EXO LIFE: A World Of Possibilities Gives Perspective On Life On Enceladus

by Chris McKay and Dennis Matson on Spacedaily.com
Houston TX (JSC) Mar 28, 2008

Could microbial life exist inside Enceladus, where no sunlight reaches, photosynthesis is impossible and no oxygen is available? To answer that question, we need look no farther than our own planet to find examples of the types of exotic ecosystems that could make life possible on Saturn’s geyser moon. The answer appears to be, yes, it could be possible. It is this tantalizing potential that brings us back to Enceladus for further study. In recent years, life forms have been found on Earth that thrive in places where the sun doesn’t shine and oxygen is not present because no photosynthesis takes place. Microbes have been discovered that survive on the energy from the chemical interaction between different kinds of minerals, and others that live off the energy from the radioactive decay in rocks.

The ecosystems are completely independent of oxygen or organic material produced by photosynthesis at Earth’s surface. These extraordinary microbial ecosystems are models for life that might be present inside Enceladus today.

There are three such ecosystems found on Earth that would conceivably be a basis for life on Enceladus. Two are based on methanogens, which belong to an ancient group related to bacteria, called the archaea — the rugged survivalists of bacteria that thrive in harsh environments without oxygen.

Methanogens belong to an ancient group related to bacteria, called the archaea — thrive without oxygen. Deep volcanic rocks along the Columbia River and in Idaho Falls host two of these ecosystems, which Read more

Spacecraft Finds Organic Matter at Saturn Moon

NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute |

 

‘Tiger Stripes’ Yield Organics
In 2005, Cassini spied gigantic geysers spewing from fractures known as tiger stripes on the moon’s south pole. Scientists theorized that reservoirs of liquid water below the surface were likely supplying the ice and vapor seen in the plumes. A recent flyby revealed that while the jet plumes were mostly water vapor, there were traces of methane and simple organic compounds.

Associated Press
March 27, 2008 — An international spacecraft that dove through geysers erupting from the surface of a Saturn moon found organic matter, one of many ingredients that make an environment hospitable to extraterrestrial life, scientists said.

The discovery excited mission team members, who say it’s a marker for further research into whether the icy satellite Enceladus has such an environment.

The chemical analysis by the unmanned Cassini spacecraft revealed that Enceladus’ interior was similar to Read more

William McDonough on Sustainable Ecocities in China

For anyone who is not familiar with William McDonoughs work in sustainable development, I urge you to have patience during loading and watch this video. His philosophy of ‘Cradle to Cradle’ design is the foundation of many modern sustainable development. To learn more, please visit the following websites: www.mcdonough.com, www.mcdonoughpartners.com, www.mbdc.com.

It is this kind of inspired and ambitious vision and planning that UltraFuture seeks to promote and incubate.

UltraFuture Related Topics:

Urbanization and Environmental Sustainability

Clean Energy Research Centre set up in Shanghai

Famed geneticist creating life form that turns CO2 into fuel

Buckyballs as hydrogen containers

See this post on Technocrati:
Technorati Profile

Urbanization and Environmental Sustainability

Submitted by Crystal Davis on EarthTrends Mon, 2008-02-25 17:05.

Now home to half of the world’s people, cities are increasingly at the forefront of our most pressing environmental challenges. While the current pace of urbanization is not unique in human history, the sheer magnitude of urban growth–driven by massive demographic shifts in the developing world–is unprecedented, with vast implications for human well-being and the environment. However, where cities pose environmental problems, they also offer solutions. As hotspots of consumption, production, and waste generation, cities possess unparalleled potential to increase the energy efficiency and sustainability of society as a whole.

Global Urbanization Trends

Cities generate a disproportionate share of gross domestic product (GDP) and provide, on average, greater social and economic benefits to their inhabitants than do rural areas. As a result, increased urbanization often correlates to higher national incomes (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Economic and Social Welfare in Urban vs Rural Areas

Source: EarthTrends, 2008

Among industrialized nations, city dwellers already account for nearly three-quarters of the population and will grow in number by less than half a percent per year through 2030, while the rural population will actually decline (UN, 2008). Cities of the developing world, on the other hand, will absorb roughly 95 percent of the total population growth expected worldwide in the next two decades, a result of rural to urban migration, the transformation of rural settlements into urban places, and natural population increases (see Figure 2). All together, over 1.5 billion residents will be added to developing country cities by 2030, many of whom will be poor. Already, one of every three city dwellers lives in slum conditions (UN-Habitat, 2006).

At the global level, these demographic shifts define a remarkable urban transition. By 2030, five billion people (60 percent of the global population) will live in cities and four-fifths of these urban dwellers will be in the developing world. Megacities–those with more than ten million inhabitants–will continue to grow in size and number, albeit slowly, especially in developing countries. The most rapid growth will occur in cities with fewer than half a million residents, which collectively account for over half of the world’s urban dwellers.

Figure 2: Population Growth and Urbanization, 1950-2030

Source: EarthTrends, 2008

Environmental Challenges in an Urban Society: Local vs Global Issues

Along with the many social and economic benefits of Read more

Clean Energy Research Centre set up in Shanghai

16:27, March 17, 2008

The Xinao Group and Shanghai Communications University jointly set up the Clean Energy Research Centre that was officially established on the 16th. The research center will focus on the research and applications of clean alternative energy sources: dimethyl ether (DME). At the same time, Xinao Group will also build a DME fuel station on the Shanghai Communications University campus and provide free bus fuel, according to Xinhua Net.

DME is an important chemical raw material that can be used in chemical synthesis; and could also serve as a supplementary fuel for motor fuel and civilian gas. Because of its unique advantages, DME is an important clean energy, an alternative to diesel and liquefied petroleum gas for industrial and civilian fuels; and can effectively reduce environmental pollution and resolve environmental problems triggered by the development of the petrochemical industry.

In early 2007, the Xinao Group and Shanghai Communications University have reached a clean energy strategic cooperation agreement: by effectively integrating their own respective resource advantages, they can jointly create a new pattern of energy research, development, and application. In 2007, the Xinao Group built the world’s first commercial operation motor vehicle DME station in Shanghai.

From People’s Daily Online

Large Hadron Collider - start this year sparks fear and lawsuits

Posted on CosmicLog:
Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:00 AM by Alan Boyle

EIROforum / CERN A hardhat worker is dwarfed by the inner workings of the Large Hadron Collider’s ATLAS detector. Click on the image for a larger version.

The builders of the world’s biggest particle collider are being sued in federal court over fears that the experiment might create globe-gobbling black holes or never-before-seen strains of matter that would destroy the planet.

Representatives at Fermilab in Illinois and at Europe’s CERN laboratory, two of the defendants in the case, say there’s no chance that the Large Hadron Collider would cause such cosmic catastrophes. Nevertheless, they’re bracing to defend themselves in the courtroom as well as the court of public opinion.

The Large Hadron Collider, or LHC, is due for startup later this year at CERN’s headquarters on the French-Swiss border. It’s expected to tackle some of the deepest questions in science: Is the foundation of modern physics right or wrong? What existed during the very first moment of the universe’s existence? Why do some particles have mass while others don’t? What is the nature of dark matter? Are there extra dimensions of space out there that we haven’t yet detected?

Some folks outside the scientific mainstream have asked darker questions as well: Could the collider create mini-black holes that last long enough and get big enough to turn into a matter-sucking maelstrom? Could exotic particles known as magnetic monopoles throw atomic nuclei out of whack? Could quarks recombine into “strangelets” that would turn the whole Earth into Read more

‘A Race to the Starting Line’: Diagnosing What’s Holding Biotechnology Back

New strategies will be necessary for biotechnology companies to thrive in the new era of personalized medicine, but the healthcare system itself will also have to change, according a panel of six biotechnology company representatives who participated in a discussion titled, “Emerging Technologies and the Innovation of Competitive Advantage,” at the 2008 Wharton Health Care Business Conference.

John P. McLaughlin, CEO of Anesiva, a San Francisco-based biotech firm focused on pain management drug development, stressed the growing population of senior citizens as a focus of future opportunities in biotechnology. The population of those 65 and over is expected to grow from its current 35 million to 71 million by 2030, McLaughlin said. The age group 85 and over will rise from 4 million to 7 million by 2020. Given these projections, he noted, a significant opportunity exists concerning osteoarthritis.

While the advent of antibodies used against rheumatoid arthritis has advanced to the point where therapies can now help prevent the progression of the disease in its earlier stages, treatment of osteoarthritis lags behind, according to McLaughlin. “With osteoarthritis, we’re not seeing any disease modifying agents out there. In fact, we’re not seeing any pain agents, either.”

For the 24 million people who suffer from osteoarthritis, current treatment consists of an increasingly strong regimen of pain medication. At some point, however, knee or other joint replacements become necessary to alleviate the pain. “Parts wear out,” McLaughlin said.

In 2006, about 550,000 knee replacements were performed. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons expects that number to rise to about 3.5 million by 2030, McLaughlin said. Given that the growing older population wants to remain mobile later in life, the demand for joint replacements will only grow with it. “Those procedures can be very painful — with long recovery periods — so there’s substantial opportunity there” for biotech advances, he added.

Stem Cells: A ‘Fractured’ Industry

Stem cell research and its resulting applications will unquestionably have a Read more

Buckyballs as hydrogen “containers”

This UltraFuture article is from the Buckminster Fuller Institute.

 

Hydrogen could be a clean, abundant energy source, but it’s difficult to store in bulk. In new research, materials scientists at Rice University have made the surprising discovery that tiny carbon capsules called buckyballs are so strong they can hold volumes of hydrogen nearly as dense as those at the center of Jupiter.

The research appears on the March 2008 cover of the American Chemical Society’s journal Nano Letters.

“Based on our calculations, it appears that some buckyballs are capable of holding volumes of hydrogen so dense as to be almost metallic,” said lead researcher Boris Yakobson, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at Rice. “It appears they can hold about 8 percent of their weight in hydrogen at room temperature, which is considerably better than the federal target of 6 percent.”

The Department of Energy has devoted more than $1 billion to developing technologies for hydrogen-powered automobiles, including technologies to cost-effectively store hydrogen for use in cars. Hydrogen is the lightest element in the universe, and it is very difficult to store in bulk. For hydrogen cars to be competitive with gasoline-powered cars, they need Read more

Pioneering thinker, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke dies at 90 years old

UltraFuture remembers hero and legend Arthur C. Clarke.

 

Arthur C. Clarke was perhaps the ultimate ambassador of the UltraFuture. Generations of scientists, writers, philosophers and engineers - and everyone of us here at UltraFuture - have been inspired by his incredible imagination and unparalleled ability to capture the imagination of others. His contributions to the fields of science and science fiction have become an indispensable part of 20th century history and will be remembered, marveled at, and enjoyed for many years to come.

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From the New York Times:Arthur C. Clarke, a writer whose seamless blend of scientific expertise and poetic imagination helped usher in the space age, died early Wednesday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he had lived since 1956. He was 90.Rohan de Silva, an aide, confirmed the death and said Mr. Clarke had been experiencing breathing problems, The Associated Press reported. He had suffered from post-polio syndrome for the last two decades.

The author of almost 100 books, Mr. Clarke was an ardent promoter of the idea that humanity’s destiny lay beyond the confines of Earth. It was a vision served most vividly by ‘2001: A Space Odyssey,’ the classic 1968 science-fiction film he created with the director Stanley Kubrick and the novel of the same title that he wrote as part of the project.

His work was also prophetic: his detailed forecast of telecommunications satellites in 1945 came more than a decade before the first orbital rocket flight.

Other early advocates of a space program Read more

Hypervideo Now Automated

From Justin Moresco on redherring.com

Web video might be all the rage today, but the experience of watching a YouTube post still lacks much of the punch that has made the Internet so appealing.

But what if objects within a video were like hyperlinks within text gateways to other sites or more information? What if you could hop from within one video to within another along a virtual string of related topics?

That’s the vision of Nat Kausik, chief executive of San Jose, California-based Asterpix. And his company has delivered, announcing on Monday that its in-video tagging capabilities have now been automated.

To date, the company’s bots working from two servers have crawled through more than 22,000 online videos and tagged prominent objects as ‘hotspots.’

The hotspots are then highlighted in the videos with dashed lines. By placing a mouse cursor over the dashed lines, a popup box gives more details about the object - the make of a car or the provenance of a bottle of wine, for example. That popup box also has links to videos with related topics found by a search engine.

In short, the interactive hotspots offer a visual entry point to searching the web for more information on salient objects in a video,’ according to a press release.

Asterpix officially launched its technology for creating hotspots in January, but this latest announcement means the process is automated. That was a necessary step, lest Asterpix remain an interesting but impractical tool.

This latest move should make any web site publisher with plenty of video content take notice. Mr. Kausik said his primary focus is to provide more information for viewers. It doesn’t take a genius to envision much of that ‘information’ being tied to advertising.

That hotspot attached to the bottle of wine could let viewers know it’s a 2005 Chenin Blanc from Casa Nuestra, and then provide a link to the Napa Valley Winery’s web site. Booya! Web videos are suddenly earning more advertising dollars.

For the next few months, Asterpix will continue to let its bots roam the web, perhaps tweaking their habits but most importantly proving their ability. Later this year, the company will then announce how it will sell the product - maybe through an ad-supported model or at an upfront fee. But Asterpix isn’t the first or only company to explore making video more interactive.

Ottawa, Canada-based Overlay.tv also has a tagging technology. It completed a $4.6 million first round of venture funding in January. The startup is unrepentant about its emphasis on bringing advertising to online video.

Overlay Chief Architect Tyler Cope wrote in an email: ‘One of the differentiators between us and our competition is that we involve the user in the advertising process because we believe that artificial intelligence is not even close to being good enough yet.

‘Even if a computer algorithm can detect that a person is in a video, it can’t tell me what brand of jeans the person is wearing, what store they were purchased from, and where I can find a similar style for a lower price Nobody has cracked video monetization yet but we believe our platform is the answer.’

VideoClix.tv also offers hypervideo technology. Asterpix looks hot, but this ain’t no one-man race.

 

Submitted to www.redherring.com on 18 March 2008, 15:57
by Justin Moresco

 

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