Weekly Science Headlines

[Brother Mythos]

“New evidence that all stars are born in pairs”

As per the article:

‘Astronomers have even searched for a companion to our sun, a star dubbed Nemesis because it was supposed to have kicked an asteroid into Earth’s orbit that collided with our planet and exterminated the dinosaurs. It has never been found.

The new assertion is based on a radio survey of a giant molecular cloud filled with recently formed stars in the constellation Perseus, and a mathematical model that can explain the Perseus observations only if all sunlike stars are born with a companion.

“We are saying, yes, there probably was a Nemesis, a long time ago,” said co-author Steven Stahler, a UC Berkeley research astronomer.

“We ran a series of statistical models to see if we could account for the relative populations of young single stars and binaries of all separations in the Perseus molecular cloud, and the only model that could reproduce the data was one in which all stars form initially as wide binaries. These systems then either shrink or break apart within a million years.”’

Here’s the link to the article: http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/06/13/new-evidence-that-all-stars-are-born-in-pairs/

And, for hardcore astronomy students, here’s the link to the original arXiv.org paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/1705.00049

By shrinking, I assume they mean one star/big mass ate the other?

I would think that it is a possibility, but that particular scenario isn’t mentioned in the arXiv.org paper.

As I understand it, the authors believe that the stars in the particular cluster they studied either circle in closer together and remain binary systems, or they separate entirely.

Barring another big mass passing by, I am unsure how they would separate.

Have you talked about this article/paper with any of the professional astronomers you work with? If so, I would be interested in hearing their opinion(s).

[The Good Reverend Roger]

“New evidence that all stars are born in pairs”

As per the article:

‘Astronomers have even searched for a companion to our sun, a star dubbed Nemesis because it was supposed to have kicked an asteroid into Earth’s orbit that collided with our planet and exterminated the dinosaurs. It has never been found.

The new assertion is based on a radio survey of a giant molecular cloud filled with recently formed stars in the constellation Perseus, and a mathematical model that can explain the Perseus observations only if all sunlike stars are born with a companion.

“We are saying, yes, there probably was a Nemesis, a long time ago,” said co-author Steven Stahler, a UC Berkeley research astronomer.

“We ran a series of statistical models to see if we could account for the relative populations of young single stars and binaries of all separations in the Perseus molecular cloud, and the only model that could reproduce the data was one in which all stars form initially as wide binaries. These systems then either shrink or break apart within a million years.”’

Here’s the link to the article: http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/06/13/new-evidence-that-all-stars-are-born-in-pairs/

And, for hardcore astronomy students, here’s the link to the original arXiv.org paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/1705.00049

By shrinking, I assume they mean one star/big mass ate the other?

I would think that it is a possibility, but that particular scenario isn’t mentioned in the arXiv.org paper.

As I understand it, the authors believe that the stars in the particular cluster they studied either circle in closer together and remain binary systems, or they separate entirely.

Barring another big mass passing by, I am unsure how they would separate.

Have you talked about this article/paper with any of the professional astronomers you work with? If so, I would be interested in hearing their opinion(s).

I'm not there anymore.  I left at the beginning of the year.  I'm doing something entirely different right now, and I don't worry much about the stars.  Instead I worry about potable water, sewers, and urban failure modes.

[Brother Mythos]

“New evidence that all stars are born in pairs”

As per the article:

‘Astronomers have even searched for a companion to our sun, a star dubbed Nemesis because it was supposed to have kicked an asteroid into Earth’s orbit that collided with our planet and exterminated the dinosaurs. It has never been found.

The new assertion is based on a radio survey of a giant molecular cloud filled with recently formed stars in the constellation Perseus, and a mathematical model that can explain the Perseus observations only if all sunlike stars are born with a companion.

“We are saying, yes, there probably was a Nemesis, a long time ago,” said co-author Steven Stahler, a UC Berkeley research astronomer.

“We ran a series of statistical models to see if we could account for the relative populations of young single stars and binaries of all separations in the Perseus molecular cloud, and the only model that could reproduce the data was one in which all stars form initially as wide binaries. These systems then either shrink or break apart within a million years.”’

Here’s the link to the article: http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/06/13/new-evidence-that-all-stars-are-born-in-pairs/

And, for hardcore astronomy students, here’s the link to the original arXiv.org paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/1705.00049

By shrinking, I assume they mean one star/big mass ate the other?

I would think that it is a possibility, but that particular scenario isn’t mentioned in the arXiv.org paper.

As I understand it, the authors believe that the stars in the particular cluster they studied either circle in closer together and remain binary systems, or they separate entirely.

Barring another big mass passing by, I am unsure how they would separate.

Have you talked about this article/paper with any of the professional astronomers you work with? If so, I would be interested in hearing their opinion(s).

I'm not there anymore.  I left at the beginning of the year.  I'm doing something entirely different right now, and I don't worry much about the stars.  Instead I worry about potable water, sewers, and urban failure modes.

As I don’t come here every day, or read all of the threads, I didn’t know you had moved on. But, now that I do, I have a greater understanding of the significance of your new signature.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Yeah, that was my first project.  The Ukrainians were kind enough to prove our case in the wild, right after we proved it in an old "atomic town" in Nevada.

 

[P3nT4gR4m]

Mind hacking gets an upgrade

the study offers new evidence that the neural dimensions of concept representation are universal across people and languages.

Ho ho ho!

[P3nT4gR4m]

Craig Venter hasn't shown up on any of my feeds for a while. Looks like he's been busy 3-d printing biology from his laptop.

If there is a pandemic, everyone around you is dying and you cannot go outdoors, you can download the vaccine in a couple of seconds from the internet,” says Venter. A machine like this in hospitals, homes, and remote areas could revolutionize medicine.

[Brother Mythos]

Craig Venter hasn't shown up on any of my feeds for a while. Looks like he's been busy 3-d printing biology from his laptop.

If there is a pandemic, everyone around you is dying and you cannot go outdoors, you can download the vaccine in a couple of seconds from the internet,” says Venter. A machine like this in hospitals, homes, and remote areas could revolutionize medicine.

“The current prototype can produce only DNA, not proteins or living cells, but even that could be enough to make the device practical.”

Talk about your understatements. Wow!

[Brother Mythos]

”Sleeping for Centuries?”

“Is Human Hibernation Possible? Going to Sleep for Long Duration Spaceflight”


Here’s a quotation from the article:

“When humans freeze, ice crystals form in our cells, rupturing them permanently. There is one line of research that offers some hope: cryogenics. This process replaces the fluids of the human body with an antifreeze agent which doesn’t form the same destructive crystals.

Scientists have successfully frozen and then unfrozen 50-milliliters (almost a quarter cup) of tissue without any damage.

In the next few years, we’ll probably see this technology expanded to preserving organs for transplant, and eventually entire bodies, and maybe even humans. Then this science fiction idea might actually turn into reality. We’ll finally be able to sleep our way between the stars.”

Here’s the link: https://www.universetoday.com/136146/human-hibernation-possible-going-sleep-long-duration-spaceflight/

[The Good Reverend Roger]

”Sleeping for Centuries?”

“Is Human Hibernation Possible? Going to Sleep for Long Duration Spaceflight”


Here’s a quotation from the article:

“When humans freeze, ice crystals form in our cells, rupturing them permanently. There is one line of research that offers some hope: cryogenics. This process replaces the fluids of the human body with an antifreeze agent which doesn’t form the same destructive crystals.

Scientists have successfully frozen and then unfrozen 50-milliliters (almost a quarter cup) of tissue without any damage.

In the next few years, we’ll probably see this technology expanded to preserving organs for transplant, and eventually entire bodies, and maybe even humans. Then this science fiction idea might actually turn into reality. We’ll finally be able to sleep our way between the stars.”

Here’s the link: https://www.universetoday.com/136146/human-hibernation-possible-going-sleep-long-duration-spaceflight/

Woot.  And also we can freeze historians and unfreeze them for a year every decade so they can record the changes in society.

Sure, it's rough on them, but science isn't always pretty.

[P3nT4gR4m]

So we can bake normal maps onto IRL now

For some reason this just totally made me giggle uncontrollaby 

[Brother Mythos]

“The Third Thumb - Winner of the Helen Hamlyn Award for Creativity.”

Here’s a quote from the website:

“The human thumb has a really dynamic movement, the opposing movements working together make the thumb more functional than a single finger. The Third Thumb replicates these movements by using two motors pulling against the natural tension of a flexible 3d printed material. The motors are controlled by two pressure sensors retrofitted into your shoes, under your toes, and communicate to the thumb via Bluetooth connection. The foot control is inspired by products that help to develop the already strong connection between our hands and our feet. For example driving a car, using a sewing machine, or playing a piano.”

Here’s the link, for those who have always dreamed of having a third thumb:
http://www.daniclodedesign.com/thethirdthumb

[tyrannosaurus vex]

“The Third Thumb - Winner of the Helen Hamlyn Award for Creativity.”

Here’s a quote from the website:

“The human thumb has a really dynamic movement, the opposing movements working together make the thumb more functional than a single finger. The Third Thumb replicates these movements by using two motors pulling against the natural tension of a flexible 3d printed material. The motors are controlled by two pressure sensors retrofitted into your shoes, under your toes, and communicate to the thumb via Bluetooth connection. The foot control is inspired by products that help to develop the already strong connection between our hands and our feet. For example driving a car, using a sewing machine, or playing a piano.”

Here’s the link, for those who have always dreamed of having a third thumb:
http://www.daniclodedesign.com/thethirdthumb

neural link or gtfo

[Freeky]

https://mic.com/articles/181672/an-artist-made-a-third-thumb-for-your-hand-that-makes-everything-easier?utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=future&utm_source=policymicTBLR#.eQTpYzTNW

Is this one okay (not meant to be snarky or nasty)? It actually looks really god damn cool.

[tyrannosaurus vex]

https://mic.com/articles/181672/an-artist-made-a-third-thumb-for-your-hand-that-makes-everything-easier?utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=future&utm_source=policymicTBLR#.eQTpYzTNW

Is this one okay (not meant to be snarky or nasty)? It actually looks really god damn cool.

better. still needs a wire connected to my brain, though.

[Brother Mythos]

“Water bears will survive the end of the world as we know it”

As per the article, “These tough little buggers, also known as tardigrades, could keep calm and carry on until the sun boils Earth’s oceans away billions of years from now, according to a new study that examined water bears’ resistance to various astronomical disasters. This finding, published July 14 in Scientific Reports, suggests that complex life can be extremely difficult to destroy, which bodes well for anyone hoping Earthlings have cosmic company.”

Here’s the link: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/water-bears-will-survive-end-world-we-know-it?tgt=nr

The following link, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-05796-x, at the bottom of the original article provides more detail.

And here I had always been told the cockroaches would inherit the Earth.