Daily Archives: May 7, 2022

Image by Getty Images/Futurism

A man who successfully lived for two months after doctors replaced his failing heart with a genetically altered onemay have ultimately died from virus pigs not humans are known to carry, The New York Times reports.

Its an unfortunate predicament, underlining the complex and little-understood risks involved in transplanting animal organs into the human body.

Its unclear if the virus was the direct cause of the patients death in March, but it may have played a contributing role, according to Bartley Griffith, a transplant surgeon at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who recently gave a presentation on the subject.

Surgeons had initially screened the pig heart for the virus called porcine cytomegalovirus (CMV), according to the NYT,but the tests arent able to pick up on latent infections, only active ones.

Despite Griffiths passing, scientists were elated at how long his body went without rejecting the pig heart, according to the newspaper.

Twenty days after the procedure, a test found low levels of porcine CMV, according to Griffin.But then Bennets condition deteriorated quickly, with subsequent tests confirming spiking levels of the virus.

At Day 45, he looked really funky, Griffith told the NYT. Something happened. He looked sick. He lost his attention. He wouldnt talk to us. He lay in bed breathing hard, and was kind of warm.

Griffin also said that porcine CMV may have been the actor it could have been the actor that set this all off.

The incident is indicative of the inherent risks of such a procedure and the fact that a lot of work still has to be done before we can start solving the organ crisis by harvesting organs from animals.

READ MORE: Signs of an Animal Virus Discovered in Man Who Received a Pigs Heart [The New York Times]

More on the transplant: Man Who Received Experimental Pig Heart Transplant Dies

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Scientists Reveal Why Man Died After Receiving Pig Heart Transplant - Futurism

Are there monsters on Mars yet?Tantalizing Tidbits

Scientists at the European Space Agency are getting all mythological on us.

The ESA posted new photos of Mars surface features captured by the Mars Express this week, describing them as looking as if someone has raked their fingernails across the surface of the Red Planet, gouging out lengthy trenches as they did so.

Rather than a monsters creation, though, the ESA said in a press releasethat the region, called Tantalus Fossae, was created when the volcano they flank rose in altitude.

Each trench formed as two parallel faults opened up, causing the rock between to drop down into the resulting void, the ESA presser said.

They released photos of the trenches and the nearly-12-mile-wide crater they cross on Twitter, shown below. The region was named for Zeus son Tantalus, who betrayed the gods and was forced to endure punishment in the underworld.

The ESA Mars Express has been orbiting Mars since 2003 and captured a lot of info about the Red Planet just as billionaires like SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk plan to colonize it.

With NASAs Artemis plans, which should see the first person of color and the first woman on the Moon before moving on to Mars, we may soon be learning about these topographical features up close and personal, if it isnt yanked away like Tantalus apples and water were during his punishment.

More on off-world news: Former Astronaut Muzzled by NASA Unloads on Russia Again

Read more here:
Scientists: It's As If Something With Huge "Fingernails" Scratched the Surface of Mars - Futurism

Looks like fun!Space Ride

Charming footage from from the interior of the International Space Station shows what happens to the astronauts inside when the ship fires its thrusters.

Thats cool on its own, but its also a terrific demonstration of Newtonian physics. Case in point, instead of the astronauts moving inside the ISS, the video that the European Space Agency posted to YouTube shows the ISS moving while the crew remain suspended in microgravity.

During the maneuver, the astronauts inside the station keep flying at the same speed and direction, the ESA said of the 1-minute clip. While it seems like the astronauts are moving inside the station, it is in fact the ISS that gets the boost and is moving around them.

The maneuver is especially exciting because its astronaut Matthias Maures first mission to the space station, and the Expedition 66 crew line up behind him to tuck their knees in while the ISS moves, making for a super slow kind of off world carnival ride (and, its worth noting, the ESA says the video was also sped up 8 times.)

The video may also lend credence to interpretation that Russias head cosmonaut left Roscosmos because there wasnt enough work for him to do on the ISS. If crew on various teams have time to float around for fun, its reasonable to suspect theyre working overtime to fill up their downtime.

Regardless of the cultural implications of this clip such as the fact that terrestrial warfare is affecting even life in space it still puts a smile on your face. Its wholesome to know that wherever we are, the basic human experience of creating fun is unlikely to disappear.

More on off-world news: Scientists Propose Planet-Size Telescope

See the article here:
Amazing Footage Shows Inside of Space Station When It Fires Its Mighty Thrusters - Futurism

"Sorry, but there is no proper motivation for this."So Long

Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, whom Russian news outlet Moskovskii Komsomolets describes as the hero of Russia, gave the outlet a short interview explaining his departure from the space program earlier this week.

He says there wasnt enough to keep him busy on the International Space Station and,pushing him over the edge, Skvortsov doesnt want to collaborate with the American astronauts. Hes also turning 56 years old, and told MKits more or less just time to retire.

It would have been nothing if the program included interesting work on the Russian segment, but most of the time I would have to work for the Americans, that is, to help them carry out their experiments, Skvortsov told the Russian publication. Sorry, but there is no proper motivation for this. In a few days I will be 56 years old I do not want to celebrate my 60th anniversary in orbit. We must stop in time.

Social media users were quick to point out that there could be several different interpretations of Skvortsovs remarks. Space enthusiast Katya Pavlushchenko translated the interview in a Twitter thread,with replies divided on what the cosmonaut meant.

Is he saying he doesn[t]want to assist Americans? Why would he have to? There will be more Americans on station than Russians, one user replied.

Or is he saying that the Russian Segment lacks any meaningful scientific program of its own? another questioned.

Either is possible. Skvortsov said in the interview he respects Rogozin, the boorish head of Russias space program, and that he isnt leaving Roscosmos with any resentment. Still, life aboard the ISS has been pretty rocky lately, especially between the Russians and Americans.

Rogozin has even been rumored to want out as well.

Its tough to say whether Skvortsov just resents Americans, or isnt satisfied with Russias space program, but the result is the same either way. MK says another cosmonaut will take Skvortsovs place, so they wont be down an employee for long.

More in off world news: Scientists Propose Planet-Sized Telescope

See the article here:
Cosmonaut Quits Because He Doesn't Want to "Work for the Americans" - Futurism

Why'd he switch up now?Simon Says

Warren Buffett is one of the worlds wealthiest people and the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, one of the largest and richest holding companies in the world. Youd think his financial advice would resonate with a lot folks, but his latest remarks on cryptocurrency arent likely to inspire much love among its fans.

A new CNBCinterview published Saturday painted Warren as solidly anti-Bitcoin. The investor said he couldnt be bothered to invest in the asset,even if it was offered to him for next to nothing.

If you told me you own all of the bitcoin in the world and you offered it to me for $25 I wouldnt take it because what would I do with it? Buffett told the news outlet. Id have to sell it back to you one way or another. It isnt going to do anything. The apartments are going to produce rent and the farms are going to produce food.

Warren has been outspoken about his dislike for Bitcoin in the past, but that doesnt seem to be stopping NFT and crypto users from pouring their hard-earned cash into an asset class with an uncertain future and which somewhat regularly sees excruciatingly large losses.

Interestingly, Buffetts latest remarks dont quite match up with his own investment history. Back in June of 2021, he invested $500 million of Berkshire Hathaways cash into a Bitcoin-friendly bank.

Thats a lot of money for anybody to throw at an investment with the remotest chance of backfiring what happened to change Buffetts mind in the last year, and why arent other investors paying attention?

More on cryptocurrency: Bored Apes New Drop Was So Popular It Crashed the Entire Ethereum Blockchain

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Warren Buffett Says He Wouldn't Buy All the Bitcoin in the World for $25 - Futurism

"I genuinely dont know if this is ironic or a fanboy."Elon Devil

A New York-based tattoo artist who goes by the moniker Mashkow has really outdone themselves with one of the most grotesquely fascinating Elon Musk tattoos weve ever seen.

An image circulating online shows the billionaire CEOs face imprinted in full color on the forearm of the artists client, throwing the Twitterverse into a fit of rage and confusion.

The depiction is truly a sight to behold. The tattoo shows Musk awkwardly smirking with red tinted eyes. The names of his companies, including Boring Companyand Tesla, alongside what appear to be X Space and Neural Link, are scrawled in messy letters across his cheeks and neck. Oh, and Free Speech is emblazoned on Musks forehead in graffiti-style font, next to the Twitter bird, in a reference to the CEOs obsession with turning the site into an arena for free speech. And just for good measure, something appears to be drizzling from the entrepreneurs lower lip.

Naysayers were quick to point out some issues with the ink.

Actually, its Neuralink, one Twitter user offered helpfully.

Its a tattoo so hideousthat it makes us question the true intention behind it. Is it meant to be a commentary on societys current obsession with the entrepreneur? Or was it simply a case of astronomically bad taste?

Given the artists previous and extensive work, which can be viewed on their Instagram account, its likely the former or, perhaps, a little bit of both.

I genuinely dont know if this is ironic or a fanboy, one Twitter user wrote in response to the image.

Its not a stretch to assume the artwork was meant to evoke this kind of visceral reaction. Besides, art is in the, well, bloodshot eyes of the beholder.

But given the fact that theres simply no way this tattoo will age gracefully, we wouldnt be shocked if the client will eventually have a moment of regret.

Cant wait to see this on a coverup episode of Inkmaster, quipped BuzzFeed News editor John Paczkowski.

More on Musk: Famous NFT Hater Elon Musk Changes Profile Picture to Stolen Apes

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We Are in Awe of This Absolutely Horrifying Elon Musk Tattoo - Futurism

May the Force be with Endor.Empire Falls

Hot on the heels of Star Wars Day, SFGate reports that the redwood forest in northern California where the Star Wars franchise filmed the famed Battle of Endor you know, the one with all the cute Ewoks? doesnt exist anymore because it was obliterated in real life. Bummer, right? Seems like not even scifi classics can escape environmental devastation.

The forest caught a movie scouts eyefor Return of the Jediback in 1982, according to SFGates reporting, so the team reached out to ask the local community development director if they could film on location. Ernie Perry didnt know who exactly was asking at the time, though.

They tried to pull the wool over our eyes saying the movie was called Blue Harvest,' he told SF Gate. But theres a restaurant called Jims, and when I saw Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher sitting next to each other, it was a dead giveaway that this is not a horror movie.

Unfortunately, though, its not a fun spot for fans to visit because a logging company came through and cut down all the redwoods long ago.

Sadly, those trees arent the only ones in danger.

Even while California works towards 100 percent renewable energy grids, the US government lists redwoods as endangered and declining. Of course, the Golden State isnt alone, either 15 billion trees were being cut down globally in 2015 each year, according to a much-referenced study in the journal Nature.

Its a shame that were robbing ourselves of historically and culturally important sites. Maybe Star Wars fans could use their infamous brand loyalty to find and secure the future of other filming locations?

More on climate change: Scientists Claim New Enzyme Can Break Down Plastic In A Single Week

More:
Bad News! The Ewok Forest From "Star Wars" Got "Obliterated" In Real Life - Futurism

Although Gates regrets the friendship, this isnt the first time hes been the subject of scandal.

It emerged last year, for instance, that he had to be warned by Microsofts top council to stop hitting on employees at the software giant, and that comes on top of allegations that he mistreated employees while building a software monopoly.

To be fair, Gates has also sometimes been the target of conspiracy theories, ranging from nonsense accusations that hes trying to create a food shortage to mumbo jumbo about COVID vaccines.

Gates did fire back against the vaccine conspiracies in the BBC interview, saying that he had no reason to track people through his public health philanthropy.

Gates also went soft on rival Elon Musk, despite the Tesla and SpaceX CEO publicly insulting him on Twitter over Tesla stock. Gates also refused to bite back when asked for his thoughts on Musk buying the entirety of Twitter.

I have a wait and see attitude, Gates told the BBC.

In other words, it sounds like the aging Gates just wants the drama to end.

More on Musks plans: Famous NFT Hater Elon Musk Changes Profile Picture to Stolen Apes

See original here:
Bill Gates Says It Was a Bad Idea to Pal Around With Jeffrey Epstein - Futurism

"People on the Moon sooner."Better, Faster

One of SpaceXs top employees said in a conference this week that SpaceX will likely make it to Mars before the NASA Artemis mission does.

SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said during a video interview with CNBC that astronauts will have boots on Mars before the end of the 2020s and will use one of SpaceXs forthcoming reusable rockets called Starship. The rockets can carry people and payloads, and Shotwell said during her interview that payloads will get to the Red Planet in five years or so, followed shortly by humans.

I think it will be in this decade, yes. People onthe Moon, sooner, Shotwell said in the short interview clip posted online yesterday.

Although SpaceX hasnt made it to the Moon with humans just yet, they have been pulling off semi-successful tourist trips to the ISS, so progress certainly is possible.

Whats a little strange about Shotwells estimated date humans will arrive on Mars is that its far in advance of what NASA had in mind with its Artemis mission, which is taking a Moon-to-Mars approach. NASA estimates Artemis will send a crewed mission to Mars in 2040 or so, about ten years after Shotwell says SpaceX will.

Given that Artemis tests havent been going so well recently for the space agency, anything goes. SpaceX could beat NASA from behind, or fall into the same engineering traps NASA is spending so much money and time on.

But SpaceX provides tons of tech and equipment to NASA, so any decision SpaceX inevitably affects both, and vice versa. Whether or not CEO Elon Musk likes it, he and NASA may end up working together more closely on this Mars mission than hed planned.

More on space news: Ancient Russian Rocket Debris Suddenly Explodes in Orbit

Link:
Elon Musk's #2 Says Humanity Will Be on Mars Within the Decade - Futurism