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January 24, 2007
A Snow White Beetle
I think it's so cool we still discover new organisms everyday. I mean, just how much did nature make? Sheesh!
Anyhow, the finger-tip sized Cyphochilus beetle (I'll just call him Snow White) was found in South East Asia. He's just like any other beetle except he is whiter than any other natural material. To date we know how to make white pigment. Certain cephalopods make white by a chemical means. The Snow White beetle makes white by ways of surface structure. His body is covered in scales 10 times smaller than human hair; that's 5 micrometers people!
Upon further inspection, the scales are arranged in highly random 3D structures. The very nature of this design somehow foils light giving the beetle its brilliant white outlook. The design is of particular interests to scientists because humans can make white, but our technology is significantly "thicker" in design. Nature has managed to create the same brilliant "whiteness" without all the bulk. If the beetle's secret can be unlocked, it would lead to a revolution on how color is artificially created; everything from paper to electronic displays.
another picture after the jump
Posted by tranism at 7:25 AM | Permalink
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January 22, 2007
In 1000 Years
Popular Science has a great article on terraforming the red planet, which won't be red anymore if Dr. Zubrin's theories are successful. According to him, humans can transform Mars into a warm temperate world capable of supporting human life in just 1000 years. I know that's longer than any of us will ever live but on a geological time-scale . . . that's insanely fast.
The first step we've already done; exploration. We need to accurately map and identify what minerals are available. The next step is creating a rich CO2 atmosphere. Although Zubrin suggests space mirrors and hijacked meteorites, a more realistic approach relies on something humans have mastered; making artificial CO2.
We could build large CO2 producing factories and in little as 50 years, create an atmosphere thick enough to raise the temperature to +32ยบ F. Frozen water will begin to melt creating weather. The next step is to garden. Plants start the conversion of CO2 into yummy oxygen. Their decay replaces the CO2. In time (like 900 years), our efforts at playing mother nature should bear us a planet capable of sustaining human life. TA-DAH!
For all of humanity's ingenuity, we have a dark side. I'm sure once Mars is ready to be colonized, a massive space race will ensue between countries wanting to get there first to stake their claim. An ideological war breaks out between scientists and religious sects and Mars becomes the new battleground. Unfortunately for Earthlings, Martian colonists revolt and that'll be the end of our utopian dreams.
A more positive path would be to realize humans will be incapable of terraforming and colonizing other planets unless we work together. Let's hope in 1000 years that'll be the case.
Posted by tranism at 12:04 PM | Permalink
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January 4, 2007
Robots via Human Thought
A group of students from the University of Washington have created a robot they can control using their thoughts with a 94% success rate.
Although mind reading robots are a long ways off, this research is the first step towards a future where humans use the most powerful computer at their disposal to control them; the brain.
The in-house built robot is connected to a computer which reads brain wave signals from a person using a cap studded with electrodes. The software can correctly translate the brain signals into simple instructions fed to the robot. Right now a person can instruct the robot to move forward, differentiate between two objects, pick one up and move it to another location. The team hopes with further research, the instructions can become more complex perhaps daisy-chaining them to complete more complicated tasks.
Although the robot they're using seems innocent and demure, how long do you suppose it'll be before it somehow becomes self-aware, turning our brain waves against us? In cases like this, I recommend the alpha training technique used for dogs. Always make direct eye contact with the bot, sniff its behind, and force it on it's back every now and then so it knows who's boss.
Posted by tranism at 11:49 AM | Permalink
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