Category: Technology

Epigenetics – Association with Aging

All organisms have inherited traits which are transferred from previous generations. These are called genetics and their specifics are determined through DNA, which are the basic building blocks of an organism’s cells. There are four fundamental components of DNA: adenine, cytosine, thymine and guanine. Human beings are determined by the sequence of DNA within their system, and there are over 20,000 combinations in our bodies. These genes give our system instructions to build proteins that make it possible for us to carry out functions necessary for survival.

In addition to genetics, epigenetics also play a major role in the way our bodies function. They affect how our genes are interpreted at any given time and, therefore, the way in which we make proteins. Epigenetics are the reason why everyone is unique, and they determine the way in which we look, the type of personality we have, and the things that we like and dislike.

Our life experiences and personal circumstances cause certain genes to become either active or inactive. These dormant or expressive genes are influenced by the activities that we do daily, which initiate chemical changes in them. Certain conditions can even cause genes to be reversed, resulting in negative effects on the body. The possibility of so many different gene combinations, as well as our body’s ability to turn different ones on or off whenever necessary, means that epigenetics can be reversed, allowing our bodies to be in a constant state of harmony.

DNA methylation is a process which allows us to determine the age of tissues by selectively switching off our genes. Researchers have observed that there are several age-related DNA methylation biomarkers, which suggests that epigenetics is involved in aging. A recent experiment began comparing the cells from several people over the age of 100, and a group of new-borns. The results showed that there were many genes which were active in the centurions that were dormant in the babies. This suggests a relationship between molecular related age diseases and epigenetics. It also proves that what was once thought to be ‘junk DNA,’ or unused DNA in our bodies, might be one of the key factors that determine the rate at which humans age.

Aging and diseases associated with it are still one of the least understood parts of being human. These findings are crucial in treating age related illnesses, and scientists are developing ways of using them in cures by targeting epigenetic mechanisms. More research is required to conclusively state that there is a direct relationship between epigenetics and aging, and scientists continue to observe and record DNA methylation to learn more. They are hopeful that the results will be the key to slowing down the aging process, as well as decreasing the prevalence of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

The Future of the Computer – Microtechnology Redefined

The more powerful computer technology gets the smaller the devices that control them become. A team led by David Blaauw, at the University of Michigan, has recently developed an entire computer that measures less than half a centimeter. The proportion was achieved by taking into consideration the size of the computer’s battery. They reduced the amount of power needed to run it, and were therefore able to make everything more concise.

University of Michigan/TSMC

Known as the Michigan Micro Mote, this computer, is unable to connect to a keypad or mouse. Developers were, therefore, faced with the challenge of finding another way for it to communicate with users. They discovered that light strobed at a high frequency can send information to the Micro Mote, and began using this source to program and charge it. The data received can then be processed, and transported to a different computer, by radio frequencies. This is done using an internal Phoenix processor, which only uses 500 pico-watts when in stand-by mode and enables the battery to be fully charged without natural sunlight.

As the era of the Internet of Things develops, with statistics showing that there will be at least 1 trillion devices connected to the cloud by 2035, Micro Mote computers are believed to be the key to retaining more information on specific devices. Many of these can collect data from their environment but are unable to analyze it. They then transfer this information to the cloud, which means that many of them aren’t very secure or energy efficient. Micro Motes are designed to enhance the sensor capabilities of these devices, while conserving their power.

shutterstock_553342873The team increased the power of the technology by adding to it the ability to run artificial intelligence algorithms, known as deep neutral networks. This was possible by equipping the micro computers with flash memory, which includes an energy efficient charge pump. These advanced computer sensors will then be able to enhance cloud-connected devices with a neural network, enabling them to include voice and facial recognition.

Many different fields are researching ways in which this technology might be beneficial to them. This includes the medical field, as the computer is small enough to be injected into our bodies and smart enough to be programmed. It would then be able to take pictures, read temperatures and record other functions within. The oil industry is also considering using it to detect pockets of oil that can be extracted, saving them time and money on drilling. The development team has also demonstrated where the computer can be employed for everyday tasks, such as finding keys, using its central system.

Graphene – Unlimited Possibilities in a Minute Package

Graphene is a single tightly packed layer of carbon atoms, which are bonded together in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. As the second most abundant substance in the human body, and the element which is found in the forth greatest quantity on the planet, carbon is the chemical basis for all known life on earth. Due to the fact that graphene is composed of carbon this makes it a readily available, eco-friendly solution which can be applied to a variety of fields.

In addition to its prevalence, graphene has a number of other advantages including:

  1. Unsurpassed Strength – The building block of graphite, it is currently the strongest compound discovered.
  2. Thinness – At only one atom thick, graphene combines resilience with being super thin.
  3. Weightlessness – The lightest material known, one square meter of graphene weighs only 0.77 milligrams.
  4. High Conductivity – At room temperature, graphene is the best known conductor of electricity and heat.
  5. High Light Absorption – Graphene’s white light absorption level is very unique.

shutterstock_156703217Other qualities of graphene add to its usefulness and whereas its exfoliation was once very expensive the cost has decreased dramatically and companies now sell it in large quantities. Scientists have many future uses of the product planned, and research and development occurs on an ongoing basis. Some of these include:

Medicinal 

It has been determined that graphene is a suitable material for engineering tissue and medical researchers believe that it is the ideal substance to improve the structure of fabricated tissue cells. Another area in medicine which graphene is expected to play an important role is the transportation of liquid drugs. Research has shown that a sheet of graphene oxide can be transformed into liquid crystal droplets, once it has been placed in a solution to manipulate the pH. This allows the droplets’ structure to change in the presence of an external magnetic field, meaning that drugs can be transported in the droplets and then released when needed.

Ethanol Distillation

Water vapor is the only liquid or gas able to penetrate graphene oxide membranes. The distillation process for vodka normally requires extreme heat or a vacuum, which can be eliminated by the use of graphene.

Contaminant Removal

As a bio-degradable, non-toxic material which is also soluble in water, graphene can be used to create stable mixes with other liquids. In order to use this as a contaminant removal, the created solution can then be put into other liquids to attract undesired or potentially harmful molecules.

An Increase in Artificial Intelligence – Autonomous Drones

Manual labor is decreasing drastically, with artificial intelligence taking over many jobs that were previously done by humans. One of the groups that is capitalizing on this is drone technology which is now being used by companies, such as Amazon, on an ever increasing scale. There are many advantages to the use of drones, including their speed and ability to go to places where it may be difficult for humans to get to. For these reasons they now play a major part in saving lives, by transporting necessary medicine to the scenes of accidents and emergencies, as well as to areas which may previously have been inaccessible during storms and other adverse weather conditions. Another large advantage to the use of drones is the fact that they can eliminate, or significantly reduce, the need for human control in certain situations.

59d7bb_de5b8d93359949ceab3cdcd41ff6cf8b-mv2_d_4318_3192_s_4_2Technological mastermind, Airmada, has developed a storage system for drones which is capable of supporting missions without the need for human intervention. The storage box releases the drone once it has been activated, by opening up to become a launch pad facilitating its take off. Once its mission has been completed the drone will fly back, land on the launch pad and the storage box then closes up in order for the battery to be charged. All of this is done automatically without the need for a drone operator.

In its initial stages the product has been aimed at minimizing danger to members of security teams, under certain circumstances. Once an alarm has been triggered the drone will be released, responding quickly and capturing data in order to assess possible danger before security personnel access the scene. Airmada believe that the launching pad technology increases the potential for these drones to be used on international scales, not just for commercial use, but also to enhance military and widespread operations.

Due to the fact that the drone stations eliminate the need for manual labor, there are significantly less operation costs.  In addition, the storage system has been designed to protect the drone, reducing required maintenance and product damage. Overall the system focuses on both reliability and safety, both for the drone and any people which may become involved. As commercial drone use continues to develop, Airmada is confident that the use of these drones will expand becoming very popular, very quickly.

Steps towards becoming Invisible – Achieving More by Appearing Less

While the possibility of humans being able to disappear is highly unlikely, this hasn’t stopped movie directors and writers from including it in their stories for many years. Scientists have once again stepped forward in an attempt at making the impossible possible by producing a material which may allow us to do so.  Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a material that ‘disappears’ under certain conditions, which they hope will one day become the foundation of ‘invisible cloaks.’

The camouflage material is a type of liquid metal, which is made of tech that has been imbedded in a flexible sheet of silicon. This in turn is comprised of several rings (filled with galistan) that cover the material’s surface and act as inductors resisting changes in electric currents passing through them, with the gaps acting as capacitors. This combination facilitates radar waves hitting the material’s surface to be absorbed by the film.

shutterstock_283344146The researchers describe their creation as a material made of an array of liquid metal spilt ring resonators (SRRs) which are embedded in a stretchable elastonomer. When it is stretched this ‘meta-skin’ has a tunable frequency, which is able to accommodate a wide range of other frequencies thus absorbing radar waves. Experimentation with wrapping it around a curved dialectic material shows that the meta-skin performs as a flexible cloaking surface, which is able to suppress the scattering of frequencies in different directions.

The flexibility of the material means that radar waves which don’t follow the ring’s geometry will still be absorbed as the meta-skin will conform to different signals. The same sheet of material is currently able to absorb 75% of radar signals, ranging from 8 to 10 gigahertz. The developers plan to use the technology to coat the surface of stealth aircrafts, eventually expanding its properties to incorporate a wider range of radar waves. The material’s ability to absorb waves differs from traditional stealth technology which normally just reduces the power that is reflected back to the probing radar, and would greatly increase stealth capabilities.

In order for invisibility cloaks to be produced the material will need to be able to absorb light, since the reflection of light is the way in which we currently see objects.  Researchers will need to expand experimentation to include nano scale technology in order to accomplish this, which will increase the difficulty of working with this met-skin significantly. They are completely confident that this will be possible, however, and we can look forward to the ‘disappearance’ of humans very soon.

A New Lease on Life – Extending the Human Life Span

Researchers are always trying to come up with ways to prevent diseases, and other ailments, in humans. Decades of research has shown that the main cause of many illnesses is the same as that of getting older. They believe that it is possible to learn more about this cellular breakdown by observing the aging process in other species. A study involving the transparent cells of roundworms has revealed a connection between RNA splicing and an organism’s lifespan. Using this information scientists believe that they will be able to find additional ways of fighting disease, and slowing down aging in humans.

RNA splicing is the cellular process by which a single gene is able to produce a variety of proteins. Any mutation that occurs during RNA splicing normally results in disease, and may be the reason for our body’s getting older. In order to gain more knowledge about the aging process, researchers conducted experiments with the Caenorhabditis elegans roundworm. This species has a three week lifespan, during which they show obvious signs of aging.

shutterstock_285993866Fluorescent genetic tools made it possible to see the roundworms’ transparent cells, and the scientists observed certain patterns during RNA splicing of the individual genes. Using the ones that showed premature aging, researchers quickly learned how to predict individual roundworm lifespans before signs of aging appeared. They are confident that this discovery is the start of using RNA splicing as an early indication of aging, which can then be expanded in order to prevent or reverse these signs.

As we stop our cells from getting older, humans would also need to take precautions to maintain their health. This will allow them to live for much longer than the current average lifespan. Some of the other ways researchers believe that we might be able to combat aging are:

Using chromosome extensions to increase the rate of cell division – As we age the cells in our body lose their natural ability to replicate, resulting in aging and inevitably death. The idea behind this theory is that if we are able to extend our ability to continue cell division, we will be able to prolong our lives.

Using the drug Metformin to prevent illness and degeneration – Even though Metformin has been used to treat diabetes for in excess of 60 years, scientists are currently testing the theory that the drug is beneficial to our body’s cells in other ways. Research has shown that it might be able to prevent some forms of cancer, as well as slow down aging by speeding up metabolism and cellular processes. Metformin also releases oxygen into cells, which is the building block of healthy ones.

Scientists also believe that a combination of these and other methods might be the key to longevity, and research continues to find ways of increasing the number of centurions on the planet.