Category Archives: Science

Science

What Influence Did Inventor James Watt Have On Steam Engines & The Industrial Revolution?

Leave a comment

According to the Scottish Science Hall of Fame, his affect started whereas repairing a mannequin Newcomen steam engine in 1764, at which level he could not assist however discover how a lot steam it wasted within the course of, with the cylinder needing to often be reheated, in the end utilizing up loads of coal. Watt figured a separate steam condenser might make sure the cylinder remained sizzling, and partnered with inventor John Roebuck, producing a prototype in 1768. The extremely environment friendly patent was given the non-efficient identify “A New Invented Method of Lessening the Consumption of Steam and Fuel in Fire Engines.”

As this redesign started to garner consideration from copper, tin, coal, and iron mines round England, two additional developments helped crystallize his influence on engine effectivity. First was the rotary engine, an innovation which used rotary motion to exchange the reciprocating, up-and-down piston motion of the unique. It helped modernize corn, malt, and cotton mills, amongst others, and was used to exchange “animal and water power and mechanized industries like weaving and spinning.”

News, Science

Space Access Revolution: How Space Perspective Plans To Take The Throne From Blue Origin

When you consider a visit to area, the primary picture that pops into your thoughts seemingly includes a rocket hurling out flames and powering its approach into the sky. That is the way it tends to be executed, and it is how you will get there with Bezos’ Blue Origin. However, the corporate’s now two fundamental rivals have totally different takes on attending to area. Virgin Galactic achieves sub-orbital flight by piggybacking on a service plane earlier than blasting off with its personal rockets whereas at altitude. Most uniquely, Space Perspective’s effort would not depend on rockets in any respect.

Instead, it is lifted above 99% of the Earth’s ambiance through a balloon giant sufficient “to house the Statue of Liberty,” in keeping with the corporate. At the tip of a six-hour ascent, the pressurized capsule hits 100,000 toes, permitting for 360-degree views of each Earth and Space, earlier than gently decreasing itself again to Earth and touchdown within the ocean.

News, Science, Technology

Elon Musk Confirms First Human Has Received Neuralink Brain Chip Implant

Neuralink beforehand defined that its machine — mentioned to be cosmetically invisible — basically interprets mind sign exercise, remodeling it into actionable duties on a pc or smartphone. Essentially, people will be capable to carry out duties utilizing solely their ideas, resembling making calls on a telephone, enjoying video games, or searching the net. In reality, the corporate has claimed that through the use of its BCI implant, an individual with paralysis will be capable to management a telephone quicker than a standard particular person does with their thumb. Musk additionally mentioned within the not-too-distant previous — and maybe with tongue planted firmly in cheek — that the Neuralink implant might be accompanied by its personal wi-fi charger formed like a baseball cap.

Despite this promising improvement, the corporate has attracted its fair proportion of controversies, together with allegations of animal cruelty. Some consultants have additionally been skeptical concerning the tall promises made by Musk and Neuralink. Among the important thing considerations flagged by consultants is the potential danger of an infection as a consequence of how the implant is embedded, in addition to the potential for mind harm. Musk, then again, appears bullish about the entire thought. “You could have a Neuralink device implanted right now and you wouldn’t even know,” he mentioned in 2022. “In fact, in one of these demos, I will.”

Science

This Vibrating Capsule Could Assist In The Ways We Treat Obesity

The breakthrough weight problems management capsule was revealed in a research revealed within the Science Advances journal, the place a workforce of researchers led by Dr. Shriya Srinivasan, assistant professor of bioengineering at Harvard University, evaluated its efficacy on 10 Yorkshire pigs throughout 108 meals. The researchers declare to have recorded the identical hormonal launch patterns related to satiety as soon as the animals ingested the VIBES capsule 20 minutes earlier than meals.

The research additionally notes that the pigs who swallowed the capsule exhibited a 40% discount in meals consumption, adopted by a slower weight acquire price than the management group. While the efficacy claims are promising, figuring out the process’s security on animal check topics was the research’s major aim forward of the upcoming human trials.

Sized roughly like a multivitamin capsule, a single dose of VIBES handed by the gastrointestinal tract of the pigs inside a mean of 4.3 days. The capsule is powered by a silver oxide battery activated solely when the gastric juices dissolve the non-conductive gelatinous membrane separating the electrodes — very like the detachable plastic tab present in a brand-new TV distant designed to forestall the batteries from going flat prematurely in storage.

Just like there isn’t any swap to energy the vibration motor on, the capsule additionally stops vibrating after about half-hour. The analysis workforce is presently engaged on optimizing the working scale, supply, and cost-effectiveness for human trials sooner or later.

Science

5 Apps Every Science Buff Should Have Installed

If you have an interest in every thing associated to house, the NASA App is without doubt one of the greatest iOS and Android apps for astronomy. It supplies entry to varied NASA sources, equivalent to information, photos, movies, podcasts, stay TV, mission data, and extra. It additionally has interactive options like 3D and AR fashions, a SkyView software, and an ISS tracker.

The app has a easy and easy-to-navigate design, with a menu bar on the backside that permits you to change between totally different sections. You have the choice to learn informative content material associated to Earth, local weather, house, the universe, associated know-how, and many others. If you favor visible studying, the Watch part has tons of content material for each age group. The Explore tab allows you to discover a simulated view of our Solar System with 3D and AR fashions of planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and spacecraft.

Next, the View part allows you to browse and think about 1000’s of photos and movies from NASA’s missions, services, and applications. You can even save your favourite photos and movies for offline viewing or share them with others through social media or e mail. The subsequent part, Listen, lets you hearken to the most recent NASA podcasts that includes astronauts and specialists. You can even entry NASA’s stay radio streams, equivalent to NASA Public Radio and Third Rock Radio.

The app is offered for obtain on Google Play Store and the App Store.

Science

Has NASA Stopped Exploring The Ocean? The Myth Debunked

NASA oceanic research abound. The NASA Ocean Physics program makes use of satellites and sub-orbital information to check the ocean’s position in our local weather, accounting for sea degree rise, ocean dynamics, and the way the ocean finally interacts with our planet. The SUBSEA project, which requires holding your breath to spell out — Systematic Underwater Biogeochemical Science and Exploration Analog — makes use of robots underwater to simulate exploring planets with comparable circumstances. It additionally researches areas like the nice and cozy springs flowing from an underwater volcano off Hawaii Island to check “conditions scientists believe exist on certain moons in the outer solar system, which may have the right combination of factors to support life.” 

And when it isn’t exploring our oceans, the NASA Ocean Worlds Exploration Program (OWEP) research ocean worlds within the outer photo voltaic system to evaluate their viability for hosting easy extraterrestrial life, just like the beforehand talked about bizarre ones we discover on Earth on the very backside of the ocean. It’s all a tad extra concerned than making a YouTube video with captions and a robotic voice. But sarcastically, one thing did finish regarding the ocean and NASA in 1978. That’s when it launched Seasat, its first devoted ocean satellite tv for pc, which lasted in Earth’s orbit for about 105 days earlier than short-circuiting. So that did finish momentarily, however there are actually a number of different satellites doing the identical factor proper above us. Nice strive, YouTube.

Science

The Bloop: The Mysterious Ocean Sound Scientists Couldn’t Understand

Exploring the depths of the oceans is a challenging task due to their treacherous nature. Thankfully, advancements in technology, such as probes, SONAR, and hydrophones, have made it easier to study the deep sea. Hydrophones are particularly useful as they can convert underwater noises into electrical activity.

In 1997, hydrophones located in the Pacific Ocean picked up a highly unusual sound. This sound, known as the Bloop, is distinct and eerie, unlike any typical ocean noise. The National Ocean Service provides a recording of the Bloop, highlighting its strange and otherworldly quality. The origin of the sound was traced back to the ocean near Chile, but its extremely low frequency and mysterious nature left scientists baffled.

Contrary to popular belief, the Bloop was not caused by mythical creatures like the kraken or Godzilla, or even a fictional car backfire in Atlantis. Instead, researchers discovered a shocking but plausible explanation for this enigmatic disturbance.

Science, Technology

The Enigmatic Antikythera Mechanism: Could It Be the Earliest Computer of the World?

Upon uncovering the engravings and inner workings of the Antikythera mechanism, scientists finally found evidence to support their long-held hypothesis: it was an ingenious contraption designed to forecast celestial events. Through further investigations, they managed to piece together a comprehensive model that accounted for the missing components of the device. Remarkably, this ancient machine seamlessly integrated the astronomical knowledge of ancient civilizations such as Greece, Babylon, and Egypt.

The device featured dials and hands on both its front and back surfaces. These dials provided precise information about the date, the relative movements of the Earth, moon, and sun, and the positions within the Zodiac. They also displayed the moon’s phases, compensating for irregularities caused by its elliptical orbit. Additionally, the dials tracked the movements of the five known planets at the time: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Furthermore, they offered insights into seasonal changes, the rise and set of major constellations and specific stars, and the periodic cycles of the original Olympiads. The device even had the capability to predict solar eclipses.

The Antikythera mechanism functioned as a mechanical computer, featuring a hand crank that allowed users to manipulate the date and retrieve information about past or future celestial events. No other known artifact from this era comes close to matching the complexity of this device. Its exceptional predictive capabilities and mechanical complexity have led experts to hail it as the world’s earliest computer.

Science, Technology

The Negative Impact of Military SONAR on Marine Life

In 2015, the U.S. District Court concluded that the Navy’s War Games in Southern California and Hawaii were in violation of laws meant to protect whales and dolphins. The court found that the high-intensity sonar exercises and underwater detonations involved in the military’s five-year plan were causing disruptions in feeding, communication, and mating behaviors of marine animals. As a result of this ruling, the U.S. Navy had to scale back its SONAR testing activities and take steps to protect marine life in collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Three years later, the U.S. Department of Defense published a document called the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing, which highlighted the measures taken by the Navy to mitigate harm to marine animals. Some of these measures include having lookouts stationed and designating areas to protect seafloor resources like coral reefs, artificial reefs, and live hard bottoms. The document also emphasizes the importance of adhering to rules such as ceasing activities if a marine mammal or sea turtle is spotted and avoiding specific areas during certain times of the year.

Unfortunately, as of now, SONAR remains an integral part of naval military operations until a better alternative for navigation is invented. However, by implementing legislation and increasing knowledge about the seafloor, military units can minimize the potential damage caused by SONAR technology. Over time, it is hoped that advancements in technology will lead to the development of more efficient and less disruptive methods of underwater navigation.

Science

Nacreous Clouds Explained: How It Happens (And Where To See Them)

Nacreous clouds are unique clouds that form in the stratosphere at extremely low temperatures of around negative 85 degrees Celsius. These clouds occur when temperatures fall below the frost point in the stratosphere, creating ice crystals. They are typically found in higher latitudes and are characterized by their small particle size, which allows them to scatter light in a distinctive way, resulting in their iridescent or rainbow appearance.

According to the Meteorological Office of the UK, nacreous clouds usually form at elevations between 68,500 and 100,000 feet. During the day, they may appear similar to pale cirrus clouds, but they become truly spectacular during sunrise or sunset when the sun is 1-6 degrees below the horizon.

Nacreous clouds are a type of polar stratospheric cloud and are associated with freezing and dry weather. Scientists classify them into three types, la, lb, and ll, based on their chemical composition, ambient temperature, and elevation.