discuss Science & Technology news & discussion

[CraigD]

Post and discuss interesting articles & videos about science and technology.

You don't need to be an expert - just interested in the wonders of modern science, technology, and the history of these fields.

Please keep it rational, and post articles from reputable sources.
Try not to editorialise headlines and keep the copy to just a paragraph with a link to the original source. When quoting excerpts from articles, I think the best method is to italicise the copy, and include a link to the source.

Have some fun with your comments and discussions... just keep the sources legitimate.

Other threads:
The Break Room has a number of other popular threads, so there is no need to post material here that is better suited to these other threads:

- Covid19-Coronavirus updates and news
- Conspiracy Thread Free For All
- The *religious* discussion thread

Please enjoy!

 

[CraigD]

Boeing ordered to pay US$2.5 billion in compensation, penalties two years after deadly crashes

The world's largest aerospace company Boeing has been fined US$2.5 billion over two plane crashes that killed 346 people, but will not be forced to plead guilty to criminal charges, the US Justice Department says.

The department said the settlement included a criminal monetary penalty of US$243.6 million, compensation payments to Boeing's 737 MAX airline customers of US$1.8 billion, and the establishment of a US$500 million crash-victim beneficiaries fund to compensate the heirs, relatives, and legal beneficiaries of the passengers.

The 737 Max crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 killed all passengers and crew on board, triggered a slew of investigations and cost Boeing about US$20 billion.

Key points:

• US aviation authorities charged Boeing with conspiracy and ordered it to ground its 737 Max planes for almost two years
• Two crashes killed 346 people, slashed Boeing's profit and led to lawsuits and investigations
• US Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson said last year he was "100 per cent confident" in the plane's safety

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01...ce-department-747-max-deadly-crashes/13041586

 

[CraigD]

Scientists aim to understand bone-conducted speech transmission process

The perception of our own voice depends on sound transmission through air (air-conducted) as well as through the skull bone (bone-conducted or BC). The transmission properties of BC speech are, however, not well understood.

Now, scientists from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology report their latest findings on BC transmission under the influence of oral cavity sound pressure, which can boost BC-based technology and basic research on hearing loss and speech impairment.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/2...ne-conducted-speech-transmission-process.aspx

 

[CraigD]

How Did Asteroid Ryugu Lose Its Water? Remote Sensing Data Provides an Explanation

Last month, Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission brought home a cache of rocks collected from a near-Earth asteroid called Ryugu. While analysis of those returned samples is just getting underway, researchers are using data from the spacecraft’s other instruments to reveal new details about the asteroid’s past.

In a study published in Nature Astronomy, researchers offer an explanation for why Ryugu isn’t quite as rich in water-bearing minerals as some other asteroids. The study suggests that the ancient parent body from which Ryugu was formed had likely dried out in some kind of heating event before Ryugu came into being, which left Ryugu itself drier than expected.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-01271-2

The article abstract states:
The strength and shape of the OH feature suggests that the subsurface material experienced heating above 300 °C, similar to the surface. In contrast, thermophysical modelling indicates that radiative heating cannot increase the temperature above 200 °C at the estimated excavation depth of 1 m, even at the smallest heliocentric distance possible for Ryugu. This supports the hypothesis that primary thermal alteration occurred on Ryugu’s parent body.

I would expect that a big hit from an impactor - that likely split apart the parent body - would create at least that much kinetic heat.

 

[CraigD]

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch set for Thursday night

SpaceX Falcon 9 Türksat 5A Infographic with rocket render by Stanley Creative

Turksat 5A is the first of two next-generation broadcasting birds that SpaceX will boost to orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida as soon as Thursday night.

https://www.cnet.com/news/first-spacex-falcon-9-launch-of-2021-set-for-thursday-night/

SpaceX has launched its 50th previously flown rocket.

This launch continues the trend of SpaceX using increasingly experienced first stages.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched on Thursday evening from Florida, sending a communications satellite - Turksat 5A - toward geostationary transfer orbit. The rocket's first stage then returned to Earth and made a safe landing on the Just Read the Instructions droneship.

Notably, this was the 50th launch of previously flown Falcon 9 first stage. It has only been five years and a few days since they landed their first one, and less than four years since the company re-flew one. The company's next Falcon 9 launch attempt may come as soon as January 14, with the Transporter-1 smallsat rideshare mission.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/spacex-to-begin-its-2021-launch-campaign-thursday-evening/

 

[CraigD]

Researchers Sequence Platypus and Echidna Genomes

Monotremes (egg-laying mammals) are the only extant mammalian outgroup to therians (marsupial and eutherian animals) and provide key insights into mammalian evolution. An international team of scientists has sequenced and analyzed the genomes of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), the two extant monotreme lineages, and compared them to those of chickens, humans, rats, Tasmanian devils, and lizards. Their results appear in the journal Nature.

http://www.sci-news.com/genetics/platypus-echidna-genomes-09227.html

-----
Nature:
Platypus and echidna genomes reveal mammalian biology and evolution
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03039-0

-----

Wikipedia:

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The platypus is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species appear in the fossil record.

Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Like other monotremes, it senses prey through electrolocation. It is one of the few species of venomous mammals, as the male platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom, capable of causing severe pain to humans. The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, and the first scientists to examine a preserved platypus body (in 1799) judged it a fake, made of several animals sewn together.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus

 

[koolishman]

Research explains why crocodiles have changed so little since the age of the dinosaurs

New research by scientists at the University of Bristol explains how a 'stop-start' pattern of evolution, governed by environmental change, could explain why crocodiles have changed so little since the age of the dinosaurs.

n the new research, published today in the journal Nature Communications Biology, the scientists explain how crocodiles follow a pattern of evolution known as 'punctuated equilibrium'.

The rate of their evolution is generally slow, but occasionally they evolve more quickly because the environment has changed. In particular, this new research suggests that their evolution speeds up when the climate is warmer, and that their body size increases.

The findings show that the limited diversity of crocodiles and their apparent lack of evolution is a result of a slow evolutionary rate. It seems the crocodiles arrived at a body plan that was very efficient and versatile enough that they didn't need to change it in order to survive.

This versatility could be one explanation why crocodiles survived the meteor impact at the end of the Cretaceous period, in which the dinosaurs perished. Crocodiles generally thrive better in warm conditions because they cannot control their body temperature and require warmth from the environment.

 

[koolishman]

Birds Have a Mysterious 'Quantum Sense'. For The First Time, Scientists Saw It in Action

Now, for the first time ever, scientists from the University of Tokyo have directly observed a key reaction hypothesised to be behind birds', and many other creatures', talents for sensing the direction of the planet's poles.

Importantly, this is evidence of quantum physics directly affecting a biochemical reaction in a cell - something we've long hypothesised but haven't seen in action before.

Using a tailor-made microscope sensitive to faint flashes of light, the team watched a culture of human cells containing a special light-sensitive material respond dynamically to changes in a magnetic field.

The change the researchers observed in the lab match just what would be expected if a quirky quantum effect was responsible for the illuminating reaction.

"We've not modified or added anything to these cells," says biophysicist Jonathan Woodward.

"We think we have extremely strong evidence that we've observed a purely quantum mechanical process affecting chemical activity at the cellular level."

So how are cells, particularly human cells, capable of responding to magnetic fields?

While there are several hypotheses out there, many researchers think the ability is due to a unique quantum reaction involving photoreceptors called cryptochromes.

 

[koolishman]

Rare quadruple-helix DNA found in living human cells with glowing probes

DNA usually forms the classic double helix shape of two strands wound around each other. While DNA can form some more exotic shapes in test tubes, few are seen in real living cells.

However, four-stranded DNA, known as G-quadruplex, has recently been seen forming naturally in human cells. Now, in new research published today in Nature Communications, a team led by Imperial College London scientists have created new probes that can see how G-quadruplexes are interacting with other molecules inside living cells.

G-quadruplexes are found in higher concentrations in cancer cells, so are thought to play a role in the disease. The probes reveal how G-quadruplexes are ‘unwound’ by certain proteins, and can also help identify molecules that bind to G-quadruplexes, leading to potential new drug targets that can disrupt their activity.

 

[CraigD]

The future of quantum biology

Biological systems are dynamical, constantly exchanging energy and matter with the environment in order to maintain the non-equilibrium state synonymous with living. Developments in observational techniques have allowed us to study biological dynamics on increasingly small scales. Such studies have revealed evidence of quantum mechanical effects, which cannot be accounted for by classical physics, in a range of biological processes. Quantum biology is the study of such processes, and here we provide an outline of the current state of the field, as well as insights into future directions.

• 1. Introduction
• 2. What is quantum biology?
• 3. Quantum mechanics: an introduction for biologists
• 4. Transport processes
• 5. Sensing
• 6. Origins of life
• 7. Quantum biology and complexity
• 8. Discussion and conclusion

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2018.0640

 

[CraigD]

A Tiny, 'Cold' Star Has Released One of The Most Powerful Superflares Ever Seen

As far as stars go, SDSSJ013333 resembles the quiet kid in school nobody remembers. Small, dim, and unremarkable, it does little to gain attention. That is until it throws a whopping big tantrum.

https://www.sciencealert.com/astron...werful-flares-ever-seen-from-a-tiny-cold-star

https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.14126

 

[CraigD]

Bacteria can tell the time

Humans have them, so do other animals and plants. Now research reveals that bacteria too have internal clocks that align with the 24-hour cycle of life on Earth.

The research answers a long-standing biological question and could have implications for the timing of drug delivery, biotechnology, and how we develop timely solutions for crop protection.

https://phys.org/news/2021-01-bacteria.html

 

[CraigD]

Nanosheet-based electronics could be one drop away

Scientists at Japan's Nagoya University and the National Institute for Materials Science have found that a simple one-drop approach is cheaper and faster for tiling functional nanosheets together in a single layer. If the process, described in the journal ACS Nano, can be scaled up, it could advance development of next-generation oxide electronics.

https://phys.org/news/2021-01-nanosheet-based-electronics.html

 

[CraigD]

Why you’re checking work emails on holidays

Our work is often so closely tied to our sense of who we are, many of us struggle to switch off on holidays. But it’s never too late to hide the laptop, write Associate Professor Dan Caprar and Dr Ben Walker.
Finally, the holidays are here – the break you’ve been waiting for. You want to leave work behind, kick back and enjoy time with family and friends.

But you’re still checking work emails and taking work calls. Even if you are at a remote location that screams holiday, you’re still thinking about work, or even doing work, although you promised yourself this time would be different.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not the only one struggling to switch off on holidays.

One reason is you, like many others, might derive a strong sense of self from your work.

https://www.miragenews.com/why-you-re-checking-work-emails-on-holidays/

 

[CraigD]

People are cause for one-third of American rivers changing colors since mid-1980s, study claims

A disturbing new study published in Geographical Research Letters reveals that a staggering one-third of the nation’s thousands of river segments are verdant-colored and that humans are responsible for the drastic shift.

The study looked at more than 230,000 NASA satellite images over 35 years, focusing on rivers and reservoirs.

The imagery confirms that the green tributaries — 11,629 miles of them — have changed color in less than four decades, according to the report.

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/na...0210108-duqabttaqzfxnkr55in6oy6zl4-story.html

 

[CraigD]

NIST publishes a beginner's guide to DNA origami

In a technique known as DNA origami, researchers fold long strands of DNA over and over again to construct a variety of tiny 3D structures, including miniature biosensors and drug-delivery containers. Pioneered at the California Institute of Technology in 2006, DNA origami has attracted hundreds of new researchers over the past decade, eager to build receptacles and sensors that could detect and treat disease in the human body, assess the environmental impact of pollutants, and assist in a host of other biological applications.

...Jacob Majikes and Alex Liddle, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) who have studied DNA origami for years, have compiled the first detailed tutorial on the technique. Their comprehensive report provides a step-by-step guide to designing DNA origami nanostructures, using state-of-the-art tools. Majikes and Liddle described their work in the Jan .8 issue of the Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-01/nios-npa010821.php

 

[CraigD]

From squarks to gluinos: It's not looking good for supersymmetry

The future of the theory is in serious doubt.

Supersymmetry is the idea that the fundamental particles of nature are connected through a deep relationship. This theory predicts the existence of brand-new particles in the world's largest collider experiments.

But according to a recent report, there have been no signs of supersymmetry, and the theory is looking a little shaky.

https://www.space.com/no-signs-supersymmetry-large-hadron-collider

 

[koolishman]

Nasa's Curiosity rover: 3,000 days on Mars

 

[koolishman]

What is Elon Musk's Starship?

Elon Musk is planning to soon launch the prototype of a vehicle that could be a game-changer for space travel. Starship, as it's known, will be a fully reusable transport system capable of carrying up to 100 people to the Red Planet.

 

[koolishman]

SpaceX Dragon Capsule to Make First of Its Kind Science Splashdown



On Jan. 11, the SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft carrying out the company’s 21st commercial resupply services (CRS-21) mission for NASA undocks from the International Space Station, heading for splashdown off the coast of Florida about 12 hours later. This upgraded Dragon transports significantly more science back to Earth than possible in previous Dragon capsules and is the first space station cargo capsule to splash down off the coast of Florida.

In addition, science returns from the space station through NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the first time since the retirement of the space shuttle.

Space station experiments coming back include:

• 
  
  • Cardinal Heart, which studies how changes in gravity affect cardiovascular cells at the cellular and tissue level using 3D engineered heart tissues, a type of tissue chip. Results could provide new understanding of heart problems on Earth, help identify new treatments, and support development of screening measures to predict cardiovascular risk prior to spaceflight.
  • A Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency study, Space Organogenesis, which demonstrates the growth of 3D organ buds from human stem cells in order to analyze changes in gene expression. Results from this investigation could show advantages of using microgravity for cutting-edge developments in regenerative medicine and may contribute to the establishment of technologies needed to create artificial organs.
  • The Bacterial Adhesion and Corrosion experiment, which identifies the bacterial genes used during biofilm growth, examines whether these biofilms can corrode stainless steel, and evaluates the effectiveness of a silver-based disinfectant. This investigation could provide insight into better ways to control and remove resistant biofilms, contributing to the success of future long-duration spaceflights.
  • Fiber Optic Production, which includes the return of experimental optical fibers created in microgravity using a blend of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, sodium, and aluminum. The return of the fibers, called ZBLAN in reference to the chemical formula, will help verify experimental studies that suggest fibers created in space should exhibit far superior qualities to those produced on Earth.
  • Rodent Research-23, which involves the return of live mice. This experiment studies the function of arteries, veins, and lymphatic structures in the eye and changes in the retina before and after spaceflight. The aim is to clarify whether these changes impair visual function. At least 40 percent of astronauts experience vision impairment known as Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) on long-duration spaceflights, which could adversely affect mission success.

 

[koolishman]

Two Failed Stars in Our Cosmic Neighborhood Seem to Have... Stripes?
Never appreciated for what they are, brown dwarfs are often compared to what they are not. Indeed, they’re stuck in a celestial no man’s land, classified neither as stars nor gas giant planets. As new research shows, however, comparing brown dwarfs to gas giants like Jupiter is more appropriate than we realized.

A new paper in The Astrophysical Journal provides evidence of stripes and polar storms on brown dwarfs, similar to the ones seen on Jupiter. Using a space-based satellite, a research team led by planetary scientist Dániel Apai from the University of Arizona was able to construct basic maps showing the upper atmospheric layers of two nearby brown dwarfs. The paper is shedding new light on these enigmatic objects, while paving the way for future research.

 

[Cal2]

Making protein out of thin air

https://www.axios.com/technology-protein-food-consumers-9f1278bb-c681-4d78-8e83-5d67c55aa4dd.html

 

[CraigD]

Wrinkly 'super peas' could reduce diabetes risk since they contain higher amounts of resistant starch than smooth peas

There's a new superfood on scientists' minds, and they make wrinkles look good.

Research ... in the journal Nature Food has found a natural mutation to green peas that makes them more shriveled than standard smooth ones also makes them healthier, especially if your aim is staving off diabetes risk.

https://www.insider.com/wrinkly-super-peas-may-cut-type-2-diabetes-risk-study-2020-10

See also: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-00159-8

 

[CraigD]

Indonesian Sriwijaya Air 737-500 goes missing after taking off from Jakarta

Key points:

• Indonesia's Ministry of Communications confirmed to local media that the flight "lost contact"
• The aircraft was a 27-year-old Boeing 737-500
• Several locals claim to have found what appeared to be wreckage of an aircraft

A search is underway after suspected debris from an Indonesian Sriwijaya Air flight SJ182 was found hours after the plane went missing.The plane lost contact after taking off from Indonesian capital Jakarta on Saturday en route to the city of Pontianak in West Kalimantan province.

The Boeing 737-500 flight was carrying 62 people on board.

The 50 passengers included seven children and three babies.

There were also 12 crew members, Indonesian Communications Minister Budi Karya said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01...t-sriwijaya-air-flight-sj182-jakarta/13045220

 

[CraigD]

Indonesia Boeing 737 passenger plane crash site found, Navy says

Indonesian authorities say they have found the location where they believe a Boeing 737 passenger plane crashed into the sea shortly after take-off from the country's capital Jakarta on Saturday.

The Sriwijaya Air jet was carrying 62 people when it disappeared from radars four minutes into its journey to Pontianak in West Kalimantan province.

More than 10 ships have now been deployed to the site with navy divers.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55606599

 

[CraigD]

Coronavirus: Virus provides leaps in scientific understanding

In January 2020, two scientists published the entire genetic code of a coronavirus that was soon to wreak havoc around the world. It marked the start of a year of intense and rapid scientific endeavour, to work out how we might fight the virus.

To have a better chance of preventing the next pandemic, channels of communication between scientists in every country must remain open.

"Politics can't come into it... otherwise the world will be a far less safe place. I think preventing the next pandemic will be partly about fantastic, whizz-bang technology like genome sequencing and mRNA.

"But it's more importantly about people, scientists, talking to each other freely and openly."

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55565284