Tag Archives: Imperial College London

Aug 15 2011

The Ultimate Symbiosis And The Multiverse Around Us, Inside Us

Always had a tad crazy idea that there were more than one of me.

Now science said that I might be right…

Go figure.

 [via ca.news.yahoo.com] Is our universe just one of many? While the concept is bizarre, it’s a real possibility, according to scientists who have devised the first test to investigate the idea.

The potential that we live in a multiverse arises from a theory called eternal inflation, which posits that shortly after the Big Bang that formed the universe, space-time expanded at different rates in different places, giving rise to bubble universes that may function with their own separate laws of physics.

The idea has seemed purely hypothetical, until now. In a new study, researchers suggest that if our universe has siblings, we may have bumped into them. Such collisions would have left lasting marks in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, the diffuse light left over from the Big Bang that pervades the universe, the researchers say.

“It brings the idea of eternal inflation and bubble collisions into the realm of testable science,” said research team member Daniel Mortlock, an astrophysicist at Imperial College London. “If it’s not testable, it’s hard to even call it science.” Read More.

The idea of other universes out there is mind-bending, but scientists say in some ways it actually makes sense.

“It helps explain some of the strange coincidences about our own universe,” Mortlock said. “Why is our universe so amenable to life?

“Many of the fundamental constants in our universe, such as the strength of gravity and the speed of light, seem perfectly calibrated to produce a universe in which galaxies, stars, planets and even life can form. If any of these constants had been tweaked at all, the universe would likely be empty, with no stars and no life.

But if our universe is one of many, then the fact that it’s so perfectly tuned for life isn’t such an unlikely coincidence. [7 Theories on the Origin of Life]

“One possibility is there are multiple different universes with different laws, and some are not right for life and so life doesn’t evolve, and some are right for life and so creatures evolve and make measurements and ask deep, twisty questions like this,” Mortlock said.

“For that reason [the theory] is very appealing.”However, the possibility of multiple universes also comes with some unsettling implications.

For example, some calculations suggest that a reality with infinite space and infinite universes would necessarily have to repeat itself sometimes, leading to the conclusion that copies of Earth and everyone on it exist somewhere else out there.

The idea of other universes out there is mind-bending, but scientists say in some ways it actually makes sense.”It helps explain some of the strange coincidences about our own universe,” Mortlock said.

“Why is our universe so amenable to life?”Many of the fundamental constants in our universe, such as the strength of gravity and the speed of light, seem perfectly calibrated to produce a universe in which galaxies, stars, planets and even life can form. If any of these constants had been tweaked at all, the universe would likely be empty, with no stars and no life. [Read more]

If you think this is science fiction? Think twice.

Something similar exists here on Earth. The concept of multi-organisms living in each other.

The Ultimate Symbiosis: Mealybugs have bacteria living inside their bacteria

[via io9.com]Lots of organisms rely on symbiotic relationships, in which two species rely on each other for survival and one lives inside the other.

But citrus mealybugs enjoy a triply symbiotic relationship unlike any we’ve ever seen…with one absolutely crucial exception.

Microbiologist John McCutcheon of the University of Montana and biologist Carol von Dohlen of Utah State University teamed up to study how symbiosis helps the citrus mealybug survive.

The bug must turn plant sap into nutrients, but it lacks the ability to do this on its own. It relies on the bacterium Tremblaya princeps to handle the conversion process…except this bacterium can’t do it all either.

Instead, Tremblaya princeps handles one part of the conversion into amino acids, and then it hands things over to a second, smaller bacterium Moranella endobia. This bacterium lives inside Tremblaya princeps, and neither bacterium possesses the necessary complement of biomachinery to turn the plant sap into nutrients. So this means the mealybug relies on both bacteria equally for food, Moranella needs to be housed inside Tremblaya, and Tremblaya must survive inside the mealybug.

It’s the first triple symbiosis we’ve ever seen.But that’s not the end of the story – Tremblaya has the smallest genome of any organism that we’ve seen so far. It has only 121 genes, compared to the 20,000 or so that humans possess. No truly independent bacterium could ever survive with so few genes – its pair of symbiotic partners have allowed it to lose superfluous genes while settling into its easygoing routine.

Crucially, the presence of a second bacterium in Moranella to handle some of its duties has allowed Tremblaya to lose even more genes that one might normally expect.

What we might be seeing here is a transitional stage in the development of organelles, which are semi-independent units found inside cells that possess a tiny portion of their own DNA and perform certain autonomous functions. In animals, those organelles are mitochondria, which are crucial for providing energy for the cell. The whole “tiny portion of their own DNA” thing is why mitochondrial DNA is so crucial to charting human ancestry.

In much the same way that Tremblaya and Moranella share metabolic functions and serve as equal partners in keeping their host alive, so too do organelles perform crucial functions for the survival of the cell and, by extension, the organism as a whole. With mealybugs, we might finally have a modern equivalent to the evolution of mitochondria and other organelles that took place millions of years ago. [Read more]

Multiverse and triple symbiotic relationships in bacteria?

This world is the strangest place to live.  “winks”

Jan 30 2011

Robots: From “forced laborers” to what exactly?

Learn something new everyday…

Did you know the word “robot” means “forced laborer”? I didn’t.

Ironic almost isn’t it that I’m pretty sure that soon? We human will be subjugated to forced labor under THEIR control…

That is so going to just suck!

“Robot” comes from the Czech word “robota” which means “work” or “forced labourer.” Indeed, in the early days, robots were seen as a way to make light work of tedious tasks. Who doesn’t want a robot that does the housework or makes the tea? But instead of creating a modern-day,indefatigable Jeeves, much robotics research today focuses on creating emotional machines. Robots started out conceptually as automaton-servants but are now helping us get to grips with what makes us human.

Jules, the posh robot from the University of Bristol, UK, is equipped with tiny motors under its skin, which means it can accurately mimic human facial expressions. Jules is a disembodied head though, and while its copycat technique is impressive, robots need to do more than copy us to be able to interact on an emotional level.

A step up the emotional adeptness scale, AIDA, the driving companion, uses its facial expressions to respond to the driver’s mood – looking sad if a seatbelt is undone, for instance, or detecting that you are tense as you drive and helping you relax.

Back with the original idea of a robot around the house, even robo-servants have benefitted from being designed with the robot-human relationship in mind. A team of robots, created by Kerstin Dautenhahn at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, UK, are programmed to do all manner of dirty household jobs as well as understand concepts such as personal space, so that they fit in better with the lives of their masters.Being able to communicate emotionally with machines is also proving useful in a research environment. Maja Pantic at Imperial College London is looking at how machines could recognize pain on someone’s face, in order to tell whether painkillers are working effectively.

Leornardo – an adorable furry automaton built at MIT – isn’t just super-expressive, but also understands more complex concepts, such as the idea of “false belief” – something human children don’t develop until around age five.

Meanwhile, Kismet, also created at MIT, is built with the emotions of a baby, becoming sad and lonely and looking for others to play with if left alone too long. And there’s iCub, the robotic toddler that acts as a model for childhood development.

On a lighter note, some robots are being used not just to recreate emotions, but also evoke them. A robotic ballet-dancing swan apparently had the audience in tears when it performed Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (though tears of what, we aren’t quite sure). Robo-thespians are treading the boards with real actors, and a life-drawing robot is even helping investigate the key to creativity.

If that’s how far we’ve come in less than a century since the invention of the word, just imagine the tears, joy and laughter we’ll be sharing with our robo-companions in another 90. See you in 2101. [Read More]

It is obvious this author and myself are looking at our upcoming robot experience from ‘glass half full’/ ‘glass half empty’ perspectives.

Where she sees the possibility of experiencing joy, laughter and tears as a direct result of our robotic advancements, I see…

Tears too, but the ones I see? Are mixed with fear and stark raving terror.

Minor differences there.

But I do agree with her on her MAIN point…

The technology IS coming.

Whether we are looking forward to it, ready for it, or not.

Oct 14 2010

Shocking survey: ‘Early release’ for criminals is a bad idea!

I cannot believe this – Short prison sentences for criminals does NOT reduce crime!?!?

You mean letting criminals OUT of prison early, after serving only short sentences, is a BAD idea?

I’m shocked.

What rational, intelligent person could have possibly seen these result coming…

Short prison sentences do not reduce crime and are used excessively, a survey of prison governors suggests.

The Howard League for Penal Reform released responses from an ongoing research project into short sentences.

Of 223 current and retired Prison Governors Association members surveyed, only 6% agreed that short sentences rehabilitated offenders.


Justice Secretary Ken Clarke will address the governors association annual conference later.

He has called for alternatives to jail to be developed.

‘Excessive’ use:

The survey also found that 59% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed when asked if short prison sentences reduced crime, including by deterrence.

Three-quarters of the respondents said they considered the current use of short prison sentences between zero and six months to be “excessive”.

Only a quarter responded that they felt that drug and alcohol problems could be “somewhat or very satisfactorily” addressed during a short prison sentence

PGA president said Eoin McLennan-Murray said: “It is mainly low-risk offenders with short prison sentences who could be more effectively dealt with by the probation service, allowing prisons to concentrate on rehabilitating serious and serial offenders.


“At this time, when spending cuts across the criminal justice system is necessary, money should be targeted effectively. Providing funds to build additional prisons is not the way forward,” he said.

Researcher Julie Trebilcock of Imperial College London said the survey showed new and important evidence about the views of prison professionals.

“The majority expressed concern that a short sentence rarely provides enough time to address the needs of offenders while they are in custody.

“The data also reveals that prison governors have some real concerns about the effectiveness of these sentences in terms of both rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.”

Oh, yes…

That’s right.

Oct 7 2010

The ‘Climate Changers’ are a bunch of child exploiting wackos!

OK.

Of there is any doubt that the ‘Climate Change’ movement is overrun by nuts…?

I am about to dispel it.

Take this first article that, thanks to new research INFORMATION, that shows the Earth’s warming was due TO the sun (Duh):

If NEW satellite data can be trusted [And the only reason why it wouldn't BE trusted is because it doesn't fit their AGENDA], changes in solar activity warmed the Earth when they should have cooled it.


Joanna Haigh of Imperial College London studied satellite measurements of solar radiation between 2004 and 2007, when overall solar activity was in decline. The sun puts out less energy when its activity is low, but different types of radiation vary to different degrees. Until now, this had been poorly studied.

Haigh’s measurements showed that visible radiation increased between 2004 and 2007, when it was expected to decrease, and ultraviolet radiation dropped four times as much as predicted.

Haigh then plugged her data into an atmospheric model to calculate how the patterns affected energy filtering through the atmosphere. Previous studies have shown that Earth is normally cooler during solar minima.Yet the model suggested that more solar energy reached the planet’s surface during the period, warming it by about 0.05 °C (Nature, DOI: 10.1038/nature09426).

Now take in this second article, that takes the SAME information and spins it, because this information does NOT fall in line with the behavioral “priming” that has been going on (thanks to scientists and their agenda) in relation to “Global Warming”:

The Sun’s activity has recently affected the Earth’s atmosphere and climate in unexpected ways, according to a new study published today in the journal Nature. The study, by researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Colorado, shows that a decline in the Sun’s activity does not always mean that the Earth becomes cooler.

It is well established that the Sun’s activity waxes and wanes over an 11-year cycle and that as its activity wanes, the overall amount of radiation reaching the Earth decreases. Today’s study looked at the Sun’s activity over the period 2004-2007, when it was in a declining part of its 11-year activity cycle.

Although the Sun’s activity declined over this period, the new research shows that it may have actually caused the Earth to become warmer. Contrary to expectations, the amount of energy reaching the Earth at visible wavelengths increased rather than decreased as the Sun’s activity declined, causing this warming effect.


Following this surprising finding, the researchers behind the study believe it is possible that the inverse is also true and that in periods when the Sun’s activity increases, it tends to cool, rather than warm, the Earth. This is based on what is already known about the relationship between the Sun’s activity and its total energy output.

Overall solar activity has been increasing over the past century, so the researchers believe it is possible that during this period, the Sun has been contributing a small cooling effect, rather than a small warming effect as had previously been thought.

Professor Joanna Haigh, the lead author of the study who is Head of the Department of Physics and member of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London, said: “These results are challenging what we thought we knew about the Sun’s effect on our climate. However, they only show us a snapshot of the Sun’s activity and its behaviour over the three years of our study could be an anomaly.

“We cannot jump to any conclusions based on what we have found during this comparatively short period and we need to carry out further studies to explore the Sun’s activity, and the patterns that we have uncovered, on longer timescales. However, if further studies find the same pattern over a longer period of time, this could suggest that we may have overestimated the Sun’s role in warming the planet, rather than underestimating it.”

Uh-huh. Really – That last statement?

Yes, it’s what any sane individual would call “Damage control.”

“That’s a pretty harsh statement,” you think to yourself. Why would I even think that?

Well, because the “Climate Change” enthusiasts are spinning out of control and have lately (in their desperation) have been showing just what “Nuts!” they really are.

Exhibit A:

And now, the most recent?

Exhibit B:

Yes, that’s a CHILD in a noose.

If that doesn’t show you just how wacko these eco-terrorists, Climate changers are?

I don’t know what will.

Sep 24 2010

What’s good for strong bones (and no its not milk)? Titanim Foam!

OK, that was going to be my second guess…

Does that count?

No?

Darnit.

Eat your heart out, Wolverine. The X-Men superhero won’t be the only one with with metal fused into his skeleton if a new titanium foam proves suitable for replacing and strengthening damaged bones.

Bone implants are typically made of solid metal – usually titanium. Though well tolerated by the body, such implants are significantly stiffer than bone.

This means that an implant may end up carrying a far higher load than the bone it is placed next to, according to Peter Quadbeck of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials Research in Dresden, Germany. In a worst-case scenario, the decrease in stress placed on the bone means it will deteriorate, while the implant loosens and needs to be replaced.

Spongy inspiration

Now Quadbeck and colleagues have created a titanium implant with a foam-like structure, inspired by the spongy nature of bone. The titanium foam does a better job than solid metal when it comes to matching the mechanical properties of bone, such as flexibility, and this encourages more effective bone regrowth.

What’s more, the foam is porous, so the bone can grow around and within it, truly integrating the implant with the skeleton.

The titanium foam is made by saturating polyurethane foam with a solution of titanium powder and binding agents. The titanium clings to the polyurethane matrix, which is then vaporised away along with the binding agents. This results in a titanium lattice which is finally heat-treated to harden it.

Though the foam has yet to be approved for use in humans, Quadbeck and colleagues are now working with physicians to explore its suitability for treating certain injuries.

Peter Lee of the Department of Materials at Imperial College London is impressed. He says there are applications where inserting one of these titanium foams “looks like the most promising solution”, such as bridging long gaps between broken bones.

Yuyuan Zhao, a materials engineer at the University of Liverpool, UK, adds that “if human bone isn’t good enough, an implant could give your body better performance” than leaving bone to heal naturally or using other types of implant.

Very cool.

However if they used it for something like this…

Digging yourself out of a Titanium Securefoam cocoon – That might be a bit of a problem, don’t you think?

Sep 19 2010

Clothes in a spray can?

You have GOT to be kidding me – Spray on clothes?!

What happens if you are spraying on a half sleeve and you sneeze?

I tell you, I don’t know if I trust myself enough to spray on my clothes. I foresee bad fashion disasters from this…

Just bad!

Boffins have created a cotton-based material which can be sprayed onto your body to create instant clothes, from t-shirts to trousers.

Fabrican -  literally a fabric in a can – is the result of researchers who have spent years with the aim of developing an instant, sprayable, non-woven fabric.

Spanish designer Dr Manel Torres – who worked with Imperial College London – says the resulting sprayed clothes can even be taken off, washed and worn again.

However, as the material is sprayed directly onto the body from an areosol, it means all resulting garments are skin-tight… and we don’t know what happens to any stray hairs which get caught.

The science behind Fabrican is a mixture of short fibers which are combined with polymers to bind them, and a solvent which delivers the fabric in liquid form.

As the spray makes contact with the body the mixture evaporates leaving the cotton fibres which are cross-linked to produce the garment.

A spokesperson for Fabrican said: “The product was developed through interdisciplinary research, linking the subjects of engineering, material science and design.

“The fabric is formed by the cross-linking of fibres which adhere to create an instant non-woven fabric that can be easily sprayed on to any surface.”



But Dr Torres doesn’t think the product will be limited to fashion uses, he says he also expected it to be picked up by the medical industry where it could be used to make instant wound healing products, dressings and patches.

Jun 12 2010

Absolute black metamaterial IS the new black…Absolutely.

Building something out of material that is invisible to radar?

Yeah, that won’t be militarized at all.

*rolls eyes*

FASHIONISTAS take note: this material really does deserve to be labelled the new black – it absorbs virtually all the light that hits it.


This “blacker than black” stuff is an example of a class of substances known as metamaterials, which exhibit optical properties not normally found in nature.

Metamaterials consist of a regular array of two or more tiny components, each smaller than the wavelengths of the light they interact with. It is this array-like internal structure that gives them their unusual properties.

Evgenii Narimanov of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, realised that it should be possible to design a metamaterial with the right internal structure to absorb virtually all the electromagnetic radiation in a particular range. An object made of such a material would effectively be perfectly black. By contrast, ordinary black objects always reflect a little light.

In collaboration with Narimanov, Mikhail Noginov and colleagues at Norfolk State University in Virginia have now created such a perfectly black material. It consists of silver wires 35 nanometres in diameter, embedded in 1-centimetre squares of aluminium oxide, 51 micrometres thick.

The team tested their handiwork by illuminating polished and roughened versions of the material with near-infrared radiation at a wavelength of around 900 nanometres, just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum. With the radiation hitting the material at an angle less than 45 degrees from the perpendicular, they found that 20 per cent of it was reflected if the surface was polished, though the proportion dropped to less than 1 per cent if it was roughened.

The concept is “equally applicable to all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum”, Narimanov told a session of the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics last month in San Jose, California. “This is a new and valuable result,” says metamaterial pioneer John Pendry of Imperial College London.

Speaking to New Scientist, Narimanov said the primary application of this type of material is likely to be military, for use in “stealth technology in the gigahertz range” – in other words, to build equipment invisible to radar.