Monthly Archives: February 2017

In Brief Astronomers just announced a breaking discovery that has a monumental impact on life beyond Earth: A planetary system with a number of Earth-sized planets that could host liquid water and, thus, life. An Ocean of Worlds

Today, scientists working with telescopes at the European Southern Observatory and NASA announced a remarkable new discovery: An entire system of Earth-sized planets. If thats not enough, the team asserts that the density measurements of the planets indicates that the six innermost are Earth-like rocky worlds.

And thats just the beginning.

Three of the planets lie in the stars habitable zone. If you arent familiar with the term, the habitable zone (also known as the goldilocks zone) is the region surrounding a star in which liquid water could theoretically exist. This means that all three of these alien worlds may have entire oceans of water, dramatically increasing the possibility oflife. The other planets are less likely to host oceans of water, but the team states that liquid water is still a possibility on each of these worlds.

Summing the work, lead author Michal Gillon notes that this solar system has the largest number of Earth-sized planets yet found and the largest number of worlds that could support liquid water: This is an amazing planetary system not only because we have found so many planets, but because they are all surprisingly similar in size to the Earth!

Co-author Amaury Triaud notes that the star in this system is an ultracool dwarf, and he clarifies what this means in relation to the planets: The energy output from dwarf stars like TRAPPIST-1 is much weaker than that of our Sun. Planets would need to be in far closer orbits than we see in the Solar System if there is to be surface water. Fortunately, it seems that this kind of compact configuration is just what we see around TRAPPIST-1.

The system is just 40 light-years away. On a cosmic scale, thats right next door. Of course, practically speaking, it would still take us hundreds of millions of years to get there with todays technology but again, it is notable in that the find speaks volumes about the potential for life-as-we-know-it beyond Earth.

Moreover, the technology of tomorrow could get us to this systema lot faster.

These new discoveries ultimately mean that TRAPPIST-1 is of monumental importance for future study. The Hubble Space Telescope is already being used to search for atmospheres around the planets, and Emmanul Jehin, a scientist who also worked on the research, asserts that future telescopes could allow us to truly see into the heart of this system: With the upcoming generation of telescopes, such as ESOs European Extremely Large Telescope and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, we will soon be able to search for water and perhaps even evidence of life on these worlds.

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NASA Just Found A Solar System With 7 Earth-Like Planets - Futurism

In Brief

A Russian drone start-up called Hoversurf just posted a video unveiling a prototype for a single-seat aircraft that you can drive yourself.

Dubbed the Scorpion-3, the electric-powered hoverbike is capable of lifting itselfand a driver into the air. It combines a traditional motorcycle design with quadcopter technology, allowing both professionals and amateurs to easily control and maneuver the vehicle.

Using proprietary software, the company is able to limit the range and velocity of the hoverbike to ensure the safety of the driver. Aesthetically, the vehicle was inspired by the heavy-duty motorbike frames typically used in extreme games. The difference is that the Scorpion-3 has the ability to surf through the air by changing altitude and direction, its creatorsexplain on their website.

While it is the first manned quadcopter that has undergone testing, the Scorpion-3 isnt the only one that has been built so far.

Dubai is hoping that it will be able to launch a self-driving hover-taxi in a few months, which will be used to support an official public transport service by the middle of the year. The U.S. military, in partnership with Malloy Aeronautics, also has a prototype for a hoverbike that can help resupply soldiers on the battlefield. Meanwhile,Aerofex has a passenger-ready, low-altitude vehicle called the Aero-X that has the potential to be used for everything from leisure to search-and-rescue missions.

Hoversurf wants to position the Scorpion-3 for extreme sports,but an airborne vehicle with exposed propeller blades can prove to be a little unnerving, even for the most experienced X-gamer. With a little more refinement, though, the company should have no trouble meeting its goals.

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Watch the World's First Rideable Hoverbike in Flight - Futurism

In Brief

When business mogul Mark Cuban tweeted his concerns over the imminent unemployment that could stem from increased automation, Scott Santens assumed that the Dallas Mavericks owner was out to support universal basic income (UBI). Santens, a UBI advocate, replied to Cubans tweet, welcoming Cubaninto Team #Basicincome. Cuban, however, flat out responded by saying that he wasnt in favor of UBI. I think its one of the worst possible responses, he replied to Santens.

In the above conversation, Santens tried to convince Cuban of the merits of a UBI program. One of the arguments he put forward is what he calls the entrepreneurial effect of basic income. Cuban replied, saying that he has spent a lot of time looking at [UBI]. I dont see those countries [running a basic income program] as being apples to apples. Cuban also said that there are existing safety net programs today that need to be more efficient so more money can be distributed with far less overhead.

Under a UBI program, citizens receive a fixed, regular income from the government regardless of their financial background, employment status, or other qualities. The only qualification is that the recipients are citizens, and typically that they are of legal adult age. One reason behind testing a basic income program, proponents argue, is that it offers a better alternative to existing social welfare programs. Santens told Cuban that current welfare programs create disincentives for people to seek jobs. Cuban said its something that can be fixed.

UBI isnt a new idea. Recent concerns over job displacement due to automation, however, have given the UBI discussion a new spark. UBI advocates include economists from various countries and some of the tech industrys top leaders.

As of today, there are also several pilot programs running basic income setups. Theres one in Finland, one in Kenya through a charity organization called GiveDirectly, and there is even one thats blockchain-based courtesy of Grantcoin.

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Mark Cuban: Universal Basic Income Is One of the Worst Possible Responses to Automation - Futurism

Late-Life Cyclers

Scientists and physicians alike agree that the circadian cycle, an organismsbiological clock, plays an important role in keeping the body healthy. Now, researchers from Oregon State University (OSU) have uncovered another reason why disrupting this cycle is bad for your health.

Led by OSU graduate student Rachael Kuintzle, the researchers discovered that a subset of genes associated with the circadian cycle become active only later in life or during periods of intense stress. Kunitzles team identified at least 25 such genes, which she dubbed late-life cyclers, or LLCs. The team wasnt able to determine the exact functions of all of the genes, but theywere able to link them to aging.

According to OSU professor Jadwiga Giebultowicz, co-author of the study, which was published today in the journal Nature Communications, This class of LLC genes appear to become active and respond to some of the stresses most common in aging, such as cellular and molecular damage, oxidative stress, or even some disease states.

The team found that age-related stresses arent the only things that activate these LLCs any kind of stress will do the trick just as well. In experiments where we created artificial oxidative stress in young fruit flies, the LLC genes were rhythmically activated,said researcher Eileen Chow. Some of these same genes are known to be more active in people who have cancer. They appear to be a double-edged sword, necessary during times of stress but possibly harmful if activated all the time.

As the OSU researchers note, constantly disrupting the circadian cycle can negatively affect our bodies natural processes and lead to a host of problems. Aging is associated with neural degeneration, loss of memory, and other problems, which are exacerbated if clock function is experimentally disrupted, said Giebultowicz. The LLC genes are part of the natural response to that, and do what they can to help protect the nervous system.

Discovery of LLC genes may provide a missing link, the answer to why the disruption of circadian clocks accelerates aging symptoms, added researcher David Hendrix.

With so many studies focused on treatingaging as a disease, perhaps further research involving LLCs can help efforts to reverse or halt aging completely.Furthermore, because LLC genes are found throughout the nervous system and peripheral organs, they tend to affect more than just sleep and stress reaction, but also feeding patterns, DNA repair, fertility, and even the effectiveness of medications. Clearly, the impact of the OSU teams research could be very far-reaching.

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Scientists Uncover Genes That May Help Combat Aging and Disease - Futurism

In Brief

Year after year, we witness drones becoming more multifaceted in functionality. From artificial pollinationto performing at halftime during the Super Bowl drones have become just as diverse as the society that created them. This is nowtruer than ever, as China has recently equipped drones with flamethrowers for the benefit of the public.

A power company in Xiangyang, China has establisheda hot, new way to clean power lines. Rather than having people try to reach the far corners of the city scrapingoff caked-on debris thats been lodged in hard-to-reach-spots, the power company will now have drones perform this task.

While this seems dangerous, the use of drones seems to actually besafer than the previous protocol. Before, maintenance workers would risk their lives to clean power lines, climbing upwards of 10 meters (32 feet) into the air while risking electrocution with each step. While the use of a flamethrower may require more frequent cable replacements, the metal power lines willnot be harmed by the flames.

The 11kg drones have officially made their fiery debut, reminding us that while this might mean fewer maintenance jobs, technology, and flamethrowers, can improve safety.

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China is Using Drones Equipped With Flamethrowers for an Unexpected Purpose - Futurism

Focusing on the Cells Power House

More and more, scientists are becoming convinced thataging is a disease that can be stopped or, at least, slowed. Recently, researchers from Russia and Sweden investigated this idea furtherin a joint study byLomonosov Moscow State University and Stockholm University. Their study, published in the journal Aging, focuses on the role of mitochondria in the aging of organisms.

Under the leadership of renowned Russian biologist Vladimir Skulachev, the researchers experimented with a special strain of genetically-modified mice. A single mutation was introduced into the genome of these mice, which were created and characterized in Sweden. This mutation substantially accelerated mitochondrial mutagenesis. Instead of living more than two years, these mutated mice lived less than a year, and developed many age-related diseases and defects clearly indicating that these were caused by aging.

The researchers treated a group of 100-day-old genetically modified mice with a synthetic compound called SkQ1, an artificial antioxidant that targets the mitochondria. SkQ1 was developed in Moscow State University in Skulachevs lab. The SkQ1 was added into the drinking water of these mice, while a separate control group were given pure water. By the time the mice aged 200-250 days, the control group had aged rapidly and lost weight, experienced a decrease in body weight and temperature, had osteoporosis, and were developing alopecia. There was also a decrease in mobility and oxygen intake all signs of aging. On the other hand, these traits were dramatically decelerated for the mice treated with SkQ1.

The results of the study show that mitochondria indeed play a key role in aging. This work is quite valuable from both theoretical and practical points of view. First, it clearly demonstrates the key role of mitochondrially produced reactive oxygen species in the process of aging of mammals, Skulachev explained. At the same time our study opens the way to the treatment of aging with mitochondrially targeted antioxidants.

With these promising results, Skulachev is already working on developing potential drug treatments based on SkQ1. One is an eye drop called Visomitin, which has already been approved in Russia and has passed phase 2 clinical trials in the U.S. Another project currently in development is an oral version of SkQ1. In Russia, this drug is now on clinical trials. If all goes well and as expected, the drug can be approved for public use within 2-3 years.

These arent the only anti-aging efforts around. Other institutions, like the San Francisco-based startup Unity Biotechnology, are looking to understand the mechanisms of cellular senescence and slow down aging. Still others are relying on stem cell technology to regenerate human tissue damaged by aging or disease. One Nobel laureate thinksthe secret is in lengthening telomeres. With these studies around, we may just be able to soon slow down human aging or even stop it altogether.

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Researchers Have Found a Way to Delay Aging - Futurism