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Spy satellite SpaceX launched might buzz the space station – CNET – CNET

Posted: June 1, 2017 at 10:16 pm

The secret spy satellite that SpaceX launched May 1 is currently on a curious trajectory, according to the calculations of an amateur spy satellite tracker. It appears it might pass near the International Space Station right around the time a SpaceX Dragon capsule will be preparing to dock with the ISS this weekend.

Amateur spy satellite tracker Marco Langbroek shared the above predictive model showing the satellite, which launched as NROL-76 and is now known as USA 276, could pass within as little as 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) of the ISS. In fact, based on its current path, the satellite could make several close approaches to the space station on Saturday and Sunday, according to a chart that Langbroek shared in a blog post Tuesday.

Langbroek is a member of an experienced community of amateur satellite spotters who have been tracking the spy satellite since it was first identified in orbit last week. Last year, he managed to capture a video of the space station's lost thermal shield zipping through space after it got away from astronauts during a spacewalk.

USA 276 could alter its path at any moment and wind up never coming anywhere near the ISS. In fact, Langbroek makes it clear to readers of his post that he's the first to admit it's all "very speculative." He also notes that "the calculated distances in the table have quite some uncertainty, perhaps by a factor of 2 or more."

But if the National Reconnaissance Office, which contracted with SpaceX to launch USA 276, is looking to buzz the space station, what gives? Some speculate it could be about testing new technologies for inspecting other satellites or monitoring docking events in space, like the Dragon resupply mission set for Sunday.

That would be a little weird, though, to test a spy technology on a space station that is a symbol of international cooperation and transparency between not only NASA, but the space agencies from Russia, Japan, Europe and others.

"I still don't know what to think of this all," writes Langbroek. "Are these figments of my imagination or is there really something going on here? I am at a loss."

The National Reconnaissance Office didn't respond to a request for comment.

Are we entering a new and bizarre era of spying in space? Maybe we'll find out this weekend, or maybe we'll never know.

Technically Literate: Original works of short fiction with unique perspectives on tech, exclusively on CNET.

Crowd Control: A crowdsourced science fiction novel written by CNET readers.

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International Space Station provides photo of Grand Canyon … – WTNH Connecticut News (press release)

Posted: at 10:16 pm

(CNN) Its not your ordinary snapshot. The International Space Station provided a photo of the Grand Canyon.

It was taken by the Sally Ride EarthKAM.

Middle school students control the camera, and take pictures as the Space Station crisscrosses the globe.

By the way, if youd like to take a shot from the space station, middle school students and teachers can sign up at the EarthKAM website. Thats earthkam.org.

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Autonomous Martian Colony: A Pipe Dream or Future Reality? – Sputnik International

Posted: at 10:15 pm

The colonization ofMars is one ofthe most daring and audacious human endeavors the greatest minds ofour time are trying tobring intoreality. The Mars Society, established in1998, has now become the world's largest and most influential space advocacy organization dedicated tothe human exploration and settlement ofthe planet Mars, withmore than6,000 members from50 countries aroundthe world. People voluntarily live ina desert, conduct experiments and exploration campaigns, improve needed skills and strategies and leave their station only wearing space suits this is how a human Martian colony has modeled inUtah.

Another station, which is NASA's Mars project, is located beyondthe Arctic Circle, inthe Haughton impact crater onDevon Island, Canada. Geological and glacial features ofthis island are close tothe Martian ones, and its daytime temperatures are similar tothe "summer" temperatures onthe Red Planet.

But could people create an autonomous colony onMars now, using only the technologies mankind has atthe moment? Would those pioneers be able tolive inthe proper conditions?

"To establish the colony, which would be entirely self-contained, would be very difficult right now. In the first decades, such a colony would entirely depend onsupplies fromEarth. They will be inneed offood, spare parts forsophisticated equipment and building materials," said Aleksandr Smoleevsky, a researcher atthe Institute ofBiomedical Problems ofthe Russian Academy ofSciences, who was a member ofthe Mars-500 program in2010-2011 duringa 520-day psychosocial isolation experiment conducted bythe Russian space agency Roscosmos, the European ESA and China.

"Almost all scientific experiments onthe creation ofa ground-based autonomous colony have failed one way or another. Only two ofthem were more or less successful: BIOS-3, a Soviet experiment ofthe 1970s, when a crew ofthree managed tosurvive six months, offsetting upto 50 percent oftheir demand forfood bytheir own forces; and Lunar Palace 1 carried outby China in2014," Smoleevsky told Sputnik.

Sputnik/ A. Belonogov

Five-month experiment at "Bios-3" station, conducted by the Krasnoyarsk Institute of Biophysics, USSR Academy of Sciences, during which research in space biophysics was carried out

STR

Student volunteers are seen inside the Lunar Palace 1, a laboratory simulating a lunar-like environment, in Beijing on May 10, 2017.

Another large-scale experiment, American Biosphere 2, which simulated a closed ecological system, has practically failed. It was a massive structure built bySpace Biosphere Ventures and Texas billionaire Edward Bass inthe Arizona desert. The construction occupied an area ofone and a half hectare (15,000 square meters), withseven climate zones arranged there: they had their own mountains, a savanna, a desert, a swamp and even a little ocean upto 10 meters in-depth, witha living coral reef.

AP Photo/ John Miller

This 1991 picture shows the Biosphere 2 complex in the desert near Oracle, Ariz.

However, they failed tocalculate all the possible scenarios. For example, the experimentalists hadn't considered the uncontrolled growth ofmicroorganisms. As a result, bacteria and fungi multiplied, absorbed too much oxygen, so that an additional portion ofgas had tobe pumped forother organisms tosurvive. Ants and cockroaches also bred inlarge numbers. In addition, water condensed onthe glass roof inthe morning, and an artificial rain was pouring. Moreover, the researchers did not take intoconsideration such a phenomenon asthe wind: it turned outthat trees become fragile and break withoutregular swinging.

Biosphere 2 from the inside

Aleksandr Smoleevsky also highlighted some other very important problems that hinder the creation ofan autonomous colony onMars. "The colony has tobe provided withspecialists invarious spheres, such asengineers, technicians and doctors, aslong asa great number ofproblems will have tobe solved. But it is impossible toforesee what professionals will be necessary most ofall. Moreover, there may be some loss duringa long flight. And another problem is the compatibility ofthe first colonists withthose who will arrive onMars later," he explained.

"Women's issues" is likely torise inthe first Martian settlement, too, Bozhko believes. "Perhaps the first colonies must be formed exclusively bymen, and women should be sent later. Female colonizers will have tosacrifice their procreation fora lifetime. Several generations ofwomen will be forced tobecome likemen and just work. Children could be sent toMars asteenagers, butit will be impossible tobring them upwith very small amounts ofwater, the dangers ofbacteriological contamination and a lack ofthe right atmosphere. This situation may last fordecades or even centuries," he said.

"I think the first woman, who will successfully give birth onMars, will become history forstarting new kinds of 'protein bodies' inthe universe," Bozhko concluded.

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Moon Colonization Project on Steam

Posted: at 10:15 pm

Moon Colonization Project - is a big game. Really big game with multiple endings, different buildings, a lot of place to explore and settle.

Today Moon Colonization Project of course big. But we want develope more great game.

Moon Colonization Project presents for player, to find gamers, who love this game, to show game's potential and more!

Now you buy cool sandbox platformer, but with your help it become ultimate game, with multiplayer, Steam Workshop, a lot of content and more!

We plan release complete version after 3-3.5 months. But it does not mean we stop introduce players' ideas in the game.

More content, features, modes and endings. And of course special updates with new gameplay elements.

Full list of new features of the complete game: ->Multiplayer ->New buildings types ->New locations ->Home systems ->Chests ->Advanced energy system ->Aliens ->Earth news system ->6 full endings ->Ending song

At the moment already: ->Building system ->Energy system ->Explore system ->Laboratory ->Communication core ->3 endings ->Full story

Accordingly, price of game may be increase during the early access.

When we release complete game - price will be really raised.

Players can post his idea/information about bug/suggestion on Steam game forum or directly to our email/facebook/etc. We will be respond and release popular and necessary ideas, fix bugs and answer to suggestions.

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Moon Colonization Project on Steam

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Human Space Colony On Mars Would Be Awful Idea, ESA Chief Says – International Business Times

Posted: at 10:15 pm

Living on Mars would not be as rad as people think. The head of the European Space Agency himself doesnt seem too keen on becoming a Martian immigrant, based on what he said at this week'sU.K. Space Conference in Manchester, England.

If you go to Mars you cannot go outside for a small walk, ESA director general Johann-Dietrich Wrner told the TimesWednesday. Always you have to be sheltered and covered, but you cannot even bring your dog to the next tree. Mars is not nice.

Read: Humans in a Mars Colony Would Be a Different Race

During a conference that also featured speakers like former International Space Station astronaut Tim Peake, astrophysics professors and space company founders, Wrner emphasized the difference between visiting a planet and inhabiting one. Humans will fly to Mars, for sure. Humans will fly to the moon again, for sure. But colonization that always sounds to me as though we should leave the Earth. And I hope that we will not leave the Earth in the next 3 billion years, but that humans will find a way to secure life on Earth.

The idea of securing life on Earth clashes with the words of another authority on space: Stephen Hawking. The astrophysicist, who has been known for making extreme statements and predictions about the future of humanity, is warningif humans want to survive extinction, they will have to start a space colony within the next 100 years. He says the species will not survive the next millennia on our planet.

But Wrner told the Times living on Mars or the moon would be no replacement for Earth: This is something like, We destroyed everything, so lets go to a better place.But you will hardly find a better place.

Space enthusiasts have been imagining space colonies for decades, including this artistic rendering of a colony that has plenty of trees. But at least in the foreseeable future, a colony in space or on a planet like Mars would not be a pleasant place, the head of the European Space Agency warns. Photo: NASA

Space agencies and companies are advancing space technology, learning more about how microgravity and long trips affect the human body, how to grow crops in space and how to make space travel more sustainable. Beyond simply visiting and exploring other planets and moons, there is a push to start up a human colony somewhere, with SpaceX founder Elon Musk being one of the most vocal advocates. Mars is the most popular destination, with the moon not trailing far behind. There are also the possibilities of moons in the outer solar system and planets orbiting other stars.

But even if the technology catches up to those dreams, that doesnt mean it will be pleasant. Wrner gave Earths closest neighbor, the moon, as an example: Would you like to stay in a place where half of the month its dark and half of the month theres sun? That is the moon. No. To stay for two weeks in darkness, thats not a nice life.

Read: Humans in a Space Colony Would Evolve into Mutants

Mars has better lighting but the other conditions are not much better. It has a thin atmosphere, after losing much of its air to outer space, so breathing outside is out of the question. With barely any atmosphere, dangerous radiation from the sun also beats down on the Red Planet.

And while temperatures have at times been as warm as a spring day, its record-low surface temperature is -190 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus its a dusty, rocky and dry planet.

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Human Space Colony On Mars Would Be Awful Idea, ESA Chief Says - International Business Times

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Overwatch’s new map colonizes the moon – VentureBeat

Posted: at 10:15 pm

Blizzard wants to take itsplayers to the one place that capitalism hasnt corrupted: space. Or, more accurately, the moon.

Overwatch, a game where beautiful people smooch each other between rounds of colorful violence, is getting the new Horizon Lunar Colony map (no relation to PlayStation 4s Horizon: Zero Dawn). It takes place on the Earths only natural satellite in a research station that served as the home of the games ultra-smart gorilla character Winston (that Winston came from the moon! Im sorry). The map is available now on Overwatchs public test region server, and Blizzard said it is coming soon to the general servers on PC and the consoles.

As with all maps and characters, Blizzard is rolling out Horizon Lunar Colony at no additional cost for anyone who owns the game. The developer does this to keep players engaged and coming back, which could convince some players to spend more money on superfluous cosmetic items like custom skins and emotes. This has the benefit of not splitting the player base among various map packs while also enabling wealthy players to spend as much money as they want.

Horizon Lunar Colony falls into the assault class of Overwatch maps, which means it will have a payload that one team must push and the other must stop through multiple checkpoints. Blizzard introduced this new setting in a story trailer where Winston talks about growing up on the moon before escaping due to extreme circumstances.

As for details about the map, the video pans over various areas of the colony. We see Winstons room, a playground with tires swinging from ropes, and workstations for the research scientists. But you can try out the map now, and it should show up in your standard playlists soon. Blizzard doesnt take a long time between putting content on its test server and launching it for the wider audience. So expectHorizon Lunar Colony to hit Overwatch proper in the next couple of weeks.

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Extraterrestrial Living Might Not Be So Appealing, Says ESA Chief – Sputnik International

Posted: at 10:15 pm

Tech

14:20 01.06.2017(updated 16:07 01.06.2017) Get short URL

The possibility ofunfettered migration tothe Red Planet is not only far outof the reach ofmankind's current technological sophistication, butit would be a grim and vacuous existence even if we managed topitch our tents there, according toDr. Johann-Dietrich Worner, the director-general ofthe ESA.

Dr. Worner has urged people toturn away fromHollywood-induced fantasies such asthe box office hit The Martian, starring Matt Damon ofwhat it would be liketo live onthe desolate planet and recognize that, infact, colonizing Mars would be a far harsher reality.

"Colonization is the wrong word," Dr. Worner told the British Times newspaper ata UK Space conference inthe city ofManchester.

"Would you liketo stay ina place where half ofthe month it's dark and half ofthe month there's sun? That is the Moon. No. To stay fortwo weeks indarkness, that's not a nice life."

"Mars is the same. If you go toMars the light situation is a bit better, butyou cannot go outsidefor a small walk. Always you have tobe sheltered and covered, butyou cannot even bring your dog tothe next tree. The Martian was nice, butMars is not nice," intoned Dr. Worner.

He said that while visiting Mars might be an opinion onthe table, aswith the Moon, living there is another matter all together.

"Humans will fly toMars, forsure. But colonization that always sounds tome asthough we should leave the Earth. And I hope that we will not leave the Earth inthe next thee billion years, butthat humans will find a way tosecure life onEarth," he warned.

AFP 2017/ NASA

This NASA handout image, released on June 13, 2008 shows the Robotic Arm on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander with a sample of martian soil as it prepares to move to the spacecraft's microscope station.

He also battered away the esteemed scientists Stephen Hawking's comments that life onEarth is only sustainable forthe next 100 years and that we must find another habitable planet bysaying:

"You will hardly find a better place."

The business magnate Elon Musk has proposed landing a colony onMars forunder US$200,000 per passenger, butit seems people likeDr. Worner are more concerned aboutwhat may come afterhumanity arrives.

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A running list of everything NFL conspiracy theorist William Hayes does and does not believe in – SB Nation

Posted: at 10:15 pm

Miami Dolphins defensive end William Hayes is one of the more interesting players in the NFL, and its not because he was traded for a stapler and a coffee machine. Its because of his beliefs, like that dinosaurs never existed.

What he does and does not find to be true are typically the meat of questions he receives from the media. It was the main topic of conversation between him and reporters during Dolphins OTAs, where he let us in his mind even more.

Because he receives so many questions that reveal things he believes (or doesnt) were keeping track of those things.

On Thursday afternoon, Hayes said, I dont believe a T-rex ever walked this Earth. It was the same tone he delivered in 2015.

When he was asked how he would explain his theory on dinosaurs, he told reporters, I just think we just put those things there just so we can have some shit to talk about, you know what I mean?

Hayes claims he did do a lot of research on dinosaurs in the past, but as he grew older it became ridiculous to him. It made me definitely not believe in it.

Jimmy Kimmel tried to prove dinosaurs were real to Hayes, but it didnt quite pan out.

Jimmy Kimmel done took me to a dinosaur museum, had other people take me to dinosaur museums and every time I went there it just made me just realize how ridiculous theories seem even more.

At least he (and others) made an effort to prove their existence.

In December of 2015, his then-Rams teammate Chris Long told ESPN, He does not believe that dinosaurs ever existed and he thinks that mermaids are real. I love dinosaurs, so we have a big point of contention.

When Hayes was still with the Rams, a mermaid showed up to the teams practice.

On Thursday, he gave a little clarification.

Im not saying theres necessarily a mermaid out there, Im just saying there possibly could be. Its a lot we havent discovered yet. We find different life form in the water every day.

He also told Jimmy Kimmel that he would have sex with a mermaid, but thats another story.

A new revelation on Thursday was that Hayes doesnt think the United States ever landed on the moon. I just dont think man went to the moon. I dont think weve been back there after we went have we?

He was shocked that we had gone up to the moon on multiple occasions. It led him to ask, And we just went up there and chilled? I dont know about all that.

Hayes just isnt buying it. He felt the same about the moon landing as he did about dinosaurs: its just something to talk about. Hes also confident he can convince his head coach of the same.

If [Adam] Gase just hear me out one time hell probably feel where Im coming from.

Hayes didnt clarify if he thinks Neil Armstrongs one small step for man was filmed on a soundstage. Either way, he doesnt think it happened.

Even though Hayes is a skeptic, he also is optimistic, like thinking there are other life forms out in the universe.

Im just thinking they could possibly be somewhere else. I mean, some other type of life form, he said. Im not saying a human or a legit alien with two little things coming out his head. Im just thinking like there could be another life form.

A reporter asked him about the colonization of Mars and if hed like to visit. Of course, Hayes was all for it.

That sounds pretty dope man, I wouldnt mind taking a trip to Mars and see how it looks up there.

Listening to Hayes discuss what he thinks about certain things in the world is fun to listen to. Hopefully were fortunate enough that he keeps sharing what he believes in with us.

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21st century veggie burger: ‘Bloody-pink and fleshy’ thanks to genetic engineering – Genetic Literacy Project

Posted: at 10:15 pm

The 20th century veggie burger was a beige patty packed with whole grains and carrot chunks, sold in a brown paper wrapper. The 21st century version? Its bloody-pink and fleshy, thanks to heme, an ingredient created via genetic engineering.

To those steeped in the natural-food movement, the acronym GMO for genetically modified organisms has traditionally been almost as taboo as a plate of braised veal. However, that view could be changing as a new generation of Bay Area entrepreneurs upends the alternative meat and dairy industry, using biotechnology to create vegetarian foods that taste more like meat and promise ecological advantages to boot.

As somebody who has my entire life been a hard-core environmentalist I went vegan for a large part for that reason genetic engineering is one of the most important tools we can use in terms of environmental conservation, said Mike Selden, co-founder and CEO of Finless Foods in San Francisco, which is replicating fish fillets out of stem cells, though not currently with genetic engineering.

Not everyone agrees, and as these products hit the market including the aforementioned veggie burger that bleeds from Impossible Foods consumer and environmental groups have called for greater oversight and testing than whats currently required by the federal government.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post:Meatless, tasty and genetically modified: a healthy debate

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21st century veggie burger: 'Bloody-pink and fleshy' thanks to genetic engineering - Genetic Literacy Project

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Genetic engineering through click chemistry – The Biological SCENE

Posted: at 10:15 pm

Gene therapy and a range of biological research rely on the efficient delivery of nucleic acids into cells through the process known as transfection. Most widely-used transfection approaches for mammalian cells rely on electrostatic forces, usually taking advantage of cationic reagents to bind to negatively-charged nucleic acids and form strong ionic complexes. Cells then grab these complexes and internalize them through a process called endocytosis. However, the concentration of positive charge in the reagents can kill cells, and some cellssuch as embryonic cells, neurons, or cells directly isolated from tissuedont incorporate the nucleic acids successfully.

Now researchers report a novel transfection technique, SnapFect, that relies on bio-orthogonal moleculesa class of chemically-reactive molecules that dont interfere with biological systems (ACS Cent. Sci. 2017, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.7b00132). The team designed nanoparticle liposomes carrying a bio-orthogonal ligand. When they add those fatty particles to cell culture, they fuse into the cell membrane within seconds, leaving the ketone ligand exposed on the surface. The team then packages the nucleic acids to be delivered in complementary lipid complexes decorated with oxyamines. When the oxyamine particles are added to the cells, these functional groups react quickly with the cell surface ketones. The membrane-bound nucleic-acid complex is then pulled into the cell via endocytosis, and the nucleic acid can be expressed. Its not based on electrostatics but on click chemistry, says Muhammad N. Yousaf, a chemical biologist at York University. Thats why basically every cell is transfected with the nucleic acid.

Commercial transfection reagents already bring in about $1.5 billion per year. Yousafs team compared SnapFect to two widely-used kits: Lipofectamine (Life Technologies) and ViaFect (Promega). SnapFect transfected cells with a 68% overall efficiency while the other two transfected 19% and 29%, respectively.

Yousaf launched a company called OrganoLinX that this month began selling SnapFect ($350 for 20-25 transfections). We focused on making [the kit] just as easy to use as other commercial products out there, he says.

Besides improving efficiency, researchers could also pre-treat one batch of cells to decorate them with ketones and then mix them with other cell types before adding nucleic acids. Just the pre-treated ones will be transfected, Yousaf explains. Its like precision transfection. Because the team can create a variety of complexes using the oxyamine particles, the technique can also deliver other molecules such as proteins into cells.

I think its an interesting step forward, says James H. Eberwine, a molecular neurobiologist at the University of Pennsylvaniaparticularly the techniques universal applicability to DNA, RNA, and proteins, as well as the specificity conferred by the click chemistry approach.

Eberwine adds that while the study compares SnapFect to two widely-used techniques, researchers often optimize those techniques for their particular applications and achieve much higher efficiencies than those noted in this study. I would certainly try it, he says, and if it really does have the higher efficiency then I could see value in doing this.

Currently cell surface modification with ketones must occur shortly before addition of the oxyamine-bundled cargo. But SnapFect would be especially powerful if the ketone modification was more permanent, Eberwine says. That way, researchers could pre-engineer the surface of immature cells, then allow those cells to develop, migrate, and find their place in the local microenvironment of an experimental system before they get transfected. This would be a real boon, he says.

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