Rearing Crops in Space Station

American space agency NASA has developed a new technique.  The scientists have claimed to grow the first crop at APH, the Advanced Plant Habitat.

Plant Growth Experiment
Wikimedia Commons by NASA

As per reports this first crop is a small species of wheat and a flower plant Arabidopsis.

APH was established in space in 2017. The Project Director Brian Onett said that besides growing small plants, the quality of seeds could also be developed at APH. This is a big achievement of agriculture in space.

 It is believed that this research would provide fine quality nutritious food to those astronauts who work on ISS missions at space for longer durations.

Both the seeds were sown at APH in February 2017. The crops were taken care of by an automatic tool Farmer, known as Plant Habitat Avionics Real Time Manager. APH has been so designed that it develops a necessary environment for the plants to grow in space. 

ISRO to Bring Helium from Moon

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is going to find the possibilities to mine Helium-3 on the southern end of the Moon, to meet its energy requirements.

Rising Earth view by Apollo 8 astronauts from behind the Moon
Apollo 8 crewmember Bill Anders

Several Space Organizations of the world in private and public sector are showing mining interests on the surface of the moon. They are finding the possibilities to store Helium-3 and the water available on the Moon until a reactor is built there. The ISRO sources revealed that India is fully ready for the project and not only wants to be a part of this process but also desires to lead the mission.  

ISRO is likely to launch a Rover and Probe Mission in October 2018, to collect the samples of soil and sand on the unexplored areas of the Moon. These samples would be subjected to detailed analysis and research back home.

The present Indian Mission is much cheaper than the similar project undertaken by NASA. He total cost of the Indian Project is merely 800 Crore in Indian Rupees or approximately $ 11.5 Million.

Without any protection, the surface of the Moon is believed to be absorbing Helium for millions of years.

The experts are of the view that the present quantity of Helium-3 on the Moon is sufficient to meet the global energy needs for 250 years.

What is Helium-3

The presence of Helium-3 on the surface of the Moon was declared by the eminent geologist Harrison Shimet in 1972, after the return of Apollo 17 Mission from the Moon.

Helium-3 is a clean and precious fuel for nuclear reactions. It could not be found on earth. The sufficient amount of mining of Helium-3 from the Moon and the cheap transportation of the same to earth could be an attractive alternative for nuclear reactors. 

New Cloth Fiber Will Generate Electricity

Recently the scientists have discovered a modern fiber which has the power to generate electricity when it is slightly bent or twisted. This flexible fiber is made of the nanotube. The size of these carbon grains is 10,000 times smaller than the human hair. This is capable of generating electricity from several natural sources. It generates energy by using the activities of sea waves and the small human movements.

It is has been named twistron yarn.

Carter Heinz, the chief author of an article published in “The Science Journal’ explains that one can imagine about “twistron harvester” as a fiber which generates electricity when it is pulled.

In this concept, the nanotube capability is used by the device to convert the spring-like movement into electrical energy. It could be used at several places.

In laboratory experiments, the fiber of a weight less than that of the fly was successful to generate electricity which could light a LED tube.

When attached to the shirt, this fiber was effectively generated sufficient energy to run a breathing sensor. The breathing sensor is used for the surveillance of the babies.

Prof. Ray Brown Texas University of Dallas, who was involved in this research, says that this fiber could be used in smart clothes connected to the internet. 

He said that the commercial world is very much interested in the manufacture of Electronic Clothes, but how such clothes would be energized.

Now the need of battery would come to an end when energy is generated by the movements of the man.

However, the most exclusive quality of the twistron fiber is its ability to work in the sea and to generate energy from the sea waves.

During an experiment conducted in South Korea, it was found that the fiber generated electricity with every sea wave when a small twistron was attached to a thing which could repeatedly sink and float.

Prof. Ray says that this technique could be used in future to build powerhouses in the sea. At that time this fiber would be able to generate electricity for the entire city.

At present this technique is very costly.    

At Paris, both the developed and the developing nations in Climate Agreement have sworn to reduce the production of greenhouse gases. Generally, these gases are produced when the fossil fuels are burnt. But the use of twistron fiber will drastically reduce or even end the dependability of man on fossil fuels. 

Carbon Dioxide Transformed into Rock- Remedy for Global Warming

In order to save the environment from the increasing amounts of carbon dioxide and greenhouse effect, the scientists have achieved a revolutionary feat. The researchers at Iceland have transformed the carbon dioxide into rocks to save the earth from global warming.

Sea lion in Punta Pitt, Ecuador

Wikimedia Commons by Diego Delso

This research named as Carbon Fix continued for two years at the Hellisheidi Geothermal power plant where carbon dioxide and water were mixed under the basalt rocks at the depth of 540 meters. 

This acidic mixture got mixed up with calcium and magnesium of the rocks which resulted into the formation of limestone.

In this way, according to Jurg Matter of the University of Manhattan, the carbon dioxide was permanently and naturally tapped. Matter is the lead author and related to the research.

It is hoped that the findings of the research would provide an effective weapon to fight against the global warming which is the creation of modern man.

Now carbon dioxide will not remain a gas for longer and would be converted into rocks. It was found in the research that about 95% of the carbon dioxide was captured and transformed into rocks. It happened faster than the previous estimates of the researchers. 

It was supposed that it would take thousands of years in the capturing and storage process of carbon dioxide. David Goldberg, the geophysicist of Columbia University has highly acclaimed this research  and experiment of Iceland.

Lift - The Marvelous Discovery

Roller Coaster
Wikimedia Commons by Vicreate

The Roman engineer Vitruvius Polio used the pulleys for the first time in 26 BC, to lift the material for the construction of buildings. He used a platform for the purpose, which moved up and down on the wheel- pulley arrangement. That is how the high rise buildings were constructed at that time in Rome. These platforms lifted heavy materials and were moved by beasts and men.

Then about 1800 years later such lifts began moving with steam energy. But all these lifts were used to carry the goods only. They were considered to be dangerous for lifting the man. That is why only the churches or temples were the highest buildings constructed till the middle of 19th century. Because there were two major problems, the first was to lift the material above 4 stories, and the second was the need of a strong support base. Besides the people were not desirous to live in skyscrapers.

It is said that the French Emperor Louis XV in 1743, had a moving chair outside his room, on which he used to go upstairs to the room of the queen. This lift is considered to be the first lift of the world.

But in 1848 the problem of building material and stairs was solved, when the solid structures of steel girders and cast iron came into being. Then in 1857, Ilia Otis used the same lift for a departmental store in New York, which he had already displayed three years ago in New York trade fair. This lift used steam energy but it moved very slowly. 

Then the Otis Company, first of all used an electric lift in 1899. Thereafter the lift underwent several improvements. In 1894 the life began moving by a click of a button and its speed too improved drastically. In 1903 the counterweight system in lift was developed. Otis sold his first lift for $ 300.

The modern lift automatically moves up and down and the doors too are automatic. These lifts balance the weight with pulleys and cable and are computerized too. In 1948 the lift became fully automatic. Now the lifts travel at a speed more than 500 meter per minute. The skyscrapers could not be imagined without a lift. 

The transparent lift made of glass was first used in Eiffel tower in France. Presently the lift is also used in ships, dams and rockets etc.

The Ultraviolet Radiations and Their Effects

Wikimedia Commons by charles

The electromagnetic or the light spectrum of the sunlight contains ultraviolet or UV radiations of wavelengths shorter than the visible light. These are invisible to the naked eye. It is also produced by an electric arc, hence the welders are expected to cover the eyes. 

These UV rays have different bands like long waves or black light ( UVA ), and medium waves (UVB ), which penetrate the atmosphere of the earth. They cause premature skin aging, cataracts, skin cancers and suppress the immune system, when overexposure occurs.

UVA account for 95 % of the UV radiations reaching the surface of the earth and are less intense than UVB, and can penetrate through clouds and glass. Their intensity is constant throughout the year day and throughout the day. The vitamin D is produced in body due to it, but its overexposure suppresses the immune system, forms cataract and toughens the skin. As compared to UVB, they penetrates more deeply into the skin but does not cause significant damage to epidermis or the outermost skin layer, where most skin cancers appear. It causes skin aging, wrinkling or photo-aging. It is the the tanning ray, but both outdoor or salon tan damage the skin by damaging the skin DNA. About 99.9 %of UVA radiation is blocked by UV film,while sun blocking lotions offer limited protection. 

UVB, the most energetic and destructive form of UV radiations, are completely absorbed by the atmosphere atmospheric ozone layer. But the depletion of ozone layer by the chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), have increased the skin cancer risks. It causes cataracts, photo-aging, skin cancer, reddening of skin, erythema or sunburn and the photochemical damage to cellular DNA by damaging the superficial epidermal layers. Its benefits of its exposure include effective and long-term treatment for eczema, vitiligo, and psoriasis. Its intensity varies according to season, location and the time of the day. It does not penetrate the glass but it strikes the skin with double intensity at high altitudes, snow or ice areas, because 80% of these rays get reflected.

Most of the short wave or germicidal waves (UVC ), are absorbed by the ozone layer and does not reach the earth. 

The amount of melanin in the skin determines the color of the skin. It is the melanin which absorbs the ultraviolet rays. The fair complexioned people have little amount of melanin and are more prone to melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer.

The photochemical effect of UV radiations is increased by chemicals like tetracycline, birth control pills, sulphathiazole, lime oil, antidepressants, anti dandruff shampoos, some cosmetics or sunscreens etc,.

The bright or deeply dark colored and lustrous clothes reflect UV radiations more than pastels or bleached cotton, while the loose fitting or closely woven clothes block the sunlight from touching the skin. Also the broad brimmed hats and UV sunglasses protect the neck,head, and eyes.

Oxygen Production at Mars

Wikimedia Commons by NASA Image

The NASA rover will start making oxygen at Mars in 2021. The rover will conduct seven scientific experiments, the purpose of which would be to find the way to send man on Mars, find the evidence of life and bring back the rock samples.

The equipment to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen is another objective of the mission. This oxygen would be helpful for life and return journey.

The rover will carry the equipment weighing 40 Kilogram including two cameras and weather tools.While making an announcement of Mars 2020 mission, the officials of NASA said that they are thrilled.

The cost of this one ton rover based on Curiosity rover of 2012 would be 1.9 billion dollars. But it would contain less equipment than Curiosity and the free space would be used for the rock samples. NASA hopes to bring them back on return journeys.

The present spaceships of NASA can also produce oxygen, but the new equipment would test this capability on Mars for the first time.