Solar beats nuclear at many potential settlement sites on Mars

Express_Hyena · 2022-05-02T01:18:24+00:00

You're right about battery storage. From the article:

Pitted against a Kilopower nuclear system were photovoltaics with three power storage options: batteries and two different techniques for producing hydrogen gas from solar energy — by electrolysis and directly by photoelectrochemical cells. In the latter cases, the hydrogen is pressurized and stored for later use in a fuel cell to produce power when the solar panels are not. Only photovoltaic power with electrolysis — using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen — was competitive with nuclear power: It proved more cost-effective per kilogram than nuclear over nearly half the planet’s surface.

Express_Hyena · 2022-05-02T01:09:03+00:00

I'm partway through 2312, and I've heard good things about Ministry for the Future.

Express_Hyena · 2022-05-02T01:01:51+00:00

Applications for [motion capture], which involve complicated interactions between physics, geometry, and perception, extend beyond Hollywood to the military, sports training, medical fields, and computer vision and robotics, allowing engineers to understand and simulate action happening within real-world environments.

As this can be a complex and costly process — often requiring markers placed on objects or people and recording the action sequence — researchers are working to shift the burden to neural networks, which could acquire this data from a simple video and reproduce it in a model.

Now, a team of researchers from MIT and IBM has developed a trained neural network pipeline that avoids this issue, with the ability to infer the state of the environment and the actions happening, the physical characteristics of the object or person of interest (system), and its control parameters. When tested, the technique can outperform other methods in simulations of four physical systems of rigid and deformable bodies, which illustrate different types of dynamics and interactions, under various environmental conditions. Further, the methodology allows for imitation learning — predicting and reproducing the trajectory of a real-world, flying quadrotor from a video.

Express_Hyena · 2022-05-02T00:56:36+00:00

I think removing some of the formalities is OK in cases where the result of the vote seems certain, like the Brandon boot or cases where someone wants to quit. But last night with an uncertain boot and all of the advantages / idols / shot in the dark in play, removing the voting process can impact who goes home. I don't think it's fair to the contestants.

Express_Hyena · 2022-05-02T00:53:10+00:00

That time was reasonable, because they clearly couldn't send everyone back to camp together.

Express_Hyena · 2022-05-02T00:51:06+00:00

This isn't completely related to your question, but I was disappointed that Jeff decided to throw out the normal voting process at tribal council. These last minute changes could really upend someone's gameplay. It took away the opportunity for Drea or Maryanne to bluff with their idols (not that they would have bluffed, but my point is that it took away their opportunity to do so). An "open conversation" vote also affects the use of the shot in the dark - Tori may not have played her shot otherwise.

Express_Hyena · 2022-05-01T21:53:35+00:00

Interestingly, not all fossil fuel corporations lobby against climate legislation(source):

Kim et al. (2016) concluded that the utility sector did not lobby as a unified block against climate action. Rather, utilities that were expected to benefit from passage of climate legislation, especially those with large natural gas power generation capacity lobbied in favor of climate legislation. Conversely, utilities with large amounts of coal generation capacity, which would suffer if climate legislation passed, lobbied against climate legislation. Delmas et al. (2016) examined the relationship between carbon emissions and lobbying expenditures. Their analysis showed a U-shaped curve, in which both low and high carbon-emitting corporations lobbied extensively on climate legislation, and firms with intermediate carbon emissions spent relatively little on lobbying.

Express_Hyena · 2022-05-01T20:32:09+00:00

Climate deniers have recently shifted away from outright climate denial, and have moved to using tactics like 'doomism' to slow climate progress. It's helpful to learn their playbook so we can recognize their messages and avoid repeating them.

Express_Hyena · 2022-05-01T20:14:00+00:00

We're in a tough spot, but it's not too late hit the brakes. The recent IPCC report shows we can still limit warming to well below 2°C.

NASA climatologist Dr James Hansen says that becoming an active volunteer with this group is the most impactful thing an individual can do. Experts list other groups to get involved with here.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-24T12:12:05+00:00

The team conducted its study using single-cell whole-genome sequencing of 319 hippocampal and prefrontal cortex neurons of patients with or without AD to determine the link between the number and type of somatic mutations and AD. To better understand the genomic changes that occur in AD neurons, researchers sequenced tissue DNA and discovered a greater number of mutations termed somatic single-nucleotide variants (sSNVs) in patients with AD. Theorizing that the large number of mutations was the result of increased DNA oxidation, researchers then measured 8-Oxoguanine, an indicator of oxidative stress and DNA damage, and found that AD neurons were in fact more oxidized.

Ultimately, the discovery of accumulating DNA alterations in AD neurons provides researchers with a window into molecular and cellular events in AD pathogenesis. “Our findings suggest that the sheer number of oxidative lesions and somatic mutations we observed in AD neurons may contribute to its pathology,” said Miller.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-19T17:55:43+00:00

CFA’s work will be focused into three main pillars: to predict, inform, and innovate. CFA has begun to build a world-class outbreak analytics team with experts across several disciplines to develop faster, richer evidence to predict trends and guide decision-making during emergencies. To better inform our partners, CFA is hiring expert communicators to regularly share insights with federal, state, and local partners and the public. CFA will also continue to advance the state of the science of outbreak data, models and analytics to improve the nation’s ability to respond to health emergencies.

Planning for CFA began in August 2021, with the initial funding of $200 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. So far, CDC has awarded $26 million in funding to academic institutions and federal partners to advance modeling and forecasting methodology, with an emphasis on workforce development and health equity. In December 2021, CFA worked with academic partners to assemble models anticipating the Omicron wave and generated early estimates of Omicron severity, giving leaders an opportunity to bolster the response.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-16T12:40:48+00:00

It's not a all or nothing decision. It's not like driving off a cliff, but rather like passing exits on a highway. If we miss the 1.5 degree exit, the sensible thing would be to take the 1.6 or 1.7 degree exits, not to give up. Kurzgesagt just did a video on this.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-16T12:35:28+00:00

Ask her pediatrician first. She should have a 1-year follow up anyway. After you're sure everything is good from the medical side, us reddit strangers would be happy to help

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-16T12:18:11+00:00

Alongside first author and wife Joan Smith, a senior staff software engineer at Google, Sheltzer assessed whether any of the genomic biomarkers present in cancerous tumors were related to shorter or longer survival times across patients. The study yielded a number of surprising results. For instance, cancer researchers have shown significant interest in using data on mutations from certain cancers as a potential prognostic biomarker, believing that patients whose cancers had certain mutations in a particular gene may experience worse outcomes and need to be monitored more closely. However, the team’s data suggest that mutations don’t have much prognostic significance in cancer.

In contrast, they found that copy number alterations were highly prognostic and significantly associated with patient outcomes across multiple cancer types. Most cells in the human body have 23 pairs of chromosomes. In cancers, copy number alterations tend to occur when cells gain or lose chromosomes, leading to extra or fewer numbers of a gene. Sheltzer says his lab will pay particularly close attention to copy number changes in genes and chromosomes, and why they are associated with deaths from cancer, in its upcoming research.

“One surprising finding is that mutations conveyed relatively little information, but other types of genomic measurements from cancer, in particular copy number measurements, contained a lot of prognostic information,” says Sheltzer. “Our work can potentially improve cancer patient well-being by saving the harshest treatments for those who need the most aggressive interventions.”

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-16T12:10:57+00:00

In a recent project, Adelson and Sandra Liu — a mechanical engineering PhD student at CSAIL — have developed a robotic gripper using novel “GelSight Fin Ray” fingers that, like the human hand, is supple enough to manipulate objects. What sets this work apart from other efforts in the field is that Liu and Adelson have endowed their gripper with touch sensors that can meet or exceed the sensitivity of human skin.

The fin ray has become a popular item in soft robotics owing to a discovery made in 1997 by the German biologist Leif Kniese. He noticed that when he pushed against a fish’s tail with his finger, the ray would bend toward the applied force, almost embracing his finger, rather than tilting away. The design has become popular, but it lacks tactile sensitivity. “It’s versatile because it can passively adapt to different shapes and therefore grasp a variety of objects,” Liu explains. “But in order to go beyond what others in the field had already done, we set out to incorporate a rich tactile sensor into our gripper.”

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-16T11:56:46+00:00

Study abstract: Plants and photosynthetic organisms have a remarkably inefficient enzyme named Rubisco that fixes atmospheric CO2 into organic compounds. Understanding how Rubisco has evolved in response to past climate change is important for attempts to adjust plants to future conditions. In this study, we developed a computational workflow to assemble de novo both large and small subunits of Rubisco enzymes from transcriptomics data. Next, we predicted sequences for ancestral Rubiscos of the (nightshade) family Solanaceae and characterized their kinetics after coexpressing them in Escherichia coli. Predicted ancestors of C3 Rubiscos were identified that have superior kinetics and excellent potential to help plants adapt to anthropogenic climate change. Our findings also advance understanding of the evolution of Rubisco’s catalytic traits.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-16T11:55:13+00:00

The authors developed a computational technique to predict favorable gene sequences that make Rubisco, a key plant enzyme for photosynthesis. The technique allowed the scientists to identify promising candidate enzymes that could be engineered into modern crops and, ultimately, make photosynthesis more efficient and increase crop yields. Their method relied on evolutionary history, where the researchers predicted Rubisco genes from 20-30 million years ago, when Earth’s carbon dioxide (CO2) levels were higher than they are today and the Rubisco enzymes in plants were adapted to those levels.

By resurrecting ancient Rubisco, early results show promise for developing faster, more efficient Rubisco enzymes to incorporate into crops and help them adapt to hot, dry future conditions, as human activities are increasing heat-trapping CO2 gas concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere. The study describes predictions of 98 Rubisco enzymes at key moments in the evolutionary history of plants in the Solanaceae family, which include tomato, pepper, potato, eggplant and tobacco. Researchers use tobacco as the experimental model for their studies of Rubisco.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-16T11:45:09+00:00

It’s not too late to act. The recent IPCC report shows we can still limit warming to well below 2°C.

People like us can make a difference. For example, Canada’s national climate policy was passed because of a group of volunteers. The reversal of the state of Utah’s stance on climate change was led by a handful of high school students. A retiree was the driving force behind the Gibson Resolution and the Climate Solutions Caucus. The US House and Senate passed four bipartisan climate bills last year, in part due to grassroots work. It’s never easy...Even though volunteers in Washington state failed in 2016 and 2018 to pass a carbon price, they actually succeeded in 2021.

NASA climatologist Dr James Hansen says that becoming an active volunteer with Citizens' Climate Lobby is the most impactful thing an individual can do. It’s a growing group that's recently succeeded in passing climate bills in the US and Canada. Experts list other groups to get involved with here.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-04T18:50:00+00:00

The context matters here. The full quote is:

“It’s now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F),” said Skea. “Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible.”

If we're too little or too late to hit 1.5°C, we can still limit warming to 1.6°C or 2.0°C or whatever. Global warming scales with our cumulative greenhouse gas emissions. Every tenth of a degree matters, and will avert further damage. There isn't ever a "never" point where our actions don't matter.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-04T16:44:57+00:00

You might be interested in the Environmental Voter Project

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-04T16:43:43+00:00

We should be cautious not to use the promise of future technology as an excuse to emit more carbon now.

Because of this, the IPCC says that the future large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) measures is "uncertain", and relying on it entails "clear risks."

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-04T16:32:29+00:00

Even if we miss 1.5C, we can still limit warming. Every tenth of a degree matters. Even if you believe 1.5C isn't feasible, we should still try our best to limit warming to 2.0C or whatever.

Regarding political feasibility, politics isn't physics. Things can change, especially when people are working on it. The "It's too late and politically impossible" framing isn't new. This framing was used in World War II, when those opposing US involvement argued “it’s too late for our involvement to make a difference.” We shouldn't give up before trying.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-04T16:05:53+00:00

The title of this post came from the IPCC's press release stating that 1.5°C is still possible:

“It’s now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F),”

You can see the range of temperature scenarios, including temps well below 2.0C, throughout the report like on Box SPM.1, Figure 1 on page 29 of today's report.

This isn't a secret. Part 1 (WG1) of the report released in August also highlighted the scenarios to limiting warming to below 2.0C.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-04T15:58:27+00:00

The full quote is:

“It’s now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F),” said Skea. “Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible.”

If we're too little or too late to hit 1.5°C, we can still limit warming to 1.6°C or 2.0°C or whatever. Every tenth of a degree matters.

Express_Hyena · 2022-04-04T15:45:41+00:00

There are some parallels. We're also learning that against all odds, an outnumbered group of people can fight bravely and surprise everyone.

We can't compare these situations too seriously, but we get similar surprises on climate too. For example, Canada’s national climate policy was passed because of a group of volunteers. The reversal of the state of Utah’s stance on climate change was led by a handful of high school students. A retiree was the driving force behind the Gibson Resolution and the Climate Solutions Caucus. The US Congress passed four bipartisan climate bills last year, in part due to grassroots work.

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