Category: Technology

Macro Grids – The Future of Renewable Energy

Global warming and the dangers it poses to the planet has many countries converting to renewable sources of energy. Research into new ways of accomplishing this has been ongoing, and the last few years have unearthed numerous possibilities. Since the problems associated with non-renewable energy sources are global, many researchers are looking into ways of adapting the resources to benefit the entire world. Previous use of renewable resources, such as solar or wind powered energy, has been restricted because of intermittent energy drops. Scientists believe that this can be fixed by using grids across continents to tap into energy sources when they are needed, not only when they are available.

Most of our current energy grids operate on alternating current (AC). Converting these renewable energy sources to direct current (DC), where energy flows in a single direction, is making it possible for high-voltage lines to be installed throughout the United States. This is beneficial because DC can transport a substantial amount of power over longer distances, while reducing energy loss often associated with AC systems. Construction has begun in Wyoming on the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Farm, which will have a DC connecting Wyoming to California, Nevada and Arizona. The line is being made from a series of steel transmission towers which can carry up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity and, in addition to transporting energy from Wyoming, would also allow energy to flow from California on sunny days.

Research into ways of transporting renewable energy has resulted in a paper being published in Nature Climate Change, which shows that a better transmission infrastructure would be benefit the entire country. The United States has sources of renewable energy throughout the country, which would be sufficient to maintain its own energy requirements at costs similar to those that currently exist. This would be possible with the current technology available and research has calculated future costs, demand, generation and transmissions and shows where greenhouse gas emissions would decrease by 78% below the levels of 1990 in 15 years.

Although the USA has just started applying this technology, macro grids are already being used by other countries. Four-fifths of the hydroelectric power in China is produced in the south-west, but most people live in eastern mega cities. The country has adapted to transporting large amounts of power over significant distances in both directions. As a leader in technology, China also plans to invest $50 trillion to transport clean energy globally. This project, known as Global Energy Interconnection would connect a wind farm at the North Pole, solar power from near the Equator, as well as other natural sources, and transport it to cities throughout the world. The technology is expected to be in place by 2050, and would significantly impact the way in which the world’s energy is acquired.

City-to-City Transport via Rockets

Since the inception of Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, its inventions have slowly been transforming the way in which we travel, both around the globe and into space. After describing his plan to proceed with the colonization of Mars, Musk surprised those at the most recent meeting of the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia, by announcing his intention to use the same rocket to launch city-to-city travel. The innovator announced his intention of replacing all the company’s current hardware with new technology by the early 2020’s, in September 2017, and describing this as the quickest way to travel between two places on Earth.

The rockets, known as the BFRs (short for Big F*cking Rockets) would be able to take passengers from any city in the world to another, in less than an hour. Each would be at least 350 ft with the ability to travel at 17,000 miles per hour, which is ten times the speed of the Concorde Supersonic Jet. Musk is planning to begin these journeys within the next five years, and believes that the flights could operate at the same price as a full fare economy trip, on a commercial aeroplane.

The new rocket designs include reusable launch vehicles and spacecrafts, ground infrastructure for rapid launch and relaunch, and zero-gravity propellant transfer technology which can be deployed in low Earth orbit. Musk referred to this type of travel as ‘Earth-to-Earth’ transfers, and outlined how it would be achieved by the spaceship travelling through orbit around the earth and arriving close to major cities, touching down on floating landing pads. Each BFR would be able to transport between 80 and 200 passengers, per trip.

Several details of the passenger experience are still unknown including: the percentage of overall travelers that the rockets would carry, as well as the way in which journeys would be regulated. There have also been concerns expressed about the way in which the experience would affect the human body, such as the weightlessness when the rocket is in orbit and the difference between launching a rocket and a plane taking off. The flight in the spaceship is anticipated to be like that of an intense roller coaster ride where the rocket would shoot directly into the air for a few minutes, and then descend rapidly for the next 1/2 hour to the desired destination. Other well respected individuals in the field have commended Musk on his previous contributions and they, along with the general public, anxiously await the results of this new development in the future of flight.

Google’s Artificial Intelligence – Cementing the Bond between Man and Machine

Google’s work in artificial intelligence has resulted in a ‘new paradigm,’ which is believed to be the next step in uniting humans and machines. The company has invested greatly in research about AI development and expansion, and is aware of the potential that the technology has to change the way in which the world operates and develops. Google has already incorporated artificial intelligence in their products and services, such as Google Photos and Maps. Parent company, Alphabet, made it clear in a recent earnings call that their investment in AI capabilities will continue, as they believe that the future of technology is now based on artificial intelligence.

Alphabet’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, highlighted ways in which Google is utilizing machine learning in their products, even though the technology is still in its early stages. One of these is the new Google’s Clips camera, which is powered by artificial intelligence and uses this knowledge to decide the best time to take photos. The camera is designed to be positioned in the home, and programmed to decide when conditions are ideal for taking pictures. These photos would be hard to capture manually because of how fleeting these moments are, or a need for somebody to be behind the camera.

Pichai also mentioned the advances in Google Assistant, since the inclusion of AI technology in its design. The Assistant’s intelligence level is currently equivalent to that of the average fifth grader. The system is, however, is gaining more knowledge each day and using it to assist people in getting things done. DeepMind, Google’s artificial intelligence researcher, is the world leader in the field and is dedicated to applying the technology positively. The company’s recent advances include adding imagination to machine learning, as well as expanding the ability of artificial intelligence to accomplish real life tasks.

Google Cloud’s Chief Scientist, Fei-Fei Li, has noted that AI needs to be more human centred, which will allow for better communication between ourselves and machines. Google isn’t the only company that has recognized the benefits of artificial intelligence, and other business have started incorporating the technology in their expansion. As they embrace the changes in technology, these businesses develop the ability to thrive in a constantly expanding field.

Google’s artificial intelligence has advanced to the point that it is capable of creating more artificial intelligence, which is of better quality than human engineers can produce. The CEO stated that because of its integral part in business, these advances are being met positively. There have been concerns expressed, however, and many industry leaders have admitted that artificial intelligence has the potential to affect humans negatively including the loss of jobs and income. Pichai maintains that the world’s technological future lies with machine learning, once it can be kept under control, and Google will continue to expand and embrace its sources.

Winning the Fight Against HIV and AIDS

It is estimated that over 35 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV. The virus attacks and destroys our immune system resulting in AIDS, in its final stages. HIV weakens the immune system by destroying T-helper cells, which are a type of white blood cell. It then duplicates itself, and break down the cells completely over time. This limits the ability of those infected to fight off diseases and infections. The speed at which the virus progresses is determined by the individual’s age and health. For most people, if HIV is left untreated for 10 to 15 years it collapses the immune system. This results in an inability to fight off any infection, and inevitably death.

A significant amount of research has gone into ways in which HIV can be stopped before it begins to multiply, thus preventing it from breaking down the immune system. A study was recently conducted at Loyola University in Chicago, which suggests that this might be possible. Results were published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, and showed a method which would incorporate the microtubule tracks through which the virus travels and a protein called bicaudal D2.

HIV moves through the body so quickly that the immune system doesn’t have enough time to react to its presence. The virus uses microtubules, and attaches to bicaudal D2, to transport itself to the nucleuses of the T-helpers. If the protein is missing the virus cannot find its way to the nucleus. The researchers suggested stranding the virus by creating a drug which prevents it from attaching to the bicaudal D2. It would remain in the cytoplasm, which is filled with other proteins and mitochondria. Due to its small size, in comparison to these surrounding elements, the virus could not navigate to the nucleus.

The scientists believe that this method will be essential in the creation of future treatments for HIV, and possibly coming up with a cure. Each patient reacts differently to current treatment options, which researchers are hoping to use alongside the bicaudal D2 detachment method to inhibit the progress of the virus. More experiments need to be conducted to ensure that any drug made using this process would be safe, as well as compatible with other HIV treatments. Some of the methods currently being used include: antibodies which can kill up to 99% of HIV strains, and a vaccine by Johnson and Johnson which is being tested in Africa. The vaccine would prevent those exposed from getting the virus, to begin with.

Elon Musk – Contributions to our Planet and its Future

A well-known name in innovation and technology, Elon Musk has contributed greatly to the future of our nation. Musk’s successful career began after he co-founded X.com, which was sold to Ebay for 1.5 billion and is now the most frequently used international money transfer system, Paypal. The entrepreneur’s main interests are the preservation of the human race and space exploration. They have been the inspiration behind the other companies he has founded that all operate under The Musk Foundation, which is committed to exploring space and discovering clean, renewable energy sources.

Image: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Tesla Motors is one of Musk’s leading ventures, and was founded with the intention of producing affordable electric cars. The company launched its initial public offering in June 2010, which raised in excess of $226 million, and has since produced many different vehicles that have been favorably accepted worldwide. In 2017, Tesla surpassed General Motors as the most valuable car maker in the United States. The company continues to develop ideas that are decreasing the number of gasoline fueled vehicles on the road, while still appealing to buyers’ needs. In 2006, Musk co-founded SolarCity Corp, with his cousins, and 10 years later purchased an all stock deal in the company. Tesla and SolarCity Corp have now been combined to create fully integrated products which improve the way in which energy is generated, stored and consumed.

Launched in 2002, SpaceX is another of Musk’s companies, whose mission is to build space crafts for commercial space travel. In 2008, the company was awarded a contract from NASA to handle cargo transportation to their International Space Station, with plans to include astronaut transportation in the future. In May 2012, SpaceX launched an unmanned capsule with 1000 pounds of supplies, making history as the first private company to send a spacecraft to the facility. The company has had other successful space ventures, as well as developed a way for more affordable space travel with the creation of their Falcon 9 rocket made from reusable parts.

Elon Musk continues to expand his interests, with more innovative methods of transportation. He has introduced the idea of the Hyperloop, which would facilitate travelling between major cities in a much shorter period of time. The concept consists of a network of low pressure tunnels, which will propel passengers along in pods, would be weather resistant and powered by renewable energy. Although the Hyperloop is currently just a proposal, Musk founded The Boring Company with the intention of creating transportation tunnels underground and decreasing the amount of traffic on bus interstates and city streets.

Elon Musk has also shown an interest in artificial intelligence, and promotes the advancement of digital intelligence to benefit mankind. This interest has led to the entrepreneur’s support of Neurolink, which aims to create devices that would be implanted in the human brain, facilitating a merger with software.

The Future of Flight – Hypersonic Airplane Concepts

The human imagination has always been the beginning of all our achievements, and technological advancements. Once it can be visualized, then it can be realized. This extends to flight and travel technology, and Canadian inventor, Charles Bombardier, has recently released some innovative, new designs that he hopes will be developed in the future. The designs are both for commercial and military purposes, and include:

The Paradoxal

Many new plane designs are geared towards getting passengers to their destination quicker. The first of Bombardier’s concepts is a commercial hypersonic plane, The Paradoxal that could fly 550 passengers from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia in as little as three hours. Initially, the airplane would use its two Rim-Rotor Rotary Ramjet Engines (R4E) to accelerate to three times the speed of sound, and rise to an altitude of 15 km.

In the next phase, to reach suborbital levels, the plane would be boosted to its parabolic midpoint by an injection of liquid nitrogen into the engines. At this altitude, passengers would experience a short feeling of weightlessness. They would also be able to view the earth’s curvature, and the stars, through video feed. Long Penetration Mode (LMP) Nozzles would be used to maintain the hypersonic speed, for the second half of the flight, as well as cool the engine down before landing.

The Antipod

There are several circumstances in which military planes may need to cover a large distance in a short space of time. Another of Bombardier’s concepts is a two seater military plane which can reach speeds of up to 20,000 km/h. This is half the Earth’s diameter, and ensures that any distance would be covered within an hour. The Antipod would also be equipped with LMP Nozzles to help keep it cool at the high temperatures generated by the speed, as well as cushion the plane from the shockwave that would be created by breaking the sound barrier. The plane would come to a stop by gliding along a 6000 ft runway.

The Mach 10 Skreemr

Bombardier’s final proposed concept was another commercial airplane that would be able to transport passengers at high speeds. This Mach 10 Skreemr would be propelled into the sky by a magnetic railgun, instead of taking off on a runway. This system could be run on clean energy and would, therefore, be more environmentally friendly. After propulsion, rockets built into the plane’s structure would boost the speed and start the main engines. The plane is expected to be able to reach speeds that are five times greater than the Concorde, and carry a maximum of 75 passengers per flight.