.

Remember when every office in America had a dedicated server room? The in-house IT department would look after the companys systems. And ensure hackers couldnt steal valuable data.

IT departments are now shrinking rapidly. Instead of employing dozens of workers to stop hackers, companies now simply pay cybersecurity firms likeOktaandZscalera monthly fee to protect their networks.

Then you have a company likeSmartsheet, which is automating much of what project managers used to do. Its app basically allows teams to collaborate, manage, and report on work in real time. And its stock has surged 150%+ over the past couple months.

All these jobs used to be done by in-house employees. Now they are being outsourced to specialist firms. And the firms pioneering new software products have been among the best-performing stocks in the entire market.

Get my report"The Great Disruptors:3 Breakthrough Stocks Set to Double Your Money".These stocks will hand you 100% gains as they disrupt whole industries.Get your free copy here.

Visit link:

The Top Five Hypergrowth Industries I'm Targeting In 2021 - Forbes